Murl's Country

Michael's Baptism

2012-02-02T09:44:00.001-07:00

I wanted to catch you all up on the fall and holidays. After going to NY and learning so much good info on marketing I began revamping my shop. I have been focused on getting the word out and fleshing out my business. Unfortunately that meant I was focusing mostly on the shop blog. So here I am to update you on our Balmanno brood.

Michael my youngest turned 8 last year. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we do not have infant baptism and we believe that once you are 8 you pretty much know right from wrong and thus are ready to make the decision to be baptised. Also every male member of our church can hold the Priesthood if they follow our faith. His date was set for early Dec. (don't worry I will fill you in on Halloween and Thanksgiving soon). Michael was so excited about it. He wanted his dad to baptise him, they even practiced a little before the actual ordinance.

My men in white.

I love Michael's face here: Are we done yet!
I will admit to channeling my mom she taught me how to wrangle a crowd for pictures.

Afterward we all came over to our home to have a light lunch. Everyone brought something and we grazed for a while. It was nice to have our big family there for Michael. That is what everything is about.

A day like this one was not complete with out a sword fight to wrap it all up.

Fall Photo Shoot for MYM

2011-11-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I truly can say we have been blessed yet find my self not believing how beautiful my girls have become. Plus they agreed to endure a Saturday morning with me and a camera.

Frog hunting

2011-11-09T13:50:00.001-07:00

This pond is about 10 minutes from our home. Each year we try to catch some frogs, fish or even just get out of the heat. We now have a 2 gallon sized fish tank full of little minnows. Maybe we need to go early too get some tadpoles.

Krystina never misses a chance to get a shot of my butt.

I Am A Christian

2011-10-27T11:44:00.001-06:00

Recently a national evangelical christian leader called my church a cult and denounced us as Christians. It began a debate amongst friends and family about how to deal with this kind of attack.

Despite the fact that there should be no religious test for office and the campaigning process in this country burns more bridges than it builds I will not talk about the debate or people like him.

We are called LDS, Mormon, a cult and many more things. Our official name is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We are obviously Christian in the basic sense of the word: We are followers of Christ. This man I am sure was trying to warn others of a perceived danger to traditional Christianity. That is the caveat; we are not a traditional Christian faith we have a living prophet, temples, and we have additional scriptures. This is scary to those who have not met our people. Yes, I say our people. We are a people apart from those around us and yet we are still engaged in our communities be them in an area with a high LDS population or where there are only a handful of families. Theologians often denounce our Christianity because we may not fit into the required checklist of what a christian should be. Because of that I tend to straddle the line when people ask me. I will say we believe in Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we follow His teachings and everything we do is to live a more Christ-like life. I will then say, but to scholars we are not Christian we are a different faith altogether. Some call us the fourth Abrahamic Religion, following Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Sure we have differences what's so new about that?
Last night my 13 year old asked me if we are Christians. True to form I over complicated the issue. I tend to have a hard time editing my thoughts. I wish I had said, "Yes and No. We follow Christ but some don't like how we do that". But instead I flippantly said, "No"
Cris this morning kindly broached the subject with me. He told me that I need to see that to a regular person especially children to follow or believe something makes you that thing. We follow Christ so there for we are Christian. The discussion became heated me coming from the camp of "we do not live in a religious vacuum and need to deal with that fact that others don't agree with us" and Cris from the "If we say we are and we act like we are WE ARE" camp.
I concede he is right. Still feeling I also am right. The requirements, as Cris pointed out, to be a Christian has changed through out history, we are sticking to the original, that happens to be the first: we follow His teachings , we are Christian.
So I hope I didn't confuse too many people out there. Those who look for truth should not be bombarded with hatred, bigotry and lies on the news.
Recently I attended a business conference. There is too much to update on that now but one over whelming thing I did see was that total strangers could peg me for Mormon every time and were kind to me and full of questions. They had great things to say about friends they have or service an LDS person did in their lives. One called me a "super Mormon" because of all the things I do. They too were appalled by this man and his hatred.

Joseph Smith said it the best from The Articles of Faith :

1) We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

3) We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

11) We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

13) We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Marlo

Harry Potter Harry Potter!

2011-10-23T08:30:00.000-06:00

Ti, Cris and I joined the wizarding world for a night of Hogwarts and good food plus there was this big movie coming out. I had so much fun from the dark mark to the sorting hat we all let our geek out. We stayed up all night and slept maybe two hrs the next day. But it was worth the time we had with Ti now if only Fable Haven would come out as a movie then we could bring the other two along.

Please excuse me for some of the blurry photos.

Bekah turns Double Digits Yo!

2011-10-22T08:30:00.000-06:00

Who doesn't like dress up? Well in mid July we had a group of girls over for a Glamour shots party. Yes here are more pics.

No Poporazzi

The rocking cowboy carpenter? Michael wanted some pics too.

More Summer fun

2011-10-21T08:30:00.000-06:00

In a perfect world I would drag my kids hiking at least once a week during summer vacation. This year we took one long hike. We decided to walk and explore the Draper canal biking path.

We stopped for lunch.

We all agreed if we ever get a porch we would get this one.

I am a deliquent Blogger

2011-10-20T20:19:00.002-06:00

I haven't kept up with my blogging duties. I am still not sure who keeps reading this very sporadic documentation of my life. But it doesn't matter I like to r\write anyway when I have the time. Here are some more highlights from the summer.
This summer we began with our trip to San Diego. I have already touches upon that trip. So I will move on.
We next took our kids on a great camp out with our ward. Our tent was right next to a mountain stream. We had a ton of mosquitoes but our kids learned the need for bug spray quickly.

Michael, Bekah and Gabe.

This is my favorite picture taken on the trip. The "Back to The Future" treatment.

Vacation Stop 2

2011-08-15T09:26:00.000-06:00

As an extended family we rented a home in Escondido, CA. I think it was the best idea to have a house where we could relax. Plus there was a pool and an outdoor kitchen.

The pool. The kids spent most of their time in it or trying to convince us to take the cover off.

Our nephew Adam chilling near the grill.

Patio Area.

Mickey at the San Diego Zoo. He is a ham.

Bekah too.

All of the girls. I don't remember if the elephant was a girl also but the rest of us are.

Vacation Stop 1

2011-07-14T14:17:00.000-06:00

On our way to San Diego we stopped in Vegas to watch the Tournament of Kings. Rachael our niece came along with us.

(l-r) Me, Rachael, Bekah, Mikey, Ti

Bekah's face says it all...it was so hot.

We gave Ti the camera this is one of my favorites.

In front of the Belagio waiting for the fountain show.

Eigth Grade Gradutation

2011-07-14T14:07:00.000-06:00

Yes my Krystina finished up middle school. Here are some pics from the evening. Like her dad she is not much for smiling.

Bumm For a Mom

2011-06-07T10:27:00.001-06:00

Alright, alright I am such a bum. I have so many things to post abotu my kids and my Birthday. I will stick to my kids. Here are afew videos:

Taking a break from Skiing

Jamming for New Year's. Listen closly for Sam and Justin.

Dear Friend,

2011-03-24T13:40:00.000-06:00

We have known each other for years and yet I feel like you don't know me at all. Sure sometimes I am intense and passionate. Too passionate for some. I will say things that are off the cuff, unrehearsed with little thought. I may be unrefined and loud.
I love to hear about your joys and your frustrations but never get a chance to. Often our interactions are fleeting and superficial. They seem to happen when something is needed from me or as a last resort.
Our lives are so busy we have families, jobs that need our attention. Our interests are different and yet in the past we bounced back. Are our differences so great that we cannot find common ground? Sure, friendships change, we grow older and our kids take more and more of our time. I know not to be too sensitive about this.
It is not easy to feel like the geeky kid wanting to sit next to the cool kids. To always be the one to work for something without any of the benefit. Or to be expected to know what is going on in your life when no meaningful exchange has taken place. I am a grown woman who is resigned to being treated like a child. Be it out in public or on the phone. It gets old when I get the vibe that I am childish or my ideas are antiquated.
So I ignore it for a few days. Going to work, being a mom and a wife, talking to friends and keeping my hands busy. My life is happy and much more secure than it has been in the past. I do not have the need inside me to run. This winter I have come to love where I am in life and still with all of this around me I still see room for an old friend. One who I know well enough to hear the impatience in her voice when we speak.
Maybe that is the crux of the problem? Is it inherently too hard to have to deal with baggage? Do I know you too well, bringing up things that you deem should be swept under a rug? The broken in jeans feeling of our friendship is not there. I find myself censoring my comments or worrying I will cross a line which has been crossed many times in the past with a laugh. No matter the reason. I am tired of superficial. I am tired of feeling like I have to jump whenever you call. I guess the biggest thing I don't understand is when did you start to feel I was not worth your time?
If you still knew me you would know that I have empathy for others that is down right annoying at times. I will always see the great potential in people who have hurt me. I won't turn my back on someone even if they have treated me badly. I can't do it. I may complain about them or sulk but I will always try to find the good. Maybe that is the problem. I can't write you off.
So letters like this tend to have a summation of some kind. I like me, I sometimes like to be the center of attention and I definite like my voice to be heard. I am lazy and opinionated, my kids are not perfect and yes I reminisce too often. I like moving at a slow pace and being a home body who sews and likes Star Trek. I have a temper and at times my clothes don't match. I can act like a 14 year old and I always have thread on me. Take this or leave it just don't string me along with token interest. I know I will forgive you and try to pick up from where we left off if I want to or not.

Marlo

I Am Infatuated

2011-03-08T10:44:00.000-07:00

Two years ago a high profile pop music star shaved her head and everyone had an opinion. Obviously the gossip media interviewed her ex-husband. Holding one of their sons he hung his head and said he would always love the singer but he was not in-love with her. I was annoyed by this. The idea that you have to be "in love" with your spouse. Being in a long term relationship be it married or cohabitation has it's ups and downs. Granted this pop star was bi-polar and was a bucket-full of worms to deal with.
Sure I am not an expert but i have been married for almost 15yrs. There have been times when I wanted to not be around Cris. We both have large personalities so we had to learn early on to pick and choose what we really wanted to fight about. We have seen many marriages fall apart because of this romantic notion. I love my husband and that love has out lived the puppy love that we began with.
Recently I find myself totally infatuated with him. I don't mind getting him a drink or serving him food while we are at family functions because I know he would do the same for me. I enjoy knowing his "you got to be kidding me" look during fast and testimony meeting or his seemingly childish references to sit-coms. I sure do hope that when we are older and less inclined to PDA he will still make inappropriate jokes during our church meetings. ( I am not good with this lovey dovey stuff. We don't celebrate Valentines nor am I a candy and flowers kind of girl.)
I am also a very touchy-feely person. If you have ever seen my kids at school they love to hug or even hang on their grandma. That is because I am the queen of snuggling. So while I am so enamoured with my husband I can be a little too clutchy. I sometimes get this way when friends are having a rough patch in their relationships. So sorry Cris if I kiss you ten times after you get home.
I am not going to go into all the qualities I love about him. I am sure the things I love might annoy you. I will say that despite my complaining and general procrastination he will back me up 90% of the time.
No I don't want a full 100% I need someone to bring me down a notch when I am being unreasonable.

He even drove 3 days to the oppressive MO heat to see my grandmother. What's not to love?

So Honey I am dewy eyed for you right now. Enjoy it while it lasts. I may not be next week. But I will always love ya.

Teen Angst

2011-03-03T10:37:00.002-07:00

I remember having it. I remember wondering why my mom didn't trust me at 13. Well Miss. Angst has moved in with us. When did she sign a lease and how long until we legally can kick her out?
No this is not about Krystina, although some times she is possessed with a demon we can only ply with ice cream and White Collar episodes.
This is about being an adult woman and the crazy High School antics that still take place in my life. I thought if I rose above it then I would be able to leave that all behind me. There are the haves and the have nots. There are the "cool kids" and the fan boys.
I have never been able to keep my head low. As suggested I try to ignore it. Or I can just not go to church activities and act like the gap between faith and money doesn't exist in this neighborhood. I have tried to distance my self from uncomfortable truths or even to sub those people who upset me. I don't think it's in my DNA to stand back and let things happen.
This has bitten me in the butt before and I find the outcomes tedious to deal with. However, I would rather practice my faith the way that I was taught ie: openly, honestly and with out social judgments.

I am the one feeling the angst. I at times feel like I am standing in front of my locker on my birthday wondering where the balloons are. Work has certainly helped, and it is nice to be around people who may not care about my faith but still respect that I have it and laugh occasionally at my jokes. I am corny and a little too literary with my jokes so the laughter is a bonus. Have I just held back being me for so long as not to antagonize my neighbors that now being myself seems strangely forward and loud? Maybe.

Music

2011-03-02T09:26:00.000-07:00

Right now I am typing to the beat of the Ting Tings -That's Not My Name. Music is a big part of my creative process. I often will hear a new song on the radio and get some grand idea about the idea in the song can translate into fabric. Some days I am in a Ting Tings mood others I am a definitely Celtic music freak.

Right now my favorite new band is The Jane Dear Girls. I love the girl power and auto tune in country music. if you know me I usually hate auto tune. But Kanye won me over on that one. If used right it is pretty palatable.

This is all a big cycle of life for me. I am that 30-ish girl who remembers tippy-toeing to reach the top of our wood paneled console stereo with a Beatles 8-track tape in hand. My dad says it was always the Beatles or Hank Williams Jr. My life has a definite sound track. the sound waves have found their way from my ears to my fingers and I created the Just press play line of pinafores. Tell me what you think ans I will send you a prize.

This is a post from http://www.mindyourmarlos.blogspot.com/

Christmas Pics ( Yes more of them)

2011-02-18T09:45:00.000-07:00

One of my gifts was a great new camera. These are not the best since I was still learning how to use it.

We should all dance for iCarley stuff on Christmas morning. Now get off the couch Bekah.

Thus begins the 2 week war between Cris and Michael. Notice Cris is Nerf armed in the next picture.

After all the gifts were opened Cris takes a break.

My Favorite Holiday Cookie Recipe

2011-02-11T10:51:00.001-07:00

When we were first married a friend gave me a subscription to Better Homes and Gardens. Here is the recipe I got from a small insert:

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

3 Cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg or ground cinnamon (optional)
1/8 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, at room temp
1 cup reduced fat sour cream ( I used full fat)
1 large egg
2 tsp vanilla

For the glaze ( I used abutter cream for Christmas cookies):

2 cups sifted confectioners sugar
3 tbl low-fat milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
food coloring

1. In a medium -size bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, nut-meg, and salt, In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on Med, cream the granulated sugar and butter , beating until fluffy, scraping side of bowl often.

2. Add the sugar cream, egg, and the 2 tsp vanilla, beating well. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the flour mixture just until flour disappears. Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces. Wrap each piece of dough in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hr or until thoroughly chilled and easy to handle.

3. Preheat the oven to 375. On a lightly floured surface, roll out 1 piece of dough to 1/4inch thickness and cut into shapes with cookie cutters. With a spatula, transfer the cookies to ungreased cookie sheets, placing them 2 inches apart. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are firm and bottoms are lightly browned. Remove cookies and cool on wire racks. Repeat with remaining dough.

4. To prepare the glaze, in a medium-size bowl, stir together confectioners sugar, half the milk, the 1/2 tsp vanilla and a little food coloring. gradually stir in enough of the remaining milk to make mixture of glazing consistency. Spread on top of each cooled cookie. Allow glaze to dray completely. Store cookies in an airtight container (do not freeze glazed cookie). Makes about 36.

This is also great with butter cream frosting and any holiday.

Motherhood or How a camera strengthened my testimony

2011-01-22T13:40:00.001-07:00

As another year passed with so many changes to my life I can't help look at my life and critique my self. We are told not to be critical or put ourselves down. We are modern women who can work, have a family, be thin, have friends, keep our husbands happy and stay beautiful all at once. Who are you to say that any way to live is wrong or there are finite truths to mothering?Yes I have been told that. I hear it on TV, I hear it at work, I hear it from good friends. With my recent foray into working I have felt pulled. I want to help my family stay a float and escape the bondage of debt. I love the recognition and extra cash that work brings. I think work is good and that everyone needs to see themselves excell at something even if it is folding fifty t-shirts. But I also feel like everyone is going at lightning speed. My three's grades have suffered. Nothing gets done. I am constantly tired or too busy to remember they are just children. Others around me are booked to the nines never having time to have a serious discussion. Have I suddenly become a heartless, non-caring mother who's only thought is for herself and the cleanliness of the house? I don't think so. I love them dearly and want to be there to help with their homework or just to teach them little things. Somethimes finding myself frustrated that my word is never good enough or other families are more "with it" I tend to feel like I am too slow. Why can't I have 20 playdates planned for the next 6 weeks? Whose responsibility is it when my son is having trouble reading? Look my kids are not booked with a bazillion activities that may keep them occupied and happen to look good on college applications.Oh how I am pulled. One day I picked up my new camera and promptly lost it. I tried to retrace me steps. No Camera. Then I got paranoid. The kids are always in my studio taking things. I was convinced one of them took it. I said as much to them and was very mean. I had been working crazy hours and blew them off many times. "They just don't get it. I am not used to work. I am not here all day and can't clean up after them as much. Why can't they just listen to me and do everything else for them selves?" I would often think this. Last week I was home and told myslef I would find the camera. I went from room to room cleaning and getting more upset each passing minute. I then realized I needed to pray about it. Thinking this was a foolish reason I did not heed the feeling. Then I felt it again, as I prayed I felt horrible for the way I had been acting. I asked to be guided to the camera and guide me to be a better person. Promising to open my heart to being a mom again. I then saw that I had closed that idea in my heart. Afterward I allowed myself to feel rather than think. And found the camera. Since then I have received much guidance from the Spirit reminding me of who I can become. I would like to be like a slow cooked stew than Raman Noodles. Something to savor rather than a quick blood pressure rising meal.I hope you understand my tangents and thoughts.

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Holiday Fun 2

2010-12-31T14:55:00.001-07:00

For years now I have wanted to decorate Christmas cookies with the kids. This year Cris planned a whole night with the kids; shopping, cookie decorating, and movies.
I had to work and so he took them to buy gifts, picking up all the ingredients for cookies. Now if you know me I know where everything is in my kitchen so I forgot to lable things.
Cris and the kids followed the recipe and the cookies would not come out right. I came home to find him shaking his head telling me the cookies came out sour.
Taking the scene in I went to roll out some dough. And what do I find? Baking soda. Baking soda all over the counter.
Cris thought it was flour and dutifilly covered the counter with a light dusting.
I felt horrible, about the mistake I really need to lable things. These pictures are the result of me making my favorite holiday cookie recipe. Recipe to follow.
Sugar rush yeah!

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Holiday Fun

2010-12-27T23:46:00.001-07:00

Thanksgiving! Lots of food and good fun .

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Arches

2010-11-08T11:37:00.000-07:00

Yeah Yeah we went in Sept. We camped out with the whole Balmanno clan, went Rafting and Cris climbed all the way up to Windows arch.

So many changes

2010-10-18T23:11:00.000-06:00

In my last post I announced the revival of mindyourmarlos.blogspot.com. I have had so many mind changing things happen this year. Our reunion in MO, my trip to DC, finally feeling like my artistic endeavours matter, and now this week I have started working outside the home.
I know the road will be tough. I will be working some days and some nights with sewing and boutiques mingled in. But before I get to all that I want to finish my coverage of the DC trip.

I loved feeling like a kid again. I have been wracked with guilt over the geographical distance we live from my parents. Both my siblings are active duty military and feel like I have a choice in where we live. Ultimately we do but 5 years ago as we moved west we felt it was the best for our family. So I find myself back in my home town. I hang with my mom for a few days. She made me breakfast every morning and only once hovered over me while sleeping.

We take in a movie and eat lots of food that is bad for us. I could tell they long for their children to move closer. Not only did I feel the responsibility to help them but I miss joking around with them. Yes sometimes it was tense. My mother and I are both stubborn but she agreed to give a whole room to Salvation Army and I agreed it was probably best to empty the deep freeze before I tried to move it.

Sealing the room against moisture

Said freezer. The Yellow was my pick I just convinced Mommy that it needed to be cheerful. Thanks to the Elders of the Gaithersburg 1st Ward for the paint job, hauling trash and nicely taking money from my mom.

The end result. The pictures are out of order.

Do you see the glow from the rope lighting?

Our under the counter lighting solution.

Check out my father's maple counters. He stained them, wanting a classy look to go with the chrome.

Next visit I want to do National Treasure with the kids ending in DC and tackle my dad's office. I miss them even the nick-knacks all over the house and the constant barking of Cocoa their dog.

Oh and my mom loved Inception she kept saying he was still dreaming. I think she understood it better than most of my friends.

Mind Your Marlos has moved

2010-09-13T08:53:00.000-06:00

About a year ago I took down http://www.mindyourmarlos.blogspot.com/, I decided to try again, this time I have revamped the whole operation. Each category has a separate page dedicated to it. I will be interviewing friends who are crafters and readers can now order directly from my blog.
Take a look I am still working on it. I am having issues with the pictures, and I am still adding things but I think it is a good start.
Now off to finishing my Fall/ Winter lines.

Trip Day 1

2010-09-05T08:47:00.000-06:00

Third seat from the isle I look through the window and I rise from above Wasatch Mountains. I look to my left and luckily there is an empty seat next to me. Which is fortunate considering the man on the isle seat has clearly not taken a shower and has open toed sandals.

I have few issues in my life. One of the biggest is wearing sandals while traveling. You can enjoy the freedom of the sock-less yet protected foot any day. But if you so choose to wear them whilst traveling please consider disinfecting the shoes the night before, laying them out in front of a fan or even giving your feet a good scrubbing before you venture out on vacation.

I ignored this for the first leg of my journey. I was traveling back to my home town, Gaithersburg, Md. A sprawling suburb of Washington, Dc. My parents still live in the house that we moved into when I was 10. A yellow split level with green shutters and a brink red door.

Apprehension surrounded me as I read and slept on the plane. I have never had solo vacation since I married fourteen years ago. I was a little worried about the kids and their first full week of school, I knew I would miss Cris and Nixon.

We touched down at Regan International, the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial gleamed in the morning light. The hazy Washington air was immediately recognizable.

No kids, no husband, no car, and humidity: I felt like I was 18 again. Riding the Metro I was struck by the sheer amount of people. After living in the Salt Lake Valley for about 5 years now I have gotten used to a few things one being that even when there is a crowd you still have a place you can stop and breath. I liked the energy in the air. Commuters coming home from a long week, a baby in a stroller as his mother makes him laugh. The different faces and colors and smells of long gone meals left on their clothes. The anonymity of the Metro.

It transferred an couple of times and found my way to the end of the Red line. A Latino man was playing Hey Jude on a pan flute, while another with middle eastern features with a little girl on his shoulders handed out fliers for his candidacy for office. I waited anxiously for my father's silver SUV for sanctuary form the weight of my luggage.

They were happy to see me, my mother had her teeth in and her hair done. We went straight the the grocery store. Picked up essentials.
I was off the plane for no more than two hours when A man almost hit me in the parking lot. After that my mom kept feeding me and rubbing my hair. My mother's red, long haired chihuahua greeted me with a snort and a bark when I came into the house.
Dropped my things and surveyed the week's project. In the far recesses of their basement lay a room previously used as a sauna by the original owners of the house. It was dank, dark and I knew something with many legs lived in there. We had been using it as a storage room since we moved in in the late 80's. My dad put a hand on my shoulder and said we should start tomorrow.
End of day one.

Accesories Photo Shoot

2010-08-16T10:38:00.000-06:00

These photos were supposed to be taken last week but my poor girl Bekah was stung on her eye brow. Ti was gone at camp and Michael fell off a picnic table and had red marks all over his face so we had to wait. I love to take pictures of my kids they are beautiful. And to plug Mind Your Marlos the head bands and Roses are all $5.50 and available at my Etsy store.

My Favorite Pictures of Summer '10

2010-08-12T15:17:00.001-06:00

Our kids and the Forsberg's kids at Temple Square.
We hiked up to the falls. It was cold snow melt. Burrr.....

So cold. We will do this hike one more time before shcool starts.

The begining of our hike. Boy does Ti look excited.

Bekah infront of the reflecting pool at Temple Square.

Our hotel lobby in Branson.

11:30 at night Fourth of July. We could see fireworks from the front of the Ice cream shop.

Two words:

Giant Rocking Chair!

At the Butterfly Palace the butterflies actually landed on the kids. We only got this one shot of Ti's shoulder.

As the sign says Mo Route 66. Note: grass in Michael's Mouth.

Grand Ma Flo and Cris messing around.

Michael scams bacon off of Grandma Florence.

Oldy but a goodie.

Tips For a trip to Branson, Mo

2010-08-02T10:44:00.000-06:00

A friend asked me to write up a little guide to a family trip to Branson, Mo. I thought I shoul share it will all of you.

Here is the good:
1. If you can find a place that does discounted tickets for anything jump on it. Coupon books are okay for meals but the show coupons aren't worth it.
2. Silver Dollar City is a huge Amusement parks the price is worth it if you can go more than one day. There are rides and demonstrations of old west arts. If you buy tickets after 5pm you get the next day free.
3. Ride the Ducks is also worth it but the ride is only about 1 hour and it can get pricey.
4. The Butterfly Palace has a great 3d movie and a rainforest room where you can walk amongst the butterflies. Also they have a mirror maze which was fun for us but may not be for small kids.
5. Across the strip from The Grand Palace is a small 50's diner style Ice cream shop. For about $13 a family (5) you can get double scooped waffle cones.
6. Titanic Museum is great if you have girls. There is no show but they have the only full replica of the Titanic's grand stair case in the US. Tickets can be a little pricey.
7. The IMAX theater is the best deal in town. We were able to see two Imax films for $28 and the small country style restaurant in the complex has the best pie.
8. The grand village is a little outdoor mall with a huge Christmas shop, a giant Rocking chair great to take pictures on, a wishing well, and a Santa statue to sit on. Even though it's summer it is still fun to see all the Holiday items. A great diversion for free.
9. Downtown Branson or Historic Branson. Fun to walk through there is a water fountain show at Branson Landing ( much like Gateway's Fountains). The trolley if free so you can try that.
10. The Branson rail road. There is a dinner ride and just a regular hourly ride. Again pricey but check for discounts at the hotel.
11. Shows, Shows, Shows! We saw a few and liked them all. Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede was amazing. Live horses and singing and we got a full meal. Worth it if your kids like animals and will eat a 4 course meal. We took food home in a doggy bag and warmed it up at the hotel for lunch the next day. We also saw the Glee show. It is not like the TV show but if you like singing dancing and a loose story you will be fine. Kids are free at that theater but it still ran us $80.
12. There is great fishing and state parks around if you can take the humidity go hiking it is free.
13. Take full advantage of the swimming pool and other activities at you hotel there will be lots of down time if you don't want to pay for everything.

Now for the Bad:
14. Hardly anyone takes Amex. Silver Dollar City and Ride the Ducks do not take it so if you can buy your tickets discounted from another place that does, do it.
15. There are two Walmarts. One on the strip and one on Branson Hills Parkway. Don't go to the one on the strip it is dirty, crowded and the staff was rude.
16. Buckingham's Grill has huge prices and the food was bad.
17. The town is dirty, smoking is allowed anywhere. So don't expect to eat without smoke somewhere near you.
18. You will see some down and out looking people. It is pretty safe don't worry about them.
19. Putt-putt is fun but will run you about $50. You can take the ticket and go to another putt-putt place owned by the same company and golf for only $5 a person but you have to do it on the same day. (they also don't take Amex)
20. The Segway rides cost $25 a person for 30mins and you have to stay on the track.
21. Walk everywhere are avoid the strip. It is one lane each way and it always took us 20min to get anywhere.
22. The outlets in Branson proper are more expensive than the ones you will see one your way to Branson.
23. Just remember it is family friendly but the attitude is "let's make money". I wish we knew all of this before we went.

Me and me

2010-07-20T22:25:00.000-06:00

A few months ago I wrote about my body transformation. Unfortunately I did not take a before picture. Cut to today: I was looking through my vacation pictures and realized that I still look pretty big in the pictures but I have lost at least 13 pounds since I started the "regime" in Feb. I have put on a few pounds but I am happy over all. My goal was to loose 30lbs by the reunion. I lost a good 25 and gained some.
I know I should be happy with who I am and I definitely do not want to go back to my High school weight. I just want to be here for a long time and look decent.
Now if I can just get up early before the blazing heat of the Utah sun singes my eyelashes, I can run before the kiddos wake up.
More updates later.

Trip 2

2010-07-19T08:24:00.000-06:00

After arriving in Mo at 2 am we stayed the night at a questionable motel. No one looked at anything we just slept. We arrived in Eureka, Mo earlier than we had planned. So I took the kids to the Hotel pool and made some calls. I am happy that we were able to get together with some of my Dad's family. We first met with Katy and Florence to talk family and exchange photos. They chose Apple Bees for dinner.

Me and Aunt Sue.

The whole gang.

My Aunt Susan and her husband.

Grandma Florence Gilmore.

Tom and Katey.

Bekah and Ti

It was fun getting to know them better.

Trip Part 1

2010-07-15T09:29:00.000-06:00

After two years of planning we embarked on our 2 day drive the Gimore Family Reunion. The reunion was to take place in Branson, Mo with a stop in Eureka (1hr out side of St. Louis) for a day.

This is what happens when Ti has the camera.

We drove 20hrs to Eureka then 4 more to Branson.

I am so glad we have a DVD player in the van.

The Teen emerges.

Yes he is eating Arby's curly fries.

At one point the kids legs didn't work and Ti forgot she needed shoes. We took a many breaks as we traveled through Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri. Our first day ended with us staying at a Super 8 just to get some sleep.

Photo Shoot (Michael)

2010-06-26T00:04:00.001-06:00

My Boy Michael also deals with my constant photo taking. He allowed me too gel his hair and get some greaser inspired shots. Grease meets Willy Wonka.

A little blurry, but i had to post this "Rock on" pick.
The sun was searing.

This my favorite of the set.

My only kid with freckles.

Photo shoot (Bekah)

2010-06-25T23:57:00.000-06:00

I love how beautiful my Bekah is. She puts up with these photo shoots just to please me.

One of the new Crocheted roses. This one is made from Mohair and cotton yarns.
Bekah and Nixon.

Contemplating life in the Secret Garden part of our yard.

Bekah in action.

My poor kids

2010-06-21T23:47:00.000-06:00

I put my kids through so much. I am embarrassing, I give them lists of things to do, most of which they can't stand, I take photos of them under much duress and I make them save their money for our upcoming vacation.
Things I did when I was a kid that now I would freak if my kids did:

At 16 meet up with a guy I met on the Internet. I remember being pissed that my YW leader wouldn't let me go on the date. He was LDS and in town for his Endowment.
Wear all black. Enough said
Make secret clubs with crazy initials that involved shaking my friends down for money so it looked like I was sitting and not at a party.
Making out with boys at 13. Yes Ti is close and I am scared.
Skipping school.
Skipping school and showing up for the last 5 mins so I was considered in attendance for the day.
Skipping school only to be stopped by a National Park Police Officer to tell me and my group we were in a restricted area.
Not coming home until 7am. (Cris)
Wearing bloomers/ PJs/ lace shirts, etc....to school.
Running away from home, living in the woods, using the survival training my dad instilled in me to thwart "rescue attempts" by the authorities, neighbors and my parents. This for three days and at the age of 10.

I don't think my kids would do anything on my list. I am sure they are more creative than that. I now understand, with the essence of my soul and my full body what my mom said to me on many occasions:

"Marlo, one day you will hab a child just like you, she will make you worry too!"

Mind Your Marlos Fall/Winter teaser

2010-06-17T21:50:00.001-06:00

Photo High-jinks

2010-06-17T12:39:00.000-06:00

I love when my kids get a hold of the camera here are the high lights!

Ti
Michael acting like Ti.

My favorite Picture of Michael and all his freckles.

Planning this Reunion

2010-06-02T14:12:00.000-06:00

The reunion is almost upon us. We have a little under 3 weeks before we head out to Branson, Mo. This reunion will be the death of me or one of the best vacas we ever had. Trying to make sure everyone in on the same page, healthy, employed and sane all at the same time is driving me nuts. But I know it is worth it, my Dad's family has not been together since his father's funeral 5 years ago. And J. Gilmore's family is starting to age badly. Many illnesses and other maladies are creeping up.
We could of course exchange the family history by email but I wanted to see people face to face. I have just spent most of the morning polishing our schedule for the reunion weekend. So many things to do before Sat. Hopefully my head won't blow up.
I know my hubby is not that enthusiastic about the trip but he has fully supported me. Thanks, Honey (especially for adding 5 extra hrs of drive time so we can see my Grandma.) I guess my biggest worry is that my immediate family won't be able to attend. I know my Mom is ill and my brother has been reassigned to a new duty post. My dad is on board and is hoping to bring my sis if Mom can't come. If they can't make it I will be upset. We will still have a great time.
After maps, Google searches, random phone calls and wading throw a ton of Country themed Broadway type show bills I think we are almost ready.
Wish me luck.

Side Walk Sale

2010-05-27T15:27:00.000-06:00

This Saturday, May the 28th I am again teaming up with Being Petti http://www.beingpetti.blogspot.com/ for a side walk sale.

I am excited about being able to unveil my new stuff as well as clearance out last years unsold clothes.

If you are in the area we will be at 1810 Western Charm Dr., Riverton, Ut. At 8-2.

Here is a sneak peek.

What ever Happend to:

2010-05-18T20:31:00.000-06:00

Lazy summer vacations. Now we are expected to do something weekly or even everyday. Yes we are going on a big family vacation this year. I am talking about signing up our kids for tons of activities. Maybe I want to teach my kids how to make bread or how worth while it is to sit in the grass and watch the birds. They are so used to being entertained I can't just tell them to go outside or draw for an hour.
James. Where are they and are they still frustrated?
Constructive Debate. Friends who may not agree with your politics or views on life, religion, science, etc... but love you and respect you for who you are.
Honey Roasted Chunky Peanut Butter
Block Parties. I really miss them.

2010-05-09T16:21:00.000-06:00

My kids spent a grueling afternoon making this video for thier grandmas. I hope you like it.

Mind Your Marlos New items are here

2010-05-04T15:06:00.001-06:00

After many months of drawing my designs are now tangible items.

You can find all of these items at

mindyourmarlos.etsy.com

Denim jackets for Baby $20

MYM's 3:00 Boy's collection is back. This bowling shirt also comes in Blue and Gray.
$15

Slouching Bunny or Shiny Sea Horse either way this modern take on the poodle skirt is fun.
$22

New this year I am trying my hand at accessories. This offering is a genuine Suede headband.

$25

Easter Fun 2

2010-04-29T10:47:00.001-06:00

Easter Fun 1

2010-04-29T10:39:00.001-06:00

Here are some long awaited pictures from Easter.

Bekah being cheesy.
Rachael's Easter Fun.

The egg says " Marlo Rox". Thanks Ti!

My cute boy Michael.

Our resident cute cousin, Gabe.

Mother's Day

2010-04-23T14:27:00.000-06:00

One of the most amazing things in my life is the role I play as a Mommy. May is a special month for me. Not only do I celebrate the time of my birth but I also think of those women in my life who have taught me how to be me. My mother is a very creative Filipina who grew up in a family where sewing, especially dressmaking, has been a tradition handed down through many generations. When I was knee high to a grass hopper I watched her sew, crotchet, cook and make us children presentable. I would often ask her to teach me but she refused until I was about 11 years old. She showed me how to stitch with my hands, My father quickly helped to teach me more of the harder stitches he had learned serving as a Corpsman in the Navy. As I grew I felt compelled to take clothing apart to see how they were made or to buy fabric for no reason.
Later at 17 I was working on a large project when my boyfriend's mother allowed me to use her sewing machine. She kindly showed me how to use it and how to control the peddle. I was annoyed at the time that my mother did show me. But then I realized she was worried I would ruin her machine. I think of all these things and more at or around Mother's Day. I surely do hope my grass hoppers will glean from me something as special and as rewarding.

Easter, Growing up and Gardens

2010-04-05T09:13:00.001-06:00

This weekend was great. Here is a short recap:

Thursday was the first day off for the Kids. We took a break from chores and homework. The kids and I spent our day watching TV and playing games.
Friday- We cleaned knowing there would be a bunch of people at our house for Easter. Later that evening Cris and I attended the SVU Alumni meeting. It was nice to see a few familiar faces. I was also happy to find out that the school is going back to some of the original great books curriculum.
Sat- was overcast and chilly. We had planned on the boys in the fam coming over to help us with our gardening. Two backed out for fear of rain. But Sam came. Cris and him built me a garden fence so our dog Nixon would not have access to the produce. Actually the sweet boy likes to dig up my strawberries. The fence + gate is wonderful. Pictures to come. I get a kick out of watching the kids try to get in there. I guess I will have to show them. During the construction the kids and I cleaned the house, TI and I made a cake (Red Velvet with home made cream cheese frosting). The eggs were dyed and we had good Easter time fun.
Sun-Easter!!! The kids got techno colored baskets and we watched conference. Saturday we also watched but with all the cleaning and projects we missed most of it. Conference was great. Our house smelled amazing as we prepared food for the big Easter meal. 25+ people came. I am still surprised with how smoothly it went. the food was delicious and abundant. We talked and the kids played. The highlight was a sneak attack by Cris' sister. Boy can she make an entrance. With three kids, some in ski masks, she confetti-egged our home. At first all I wanted to do was sit down and eat.I guess after three days of cleaning the idea of confetti in my house was annoying. But then I saw the masks and thought it was funny. We cleaned it up and now the attack is my highlight of the night.

We have few traditions that are all our own. We have borrowed mostly from the Balmanno side( all of Christmas, birthday dinners...etc) and a few from mine (Egg rolls at Thanksgiving, Halloween ghost stories, watching lightning. Easter Supper has been something we have done together from year one. Cris and i started out at college with I believe some spaghetti and a jar of sauce. We have continued every year inviting family and friends so when spring rolls around it's a given that we are going to do something. This year we did not take as much time as I would have liked talking about how important Easter is. That is tomorrow's post.

Passive Aggressive

2010-03-18T09:10:00.000-06:00

I just got a call from my hubby telling me I need to stop being passive aggressive. I am sorry if I a say anything that may sound like I am digging at you. Sometimes I just would rather sum up how I feel then to go through a long drawn out story. Personally i don't like passive aggressive people. If I am falling into that pit then maybe Utah has rubbed off on me. I guess what I am saying is is that I feel more honest with myself when I include the frustration I do feel. Again I apologize if you think I am poking at you. To be less verbose I sometimes group people together when I write.

Definition

2010-03-15T15:30:00.001-06:00

I think I need to redefine myself. In the past I have been known to be a negative person or just one who shares her fears and frustrations too many times. This has sometimes backfired on me, depending on who I was speaking to.
2010 is finally here. I say finally because my geek dad raised us on a steady diet of Sci-fi Movies. So 2010 Space Odyssey got me, as a little girl, thinking of what the world would be like in 2010. So far I don't see any Monoliths or murderous talking computers, I just see division in every aspect of the American life.
With Easter around the corner and the fact that this is 2010 I have decided to define my life in a different way. I have decided to be more brave and decisive about my ideas. Not sharing as much to people who, as Morrissey pointed out, "don't care if I live or die." While simultaneously standing up for my thoughts and beliefs in a more articulate manner. Wanting to change the way I treat myself both body and spirit ( take a gander at my body transformation) I started down a track that will hopefully make me a better person all around.
Easter always reminds me of transformation. Not only does the soil and plants transform from dead sticks, hard mud, patchy lawns into flowers, fruit, and shady trees, but we emerge from our self imposed quarantine to soak up the sun. This is also the time for me to reflect on the Blessings I have been given and the promise that one day my husband will be made whole again.
Now I am off to garden some more as I didn't make it to the gym today.

Family Reunion

2010-03-11T08:52:00.000-07:00

After 10 years of schmoozing and wearing down my dad's family I have gotten some to agree to a family reunion. I am more than excited about this. We have chosen Branson, Mo for the location. When I heard Branson I thought Country Music. Well I like a little country but I am mostly Indie rock or am I an Irish addict? But the location is good, only 5 hrs from St Louis (where most of the family lives).
I have talked this up for a while and know that some of my friends may be skeptical of my plans to do this. Sometimes there are things in my life that I know the Lord wants me to do no matter how hard or uncomfortable or how little gratitude I might get for doing it. This is one of them.
My father's family was ripped in half over thirty years ago with the death of the oldest son. He was the bright shining star of the Gilmore family. On his wedding day he died along with his bride in a fiery car crash. The five remaining children, Grandpa Allen, and Grandma Florence never recovered. So as lives moved on and time passed a rift occurred from the grief that never healed. To insulate us my father stayed out of contact until I made the choice to find his siblings. Until about five years ago when Grandpa Allen passed away, the kids came back together. Not all were there, I had already sent out letters and photos to most of the family by then so they knew who I was.
This reunion is not only for them but for my generation. So we can continue the family story for many more years. Plus games, shows, buffets and fun. There will many more posts about this.

No Pics

2010-03-10T08:43:00.001-07:00

I have neglected to write for a few weeks. OK, not neglected, we got a crazy virus which caused us to have to reformat the computers and rebuild them. So now things are lost.
All of our documents, music and photos were moved to an external hard drive. Now I can't find our camera USB cord so no pics until it is found.
It's been about two weeks since we had to this overhaul. Since then:

We got a new dog. He is 10 months old, so still a puppy. We found him at the shelter, we did not intend to come home with a dog but we loved him and he seemed to need us. He is about 33 lbs and is a "basset hound/ Australian cattle dog" mix.
I have finished my spring line and made a few custom pieces.
Lost 10lbs. (Not in two weeks just since I started working out in the mornings)

All of which I want to post pictures of.

Libraries

2010-02-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

I type at night and set my entries to post the next day:

I love the library, in fact I am sitting at one right now. Ti has a violin lesson at 6pm and I have an hour to kill. I actually have 16 min left to type this. I only get this computer for 30 min. Anyway, I love that I can get book and sewing patterns for free. Advice on how to grow great produce, or a children's novel about families with button eyes. I love that most of my Friends fro church work here and always smile when I come in. I always see at least 5 books I want to read get them home and they end up on a list for me to just buy.
We just started letting Bekah go along with Ti and hang here for a couple of hours on a Sat.
I also think that with all the loud voices in the media not one has centered in on the library being a socialist thing. Even though it kind of is.
Ok 12 min left.
Michael loves the library too. i guess my whole family does. Cris never comes but he is happy that our appetite for books is satisfied with out too much cost. Well I should get going. my goal is to check out a few books on CD so I have something to listen to while I'm sewing.
Ha! 10 mins to spare.

Excercise

2010-02-22T23:45:00.000-07:00

Every year I say I am going to get healthier. And every year we change something in our home for the better. But then This year came along and I found myself to be 210 lbs knowing that I am smaller than I was when we moved here 4 years ago.
We changed our eating habits. We now drink 1% milk, I eat 5 small meals during the day, we cut out Debbie snack cakes in our food storage, we moved for plain to whole wheat pasta, we now eat at least one fish supper a week and one non meat meal a week ( eggplant parm was last night). But that was not enough so we bought a recumbent bike so Cris could also work out. Although I was on that thing most days in the week I still found I was pretty sedentary.
In November I started hearing about the remodeling of the local rec center and thier good rates for a membership. I himmed and hahed. A friend of mine asked me to teach her how to sew offering her services as a personal trainer, I himmed and hahed. December flew by and January slipped past me. Then two weeks ago we started working out at 5:15 in the morning. Why so early? Between kids having to be dropped off, sewing time for me, computer time, chores, errands and family time 5am seemed like the only good time.
That first week was a killer. I had not seriously jogged in over 15 years in fact my sneaks had just died so I had to use Ti's. I was a blank slate so she had to teach me basics about gym etiquette and how to do weights.
Today will be week three. If I keep it up I will get a 3 month membership.
Other than wanting to look better, I also want to be healthier for my family. Someone recently told me that I was a downer, ok the word "downer " was not used but it sums up the sentiment. I know I can complain and I have struggled with several forms of depression through out my life. When ever I am seen by MD or a therapist the first thing they ask is how often do I exercise. So this new adventure in my life is something I think will help with this struggle. Besides Ti has already said I am nicer now that I am working out, except for the day after my first spin class.

Sometimes

2010-02-21T23:35:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I would like:

For people to answer with the truth when you ask the "How are you doing?". When they are obviously upset or annoyed about something.
A big mango cheese cake shake from Cold Stone Creamery.
To stay home with the kids for a week and not feel like I am a horrid mom if we don't go anywhere.
Not to be allergic to cats so we can have one.
To let my gray grow out to see what happens.
To stop being scared of mice so I wouldn't want a cat so much.
A simple girl's night out or a fun lunch with a good friend.
To have a block party where no one judges from their front porch.

Computers

2010-02-20T23:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the long wait for posts. We got a virus and well my hubby ended up rebuilding the family computer. We now have three in the house. One in the kitchen for the whole family, but mostly the kids use it. His new tax-return desk top, and now my laptop. The lap top was his work computer, the one he would connect to the office on and run diagnostic checks with. This year his company decided they wanted to start using Windows 7, unfortunately the laptop could not run W7 so he needed a new one. This is great for me now I can store all the family history info and Mind Your Marlos related items with out having to worry if one of the kids accidentally uploads a virus. So look for more posts this week. And yes the up coming Spring Brochure.

Give a Kid a Camera....

2010-02-03T09:06:00.000-07:00

And they will use up your memory chip...

A challenge

2010-02-02T08:54:00.000-07:00

A few posts ago I wrote about a coat. I was commissioned to take a child's design and upgrade it to a woman size. After much pinning and measuring I finished it. At times I felt like I was making a Snuggie. I use fleece for durability and easier up keep. Here is the final product.

I added two inside snaps to hold the structure of the garment. In the child's design only one snap was needed.

Upon request I added a hood. This was a challenge considering the original did not have a hood. I played around with the idea of making it removable. This did not pan out, too many buttons or a scratchy zipper.

Side, fleece lined pockets.

Adult next to child for design comparison.

Next year I want to try more wool or velvet coat designs. I think this one would be lovely ( yes I said lovely) in a nice gray velvet.

Lasagna Recipe

2010-01-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

My family loves lasagna. Last night I came up with a healthier recipe. I want to share it. I am assuming most of you out there know cooking basics. This a big dish. It will feed a good 8 people if you are having a party. I make extra so Cris can take some to work for lunch. It is also a great freezer dinner. It is nice to serve it with a green salad and lemonade.

Prep time 30mins cook time 40mins

1 lb ground turkey
1 1/2 12oz jars of spaghetti sauce ( I usually use a chunky variety)
1 box of whole wheat lasagna noodles ( I do not recommend the oven variety for this recipe)
1 16 oz low-fat tub of cottage cheese
1 egg
1 lb packet sliced provolone
1 lb grated Monterey jack/Colby
1 tsp dried minced onion
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp parsley
pinch of pepper
pinch of kosher salt.

Preheat oven to 350.

First I started preparing the lasagna noodles. While they boiled I began browning the turkey; adding the minced onion, garlic powder, parsley, salt and pepper ( to taste) into the pan.
As this cooked, I combined egg, spaghetti sauce, and cottage cheese together in a big mixing bowl. Set aside.
Once browned I added the turkey to the sauce mixture. By this time the noodles should be ready. ( I like then to be firm, considering the time they will spend in the oven.)
I used a non greased 11"x 15" glass pan.
Layer thus:
noodles
meat sauce
cheese ( grated Colby/jack)
Repeat this until you run out of noodles. I usually have more sauce than noodles so I just slather it over the top. Place the sliced Provolone over the whole surface of the lasagna. Use excess Colby/ jack to fill in the empty spaces.
Place in 350 oven for 40 mins ( or until it is bubbling and the top has browned a little).
Once out of the oven let it sit for at least 10 mins. Otherwise it's too hot and the layers will not hold together well.

I hope you like it send back a comment if you try it. When I say healthier I mean healthier than my previous recipe I usually use ground beef and lots of cheddar. I wanted to cut back on meat fats and grease in general. There is room in those recipe to add spinach as a layer or use ricotta cheese. Play around with it.

A few thoughts

2010-01-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

We restarted our 30days-to-a-dog (30TAD). Our kids are kids they are not perfect nor are we. So we let some things slide when it comes to the 30TAD. We can forget or overlook shoes out of place, some whining, even the unflushed toilet. This adventure in discipline is about respect for us. Let me just say we are now on day 2.

I have been commissioned to transform a children's pattern into an adult sized coat. so far so good. Here are some pics.

Here is the original design.

Ti got a new hair cut. It has caused me much turmoil. Yes, She chose it and I approved. She just needs the right product to do it the way she likes. I really shouldn't fight her. I remember fighting my mom on this kid of thing. I do get on her. As long as she makes an effort I will be nice.

30 days

2010-01-18T23:01:00.000-07:00

30 days. That is the time period the kids have to prove to us that they can handle getting another dog. This weekend was a long one. the kids had 3 days off of school and we played, watched movies, and they skied.
As I got over my fear of driving up a snowy mountain I also saw how my kids rallied together to bring a new dog into our home. This past summer we had to put down our dog of 7 years. She was a great dog until she started attacking little dogs on her walks. So we grieved and waited.
Here are the terms. We will post a chore chart and the kids have there regular responsibilities ( home work and putting away shoes...). If they can do their assigned chores, school related things and the random request from Mom and Dad for a 30 day trial period then yes we can go looking for a dog. The question is; what kind of dog?

Grocery drama, skiing, and an earthquake

2010-01-16T10:46:00.001-07:00

Okay, I promised to post everyday. I missed two days. But here I am up on a mountain while my kids are skiing. Someone today asked me why I won't ski. There are two reasons a) after paying for the ski rentals for the kids, and gas costs it is too expensive for us right now, b) I don't like the idea of me on flat sticks, hurtling down the side of a mountain, there needs to be at least one adult in the house who is physically whole.

Every two weeks we make a menu and a budget and I go grocery shopping. Yesterday my plan was to fill the pantry and stock up on canned foods. This might sound familiar to many of you out there. I am an organizational fiend. I say fiend because I have it all organized in my head. You may not see it when you come to my home, but trust me everything is in nice labeled containers in my mind. When I unload my grocery cart I try to do it in like things together; dairy w/ dairy, meat w/ meat....you get the idea. Since I can't see what goes on at the other end of the conveyor belt I have to trust the bagger. As I was loading the van with all the bounty I noticed the yogurt was packed with cans, Drano was packed with block cheese, and styling products were with fruit. I am I the only one who is bugged by that, I know there are many out there who are out of work or suffering in other ways. I also am aware that the bagger is probably new to this job. So I didn't complain. I am just glad that the red bottle of liquid poison did not in anyway seep out of it bottle and attack my Monterey jack cheese. I would have been out some great cracker cheese.

Now to the earthquake. No matter why this act of God happened unless an angel comes to you and tells you not to help Haiti it is our duty as Christians to help. Leave conjecture to the side. Besides those of us who have some kind of faith know that there are just somethings we should never voice. Like Tom Cruise and his belief that no one should take drugs for depression. Yes, we will have those people who will tell us what we don't want to hear and there is a need for that in our world. Thus the picture; Please do not feed your fingers to the horses. Some want to feed us their knowledge but if it is not done right all we are going to get is all the mess and no meat.

See you tomorrow.

Smog

2010-01-11T08:42:00.000-07:00

The air quality here in the Salt Lake Valley is not only dirty but dangerous. Today is a red air day. Schools are supposed to keep kids inside during days like this. The majestic mountains flanking the valley are barley visible in the day time.
I am not a scientist nor am I am environmentalist. I can't back up my opinions by detailed science or guaranty my numbers are correct. I am a mom who loves the outdoors, whose children are tired of staying inside when there is snow on the ground. Here are some of my ideas to help the pollution/inversion problem.

People here just need to drive less. My family lives in Riverton, Ut we have to drive everywhere. I drive the kids into school, ultimately driving to and from twice a day. We drive to the grocery, work and to the library. Our communities have been designed with cars in mind, so much so that I am tired of driving. I have thought of riding a bike everywhere in the warmer months.
Stop idling. I often arrive at the carpool lane early, always parking and waiting until I see children. Channing Hall as a whole has been very conscience about this issue. Encouraging parents and volunteers to turn of the engine. Two years ago my children went to another school. It was a free for all. Do you really need to have the engine on for the full 20 min you wait?
Trust your kids. My 12 year old daughter loves to read. She checks out at least 10 books a week in the summer. She can ride a bike to the library as long as she has a buddy with her. I give her our extra cell phone for emergencies. We started this when she was 10. Unfortunately she could not find one friend whose parents would allow their child to ride a bike less than a mile away. Trust them to walk to school (if you are in a walking zone), trust them to walk or ride to the pool.
Buy Local, give tax breaks to local manufactures.

Now for some loftier ideas:

There is already a car swapping program in Salt Lake City. I purpose a seasonal car swapping program. We often need snow worthy vehicles here in Utah. But many of us drive our huge cars all year long. There should be a program where you can leave your vehicle as collateral when you need a larger vehicle for what ever reason. Along with this a free website where someone can put in their schedule; where you want to go, at what time and it hooks people up to car pool there.
Like the Hydrogen Highway in Norway, Utah's I15 is perfect for our nation's first Hydrogen Highway. Solar powered hydrogen stations dotting our state's major thoroughfare. This can only happen if Honda will allow distribution of their power cell cars somewhere other than SO Cal. Okay I picked on Honda. Our American car companies could easily descend on Utah and start this program. Utah in general is very Patriotic and cheap. To develope this would take many funds but in the long run Utah's citizens would love to be the first to do it. Hydrogen cars in Utah= cleaner air, more water in our environment and ultimately this state less dependant on others for our fuel.
Solar panels on more roofs. This is an expensive proposal. I keep hearing that we need to be self reliant. Unless you have a big hill behind your north facing home you have some kind of sun exposure. We have a south facing home, our attic literally bakes in the summer. Last summer we had many power outages due to our area's AC needs. Corporate sponsorship would be great for this. Planet Green ( the cable channel) for instance could offer a town a solar retrofit once a year. If Discover, TLC and other channels can offer $2000 a show for home improvement surely someone can pitch in for these.
Yes we are at a higher altitude. Our gas is lower in octane than in other places because of the altitude. But this means dirtier air. And we are charged the same or even more for our gas (that is of less quality) than in other areas in the nation.

This has been building. Tear it apart if you want to I know that My ideas are not backed up with facts.

Blogging every day

2010-01-09T10:28:00.000-07:00

I think I will start blogging everyday.
This will be hard but I am on the computer every morning and a few tidbits should not be to difficult for me.

Lost: I am excited about this coming season of Lost. Cris and I have faithfully watched it since the beginning and I want answers. The season premier is Feb 2nd which happens to be the day of the Sate of the Union address. Many fans were upset by this worried that the SOTU would preempt Lost so they made a fuss on the Internet. I like the show but I think our country as a whole is more important than an hour long weekly drama.
Cris just got an update from Facebook saying that a White House official reassured Lost fans that the SOTU will not impede their program. Are we so vapid as a nation? I do Love watching this show. However, ABC should have pushed the premier one week. So what if we have to wait until Feb 9th. We have been waiting since May.
I am glad and dumb founded that they felt they needed to weigh in.

Books

2010-01-08T10:03:00.000-07:00

Woody dry aroma wafts from the
Pages in front of me
Reassuring me that I'm safe.
Dog eared, coffee stained, bent binding
Thoughts in my palm,
Worlds in black and white,

Taped pages yellowed with time,
A note left by someone.
Walking the same path,
We two hand and hand,

Until Journey's end.

I don't write much poetry. Enjoy.

New year

2009-12-30T23:24:00.001-07:00

2009 has gone quickly. The '00's have gone by so fast. I am supposed to be sleeping. But I have this urge to write so I will.
Christmas was great. We got a lot of , "This is the best Christmas ever!" From our kids and a little, "Well not compared to Disney Land of course." Right afterword.
Christmas week was great. A bowl game brought a ton of people over. We (BYU) won. Christmas Eve. I made a huge breakfast, cinnamon rolls with cream cheese glaze, orange juice and bananas. I was pulling them out of the oven when our friend Rachael came to the door. I love holiday drop ins and unexpected packages. So we enjoyed breakfast with her. Later we all piled into the van and headed over to my in-laws for Christmas Eve. Donna (mil) read "The Giving Chest" to the kids, Haley (niece) sang Silent Night in sign language , Ti performed a few carols on her violin, we had great food, lots of laughter and then Bekah threw up. She was rip roaring sick throughout Christmas day. Usually we are up at 5:30 opening presents but this year we waited until 8:30 when she felt up to it. After the morning festivities four of us headed over to Kendra's for Christmas dinner. We had a great time. We arrived home to find bekah sleeping with a high fever. Thus began the flu blazing through our house. I think we are almost done now. I have a residual cough and Ti has a fever but seems fine with hanging in bed reading.
Let's face it no one wants to be sick on Christmas but I am glad for it. We all pulled together and each gift was more special. When your 8 year old, so weak from fever insists on putting on her Christmas PJs because Mommy made them you can't help feeling the love.
I am very grateful for the holiday season. It reminds me of the love our family has for each other. Our ward's last fast and testimony meeting (this is where an LDS congregation is invited to individually take the mic to share their feelings about their Faith.), a wonderful lady in our ward got up and told us how grateful she was for her loving children. They all approached her as a group and purposed that the annual gift giving be set aside for one year to give service as gifts to each other instead.It got me thinking about the Balmanno clan. We do that through out the year. My bil is here at least once a month helping us with something. Cris' dad helps out with the garden twice a year and his mom watches the kids often ( she also now volunteers at the kids' school where 7 of the 9 grand kids go). So the idea is a sweet one and I am sure with other families would be great but it is second nature for our family.
I also had a great run in my little shop. I was busily working from the end of November right up until Christmas week. I still have some orders through March. I am hoping that as time goes on I will continue to have a good following. I took the last week off , on Monday I will be sewing again.
I will not bore you with my 201o goals right now. I do have a doosie of a list and need to sleep. (Look for it soon)
To wrap up for tonight. I think I am happier now in my life than I have been for a while. My family has always brought me joy, I am talking the whole package that is me is happier.
I have a wonderful man who supports me, Children who are feisty, an endeavor that is proving to be fulfilling and people who I love to be with around me. I hope 2010 will be even better.
Now if I can only get the Gilmore Family Reunion going.... hold up that is one of my goals!

I made a wreath!

2009-12-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

I am crafty. I have given in to this in the last few months. I never considered my self a "crafter" just a lady who likes art and sews a ton. But this holiday season I have embraced my craftiness. I made this wreath for under $25.

This is what you need:

1 can of aerosol hair spray (not included in price)

Hot Glue gun/ glue ( not included in price)

1 18 inch wire florists wreath

1 spool of netting ( can be found in the wedding section of most craft stores)

30 various sized plastic ornaments ( I bout a few matching sets from Walmart and Michaels

1 clip on bird (optional)

1 pound bag of gold buttons (optional)

I covered my table with news paper, the ornaments were very glittery. To combat this I hair sprayed the ornaments.

I then wrapped the netting around the wire frame totally covering the area of the wreath. About 4 times or until the wire is barely visible.

I laid out my ornaments to see where I wanted to place things.

Then the gluing commenced.

The netting was then threaded through the button holes. It took about 5 feet of netting .

I filled in empty spots with the buttons weaving the netting through the ornaments as I glued.

To give the wreath a soft airy look I cut 6 inch squares of the netting and stuffed them between the ornaments, also gluing as I went.

Finally I clipped the bird on and looped a 10 inch long piece of netting to the top of the wire frame, cutting a hole in the netting; to hang the wreath.

So much drama and a Photo shoot

2009-11-25T23:16:00.000-07:00

These past few weeks have been filled with 11 year old drama. Yes I have an 11 year old. She will be turning 12 in 1 month and a day. She also has a temper like mine. So when she hit some one at school and was suspended we went with the flow (we had both gone through this kind of thing) then she did it two more times. Well we couldn't have that, so she became our little Cinderella and we made it clear that she needed to find another outlet for her anger. So now our house is clean and she is practicing her violin more aggressively.

I think we got through to her let us all pray that is true.

Today was a crazy day. Tomorrow being Thanksgiving we had to clean, do laundry, prepare some desserts and get Michael to a Birthday party. But first I had another Mind Your Marlos photo shoot. I decided to take them myself. I borrowed my FIL's camera and set up a little studio in our living room. Ti made a piece of cardboard into a light reflector with a little tin foil. When the kids arrived we hurried to catch some day light. 177 pics, 4 lolly pops, 8 outfits and one crying baby later we had new pics for my Etsy shop. Take a look. Here are my faves. Thanks Amanda for letting me photograph your beautiful girls.

Fall Treat

2009-11-17T09:55:00.000-07:00

Leading up to Thanksgiving I try to avoid the typical Feast foods. So last year we started a small tradition. Okay maybe not a tradition but I did add something to our menu. I am going to share it with you.

Fall Chicken Salad for 5
(on a whole wheat bun or w/ wheat thins)

1 12.5oz can of Season Chicken
1/4 cup Craizens
1 medium sized Granny Smith apple cubed
Best Foods olive oil Mayo add until the desired consistency

This is one of my favorites . We tend to have it on Sundays for lunch. I can see it used as a heavy dip for the holidays because of the red berries and green apples. Use this recipe as you will. I also love to hear about your Fall faves.

Halloween

2009-11-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

I took a cue from Kendra and made a collage. I will have to say Halloween "09 was fun, even though I didn't dress up.

Michael was a Jedi and was excited when ever anyone guessed right.
Bekah was a witch...again. This time she had her own broom and she allowed me to give her "Tina Turner" hair. She walked around asking people who Motley Crew was.
Ti was a Christmas elf. One of three in our extended family, Check out the other two elves: http://http://whensmyvacation.blogspot.com/2009/10/merry-christmas-oops-i-mean-happy.html She wanted to be an evil elf and she looks pretty mean in these pics. I hope she doesn't give me coal for Christmas.
This year Ti and Bekah both walked around with friends. It was strange just walking with Michael.

Rave Reviews

2009-10-26T13:56:00.001-06:00

This week has been a busy one. We have had at least one of us sick for the last two weeks and this week was no exception. I have been working on getting Halloween costumes finished and making more kids coats.

(Just a small thought; I was going for "Tales From the Dark side" look for my title pic. Just in case anyone wanted to know :-) )
I have written about being discouraged with the progress of my shop. It's nice to know that others love my work as much as I do. When I received the following email I was elated.

Hi!
I just had to write you a note to let you know-EVERYONE loves my daughter's coat! My daughter has gotten so many compliments that if I had a dollar for everyone-I could buy TWO more coats. We were out at the Haunted Forest today and it took two and half hours to get through an hour event because everyone kept stopping us to ask about the coat. Thanks for making my daughter a fashionista!
Karen (HopesSillyMom)
>

October.

2009-10-12T09:38:00.001-06:00

I honestly think time is different for kids than parents. According to Einstein time is relative to our speed. Am I speeding up or slowing down? Last week I was having a pity party and now I look around and Halloween is almost here, our Christmas lights go up next week and we were at Disneyland 10 months ago!

I have mush to report I don't want to use my bullet points but they may have to come out. Let's see how far I get.
I am finally making some sales. I knew that the great photos and my kids coats would do well this year. Unfortunately the boutique that had great initial interest in my work turned me down because of market saturation. I understand that to be because of their lactation to Walmart and Kohls they do not think that kids coats and dresses will sell. It's no big deal but I was excited about trying something new.

I am currently working on a Halloween quilt for my family. I am almost done and will post pictures and a pattern soon. I am not a quilter, I just love to sew and now that the new T.v season has begun I find myself away from the sewing room. There is something soothing and safe about hand stitching, knowing that I am able to still create with out electricity.

Halloween orders are in, at least from my kids. I am to make two Jedi Knight outfits ( for Michael and Gabe), a witch cloak with a pointy hood for Bekah), and a cool costume for Ti. I will not divulge the plan for Ti's you will just have to wait.

I have decided not to hold back on my thoughts and feelings as I have in the past. If you think that I was already uncensored we will see how it goes. Just two things left.

SGU is a lot like BSG. But I like how there is still a connection to people on Earth. Scifi TV is better in General this year than in the past. I like that they have taken the time on good story lines and effects.

Kendra a shout out to you. You got your vacation! Several Time this past year. Now how about that girl's weekend. I am not asking you to pay.

I am going now to figure out how to decorate my porch for the fall, sew some cute coats, and possibly sing at the top of my lungs.

I'm probably digging a bigger hole

2009-09-28T22:50:00.000-06:00

I was so melodramatic when I wrote the last post. Women with PMS should not be allowed to post.
I need to clear up a few things:

As I read over my last post I think my wording was off. I have not lost a great friend I just feel the relationship slipping. We see each other at family functions and that is it. If you know the Balmanno clan you know that family functions are not conducive to one on one time. In fact sometimes it seems like there is a jostling for position with the kids, parents, grandparents and now two dogs.
I understand that I build things up in my mind and sometimes what grows is not a true version of what really happens.
I also know that no one has time anymore. I have a little more time that I used to. But the pressure is on for me to have a clean house, clean kids with good grades, volunteer at school, train for my new calling, and (now that I am taking orders) sewing for the holiday season. So when I try to make plans weeks in advance it's so no one's schedule is bothered.
I love this friend deeply. My sister-from-another-mother (SFAM) has supported me and listened to the diarrhea mouth I sometimes have when it comes to my complaints. The comfort that I used to feel is not there anymore. Maybe our lives have diverged too much.
These are the reasons I wrote what I felt. Even if they were wrong or just my perception. Like I stated in #3; there just doesn't seem to be time for me to talk to my SFAM and so all of this stewed inside me.

I do feel sorry that I may have caused problems. I just want to clear the air.

Hurt and Happiness

2009-09-27T20:38:00.000-06:00

Have you ever been bruised down to your core? An insidious pain that tends to eat at you, not hate but a clearly defined disappointment? One morning you realize that you were not good enough or that a friendship has died, this kind of hurt. I began to feel this way about a close friend six months ago. I am not sure why this happened nor am I totally blaming this person. I can be rough around the edges, judgmental and easy to to take offense. Who isn't?

I felt punched in the gut almost like the unwritten, unspoken music of our friendship was somehow not translating. One of us is listening to something else. Many times in my life I have had friendships come and wane. I have had mere acquaintances become confidants and I have hurt some making the break mutual. The cold shoulder of a friend so close has never rocked me so hard. I have tried praying, supplicating my thoughts to the Lord only to feel afterward that I need to give it time. Yet, I need to know why. How can I work this out when I can't get a clear answer from someone I may have hurt? Of course I feel that I am to blame. This is my MO, I see someone drifting from me and I scan all of the things I remember doing that may have caused the rift.

I am sure that the picture is different for my (ex)friend. It may not be me. No matter the reason the separation happened I need to stitch myself back together. I have to find out who I am without that shoulder to lean on. This plan sounds good and sound and yet I still am confronted with the uncertainty weekly. Comments hurt a little more and others feel forced. A person so close to my small circle that if I were to totally cut ties I would hurt others I care deeply about.
24 weeks of torturing myself wondering what I need to do. Sometimes I think I should confront this person, make my feelings known, letting out the emotions held prisoner inside me. I have shared how I feel with a few sometimes in waves of grief at a friendship now almost gone.

How do you measure this kind of friendship? The melodic serendipity that once was is now a strained smile here or there. So I learned to be careful. I cried in private, pleading with my heart not to care so much. Cris wanting to help but not understanding the connection became frustrated with me. Feeling alone for the first time, becoming distant and crabby to those I love the most. Feeling rejected with every unanswered invitation or forgotten activity. Then the darkness set in, and I drowned.

To surface again a few weeks later accepting that we had drifted apart and knowing that if I ever brought up the pain they would never see from my eyes how things had changed. Continuing to pray everyday that I would again find my happiness. I poured myself into the things I loved; my family, my craft, and the Lord. I am not fully whole I deal with the feelings of contempt rise inside me. I could become bitter and hurt this former friend. What would that accomplish? Now I know that this friendship does not determine my over all happiness.

As I write this I look back at the events in the past six months and realize that as I beat my self up about these things I just care more for any connection I make then others might think. For the first time I don't care how others perceive my quirkiness. I will carry on a little bruised but much more careful.

The Dream

2009-09-15T09:08:00.000-06:00

About a month ago I was a little discouraged about my shop and sewing in general. I love to sew and I am very crafty. At that time I felt the burden that most small business owners feel when nothing is coming in. I as any loving wife went to my husband. I told him about feeling inadequate, feeling as if my worth right now was determined by how my contributions to the family weighed compared to just my presence in the home.
This is a struggle for every modern woman. We are constantly told as girls we can do what we want. We can go as far and high as we set our minds to. And if that dream is to be home and raise your kids on your terms then that dream is attainable. Yet as women we undermine each other, with out thinking. Many have talked about the working mother vs. Stay at home mommery, or the single gal vs. married gal. Mothers like vegetables come in various shapes. I have been home with the kids for about 8 years now. My last out-of -the -house job was when I was pregnant with my second. Entering the work force actually scares me just a little bit.
After a decade and a year I have all my kids in school, neighborhood/family kids are not present at my home and we are with out a dog. It is me and my glorious, lonesome self during the day. I have achieved the goal I set out for upon marriage; to be a SAHM.
After many years wiping snot off the back of a coach, changing diapers, and snapping snaps I have found that I have this dream. A beautiful one that has been congealing in my mind for many years.
If I filmed this idea I would be using a softening filter on the lens, with beautiful music that starts instrumentally and would crescendo into rock music (preferably in the Radio Head vein), may be even some slow motion slightly blurred shots.
The dream to own and design my own children's clothing line. No, I have not gone to school for this. Yes, I am terrible with figures and will need help soon. No, I don't know everything about sewing and am still learning. No, there is no money to support this dream. I have been told my talent is there, that I am growing with my craft and to wait. Yet sometimes I do feel that others around me are inpatient with me. ( well manicured hand patting me on my head. Followed by a, "there there little girl.") They are ready for me to move on and get a "real" job. I suppose that is what you do when your kids grow and you find yourself cutting back on things. There are a myriad of excuses for why I should go out into the work force or to stay home. Then there is the other aspect of things. I do believe that there is some path that I am supposed to fulfill. Motherhood falls within this path. But I do feel there is part of that path that is equal to motherhood. I know that I have written about this before.
I have chosen to continue to work at this dream. The question is will I be taken as seriously in my wants and possible career choices as my husband and his choices?
Well after all of this I get to the reason for my post. After our conversation my husband told me this, "You sew because you love it. That is why you do it, get back to doing something you enjoy and don't worry about bringing in anything". We all do things because we love. So the dream is not dead just not so grandiose as previously formed in my mind. Grandiose is the wrong word, the grandeur of this picture in my mind is good and perfect. I think the better word is immediate.I will get there, and the path will be covered in moss and sometimes skunk weed will block my path. Who knows maybe I will even find sequins sparkling the way to my.....
The picture needs to bleed to slow motion so every detail can be seen. As an obscure, ethereal indie rock song plays and we go to the expected credits we just find
"To be continued" stitched onto the screen in the Harrington font.

First day of school

2009-09-09T09:00:00.000-06:00

I am very late with this one. Here are some pictures from Michael's first day of public school. He started Kindergarten a week after the girls. They look cute in their school uniforms. He has been so good about getting up and getting dressed then taking a shower right before bed. I think he likes going to the "big kid" school.

Mind Your Marlos Brochure

2009-09-04T13:19:00.000-06:00

Recently I have been asked by friends and some boutiques for a brochure so they have a better idea of what I make. So when I talked to Aaron (the photographer) about it he sent me all the photos from the photo shoot. Here is the 1st draft of the brochure. Tell me what you think.

Front and back

Inside

Thoughts

2009-09-03T15:30:00.001-06:00

Yet another fall season is coming. Now that its Sept I am hearing about some new shows and old ones that I am familiar with. I also hear that this season is the last breath of the dieing 5 networks. Since digital has enveloped mass media.

Heroes starts this month. This will be it's fourth I believe. Many of us fell in love with the X-men Like misfits featured in the show's first season. Then the crappy 2nd season cut short by the writer's strike. And the clean up efforts of the third season. So I guess the question is should I watch #4? I think I will give it a try I have invested time on what has come before on Heroes and think I should try it for at least 2 weeks even if Cris is still not committed.
Okay I am a Sci Fi geek. Fringe also starts this month in an alternate universe with Lenard Nemoy. Yes I like the X- Files feel. I will definitely be watching.
Dancing With the Stars: I am not sure, I have never watched it but Sabrina the perpetual Teenage witch will be on it. However I don't want to see an aging Donny Osmand.
Modern Family. It's new and it looks funny. I just want to see the dad who can do all the HSM dance moves.
Eastwick. Yep Witches and drama. I think that all the girls need to come over for it.
And as always Football is beginning. I become a BYU/NFL widow and enjoy it. There was that time I was in the hospital after my second child and was restless. The TV was bothering me because the remote was not as fast as my fingers. Until ESPN classic was playing a vintage football game. I tuned in just to hear it then I found I felt at home. I guess after the wafting sounds of some kind of sporting event fills out home I am accustomed to the madness.

Health Care, and a Possible Tumor

2009-08-29T21:22:00.000-06:00

The following letter was sent into the Salt Lake Tribune from Krystina's 6th Grade Science teacher. The fact that he taught my daughter proves just how good Channing Hall is:

Aussie Care
As a U.S. citizen who grew up in Australia, I'm excited to see America finally entertain a humane, sensible health care system to replace the immoral disaster that gets worse and more expensive.
Starting in 1972, Australia's health system has a public option that covers everyone's basic care. It costs just 8.5 percent of Australia's gross domestic product (compared to 16 percent for the United States). Individuals may buy optional private insurance that provides private
hospital rooms and speedier care. The cost for this top-level additional care?
My 82-year-old mother pays $80 per month.
In contrast, here I have "good" insurance and it costs $500 per month plus co-pays to insure myself, my wife and our 11-year-old. A serious illness will expose this $6,000-a-year policy's weakness, as demonstrated by innumerable U.S. health care nightmare stories.
In Australia, my father died of cancer with dignity and no financial hardship; my 9-year-old nephew's multi million-dollar bone marrow transplant cost his family nothing, financially. Imagine a world where family tragedies don't have to be financial tragedies as well. Don't listen to the insurance companies. Real health care reform will make all our lives better from the cradle to grave.
Peter Grant
I just finished reading my friend's blog. She is scared and worried for her 10 year old daughter who, as far a she knows, may have a brain tumor. Just when I feel lonely or down I heard of another who has it worse than me. Tami your family is in our prayers. We as a family have never gone through something like this. But we have had our fare share of medical emergencies. All I have to say is that the Lord put things in motion well before we see anything. We are but to live our lives as we promised Him we would, follow those covenants we entered into and remember that we all are on a long path that has so many turns we can not see what comes next. As a barely 20, glowing young thing I didn't know that one day my husband would be handicapped. And Yet I still promised him and our Father in Heaven that I would stay with him for Time and all Eternity. There were many who have asked me why our temple covenants are so important. I know that those same covenants both made in unity as husband and wife; and those made individually have placed a special umbrella of blessings over my family. No our lives are not perfect and we do have occasional problems. We are human. To have this extra bond that is not spoken of everyday and yet sometimes Cris and I will look at each other and know that our faith holds us fast and strong. Tami there is a reason for all of this I certainly don't know what that reason is. However, He is not a cruel God but a just and merciful Deity who sees the whole picture. The Balmannos are stronger because of our challenges. Hopefully you will be too.

Wisdom from a Crafty Dude

2009-08-25T12:46:00.000-06:00

The following a quote from dudecraft.com. He has captured my thoughts on crafting and design perfectly. I took this paragraph from a much longer post. http://www.dudecraft.com/2008/08/difficult-can-be-sexy.html

As craftspeople, we deal in fetish items. The people that like to buy handmade, like it because the items available to them are unique. They are not available at WalMart or anywhere else that the general public shops. When people buy crafted items, they want to feel special. They want to feel the rush that comes from owning something that's different, rare, or one-of-a-kind. So, when people look at an Etsy shop that is filled with 50 purses that all look similar, the rarity factor takes a dive. It's just not that special anymore. The piano dealer knows how seductive scarcity can be. By only putting out one or two pianos at a time, his shop becomes more of an art gallery than a clearing house.

Store Sign

2009-08-24T13:47:00.001-06:00

My good friend Amber was messing around with Elements and put together this picture. Featured are a couple of my children's clothing items. Every time I see this coat I am proud of my seamstress skills.

Bekah's Baptism

2009-08-18T10:26:00.000-06:00

My wonderful Rebekah 'Birdsong Boo Toothless' Erin Balmanno was baptized the 1st of Aug. My mom flew out and most of the Balmannos made it. She had to share her program with one girl who happens to be her birthday buddy.

I am so happy for her. Most adults would say they think an 8yrold could not make that decision. That the parents of the the child forced her into it. Rebekah and I fight all the time. She is head strong, knows what she wants and overly think decisions. She was talking about her baptism as soon as she turned 7.

The day went well Cris and Bekah went to pick up their Baptism clothing, my mom stayed up until 5am to make a buffet of Filipino food., and the house was over run with family and friends. We headed over to the building promptly seeing that Cris didn't have a towel. Later we found that Bekah forgot dry underwear with her dress, Cris didn't bring a new shirt and a tie for after the baptism. But otherwise things went smoothly. Azalea's family had the first half of the program and we had the end. Grandma Balmanno gave the Holy Ghost talk then Ti performed "When I Am Baptized" on her violin. Ti was nervous but still having memorized the music did well.

Autumn Museings

2009-08-18T10:07:00.000-06:00

I live in Utah. It is August. So why am I wearing a long sleeve shirt and slipper socks? We have a had a cold wave. The temp is supposed to go up tomorrow but I do hope we don't reach 100 again in the SLC valley.

I received at least one order for a dress coat. WOOHOOO!

Last fall I crocheted a Harry Potter inspired hat. I sold two of them. This week I noticed this photo posted on my etsy site:
Took a walk with two 5 year-olds today. The crisp morning air makes me want fall to be here today.
Yesterday was the first day of school. No pics, but lots of hugs after school.
Michael had his Kindergarten assessments yesterday and he was shy as usual. His teacher, Mr. Mike was giving me the "if you know he is shy why don't you walk him in yourself" look. My answer to that is If I always took him by the hand e would never do things him self.

Hard working Americans

2009-08-13T22:58:00.001-06:00

We have all met a person who likes to sponge off others. We had a family who lived on our street who used to work the system for free toys at Christmas time every year. We also all know people who work hard and are rewarded for their work. What about all of those people who work hard and still can't make ends meet? You know those families who work two full time jobs each and still can't afford their rent or food or clothing let alone Health Care. It's very easy to look at those people and say they are free loaders if they take advantage of social programs designed to help those of us who truly need it.
Cris and I have been there we were all of 20 and pregnant. No Health coverage, no diploma, no real job. Just 3 or 4 jobs each trying to pay our student loans. Without WIC and the Virginia Health Department we would not have been able to feed our selves let alone raise a child. Cut to two years later Cris and I had been hit hard by the Dot com bust. Cris had blazed through 4 jobs in one year. Then came Christmas Ti was 18months old and Cris showed up at home early from work only to tell me he was laid off again. We were already living in government subsidized housing. And of course Ti needed shots. Without the Church and WIC and the unemployment office we would have been starving. Were we not hard working? Were we without a good work ethic?
There are several thousands of people who have lost their jobs, along with their employment went their benefits. So all of you out their who say your tired of free loaders who don't work hard and sponge off the government; just because you have never needed it or are too proud to ask for help doesn't mean we as a nation should turn our backs on those who need the help the most. Some of us don't know how to become self reliant. I find it ironic that the majority of the people who are against social programs to help the poor are those same people who tout that we are a Christian nation. Maybe I haven't been paying attention but Christ preached that we should not only tolerate the poor but there should be no poor among us.
How else are we to end the cycle of poverty?
I am not calling for a Socialist state where everyone is entitled to some kind of labor. Nor am I saying the government should hand out programs to everyone who asks. We should not base our policies on the idea that if you are with out a job or are not self sufficient then you must have done something wrong and you deserve what every comes to you.
I am sure that woman whose baby is now in the NICU totally planned for this and accounted for 3 months of medical bills ending in the family filing for bankruptcy just to be able to pay for food. We should have social safety net if we don't take care of our citizens who will?

Mind Your Marlos Fall Photo Shoot

2009-08-12T22:21:00.001-06:00

Well the first Pics are in and they are amazing. Remember this name : Aaron Eskaran. He is the brave soul who took on this endeavor. I am a micro manager and picky as hell about how my products are portrayed. He was a champ. Take a look for your self. And yes these are all of Bekah. More pictures to follow. I am currently taking orders for coats and sweaters.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hynpoloboy/show/

2 Blogs 2

2009-07-30T15:15:00.000-06:00

Although no one has left a comment on my last 2 Blogs post I have decided to consolidate. I will be disbanding Mind Your Marlos and moving everything to Murl's Country. I think this will better portray me as a whole person. Oh now I sound new-age-y. I saw a woman today who I met at a crafts boutique and she is doing well w/ her shop. I couldn't help but think what am I doing wrong.

I will give the shop another good push for the fall and hopefully I can make it into some of the boutiques that are coming up for the winter.

Here is my plan:

Consolidate my focus by combining my blogs (maybe even changing the name of the whole gambit).

Start up the Mind Your Marlos FB fan page again.

Having new photos taken of all my inventory.

Working on different sizes (I'm thinking 18-6)

Plastering posters all over local boutiques.

I have $0 to work with so I hope this goes well.

We just wrapped up a photo shoot. A good friend of ours helped us out by doing it for. Free we found a great fish pond and park in Bluff Dale where the kids would run around. I will post the photos soon.

Channeling Zeny

2009-07-22T13:13:00.001-06:00

Sometimes I find myself channeling my mother. All of us women do at one point in our lives act like our mothers. My mother was a prolific nagger, her voice still gets to me sometimes. We have about 5 weeks left until the kids go back to school. Everyday they have chores to do before they can go and do anything. My mother was never strict about that she would yell and belittle us but never with any consistency. This morning I was hard on my 3. I love them dearly and want all the wants and hopes most mothers do. I also would love them to play and be carefree. But my temper gets the best of me and I micromanage then feel guilty the rest of the day.

Do I think my children are something other than who they are no. I do understand that they will forget their chores or do them half-assed just to get me off their backs. But I would hope they would be more honest with me. Because I am here all day everyday I fear they will never truly respect me. I have seen this many times with other families, the parent who was not the caretaker is treated better. My choice to stay home is just that. I don't feel compelled to because my church says I need to or that my husband forces me to be here. I stay home because I truly feel it is the best for my kids. The question is it the best for me?

I have tried being kind or using logical punishments. I have been nurturing and soft. I have been told not to the let my kids control my actions. I have also been taught that we need to teach with love. I do hope I am teaching the 3 more than curse words and bad anger management. My kids no doubt feel that I am a tyrant who doesn't care what they feel. I care so much for how everyone outside of me feels. When will others care how I feel?

I hope you don' t interpret this as my way of saying that I am tired of watching over children. My in laws have been very careful around me when it comes to asking for a sitter or serving their kids food. The ladies at church misunderstood the reasons for my request to be released from Primary. I don't hate kids nor do they bother me. I am just tired of being by myself a lonely adult in a child's world. I can't get the image out of my head of a women I used to sit for telling her friend,"I am finished having kids, I was a cow for 10years, pregnant or nursing without a break." Afterword she went on to say she was going back to school.

Why is this like Zeny? She too had 3 (2 girls and a boy), she too was home all the time and was disrespected by us children. I know she had dreams of her own but was not able to fulfill those dreams. She took it out on us. She was mad most of the time and sad some of the time. I don't think we really knew her until we were grown and she was on antidepressants. I feel that way sometimes.

I am happy with the choices I have made. My husband is loving and funny, my kids are smart and beautiful, we live in a safe neighborhood and we have good family near us. I am all of 33 and finished having kids of my own. There are many blessings in my life. Which no doubt will be posted another day.

I will end with a few questions:

Do our loved ones truly know what we as women give up to become wives and mothers?
How do you define yourself when there is no one around you to base the measurement on?
If happy mothers make for happy families is true then why is it a stigma for mothers to ask for help?
I am I being realistic to think there will be a time for my wants and dreams and that others will sacrifice on my behalf for those said dreams?

Family

2009-07-20T09:04:00.000-06:00

How would you handle this?
Our middle child is now eight and has chosen to be baptized into our church. We live near most of my husband's family so when we sent out invites we only mailed four, (2 to grandparents, one to my sister in Florida and one to a cousin in Tooele who I can never get a hold of).
Here is the problem:

Since we only sent out four that left out Cris' siblings who all live in this state and can be contacted easily.

On a weekend visit one sibling saw an invite and is now in a huff for not being invited.

This is not my event this is Bekah's and she chose who she wanted to send invites to.

I am going to be honest we have not had the best relationship with this couple and although we want family to be apart of this special day we don't want more drama than me (the mom ) brings to the event.

What would you do?

2 blogs

2009-07-20T08:45:00.000-06:00

I have two blogs. This one and a separate one for my Etsy shop. Now I don't think I have many readers for the other one and I am thinking of combining them. I am a little concerned that my readers will tire of following my crafting antics. Let's face it no matter what business you have (unless you're Walmart) you are not making money right now. Almost everyone I know on Etsy has had slow to nonexistent sales. I do have a little hope. There are some out there still looking for good quality one of a kind things for gift giving this year. What do you think: should I continue to have a shop blog or should I consolidate and join the two halves of my life together? And if I do marry the two which name should I keep?

Mind Your Marlos Fall/Winter Preview

2009-07-20T08:44:00.000-06:00

Today begins my fall/winter preview. Unfortunately we had a black out last night and I was not able to post pictures or write up descriptions for all of you out there.I am thoroughly tired of black outs. Although I usually love black outs, the chance to see the stars more clearly or the fact that we have to get creative with food prep or even just the quiet that emerges when my appliances are not running; we have had more this spring than a modern city should have. I understand that there are those out there who have rolling blackouts or no power at all. I wouldn't mind so much if the county would admit that we have had far too much growth without the proper accommodations to the grid. I still wouldn't have a problem with scheduled power outages that I can work with.In March we had one a week, it petered out to at least one a month and now we have had about two a month. Sorry for the rant to all of you out there.So my excuse is over. Today I will be posting some picts and designs for this fall/winter. Some of these items will be available now at my store http://mindyourmarlos.etsy.com and I am take custom orders now.

Camping Pics

2009-07-10T09:15:00.000-06:00

From the Balmanno camping trip in early June.

Ribbon Dispenser 2

2009-07-10T08:45:00.000-06:00

Earlier I posted about my search for the perfect ribbon dispenser here is the second third of that story. I was unable to find a dispenser that suited my needs so I decided to make one.

I first began with a shelf from Ikea. I like to look around their as-is section for pieces I can fiddle with.

Then I measured the ribbon spool for depth.

I noted the width of the dowel. And then chose a drill bit to match.

After drilling four holes (two on each side) I sanded the entire surface of the shelf down with a fine grade sand paper. Then using a damp cloth wiped the dust off.

After the shelf was dry I painted. I primed it then I put 3 coats of white enamel acrylic paint. Letting the paint dry in between coats.

Mikey's Preschool Graduation

2009-07-08T12:25:00.001-06:00

Showing off his certificate.

Mikey sitting with his best buds from class (LtoR): Blake, Mikey, and Cameron.
He was really nervous so his Teacher helped him with the hat.

This happened at the end of May, sorry for the lateness of this post.

Mikey is not much for crowds so he participates reluctantly.

My Dad

2009-07-01T11:24:00.000-06:00

Excuse me please for not posting about my dad. Father's day came and went I was pretty busy that week and so here I am now.

15 things I love about my dad:

My dad is a cut up. He always tries to make people laugh. Rather telling you to try a new fashion trend just to see your face when you realize you look dumb or hold up score cards when someone falls.
He taught me the importance of science and a classical education. I used to complain but I am glad that I was punished with reading the encyclopedia. And I will never forget walking in our rain coats for a night of watching lightning. Reading Science News together when it came in the mail or helping me to understand the cosmos.
He instilled a love for stories and surprise endings. Who knew I was found under a rock in the woods or that you can fly a cat in a kite? The need for good stories and recognizing bad ones.
We didn't need Forrest Gump we had my dad. I am sure most of his war stories were enhanced but I loved hearing them. Plus he had the bullet holes to prove he put his life in danger for our country. My next trip out I want to help him organize all the medals.
Because of his military background he had a knack for weeding out bad boys in my life. He stood back and let us girls like who we wanted to but when the time came he would display his machete collection and talk about guns. He was always good with Cris that's how I knew he liked him so much.
My dad loved painting a picture not only with paint and canvas but with words also. My love for family history began when he told us stories from his childhood. Now I am one of a few people in my extended family who has the records. I am searching for more directly because of those stories he used to tell.
Wow another reason that has to do with story telling. When my parents were married at some point they talked about kids. It was agreed that my mom being Catholic would baptize us into her church as babies. Although I don't believe in infant baptism I feel that my mother was doing what she could to protect us. And when the time came my dad would allow the missionaries to teach us about The LDS church. My mom did not like the church she was taught many bad rumors and didn't like the Book of Mormon in the house. My dad smoked, drank, and cussed like a good sailor but he didn't let the church go. As we were growing up he would tell us stories sometimes they were about his family, at other times he would tell us about animals or Pres. Reagan. But those tales of John and his brothers coming over a great ocean. Then finding land while following a great brass ball compass. Or the story of Avery and his coat of liberty, I can't forget Adam and how he burned to death because he disagreed with the king. Or the one about the boy who went into the woods to ask God a question. He changed the names and told us these stories that we could be prepared for the day the Elders came. And when they did my sister I already knew all the stories from the Book of Mormon
Watching my dad embrace other cultures I learned that people of other faiths have many things to offer us. I grew to have a sympathetic understanding of other faiths from seeing him do the same.
If I call he usually will talk to me. Talking me down from punching my B-I-L and his wife while we lived with my in-laws for 10 months or talking me through how to get the mower working. He reminded me that my teeth were crazy hard to pull out and maybe Bekah's were the same way.
He taught me how to see art in everything. I am a creative person; sometimes the ideas in my head try to come out in bursts. Everyday I note the color of the sky at sunset. How to mix colors and mediums to receive the wanted effect came from him. The idea that one needs to step back and observe one's environment was also something I learned from him. These are just a few of the reasons that you may find me sitting in my lawn just listening or watching the shadows of the clouds passing over the grass.
His love of nature. One thing I like about this area is all the parks. We would go on nature walks. How else would I have learned the differences between an oak tree and a Sassafras? He taught me that we have a responsibility to conserve our natural areas.
He loves Scifi. And now so do I, if it wasn't for our Saturday night late viewing of Doctor Who we wouldn't have had that time together. Star Trek, Star Wars, and so many more. Books were always available and he encouraged us to read. He would assign us books and usually they were to create a spark in us to change the world.
Along with the future ideas growing in our heads we had a definite idea of the past. My dad would teach us about older ideas and cultures long gone. He has a knack for finding old pieces of furniture and making them into new things. He looks at the world and sees the possibilities we have with new technologies while embracing the sturdy already weather worn, time tested things. My love for old radios and type writers. Comes from him.
He taught me how to sew. I don't think this needs much explanation. But we began with hand stitching. see #13.
My love for music of all genres. I can still remember standing on my tippy toes, putting a Beatles album into the 8track tape player, or listening to classical music rise with the sun as the solar powered am/fm radio would kick in or even still hearing the haunting voice of Anne Green ( Irish music legend) wafting through the house. From Blondie to Silly Wizard, From Hank Williams Jr. to whistling Mozart in two part harmony with my sister. He would dance a jig and soon I would be too.

Thanks John for being my Daddy. Many can say they have fathered children but not every one can be a Daddy.

Beatles

2009-06-20T00:03:00.000-06:00

If you know me you know I love the Beatles. Tonight I had the opportunity to go to a Beatles tribute Band concert. I a) love live music and b) love the Beatles. I sang along to most of the songs and danced to just one. Kendra and I had a great time making fun of each other and just doing something. I guess with our busy lives we haven't had much time to do anything together other than family functions.
Which got me to thinking about Marlo. Not Mommy, Murl, Honey or Sister Balmanno. I have many hats over the last 13 years as Marlo Balmanno. I am primarily wife and mother to my little brood however, now that Michael is 5 and he will be starting Kindergarten this fall I like many before me have asked myself ,"Where do I go now?
I have never been under the impression that S-A-H-Ms were less competent or have less personality than other women. When Cris and I wed I knew I would be a mother and what that entailed. Now that my babies are older (they can all wipe their own butts and take showers) I have more free time. So I started an on-line store, then I started a family history web site. I keep a decently clean house. I know the base boards are not washed down weekly but we do vacuum every day. I am busier and the need of the the family come first. Yet more and more I find myself reverting to the Marlo of Yester Year (MOYY) .
When adults would say that being a parent changed them I would think ,"Yeah! You gain weight, get less sleep, you have to get a real job and you hair turns gray." But now I see that you give of yourself for your kids. I gave up writing plays, dancing, singing, a regular job and more. I am not complaining one wit. I am happy I gave those things up. So why do I find myself drawn to those same things again? The Beatlesmania concert brought a lot of memories back. MOYY was there and she wanted to dance so I did.
I cringe when I see mothers of my own age so serious. I am not by any measure a calm, collected role model for my kids, MOYY shows up often in my temper and flightiness. Sometimes I feel guilty because I am not patient or nurturing as I should be. I am a demanding person and I am also a forgetful one. Now that I have peace in my life I want what I want. I have never been so selfish in my actions as I am now. Is this wrong? I don't know. But I do know that I would rather live life with transparent passion that to hide it from my children and hope they will turn into okay adults.
I probably will never shake off this guilt. I am sure that I will feel that my wants came between me and my kids. MOYY will surface more and more frequently. The concert going, loud, passionate, green eyed, dancing, bombastic music listener, foul mouthed, guilt ridden, drama queen, artsy, book addict, and that emotional girl I was 13 years ago will emerge again hopefully with a clearer mind and clearer skin. Is there room for her in this new place?
I guess it's almost easier for girls like me to have the daily grind of diapers and babies to keep themselves occupied. You go through the motions and you dedicate yourself to the day to day and when that is over you wake up one morning and you have a Depech Mode song stuck in your head and you are ready t get some bubble gum pink high lights in your hair.
Yes one Beatles tribute concert did this too me. I was ready to take flag girl down a few rows in front of me and slam dance my way into Nirvana. MOYY needs to stop before Ti starts taking notes from her.

It's been a while

2009-06-18T13:25:00.000-06:00

Wow I haven't shared in a while. This past month has been great and crazy at the same time. School let out for the summer and we had a huge family trip which turned out well.Usually by now the temps well in to the upper 80s and out yard is parched from the heat. But 2009 stuck it's tough out at us here in Utah and has sent us a monsoon. I am not complaining the last two weeks have given me plenty of rainy days for creative thought. Today we had a lull in the wet goodness and I found myself along side my 11 year old,knee deep in weeds. The overwhelming sent from our garden has my mind churning for my next line. I will keep that to my self for now.
I have also been working hard in the studio for summer and fall. Now that it is summer breezy cottons have caught my eye; paisleys and stars for the fourth, skulls on pink with yellow flames, purple petaled, and much more.
Last month I have also found my way into a collaboration with a friend who sells Mary Kaye. The Class went well and there were a few looks at my creations. If you are in the Riverton, UT area I will be hosting a Look and Learn* get-together on July 27th at 2pm. Just email me or leave a comment with this post. I like to give in-the-flesh customers first pick from my inventory. After a Look&Learn day I will be posting the remaining items on line.

*A Look&Learn night is one where you can take a look at new items from my store see upcoming lines and Learn something new. This time I am working with a Mary Kaye rep but we may learn how to make jewelry next.

2009-06-12T16:01:00.000-06:00

If you keep saying something it doesn't mean I am going to agree with you.
I defer to my Husband in a lot of things. It doesn't mean I am an automaton.
I did not throw a tantrum. You would know if I did.
You don't know everything, nor do I so stop treating my like I know nothing.
I of all people would know if Cris is hurting or not.
We feel strongly about children and media, we run our household accordingly.
So what if I want something, my wants usually are last on my list.

A smörgåsbord of thoughts

2009-06-12T15:27:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I feel so discouraged. It ebbs and flows and this time it's hit me hard. Should I get a job, or continue to pursue my store? I feel heavy and uncertain as I try to get mundane things done through out the day. I love to cut fabric and create something new yet these last three days have found me lackadaisical.
Camping was a good distraction yet even last weekend I was an emotional water balloon. I apologize to Cris' Sib's for my out burst. I have always felt welcome within the protective umbrella of the Balmanno Clan until a few months ago. We have always joked around at someone's expense, however something shifted; loving jabs turned into humiliating punches. By no means do I include everyone in this. I know this could all be my perception, I have since tried to let things roll off my back. I was braced for the camping trip. I ignored many things that bothered me I just had enough of placating others. So let me be the hot head. To me one can be both a friend and part of my family. I guess I started feeling like I was permited to be around because of family ties but otherwise a non-entity.
I have always been sure of myself in a few areas: Sewing, Knowledge of Music Lyrics, and LDS Theology. Two weeks ago we discussed the three degrees of glory in Sunday School. We were asked who would be in the Terrestrial Kingdom. I raised my hand to share my view and we interrupted mid thought. I rebuffed a nice man who was trying to help me with my definition.
I again apologize if i was rude. For those of you who were there and were not there this what I wanted to say:
" I think that the answer is quite simple. Those people who a) lived without law, b) were pagan, c) were good people whom the Gospel was brought to them and rejected it, d) were members of the church who did not fully live up to their responsibilities (a.k.a. Covenants), and e) those people who would have accepted the Gospel if it was brought to them but would not have lived it fully. "
Now I understand many have told me to look at J.S.s dream about his brother Alvin. Yes it does state that small children who die before their eighth birthday, and those who would have fully accepted the Gospel if they had a chance to learn it here will reside in the Celestial kingdom. After all the head shaking in S.S. I boned up on the actual Doctrine. I still feel this way about the subject. I am not very articulate in person so some tend to jump on my verbal mistakes.
I will now go spend sometime in the sun, maybe that will help

Camping

2009-06-09T12:45:00.000-06:00

As much as I complain about being out here in Utah I will have to say that the national parks are beautiful. Most of the Balmanno Brood went camping this past weekend. There were 9 kids and 7 adults. We caravaned down to Zion National park and camped next to each other.
The plan was to camp, hit St. George, go to the Grand Canyon, and hike Zions. We did all of that sans the Zions. The trip went well there was little to no drama. I was the one that lost it.
Quick High Lights:

The weather was cool so for the most part we slept well.
The kids had built in friends.
Everyone pitched in to get meals ready.
Dairy Queen
Photo Scavenger Hunt
Good strong fires and Smores
Grand Canyon

I will fill in later. I am signing off for now. I have a mountain of laundry to do and a house to air out.

2009-05-23T08:55:00.000-06:00

Goodbye Sandy. In Bekah's Words

2009-05-22T15:23:00.000-06:00

Today we lost Sandy!

We love Sandy!

She has golden fur and beautiful eyes!

She

the

best

dog

ever!

She attacked two dogs, so she was put down. :(

And will never wake up.

They give her a shot

and she never wakes up. :(

We love Sandy.

Mind Your Marlos' First Photo Shoot

2009-05-21T21:14:00.000-06:00

I have been sewing like mad lately, and Obviously not blogging. Sometimes I spot some great fabric and instantly I have an idea pop into my head. Well the patriotic side of me came out. Which led to our outing today. We I say "our" I mean me the designer/manufacturer, Christine Everill my photographer, and Andrea Conrad the stage mom. Okay she is not very stage-momish, But she did provide the talent. Here is a sneak peak at my latest and greatest. I have some oldies in here also. They will be available in my Etsy store this weekend. If you're interested I will be teaming up with one of my Mary Kay friend's presenting parties. All of the inventory showed on-line will be there. The plan is to have a great night of girlie lotions and little girl clothes.
Christine arrived at my home at 9am on the dot. She was armed with her trusty camera and a chair. She also had a head full of ideas. Andre came next and we all jumped into her car and drove just a block away to a wild field. I was concerned I would be too choosy about how the pictures were being taken. However Christine was a pro she rolled with me and her allergies. All in all the shoot to 2 hrs from start to finish. I think I will round up a slew of kids next time so everyone is dresses and ready for us.
These two ladies were kind enough not to charge me for anything. It's nice to have broken the 18month new neighbor barrier.

Murl's Country

Michael's Baptism

Fall Photo Shoot for MYM

Frog hunting

I Am A Christian

Harry Potter Harry Potter!

Bekah turns Double Digits Yo!

More Summer fun

I am a deliquent Blogger

Vacation Stop 2

Vacation Stop 1

Eigth Grade Gradutation

More Videos

Bumm For a Mom

Dear Friend,

I Am Infatuated

Teen Angst

Music

Christmas Pics ( Yes more of them)

My Favorite Holiday Cookie Recipe

Motherhood or How a camera strengthened my testimony

Holiday Fun 2

Holiday Fun

Arches

So many changes

Mind Your Marlos has moved

Trip Day 1

Accesories Photo Shoot

My Favorite Pictures of Summer '10

Tips For a trip to Branson, Mo

Me and me

Trip 2

Trip Part 1

Photo Shoot (Michael)

Photo shoot (Bekah)

My poor kids

Mind Your Marlos Fall/Winter teaser

Photo High-jinks

Planning this Reunion

Side Walk Sale

What ever Happend to:

Mind Your Marlos New items are here

Easter Fun 2

Easter Fun 1

Mother's Day

Easter, Growing up and Gardens

Passive Aggressive

Definition

Family Reunion

No Pics

Libraries

Excercise

Sometimes

Computers

Give a Kid a Camera....

A challenge

Lasagna Recipe

A few thoughts

30 days

Grocery drama, skiing, and an earthquake

Smog

Blogging every day

Books

New year

I made a wreath!

So much drama and a Photo shoot

Fall Treat

Halloween

Rave Reviews

October.

I'm probably digging a bigger hole

Hurt and Happiness

The Dream

First day of school

Mind Your Marlos Brochure

Thoughts

Health Care, and a Possible Tumor

Wisdom from a Crafty Dude

Store Sign

Bekah's Baptism