TGIF!!!!

It's Friday! I never appreciated Friday's until I got a job when I worked an office... granted I felt more free working those littler jobs in high school and right out of college, but I didn't appreciate Fridays. Mostly because I had to work Saturdays. So now I have a weekend, and the only thing that I have planned is to donate blood Sat morning! Hopefully they don't butcher my arm like they did last time! A little reminder of last time to my poor arm!


Also for those that have kept up with my little brother and his recovery of heart surgery....
He is doing great! He has been home for a week now. He went to see the surgeon Wed, and everything looks GOOD! He was allowed to remove his bandages, which means he is allowed to shower...2 weeks worth of sponge baths and baby wipes! Wow that has got to be horrible! He had a little issue about his pain meds, where he was running out and I think they pretty much said.."Enjoy the Tylenol" which after Heart Surgery and having your chest broken, wouldn't really help. But he was able to get a refill, which helps him to breath without pain! So yes, Jake is doing good. Thanks to all for your prayers and ongoing support!


I wish all of you the best of weekends! May you find time to relax and enjoy it. Lets all pray for sunshine this weekend, it's almost June for Heavens sakes...we need sunshine & 80 degree weather!

Cooking Lessons Learned!

So I have learned a major lesson in cooking, and I think this information is vital to all.... Scene: Last night, I was making my very first "from scratch" Spaghetti Sauce!! I mean, I am stewing my own tomatoes, the only can involved was a can of tomato paste...and when reading about pureeing the tomatoes, the advice given was that you should only do 1 Cup at a time.

I thought that I'd speed up the process and do two cups at a time...of steaming hot tomatoes...in the blender they go, and I hit puree...and out the tomatoes go...hot steaming tomatoes all over the place. Poor Brenton didn't know what hit him. Okay so we stop, did a quick clean up...let them cool for just a second, hit the puree button and out the tomatoes fly again. By now my counter is covered, and my hand is burning with tomato.

So when reading from people who have done this before...only puree 1 Cup at a time...LISTEN! I did one cup, put the blender in the sink and a towel to hold on for dear life and everything stayed in the blender! So there is my wisdom passed onto you, and you can pass onto those that don't want to get burned!

Random Question

I am starting a new thing...random questions because I want to hear random stories...so here is my very first

Random Question..

Have you ever thought that someone was lying about being pregnant???

Why Usher Why??

Scene:
The man and I are in the car driving home tonight. The new Mariah Carey Song comes on..you know the one that goes..."touch my body" AMAZING song Mariah, oh yes it's a keeper!

Once I realize what song it was I change it and climbed on my soap box to why that song is ridiculous. I then bring up the Usher song that has been out for a few months now.



As I changed the station..(thank you movin' 100.7) they start playing the Usher song. So I purposely leave it to the song, I turn it up so that I can embrace the wonderful Lyrics of this song.



I now understand why our youth is so messed up..they are listening to songs like this, now it is way too long, and painful to put all of the wonderful words of the song here, but I would just like to share a few lines for you all to Ushers fantastic song

Let's Make Love in the Club

Ladies DO NOT DO THAT...do not tell your friends to go with his hommies....No no no...do not make love in the club, yea, in the club, yea, in the club.

And then my favorite part...

And I don't care who is watchin', watchin', watchin'....I don't care who is watchin'

Usher...honestly!!!!

My Hero!!

I have many heroes in my life, and my little brother Jacob is on that list! Last Thursday, May 15th, at 6:30am Jake checked himself into the Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento California to undergo heart surgery.

The surgery was a little over 7 hrs long. He went through a heart valve repair due to Marfan Syndrome. His Medical staff was OUTSTANDING, with a special thanks to Lily his nurse. She kept on him and made sure that he was comfortable My family gives a big thanks to Sutter Memorial staff.

Jake is recovering very well, he just left ICU yesterday and is in a regular room now. He is up and walking on his own, and is off the IV. He does still have some chest tubes in, but we are hoping those get taken out soon. For all of you who know Jake, don't you worry he never lost his wit, he just needed to take some breaks in between to regain his strength for the next zinger.

I am so proud of you Jake! Keep up the healing!!

Have you Laughed Today?

Okay so I was shown this SNL skit by my gals Emily and Emily, so thank you ladies. Love SNL!! Love Love.

Laughter is pretty much what you hear when you enter our office. It's no wonder they stuck me and one Emily in the way back of the office, we are drowned out by everyone else! A couple 15 min breaks is enough time for us to find something funny and share it with others!

So Sean, I know you were wondering what we were laughing at today, so here it is for you all. Don't be afraid to watch it a couple times, I think it gets funnier as you watch it!

One Year Older and Wiser Too

Happy Birthday Brenton!!
Happy Birthday Kenyon!
(Sorry Kenyon your name has to be smaller than my husbands...favoritism and all!)

Well it's that time of year that Brenton is no longer younger than me (I am 2 months a 15 days older)..The B-Man had his 24th Birthday on Wed. Hooray for B-days! Wed night Brenton and I went to dinner at a Taqueria called LoneStar...outstanding fish tacos. (Thank you Emily Frame for introducing that into my life) I mean these fish tacos rival Rubios.

Brenton got himself his very own Fisher-Price My Grown Up Golf Set! Here he is modeling for us his mad putting skills

(Please excuse our institutional white wall behind him, wow I need some drapery!)
He also found himself with his very own CamelBak Hyrdration Pak, which he claims will be very helpful when he goes fishing. However it turned out to be red like his golf club set...that wasn't on purpose but now he can put and drink water at the very same time and there is no fashion fo-pah Genius!
He is doing a sort of GQ Hydration CamelBak.


Thursday night, Brenton and I headed over to Kenyon and Mer's for a little "Twins B-day Party". If anyone wants a good BBQ recipe, hit Merilee up on her blog and beg her for that outstanding recipe! http://twocentsramblings.blogspot.com/

Okay so that was our B-day Celebrations. Hope you boys had a good b-day. Your wives spoil you rotten and don't you forget it!

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!