GIVE ME A BREAK!

I'm about to share something about myself that may surprise some of you.

I have always had a crush on JOHN STOSSEL of 20/20.
you have to admit, hes kind of a hunk.

twins?

k so i am in the middle of a painting right now (to be finished tonight) and i cannot get over how alike the girl in the painting looks like Heather McDonald, the funny lady from Chelsea Lately. Seriously it makes me laugh everytime i look at it. And really she really does look just like the painting. i dont want to pat myself on the back but its pretty much identical (except the girl doesnt have black eyes and white skin in real life)

What do you think? Do they look the same or am i getting high off of paint fumes?


And in case this young girl who i painted, reads this blog (i dont even know her name or who she is at all...but just in case), I think Heather McDonald is not only hilarious but shes a pretty lady as well.

Another One Bites the Dust

I must say, its kind of a bittersweet feeling sending these paintings off to their owners. I have nothing to show for the hours of work except for these snapshots. So just stick it out with me, i have to post them so i dont get depressed that i have no life outside of painting. (its true...in my house, "Painting" is my boyfriend)

Favorites Tag

The rule is to answer your favorites using only pictures. Here are mine.

Color: Holiday:Animal:Food:Vacation:Worst Habit:Job:Dessert/Treat:Hobby:Me:

John Mayer - Free Fallin'

i watched the John Mayer "Where the Light Is" dvd last night and was surprised to find a cover, and a cover done well.

I LOVE JOHN.

Jack lip synching to Kanye West

I made my sister a cd a long time ago and put the song Stronger by Kanye West on it, because my nephew jack was obsessed with watching the "daft hands" thing on youtube...anyway, he is so obsessed with this song its hilarious. He gets SO into it.

little shop of shavs

With the help of Glade, i now have a name for my etsy shop.

And from the advice of Natalie, my paintings now have their very own blog.

Its been a whole year

One year ago today, on Pioneer Day, i went to the Lewis home in Highland, UT and opened a geneology book that i recognized as the same one i used to look at growing up in my home in California. I quickly found the picture of my grandparents, of my great aunt Mary (shes so cute and like 4'5" and mexican) and a bunch of other relatives that i recognized. A few pages over were Caseys grandparents, and Caseys great uncles, and records of his parents.

You see, i met Casey through a friend of mine, and we discovered we both have the last name and we both knew we had the same ancestor...Frederick Neriah Jr. And so proving our theory of us being related, or atleast finding out HOW we were related was important, and so the Spirit of Elijah made it so that we would find out on Pioneer Day. How fitting is that?this is the first cousins pictures from Pioneer Day, last year. 7/24/07

Over the last year Casey (Cuz or Cuzzy) & I, have grown to be quite the set of pals. He is one of the only people in my life who will tell me my joke wasn't funny, my date was a tool, my hair looks bad, or that im being annoying...

Visiting Time Square in NY with the Cuz this past June

i threw Casey a surprise party last year for his birthday, HE WAS SO SURPRISED. It was one of the funniest things I've ever witnessed.

we are really attractive people
dance parties

80s dancing

birthday presents

last summer i was rolling out fondant for a birthday cake with a vase as a rolling pin and Casey was over hanging out when the vase crumbled beneath the pressure i was putting on it and sliced my hand open. He took me to the ER and sat in my room with me for like 5 hours or something ridiculous. My thumb is faulty, makes for difficult peace signs now.here is the aftermath with the stitches

Love you Casey, you be my best friend, ok? (Glad you're my eternal cuzzy)

---i would also like to give a shout out to Alyssa, Blake and David, who are Cuzzys as well. ----

Last night i scurried over to the Las Vegas Airport to hang out for an hour with one of my bests.
Not the cutest picture. It was like 11pm, get off me.
I took a break from painting, and got to shoot the breeze with Mike, before his flight back to Boston. It was good to see him, i usually only see him a couple of times a year so having him 10 minutes away sitting in baggage claim was very convenient.

Good to see you mike!

Tutus & Turtles

The mommy blog, Tutus and Turtles, has featured my etsy shop today. I hadn't ever seen this blog, well because, im not a mom and usually dont seek out kid stuff, but i have been looking at it and its really really cute. Go on over and check them out...

Sarah & Brian

Here is one of my latest. I finished this one on Sunday, and have been working on one since then for a friend of mine but its a secret so i cant show you yet....

Brain Dump

-I moved (approx. a half mile away). Ive been in my new house for a few weeks now, and its so nice. I have a nice big bed. A first for me. Ive always only had twin beds.
-I am turning into an unfun weird artist girl. Last night i was at Katie Rose's house, everyone was enjoying themselves and playing pictionary and i was sitting alone painting. IM THAT GIRL!
-I had Yogurtland twice on Saturday, and once the day before. Ooops.
-I got my first etsy sale!
-I still need a name for my shop, Melissa is the only one who has given me any options.
-My bosses wife had her baby yesterday, and so for those of you who have asked me what they named the baby...its Eli. Looks like Gus is up for grabs.
-Joel McHale is coming to Vegas and i really really really want to go. Anyone want to go with me?
-I got to hang out with my friend Matt, Richard and Adam this weekend. They were in town from Provo for the Coldplay concert this last weekend. Love those guys. So fun. We went nightswimming at Richards until my skin was sloughing off. It was great.
-We get our cars detailed every week or so here at work (thanks boss, seriously) and i love the smell of the air freshner that James from Platinum Auto Spa puts in there. Its delicious.
-The Dark Knight was not my favorite movie. First of all, i am not even slightly interested in anything that has to do with comics. Second, Christian Bales batman voice is TERRIBLE. And third, it couldnt of been longer. But i really loved Heath Ledger. And when i say loved, i mean i was completely terrified.
-When are we going to get the announcement for a new season of the Bachelor?

help me out people!

i hate to be boring and be so obsessed with this painting stuff, but its really taking over all of my free time (which is great). I am just looking for ideas on how to improve my etsy shop. I have had a few orders (through the blog and my sisters blog) and at work and word of mouth, so i have been busy painting but i just want all of your input. Would a picture like the one above be good to put on etsy so potential buyers could see the before and afters? And also what should my etsy shop name be? Any ideas? What about the pricing? Do you think its too high? Too low? Let me know....thanks!

if you are looking for me this weekend i will just be sitting in front of the TV watching Project Runway Marathons and painting.

Etsy

I feel kind of silly writing this, but because of everyones nice feedback (from my blog and my sisters) on the painting i did for Kelsey and Glen, i have decided to sell them. I started an etsy shop, its not cute or anything...i will work on that later, but if you are interested let me know and i will whip one out for you. I did one last night to use as an example for my shop and it is now my new favorite.

Anyway, i have them listed as 75 dollars, but thats just a blanket price, it doesn't let you put in a price range. I am thinking 50-125ish, depending on the size, and whether or not i am using a piece of wood board or canvas, how detailed the image is, etc...so if you are interested (you don't have to be!) let me know!

Bailey Wedding

This last weekend i made the trek home for Kelsey and Glen's wedding. Here are a few highlights...
The new Mrs. Bailey spitting her gum out into her husbands hand.kelsey looked SO pretty.
aren't they darling?
Raquel keeping the kids distracted at the Temple with skittles.
Kaisa and Rafe posing
Rocia pointed this one out and i couldnt help but take a picture. This bridesmaid (from another bridal party) the one in solid turquoise is wearing nude/pantyhose leggings. Is this a new thing? Am i supposed to like it? I cant figure it out. Someone tell me what is going on.
Maddox just relaxing at the reception (it was 1 trillion degrees)
the gift table. Due to lack of funds from travel i decided to take the risky approach to the traditional wedding gift of something from their registry, and painted them a picture based off a photo of the happy couple. It turned out a lot better than i imagined it would.
My travel companion, Ben Sweaty at the end of the night. I told Kaisa i would photoshop this to make us a little more matte but i havent gotten around to it. Sorry girl.

Peanut Butter Fudge Cake

Introducing the most delicious cake of all time.
and just in time for Kristina's Birthday! Happy Birthday, Kristina! Hope you liked it!

After the final rose, barf....who cares

i feel obligated to write about the bachelorette finale. I didnt watch the whole thing, because, frankly, i didnt really care.

Deanna drives me nuts and both guys were boring enough that i honestly had no opinion either way. Which has never happened, i usually detest one of them so bad. (This time it was her)

Anyway i just finished watching the after the final rose, just now actually, and i am even more annoyed.

First order of business, pet names. If you arent in your 40s and started calling your husband "honey" back in the 80s-90s than dont start now. Young people should not have pet names for their signifigant others, unless of course, its LOVER. Cause that one is just creepy and funny. But "honey" & "sweetheart" and whatever else is just annoying. Plus they have been dating for like 2 seconds. I mean come on, you should have to earn that title (if its something you actually want, i dont want it)

Secondly, their announcement wasnt as exciting as i would of liked. I was hoping they would say she was knocked up, because that would of been HILARIOUS. I knew it wasnt the announcement but how good would that of been? The real announcement is on my nephew Lincolns 3rd birthday, they are getting married. I told megan i think she should do a rose ceremony birthday party.

Lastly, uh Jesse, your hair has always been pretty gross but whats with the Byron look? Seriously?

Mike Visser for Blogging President!

1. Once upon a time, Mike was an amazing blogger. Then he went to Dental school and decided to get "too busy" to be funny. I think its time he made time for it again.

2. He is smart and has some pretty good ideas about stuff (terrorism, relationships, sea life, etc) and even when hes totally wrong I start to believe him.

3. He is good at stirring up controversy (see #1 about his blogging reputation)

4. Mike once had a poll on his blog about who is coolest friend was, and i won.

5. He once drove cross country to come to my mission farewell (dedication).

6. He is HOT, look at this picture. TOTAL model material (he could post pictures of himself on slow days).
7. He used to be in the marching band, look at him now...yeah i know, MARCHING BAND! (Ha what a dork. Perfect for the blogging world, right?)

8. His relatives are just as good as he is, but they dont have blogs. Daniel, get on it. (see here)

9. He has really good taste in music and i think it would be good for all of us to be able to read his blog and see what is hip.

10. He has his finger on the jugular vein of fashion (some of you could use his example, i dont need it, but you know, i am just looking out for the rest of you).

MIKE GET A FREAKING BLOG ALREADY. I REFUSE TO SIT IDLY BY AS YOU TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHEN YOU HAVE "TIME" TO BLOG. IF YOU HAVE TIME TO GCHAT, YOU HAVE TIME TO BLOG. GIVE US WHAT WE WANT!

Nothing says happy Independence Day...

like illegal fireworks from an Indian Reservation.

SYTYCD....weirdly sexual?

I am a big fan of So you think you can dance, and i know its weird but i watch my favorites over and over again. And tonight my favorites were weirdly sexual and i dont know what that says about me....I think mainly it means i just love John Mayer and Heart....???

Seriously, SO funny

Lindsay sometimes does little blog spotlight of the blogs that she loves, and well here is one that i love.

And i am pretty bugged at some of you for not sharing this with me sooner. Katie sent it to me the other day and i have just been dying laughing.

Maybe you have come across blogs before of girls who are SERIOUSLY SO BLESSED and who just want to share all of their blessings with the blogging world, but they cant because they are too busy running errands at Target and girl time at Cafe Rio. Well, this is one of those blogs, but its not real and its so so so so so hilarious. I am just sad that its only a couple of weeks old because i have read the entire thing already and still have 20 minutes left of work.

Anyway, here is an excerpt or two to tempt you to go read this blog.

"once when we were dating, JJWT and I broke up for a week when I saw that his old girlfriend (who is gross but has cute hair) sent him a text. I cried for EVER, he held me, and then he promised to only text ME from then on, and now I'm the only one he texts"

"Maybe I should get addicted to yoga like Madonna, but keep my values, UNlike Madonna. Pros: I can say I do yoga, and wear yoga pants! Cons: might have to see girls with hairy legs, which makes my heart hurt because they obviously don't understand femininity and their role in the plan, and even just imagining living without that makes me sad for them. No wonder they don't have husbands!! Sad! And when I get sad I meltdown."

NOW GET OVER THERE!

I got a little something in the mail today...

Now i can finally go get this RLS thing checked out, the Asthma, Insomnia, Deviated Septum...

YES!!!!!!

(its only been a good 3 years since ive had insurance??? its about time!)

Dear Deanna,

You are sickening. Seriously. You're OBSESSED with yourself. Why do you think you're so awesome? I just cannot figure it out. Thats really all i have to say about last nights 2 hours. The actual episode wasnt all that interesting. I do think, however, that you're going to pick Jesse. You wereway more affectionate with him than with Jason. And to be completely honest i could really care less. I really just hope you end up with no one cause you're just that retarded.

At the Men Tell All, the audience was in love with Graham, i share those same feelings. He is defenitely the next bachelor. PLUS HES HOT. And Deanna you're obviously still obsessed with him which is why you were so bugged and mad at him the whole time that he isnt obsessed with you. You're a nut job. You think you've got it all figured out and guess what? You're on a TV show looking for a boyfriend, so im pretty sure you've got some screws loose.

Basically i am over this season, of course i will watch next week...but im sorry Deanna, Im JUST not that into you. You pretty much are boring and obnoxious and arent awesome. SORRY.

(the only thing good you've done is realize that dead parents isn't a real good connection)

Please bless no one ever gives you a show again,
Shauna