Congratulations Jen!!!

I just wanted to give a public shout out to my big sister! She finished her first 5K this morning in the Salt Lake Marathon. She is so awesome and was major sick just the week before! We got up at 6:50am (now that is love) and parked ourselves by the finish line to cheer her on. Sadly enough there were too many people running and she ran right by us :( so I didn't get any pics of her running to the finish line. But I did get these of the after math!! Go sister Go!!!!

Did you Laugh Last Night??

Happy Friday Everyone!

Hooray for Fridays...and finally we can say, "Hooray for Thursdays!!" Last night The Office and 30 Rock came on..along with Scrubs. Now this is Scrubs last season so it's okay to move on to more funny shows. I got into 30D Rock over the strike (Thanks for the movies Mer and Kenyon) it is hilarious.

If you haven't seen either of these shows, please click on the videos on the side, and laugh!! It was awesome...if anyone watched The Office last night, then you won't be surprised if I invite you to a dinner party. It was so great. I woke up with the song that her assistant Hunter sang....again if you don't know what I am talking about go to www.nbc.com (plug!) and watch it online...It is a fantastic episode, and if you have questions and need me to explain Dwight and Angela...then let me know..LOVE IT!

30 Rock is awesome. I laughed so hard! I love a good show that can make you laugh...and Tina Fey is my hero. Okay so you all go laugh and have a great weekend.

Brenton and I are doing history papers and spending time with the Livingston Family this weekend so we wish you all a good weekend with your family (or close friends).

Newest News...For Sure This Time

Well you might say that things here are changing on an every day basis! The newest and exciting news for us is......We are not moving to Dallas! We were very excited to be able to move and start a home in Texas, however things started changing at Brenton's work. He was offered a job here in Salt Lake. It's with the same company Fidelity, but just a different department.


We weighed the pros and cons to both the Texas job and the new Salt Lake job, and Salt Lake won surprisingly enough. Staying here gives us the opportunity to really buckle down with school and get it over with...hopefully in this millennium. We are close to family, and this new job here felt like a better fit for us.


Someday Texas may see the Livingstons, but not yet. Here for your entertainment I have included our pros list for staying in Utah (we really didn't make a list, but these are the things that I like about living here)

* How you know it's summer time when everyone talks about a rodeo

*The Utah heat while laying by the pool (Saturdays only, a girl has got to work)

*How every city has their own "days" in the summer with fireworks and some carnival type

*When your date night should be on a weekday, so you don't have to deal with the 1 1/2 hr wait on the weekend!

*The lights on Temple Square in December

*The camping bug everyone gets

*Going to see the MoTab Choir when they have a performance (thanks for the
hook-ups Sally)

*The beautiful white trees in the winter

*When it's 18 degrees in January, and snow is falling, and there is a wedding couple taking pics
outside temple square! And the bride is in short sleeves.

*How people get July 24th off of work (Except my company for some reason)

And of course the wonderful family members that we get to see, it would have been hard to leave them and try to make new friends...YIKES!

So there you have it, I don't have to move for the 3rd year in a row! LOVE IT!

A Friendly Letter

So yesterday we received a lovely letter from the IRS. No, we are not being audited. The letter read as follows (I am paraphrasing): Dear Taxpayer:

We are pleased to inform you that the United States Congress passed and Pres. George W. Bush signed into law the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, which provides economic stimulus payments to be made to over 130 million American households.(Any other questions...go to irs.gov and search for "economic stimulus payment".) Translation: The Government is giving out Money!!!!

Why?: Well, you could say that our government is just so giving. But the truth is this is their attempt to stop/slow down the recession that we are facing.They expect people to get this money and pour it back into the economy by SPENDING!!!

Qualifiers to get your $$$:

1. Taxpayers must have a valid Social Security number,
2. $3,000 of income
3. File a 2007 federal tax return

How do you know how much to expect?

Okay so it pretty much goes....If you are single and you filed taxes in 2007, then you get $600.

• If you filed jointly for 2007 tax, then you get $1200.

• If you have kids then you get an additional $300 for every kid that is under the age of 17 years!!!

• If you do not pay income tax, BUT have a total of $3000 or more in earned income, Social Security benefits, and/or certain veterans' payments, then you get $300 or $600 if you filed jointly.

• If you have adjusted gross income of more then $75,000 or more then $150,000 when filing jointly, well then you are kinda out of luck on this. You will either get a smaller amount or none at all. Sorry, but you make a lot of money anyway!!
  

The money will come as a one-time payment in MAY! So that gives everyone plenty of time to figure out what to spend the $ on.

Okay so I will say it first, we should all be responsible and save our money or use it to pay off debt. But just for fun...here are my top ten ideas of how to spend spend spend like the government wants us to?

1. Family Trip
   
2. Shopping Spree to get my Spring/Summer Wardrobe
3. Day at the Spa, oh yeah a facial and stone massage. WONDER-FUL!
4. 42 in. Flat Screen T.V.-I've been looking at Costco, you could buy a t.v. and still have money leftover!
5. Furniture for the Apt
6. Buy concert Tickets for that band that is coming this summer
7. Get my hair done, color cut the works!
8. Guitar Hero and or/Wii
9. New Laptop
10. ?????

I can't think of a number 10....what other ideas can you think to spend your gift from the Government??????

My Brenton

I realize that most of you reading know me...Jazz...but many of you may not know my other more grown up half..Brenton. So I tribute this posting to my main man!!

Brenton Dean Livingston was born April 23rd 1984. Dean comes from his Mothers dad, Grandpa Dean.
He is a twin...not identical. They do have that weird twin connection and when the boys broke their arm (because both did it!!) the other twin had a feeling that something was wrong and would be pacing around worried like. Cute huh?

They are alike in so many ways....except physical. Kenyon is about 6 in taller.








Brenton is a smarty pants. One of his favorite classes in school was Chemistry, who does that? He is a Business Major and my personal banker!




This man can melt any one's heart, especially Latina women. He has won the heart of my nieces. On several occasions I have had them wrap their little arms around his neck and say "My Ben-den" It was his smile that got me. His whole face would just smile, and his bright green eyes.


As Dolly Partton said in Steal Magnolias....He could really melt my butter!







He goes by "B" or "The B Man"....well that is what my family has called him. He doesn't really have any nicknames from anyone else, it is BrenTon... but here in Utah you may hear a Breh-in.

He loves to cook, and will bake if you give him a Bosh Mixer and some flour. Here you can see he is a great multi-tasker, TWO spoons stirring.











I love how this man loves his mom. (He loves his dad too, I just don't have a pic..sorry Steve)


My Brenton loves to read and talk about science or financial things with his father. He helps elderly people get off at the track station. He yells at people when he drives and says "are you kidding me?" He has a great big heart and dreams big.

I am slowly making him crazy but that is what I am good at!!!

D.E.S.

Thanks to the World Wide Web, and www.webmd.com...I have self diagnosed myself with Dry Eye Syndrome (DES). For those of you who would like a medical lesson today please read on:

(Info from webmd.com) Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a common disorder of the tear film, affecting a significant percentage of the population, especially those older than 40 years . The estimated number of people affected ranges from 10-14 million in the United States...

Dry Eye Syndrome Causes

DES is a common disorder of the normal tear film that results from one of the following:

• Decreased tear production
• 
  
• Excessive tear evaporation
• 
  
• An abnormality in the production of mucus or lipids normally found in the tear layer

I think that my DES is caused by the decreased tear production. My eyes don't water to save my life. (Except when Steal Magnolias came on T.V...love that movie!)

How I figured it out:

• 

1. My new contacts started scratching me for a week straight
2. I would wake up with both eyes looking like I had just smoked something my dare officer told me I shouldn't.
3. My eyes would scratch when I was wearing glasses, and there was nothing in my eye.
   

I finally went to the eye Dr. He said that my eye cells were "angry"...I didn't know they could do that.

Well after weeks of prescription eye drops and some goop to put in my eyes at night, my eyes are still "angry".

My non medicated remedies:

1. I run a humidifier until my whole room is wet, this is in attempt to get some moisture in the air.
2. I wear my glasses at all times
3. Today I have started Omega-3 pills...FISH PILLS! Nasty, but from what studies have shown, women who have more Omega-3 intake have lower chances of DES.

Any suggestions??????

Big News

Well everyone Brenton and I have great news.....we are going to be moving to Dallas Texas!!! Okay so Brenton's company will be moving his dept down to Dallas by late June. Brenton and I have talked about it, and we feel that Texas is the place to be. We are not sure where we are going to live, or when...but we know we're going!! So I dedicate this blog to things I am going to need to learn before I go to Texas:

1) Where to get the Good MexicanFood2) The Alamo


3) Where to find these shirt and hat combos


4) How to do this to a truck


5) How long of a drive is it to Mardi Gras
6) Getting used to seeing this everywhere I go

For now we are just looking for places to live, and finishing up school. I am excited, I have heard nothing but good things about Texas. Plus I plan on picking up their southern drawl. I plan on making my own accent of California Mall Girl, Utah (mou-in, san-wich, bre-in) and Southern Yall! It will be so awesome!

Johnny Tell Her What She has Won!!!!

A NEW CAR!!!!!!

Brenton and I just recently added to our family. I would like everyone to meet Sheila!!!

Sheila is the newest member of the Livingston Family. We were sorry to see Beula (Brenton's Honda) go. She served her time, but she was making us a little nervous with all of the jiggling of the wires that we had to do just to start her. Adios Beula...Hello Sheila.

Sheila is a 2007 Suzuki XL-7. Brenton and I sat 2 min in her and knew she was the one for us. She is gold and has tan leather seats, which if it weren't for the seat warmers would be a bad idea in the winter no?? She has a lot of room in the back and room for at least 3 car seats!! Ha, I asked that to the dealer just to see what Brenton would do..I think I am hilarious, most of the time I am right :)

For those of you who are asking...Sheila?? Yes Sheila. We were signing papers and the Prince Song Oh Sheila came in my head.....so there it is, Inspiration. I have to use this pic off of google because right now Sheila is one dirty car. We have had nothing but snow since we got her, and so I will have to wait until she is all shiny to really show her off! Road Trip anyone???

It's a Miracle!!!!

Yes Yes, I know, I have heard it from a handful of you..."You need to blog!" I am sorry. I just thought you guys would have figured by now, that when I don't blog for a month or two, that means that school has started!

Yes that great day had come and Brenton and I started school. It has been ever so painful this term. I recall last term asking Brenton if we can arrange an easier schedule for the Spring, seeing as I had to start waking up at 5:30AM. For all of you who know, I am not a morning person. And Brenton learned very quickly! Very Very quickly :)

Well anyway, this term, wasn't a better schedule, it was actually worse. We are trying to get our schooling out of the way ASAP, and so this means work full time and school full time! Ahh yes, it's been wonderful. So tonight, I caught a break. Our first history test let us out with 2 extra hours tonight. I can't really sit still, since I don't know what that means anymore, so here I am writing to you all.

I am going to have to do catch up work, but I think I can do it. Honestly other then school and work nothing really has happened. Boring as usual.
Here is where Brenton and I spend the other waking hours when we are not at work or sleeping. It's an off campus campus...I guess that is what you would call it. It's weird, it is in the corner of a shopping center and a movie theater. Just right there, behind the camera man in this pic are two other buildings where we hold classes. It's nice because it's 5 min away from home, instead of the 15 where the main campus is. So here is our home away from home!

Christmas with the Sartains!

The Sartain kids, this is Jamie's troop. There is Aidan (4) Sydeny (2) and Baby Brooklyn (7 months)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Okay so Saturday morning, the day to sleep in...not really in my book. Because the day that I have nothing planned, I wake up at 7:30am!! So I am lying there and I hear what I thought is rain. Me being from land of rain only, I didn't think any different. Brenton gets up a half our later and looks out the window, and low and behold there is 2 inches of snow on the ground. Random, here is a nice picture of what was outside our apt. Some of it is melted now, but it was a pretty snow day!! Just thought I'd share my snow with those without it!

The Macy's Day Parade

I love this about Thanksgiving, and I have no idea why. I mean what is so great about watching gigantic balloons being walked through a street that is thousands of miles away, and watching singers very badly lip sing to their newest hit??? I mean really, we all know you are faking, why don't they just play the song over the speakers while the stars waive???? No idea. But I am not hater I still love it! Brenton said that they didn't do the parade thing....well now he will. I hope he likes it, because this is one tradition that I am not about to give up. Nothing else is good on, except for the football games, which I would rather poke my eye out then watch the football games.

I wish everyone the best of Thanksgiving days! Gobble Gobble Gobble!!

Ahh, the Thanksgiving Post!

Okay so I have seen a many of my fellow bloggers posts of what they are thankful for. So I feel that I should contribute so you all know what it is that I am thankful for. I will do it two different ways, my gal pal Sheena had a great idea on her blog, and that was thinking for hidden things that I am thankful for, you must inquire within to understand!

What I am Thankful For:

• My Hubby Wubby who "gets" me!
• My Job, because without it I would just be bored.
• My family far far away. (I am not thankful that my family is far far away, I am just saying that my family IS far far away...sorry mom!)
• My health
• Any casting director that still puts gorgeous guys in the chic flicks!
• Yasmin! (haha)
• Chipotle finally making it's way to Utah!
• My In-Laws who love me no matter how much crazy I bring to the family

The Hidden Things I am Thankful For:

• Knots in my back, because I have an excuse to get massages
• Britney Spears making a comeback, it gives hope to all crazies who want to be somebody someday.
• Cell phone bill being too high, because that means I talked to those I love.
• Having to fill my car up with gas twice a week, because that means I am staying busy and out of trouble!

Explaining My Music

Okay so I have made my play list special. If you will notice that some of these songs you recognize from a movie. That is the theme of this play list....songs from movies..you may recognize some you may not. Some are completely obvious because the lyrics say the movie title. So Enjoy!!!

Halloween

Okay so the makeup was awful, but it was so much fun. Brenton was Frankenstein, and it was scary at times, he could really pull it off.











I am a scary witch. We pretty much had one face paint and thought of what we could do with it. But I do like the hat with the wig! What Brenton gets to look forward to in 40 years!

































So here we are eating our Vampire dinner. It was so good. My sister is awfully creative, and the kids just have so much fun. Here you can see how Kathryn just loves her Uncle Brenton, they all do!!






Kathryn just about had it, she was done being funny for the night, she wanted food!



Amy was Big Bird, it took some talking into to get her to put on the mask/hat or whatever that thing is.
My sister Jen, her date for the night was a chocolate cup cake monster, her hubby had to work so the monster had to do. Yet another wonderful idea from Martha Stewart!

The boys were Vampires, but by this time, they just looked ill. They loaded up on candy and were very good at sharing.

What I'll Do To Serve Others

Okay so this is how the story goes. I usually get denied when it comes to donating blood. My iron is usually right below the cut off. Well a while ago, I found myself above that cut off so I'm all about donating. Brenton is not a fan of needles, which when he gets an I.V. stuck through his vein, I don't blame him. So I talked to him and he agreed to go donate with me. So we went last week. We get there and it's not too bad, the people who do the first screening and blood work, they were brand spankin' new. It took forever just to get through that part.

So I was done first and I was sitting waiting for someone to come and get me. So this guy comes and gets me. I looked very carefully to see how efficient he worked, if he took a long time to do simple things. So anyway, he seemed to know what he was doing. So he starts looking for my vein, and he finds one So he finds the vein, and it's in my forearm, it's not in the crease where everyone else has poked me before; now I should have known that this wasn't a good idea, but I didn't say anything. So I am sitting there anticipating the needle poke. And I'll tell you I have been very lucky with the people who jab big needles into my arms. I have not had one bad experience. Okay so the guy jabs me and it hurt. Not enough to scream out loud but enough to say "ouch" inside my head. Then the pain wouldn't go away. At that time, Brenton came in the chair next to me and I just started praying that the guy doesn't stab Brenton like he did me.

So I am sitting there and it's still burning, and Brenton has this scared look on his face, mind you he hasn't given blood ever!...okay so then my machine starts beeping. It's been probably 4 min. He had been coming back over and looking at the needle point, I just kept hoping that he wasn't going to take it out and stab me again, I have heard those horror stories. So the machine is beeping and I ask if I am done. He said no, and that it was beeping because the blood flow had slowed down. So he goes, "I'm going to see if I can help the blood flow" and at that point he starts moving the needle around. Now for all of you that are cringing right now, it wasn't that bad. It actually didn't hurt at all, except for the pain that was already there. So again, I just kept hoping for him not to take the needle out and stab me again. Well after a bit of moving the needle around, he looks across the room and calls for someone to come over.

So this other guy comes over. He takes a look at things and asks if it hurts where the needle is . I told him that it was a bit sensitive. He looks around a bit more, and tells me that he thinks that I am starting to clot. He said that he is going to try and fix it to get the blood moving again. So he too proceeds to move the needle around and pushes on the outside of my arm. Now my great husband next to me is getting ready to be poked, and I was just about to ask the other guy that has come over to rescue me, if he would do it. But I kept quiet and Brenton was poked. He says that it didn't hurt for too long, a min or so, I told him that it shouldn't have hurt like it did. This guy, his name was Chris, he says that it has clotted and it has "gunked" up the needle so there is nothing to do but call it a day. He took out the needle. Then he proceeds to tell me that I am probably going to swell and bruise, so he is going to get me an ice pack. I can see already that I had started swelling and it still hurt like the needle was there. I am all wrapped up and sitting next to Brenton. Oh this guy Chris also happens to be in Brenton's math class, so he chatted it up with us for a bit. My arm is killing me. I took Brenton for an ice cream because he was such a good trooper, and I got myself one to, to help me mend my poor body. We got home, and my body was on shut down mode. I pretty much passed out that night, with my poor arm hurting as it did just the same, and I can't bend my right arm. So the next day the bruising started. As you see below, the bruising just got worse and worse. I think these pics are 3 days old. Anyway, I am healing nicely now, but I thought I would share the experience. I want everyone to know that I am going to go back next time I am eligible to donate. I am not deterred from donating. It's a challenge for me to beat that blood iron percentage!!

It did keep spreading as the days went on, it was a good thing that it's cold over here and I can wear long sleeves!

The needle point you can kind of see in this picture. There is that dark purple horizontal part of the bruise. Right below it towards the left of the pic, you can see a circular area with no bruise, and then a dark dot....that is where he got me. That is very low from where they usually collect my blood.

Wow I have really white arms!!!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I love this video! In the beginning of Oct, we had a little family get together here in Utah. It was so much fun. I had my sister Jamie and her three kids stay with us, as well as me Mum and little brother Jake. All 8 of us had a great time in our little one bedroom apt. Well this was Saturday morning with a little game of hide and go seek. I had to get this on video because every time that Sydney would be it, it just made us all crack up!!

Alright Alright Alright

Well for all of those who have harassed me, here is my blog for Oct. It's so sad, once the fall term started it seems I lost all control of time. Well okay lets see a nice quick update on what has gone on with the B-man (Brenton) and I! We started school way back in Aug. This term we have decided to do a bit of an experiment and take some classes together. We have a film class, a biology class and a biology lab. So Brenton is wiping the floor with me in Biology Lab. He studies just as much as I do, if not less, and yet 100% on every quiz that we take. And his reasoning...he remembers it from high school...and even then it was SOPHOMORE year!! I am so proud of him. I have however, been able to get even out the points in our Biology lecture. Our Biology teacher...wow I wish I knew his name...well he is amazing. In a not so amazing way that is. When I walk out of his lectures it takes me a while to figure out what it was that I was to get out of that. We figured out that we can Ace his tests by only using his study guide, so we don't go as regularly. That decision was made after we both fell asleep in his class. Now when we go, we pretty much listen to how many times he says the word, Literally. I take a tally I think last time we checked it was 26 times in an hour and a half class....it usually goes with..."And you will die...and I mean that...LITERALLY"

Other then that we are just getting through our days. My whole family, brothers and sisters and mum, all got together a few weeks ago. I get so caught up in the excitement that I forget to take pics. I will have to get some from my brother and then I'll post more. It was so much fun. All but one sister who lives here in Utah with me, are all in California. I didn't think I would get to see them until Christmas, but luckily my cousin had a baby blessing, so they all came to support. It was a great weekend of laughs and mom's cooking. Poor Brenton, he is really starting to see the craziness of my family.

Oh in between that time, Brenton's little sister got married. That was fun. I will have to post some pictures. This event was the first time I wore a dress in years (other then my wedding dress)...Brenton was so proud of me. Since it was a monumental occasion, I will post it so others can see!

Well that is it for me, I hope the reading was good. There are no pics but I will get to some later, I promise! I still need to dec out my apt with my Halloween decorations that I have sitting in my living room. :) As tigger would say TTFN (ta ta for now!)

Bear Lake

On our big camping trip we decided to spend it half camping and then the other half at the lake. This is Bear Lake, it's gorgeous lake that is half in Utah and half in Logan. Brenton has many memories of this lake. I have been wanting to go, but this is all melted snow water, so it doesn't warm up until Aug. So Aug came and we made a day of it. It was so much fun. We were on the Idaho side. Along with Jaron and his family that went camping with us, Brenton's Mom Jeana, brother and his wife Kenyon and Mer, met up with us. Sadly to say I don't have many pictures to document the lake due to the fact I was in the water the majority of the time. This water is blue of blue. I suggest that everyone go there at least once in your life.


This is a shot from the road. I am told this lake is about 20 miles wide!

The Brenton. This is after our long day in the sun. I made sure we slathered on the sunscreen, luckily for us we did not get sun burned, but it would have been so easy to do. The sun was bright that day!

Okay so the cows. We're driving from our campsite to the lake, it's about 15-20 min. And usually in the mountains I'm used to seeing wildlife...deer, rabbits...whatnot. But not here, in these mountains there are just random herds of cows. They would just be standing right in the middle of the road, usually when you would come around a sharp corner. Luckily for us, Jaron had a monster truck and a great eye for animals, so he cleared the path ahead of us.

Here we are getting ready at our campground. Faythe just loved posing.

While the parents were breaking down their part of camp, Brenton was showing Wyatt the way of the flex. He didn't quite get it, but I'm sure it won't take him too long.

Brenton and I before we headed home.

Camping at St. Charles

About two weekends ago, Brenton and I got a major camping bug. For Christmas, Santa brought Brenton a tent, but we just haven't had reason to get it out. So finally we just said we're doing it. Brenton's older brother Jaron and his wife Candice had the bug too, so with the 4 of us, and their two kids we went a camping! After work on Friday, Brenton and I headed up to Weston Idaho, to meet up with Jaron and fam. From there we drove about an hour and a half to get to this great spot, St. Charles. We got there pretty late at night, but it was camping so it was all good. Since there was a fire restriction, we could only have a fire if there was a proper and designated fire pit. It was getting too late, and so the place that we found, sadly enough did not have the fire pit, so we did without..but it was still great.


Saturday morning Brenton and I were in charge of breakfast. Since Brenton's family is serious when it comes to camping, his brother had all the great gadgets for a good camp out. Brenton made some rockin' pancakes and eggs.

Here is our great camping space. In the chair is my sister-in-law Candice.

Brenton being the morning person that he is. Woke up at the butt crack of dawn. He was very patient and waited as I awoke an hour or so later. I still wasn't ready to get up, but he was getting tent crazy, so I put on my shoes and we went for a little hike. Brenton found a trail that led us to a little creek. It was a really nice place.

Okay so my little Nephew Aidan, this picture is for him. Last year, he had done something wrong and when he was being corrected he got this pouty face. Then he just said, "I'm sad, I'm lost in a forest" Wow..it was amazing, no one ever knew where he got that from. So that was last years phrase, "I'm lost in a forest" (he also started "I'm lost in a forest, I'm afraid of lobsters..love that kid) So again, Aidan, this is for you...We're lost in a forest!

Haha...yeah camping!

Cute little Wyatt. He is a firecracker, to say the least. He was directed by his parents to bring pants camping, but the stubborn that he is, settled on shorts. It wasn't until the sun went down did they regret not bringing pants. He found himself a stick at this point and was using it for a sword.

Ahh..Ms. Faythe. She is too cute. She was helping us put our tent up. She LOVES the camera, and has just the perfect smile and pose.