Look what I did!

My little sisters 11th birthday party is tomorrow, and as head party planner I took it upon myself to create these cute party favors. I originally saw these in Scrapbooks Etc magazine as Valentines, but with a few cute adjustments I easily made them into thank you presents for tomorrow.

I started by finding cute paper from one of my scrapbook paper stacks, and cutting out squares about 5" by 5".

Then, for the front sticker, I used a circle cutter to cut small circles in white paper,

And slightly bigger ones in pink paper. I then used Paper Shaper scissors to create a scalloped design on the pink circles.

Next, I used a hole punch to punch two holes in the top center part of the square,

and the bottom center of the square.

Then I took the cute pencil,

And slid it through the square (so it looks like a sail.)

Then, the easiest part, glue the smaller white circle, onto the larger pink one.

I just used a regular ol' pink pen to script the thank you's onto each circle.

I had a little more blank space than I thought, so I stuck color coordinating gems to decorate them a little.

Finally, adhere the completed thank you sticker to the front of the square, (with the pencil inside) and you've got yourself a cute party favor that took little effort.

All five of mine turned out so wonderful, I know the girls will love them!

Just a lil' controversy.

On a more serious note, a topic that has been coming up a lot in the last year or so that has caused a mass amount of controversy, is something I would like to take a whack at talking about. Now I know when I say controversy, everyone kind of sits up a little bit and pays attention. Feel free to debate with me this important topic, because it is in fact so important, I felt the urgent need to bring it up on this here blog.

It is very controversial so if you get offended, please. Feel free to stray to another place.

Here is the topic:

Lady Gaga.

Lady Gaga, originally born Stefani Germiaotattaa was born in rural kansas amidst a tornado rainstorm. She and her dog Toto set off to find the death star, and ended up at Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory where she made Hershey's Kisses until she got kicked off the Biggest Loser for taking dietary supplements. She then found her way onto a stage somewhere where people could see, dressed in nothing but a taxidermy rat and a bottle of Gerber baby food, where she decided to just "go with it" and sing about STD's or something.

Maybe that is a tad fabricated, but I looked her up on Wikipedia, and that was far too much reading. Because I only know so much about her Willy Wonka lingerie past, this completely makes me utterly unqualified to join in the discussion about.. her in general, but this is my blog, and I will do with it what I want.

It seems to me she started out as a small fad. I remember hearing that song about dancing in the club, and her shirt was upside down and her phone was gone. Something along the lines of that. That song has been done one thousand and one times though, so it never really stuck in my head. Then came the song about Poker Face, which I later learned to be something so shocking, I almost gasped when I found out. I remember watching a clip of the video, where she was like, in a pool. Then there was a big dog. Then she was on fire or something. I'm not entirely sure.

Then, she came out with the hair bow, and wearing leather jumpsuits or something. She started getting a little wild. In my opinion, this was a test run by the record company to make sure the public could actually accept someone so wild. Unfortunately, the scum of America decided to latch onto her odd music like leeches, and she got a little more crazy. It was then I started seeing the stranger outfits. The odd dresses shaped like peacocks, the weird lacey thing, and then just like, a giant balloon or something. This was fine with me, if she likes to wear that stuff, that's okay. Then she started coming out with those songs about Alejandro and doing all sorts of nasty things to a 'disco stick' (whatever you younguns call those) and I was like, "Whoa. This is some crazy shiz up in here."

Then she started running around the world wearing nothing, and calling people "Monsters". I thought that they would be offended by this, but apparently they soaked it up like a spilled Blue Moon at a high school party. They loved that stuff. Her tunes are catchy, and I have caught myself humming the words to one of her songs about rough sex and dirty nasty chlamydia or whatever it's about. It's pop. I don't think it's about anything.

So I decided to look up a few more videos. They seemed to be quite popular, and I rather enjoyed the video for 'Telephone' even though the first part was a little offputting. Then I watched the one for 'Alejandro'. This is where this blog post was formed.

Just watch it for a few seconds. The intro is unbearable.. but finish it off to at least the part where she is being raped by would-be neo-nazi's in some sort of cheap Ikea bed.

This is the part where you click here.

....

Right? You are just as confused as me? I get the first part. Maybe she is jumping on the vampire bandwagon by coming out of the futuristic alien coffin things. Then it gets all sorts of flavors of crazy when all the creepy dudes come out and grab her all inappropriately and I feel like my eyes will drip out of my head because this is just the worst thing I have ever seen. Then she gets in this latex red nun costume or something, and she goes all up and out and does some stuff, and I just had to turn it off because I was so crazed and disturbed. I did not like. And I never saw anyone named Alejandro in this video. Maybe all those dudes were Alejandro? I just don't know! I need Cliff's Notes for this video! WHAT IS GOING ON?!

Basically, I don't buy into the whole "I was born as Lady Gaga" crap whoever controls her is trying to throw at me. "Lady Gaga" was born in a boardroom by a bunch of suits who wanted to make big bucks, and Beyonce and J-Lo's ass were not cutting it anymore. They threw in some poor white chick, put her in a turkey costume covered in glitter, and everyone loved it. But! They got what they wanted, because she is definitely a household name, and no one will stop talking about her until she dwindles into a somewhat irrelevant existance.. like someone that this Lady Gaga reminds me a lot of..

5 Albums that changed my life

A friend of mine once did a Myspace blog post about 10 Albums that changed his life. I am going to copy him now, and do the exact same thing.

A) "American Idiot" -Green Day

-A lot of people think this album sucked. Well I happen to think you suck. This opened my eyes to the wonderful world of Green Day, and brought me out of that horrendous rap music stage. They wrote music that a bruting, lonely, emo teenager could connect to (Jesus of Suburbia) and music I could belt out in my car (American Idiot)

2) "...And Out Come the Wolves" -Rancid

-This I think is one of the best albums I have ever heard, classified by the fact I like nearly every song on the album. This band trickled into my playlist by my good friend Alan, and then exploded into the only thing I listened to by my boyfriend Wyatt. The fast beats and good lyrics and vocal diversity (when more than one person in the band is the vocalist) opened my eyes to a fantastic scene I had only ever dreamed of. Hardcore people that shared my need for rebellion and diversity from the mainstream. And it has kick ass lyrics as I already mentioned.

C) "Remains" -Alkaline Trio

-Although the first album I heard was "Good Mourning" this one is definitely my favorite of their many studio albums. It has beautifully written songs anyone can connect with like "Queen of Pain", "Jaked on Green Beers", "Hell Yes", and perhaps even "My Standard Break From Life". It has one of the most memorable covers that I have ever seen, and the most interesting tracklist I have ever heard. Love this album.

4) "Sing When You're Winning" -Robbie Williams

-This is the first album I remember ever having a physical copy of. I was running around with it on Christmas when I was just a wee lass. I remember singing to these songs from all the way back when I lived in England at the tender age of 7, dancing in my living room. I have been a lifelong, royal fan to Robbie for 10+ years, and I don't think a lot of people have that kind of connection with any musician really. It has provocative songs like "Rock DJ", and heartbreaking songs like "Better Man" and "The Road to Mandalay". Truly a great album that has definitely changed my life.

5) "Mommy's Little Monster" -Social Distortion

-Again, a band brought to my attention by Wyatt, this album is one of the best I think they have released. Although it doesn't have much any 'hits' on it, I love the song "Mommy's Little Monster". Perfect tune for rebellion and just going against everything everyone says is right, and doing what you want. I love that motif.

Music.

Now I will tell you to shut up. I know the first thing that comes to your head is "music is my life" and all that crap. Well no. Music is great and all. But it isn't my whole life. I have other things to do, you know. Some of us aren't afraid of sunlight and venture outside once in a while.

Now, to what my blog is about.

This is a list I have thought about creating for a while. I have carefully devised a system where I match songs to certain moods and situations, maneuvered out of some of my favorite songs. You wanna take a peeky peek? Maybe it will help you.

Lord knows we have all been through that troubling time where your best friend left you for your dog and you need a song to comfort you.

Your best friend left you for your dog:

-"Far Behind" Social Distortion

You are going to prison for drugs:

-"Prison Bound" Social Distortion

You are going to commit a petty crime,
(or just play Rock Band):

-"Bad Reputation" Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

A song for best friends:

-"Fall Back Down" Rancid

You are a little heartbroken:

-"Old Friend" Rancid

You are a lot heartbroken:

-"My Little Needle" Alkaline Trio

You are doubting your boyfriends faithfullness:

-"Not Fuckin' Around" Big D and the Kids Table

You are seriously depressed and plan

on keeping it that way:

-"Depressed" Nirvana

You are putting on pants in a

seductive manner:

-"Dem Jeans" Chingy

You are getting ready to do MMA:

-"Bro Hymn" Pennywise

Serious 'thinking about the world' song:

-"I Want" Face to Face

You don't know anything really:

-"Knowledge" Operation Ivy

Tap your foot (old school) song:

-"Sound System" Operation Ivy

You like the word "baby" spoken

in a high pitched voice:

-"Baby" Justin Beaver

You are saying goodbye to something,

(and expect to cry)

-"Good Riddance" Green Day

YOU LIKE TO CRY.

-"Rhythm of the Falling Rain" Ka'au Crater Boys

You need a Bob Marley song besides

"One Love"

-"No Woman No Cry" Bob Marley

To look like you listen to Punk:

-"Give Me Fire" G.B.H.

A mellow song about Long Distance relationships:

-"Babygirl" Anthony Green

Just a great song from the Facebook

movie trailer:

-"Creep"(Originally written by Radiohead, but

covered by Scala, which is the version I love)

Getting over someone:

-"My Friend Peter" Alkaline Trio

---I have tons more. But I will post this for now. :)

BETTER YET: If you can think of a song/situation match, leave it in a comment. :)

One night in Albuquerque.

(For those of you that don't know, that is New Mexico.)

On our travels, we, as a family, encounter less-than-reputable hotels. It is a fact of life that not every hotel can be the Ritzy Ritz Lavish Inn, and occasionally I lower my standards to stay at hotels that obviously cannot accomodate my lush lifestyle, like the Dallas hotel last night. Although I loved sleeping with random black curly hair, pink stains, and a bent pull-out couch bed, I was excited to wish it goodbye. I hopped onto that elevator like the dang hotel was on fire. I was thinking wishful when it came to the topic of breakfast, and as I lugged my luggage out the door and to the lobby, I was perfectly content with what I saw. The standard breakfast you would see about anywhere. Bagels here, toaster there, (no waffle maker.. bummer.) no big deal. I just grabbed myself some frosted flakes and some OJ and hit up the table in the middle to indulge in a pre-drive chat with my family and pet.

Unfortunately, my high-class tastebuds were dissappointed to taste the "frosted" flakes that adorned my styrofoam bowl.
I use the term "frosted" very carefully.
Now I'm not familiar with the exact frosting that decorates those wonderful flakes, but I'm pretty sure what I did taste was nothing close to what should have been used as "frosting" for my flakes. I'm sure if you went back to that rank hotel and checked the cameras, you'd see a box of corn flakes poured into a canister by some angry maintenence man, and then he shakes his head over said canister a couple times to "frost" these corn flakes. The frost like, blew away as soon as I examined it closer. And as I poured the fantastically warm milk into the bowl, the maintenence man frosting just melted away in the milk. I was eating like, dandruff flakes. Blehck. But it was food. See that again? Bright side.

However the OJ was fabulous. It seemed to have burned my mouth on the way in though. And the way down. And after that I felt a little off. But it was fabulous.

So I've been sitting in a car for HOURS on end, driving away from Dallas, Texas, to Albuquerque, New Mexico. I ran into a massive rainstorm on the way in, so bad I could not even see the road. First one of those ever, and I'd like to have that not happen again if that's possible mister Rain controller.

Other than that, it was uneventful until we arrived at faaaahbulous "Nativo Lodge" off the Pan-American Highway. It seems as if I stepped right into a Native American's big mansion. Everything is deep red, beige, or brown. Rugs and tapestries and other Native American knick-knacks drape every corner, and the pool was lovely. The hot tub however, fantastic. So hot.. and so tub-like. The only thing that reminds me I am in a hotel and not in a large teepee in the middle of a desert are the friendly Caucasian staff asking if I would like a cookie.

I couldn't help but wonder as I drove the west 10 to Albuquerque.. how hard must it be for the residents of Albuquerque to spell that every time they need to reference where they live?! Is there a song, or a reference chart where they can look it up? Do you think people tattoo it on their hands as to never forget how to spell it? Is there a state-wide crisis of how to spell it? Why is so complicated anyway?! SO MANY QUESTIONS!!!

Let us see just what tomorrow may bring us, as I arrive at the luxurious Hotel Monaco in downtown Salt Lake City tomorrow night.

One night in Dallas.

Dallas: The land of the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum, and a hotel that housed my dog, my family, and myself for one night. The eve of my birthday.

Dallas proved to be... not that fantastic. At all. From what I saw anyway. Dallas-ites everywhere are going to spam my blog with hate mail about how fabulous the city of the Cowboys are, but I'm a recalcitrant! I doth not care for thine silly whims!

The room is nice. It has a bed. With hair in it. That doesn't belong to me. These lovely foreign pink stains only worry me a little bit, but other than that I am fairly sure I will survive. I'm sure some baddies will crawl through the air ducts while I sleep and take pictures of me or do the shaving cream and feather deal, but that's alright. At least it's a roof.

See that? Postive side. Good start.

SOL's Last Words.

I haven't posted any new blogs in a while, because I simply have been too busy as a football playing astronaut in space. With a mustache. So here is what I like to call "SOL's Last Words".

SOL's Last Words is a debate with SOL. Which of course, as everyone would know, is the acronym for my sisters and I, Stephanie, Olivia, and Laura. SOL. Get it? Get it?!

So, SOL will discuss a hot topic, and I will post the transcripts on this here blog post right now for you all to read. Because I know you have been dying to read, and I am being nice and fulfilling your requests.

Here is the debate topic: Should my grandmother buy a pet fish?

Stephanie: No.

Grandma: I would have Salmon. I like salmon. They taste soft. I used to take care of Andree's fish.

Olivia: Should my pet grandmother buy a pet fish?

Grandma: I was knitting you a poncho Olivia, and you know what? Those movers packed it.

Stephanie: Yeah, that had to do with a fish.

Laura: She was knitting the poncho for the fish!

Grandma: I was in the pet store with Andree in Utah, and you know what there was? There was a child about Olivia's age, and he was in there to buy a python snake. A python snake.

Laura: That doesn't surprise me.

Grandma: I've seen Mayflowers, but that moving truck is bigger than a mayflower!

Olivia: Yes, they tend to be big.

Grandma: Well I know they are big. But when I would drive they used to scare me. And when I would drive in Utah, they used to have double ones. And... *moving guy nearly falls downstairs* oh my god. Did they wrap my antique rocking chair? I mean did they, did they ship it?

Stephanie and Olivia: *uncontrollable laughter*

*mutton chops pizza guy arrives*

Laura: Look at that gentleman, even rings the doorbell when the door is wide open.

Stephanie: What's he gonna do? Walk in "Pizza's here! What's up Y'all!"

Olivia: How did we get from talking about a fish to an antique rocking chair??

Until next time..