My Un-Scrooging

Most people wouldn't guess this about me but I'm a HUGE Scrooge! I HATE  Christmas music, I find Christmas decorating to be pointless (all decorating if we're being honest but I'm working on that), and I really really hate PRESENTS! I'm awful at picking out presents for other people! really I'm the worst! I can't even figure out something for Casey. I can't even figure out something for me (unless its the Star Wars box set which Casey still refuses to buy me despite my begging.)! I feel guilt getting presents and guilt for not giving presents. I also don't really like snow and the cold. I don't hate it but I'd really prefer sun or rain.
I like Christmas because I get to spend lots of time with our families, there's amazing food, and I love Jesus. Sometimes I enjoy the lights. Other than that I'm pretty Scroogey.
So this year Casey has decided that he WILL decorate, and I WILL help. I put up a good fight. We went shopping for decorations and I whined a lot. Then I don't even remember why but some how he got me to promise to fake enthusiasm and support his strange desire for Christmas Spirit. Since both of us lack an ability to decorate we called the most festive person we know, Maegan Joy Johnson, and she tutored us. We shopped way too long and luckily I had Brady there for my moments of Scroogery, but all in all I'm really pleased with the results. The festive decorations actually make me smile! Who would have guessed?! So I would like to give the credit for my partial Un-Scrooging to Casey, Maegan, and Brady (even though he's a scrooge too he helped us decorate!). But I would like to add that NO, I WILL STILL NOT LISTEN TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC! And here are some pics of our festivities.

All of these things look way cuter in person but I took pictures trying to block out disaster areas and they were taken on my phone... Also there's more... but to show you I'd have to include disaster areas and like I said, No.

My over-inflated self esteem

This post has been a long time coming. I just wish I could eloquently say what I want to but it'll probably end up as a crazy mess of nonsense (but I guess that fits my blog title).
It was almost 2 years ago that I went to the doctors office and was told that I was so overweight that I would probably not get pregnant. She was full of nonsense. But it got me evaluating my opinion of myself and others opinions of themselves. I have shockingly high self esteem. I think I am beautiful. Not like I belong in a magazine or anything, I'm not the prettiest person in a group (I hang out with some seriously beautiful people. It's kind of ridiculous.), I'm pretty average. I have great hair, great boobs (even if they are too big), decent legs, and my face doesn't make dogs bark. But, here's the traumatic truth, please don't spread this around, I weigh 235 lbs. And yes, I think I'm a bit overweight, I'd like to lose some weight for my health and so that I have less back fat, but all in all, I still don't think I'm a hunk of lard!
A few posts back I posted about one of the debates me and Moon have: Cheerleaders Vs. Dancers (he's winning this one by the way.) The thing that I found strange was that I was a little worried about getting opinions because I know a lot of cheerleaders and a lot of dancers. Well, every cheerleader I asked said dancers and every dancer I asked said cheerleaders. And every single one of these girls is a major hotty! People who are short want to be tall, people who are tall think they are amazons (I'm sometimes guilty of this but most of the time I LOVE being tall!!) girls with curly hair want it straight and girls with straight want it curly.
Okay Leslie, Where are you going with this? Here's the question I would like to ask to all of my beautiful friends who are worried about their weight and their appearance; Who's judging you? Because if it's your significant other you tell me and I'll come kick them in the face. If it's any one else, WHO CARES!? I want you to feel good about yourself. don't slack like me and wear sweats every chance you get and eat fries for one meal a day, but be comfortable with yourself. Keep exercising because it makes you feel good I don't know any girls who are actually "overweight" who have trouble getting men. I do however know a lot of skinny girls who think they're overweight who attract jerks because they don't think they deserve better.

I love this song because ITS TRUE. Not with all women. I know a lot of strong and amazing woman. But I also know some who this song applies to.
Alright. I know this was a strange rant but this is something that breaks my heart and I'm actually pretty passionate about it. Your harshest judge is you! Cut yourself a little slack. And let me know if you feel the need to get away and get a moral boost. Even if you don't know me very well; I promise I'd still love it!

This weeks loves

I am totally trendy. Okay that's not true. BUT what is true is that I go through fazes of love. One week I love something and then 2 weeks later I've forgotten about it (sad but true. Don't worry this doesn't happen with people. Once I love you you're stuck with me FOR LIFE.) So my exciting loves for the week

1. Journey's greatest hits! Yay!!! Casey finally bought it for me!!! I love you Journey.

2. Riding the mechanical Bull. Even if it did leave me bruised and battered. Totally worth it!

3. Girls nights. Now this could make my list every time I have a girls night... I LOVE girls nights. If you didn't know this about me, I love to chat, and girls nights are an excellent time for that. 

4. Our New 4 wheeler. Yes I complain that Casey spent to much but of course, it was love at first ride.

5. Whoppers. These are a greatly under-appreciated candy that I just re-discovered.

Some day I'm going to write something meaningful and amazing. Until then you get nonsense about my latest loves. If you'd like to share in these joys with me, please, give me a call. I love to share! (except Casey. He's all mine.)

BOOKS 2011

Ok... I read freakish amounts. This will not surprise anyone. When I tell people how many books I've read in the last little while it tends to frighten them. I do realize that I have a problem. Now, some of you are saying "no, reading is good, you're expanding your knowledge base." to you people I say, YOU'RE WRONG unless your talking about my knowledge of psychics, vampires, werewolves, and other things that I occasionally forget aren't real. Despite all of this people frequently ask me for book recommendations. So here is my forewarning on this post;
I read teen books. These are light and fun reads. These are books that take me away from the real world which I find dull and serious 75% of the time. These will not change your life. These are a fun escape that are way below your maturity level. Don't judge me. Some of the ones that made the list aren't teen books but I think there's only like 2...
These are in no particular order. they are just books that I enjoy that I have read more than once (or would read more than once.) in the last year.

1. The Mortal Instrument Series by Cassandra Claire.
 Probably my favorite series ever. (there are currently 4 out with 2 more on the way. But if you read the first three and stop I think you'll be pleased).

2. The Hunger Game Series by Suzanne Collins.
 If you haven't read this yet you are way behind on the times because it is very popular and amazing. Although the last one is kind of... meh.

3. Tiger Curse Series by Colleen Houck.
 These are original (minus the love triangle, but who doesn't love a love triangle? I know I do!) which if you read much I'm sure you know this is a rare find.

4. Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld.
 He creates such an amazing world. When I was done I had added a few made-up slang words to my vocabulary.
Also by Scott Westerfeld is the Leviathan series... it doesn't make the list but it's definitely interesting and fun and I'm looking forward to reading the third and final installment.

5. The Darkest Power Series By Kelley Armstrong.
 These are aimed a little younger but I could NOT put them down. (also there's a branch off series to these and the first one is called "the Gathering" I read this first and it's what made me read the others.)

6. The Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices #1) By Cassandra Clare.
 I could have included this with the Mortal Instrument series but this series makes the list by itself. ok... well the first one does. The second one comes out in December and I'm SO EXCITED.

7. Someday Soon by Debbie Macomber.
This is aimed older, and it is the only one on my list that is not fantasy fiction. definitely a bit more graphic. I'm kind of embarrassed by my love for Debbie Macomber (and Iris Johansen) books. Some of her books are so much fun! and some of them are dull dull dull. ask me for more good ones.

8. Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich.
 Also aimed older. I picked this up randomly one day in Smiths and I cracked up through the whole thing! so random. I kept giggling and hiding my face in a pillow so I wouldn't wake Casey.

9. Vampire Academies by Richelle Mead.
 There are a million of these. okay maybe only 6 or 7. But I wouldn't read them all straight or you get kind of sick of them. They're different and I love 'em. Even if they are trendy vampire books.

10. House of Night Series by P.C. and Kristen Cast.
 Again I'm embarrassed that this is another vampire series and again there are a million of the. Don't read them in a row. take a break. I still haven't made it through the series because I borrow them from Dani.  But I love them even more then Vamp Academies. You finally get a heroine who relies on her friends!

11. The Demon Trappers Series by Jana Oliver.
 I really loved the first one. The second one I kind of wanted to punch her in the face for being so dumb but she's a strong character and I'm excited for the next installment.

12. Red Handed By Gena Showalter.
Fun, fast, easy read.

Ok I promised myself I'd only do 10... so really quick, Hex Hall, Touch of Frost, The Girl in the Steel Corset, and the Lorien Legacies Series..... I'll stop myself now.
And then I'd like to recommend some new authors who are a hoot, Lucy Kevin (Seattle Girl-- aimed older, it has language), and Gemma Halliday, and maybe even Amanda Hocking. These 3 authors have a lot of books under 3 dollars that you can get on your Nook. That's how I found them and I would look for books by them in the future because I like their writing style and imagination.

Again, I apologize for not having a ranking system or being able to limit it to 10. I also wish I could get pictures for you but really, who has the time? Any way, if you've asked me for book recommendations here they are and I'm sorry that I'm so immature. :D
Also people ask if I like my Nook. No, I do not "like" my Nook. I LOVE my Nook. Her name is Ella (after Ella Enchanted my favorite childhood book that I still read a couple of times a year) and she is my best friend. She comes with me everywhere. Although she does make it way to easy to buy books and therefore spend money... oops.

Work, Mermaids, Sugarland, and S'mores

My Title pretty much explains the madness that has been our lives. Summer FLEW by way too fast. Casey worked the whole summer and barely had any time off. In July I read 20 books; apparently I turn into a pathetic lump when Casey works 7 days a week. On the up side, it gave me time to perfect a zucchini bread recipe (Leslie cooks? what? yes, don't be confused, it doesn't happen often.)
Casey bought me a porch swing for our anniversary! I'm so excited!!! every time it rained I would go sit out on our front porch on the ground. Now I can sit on my padded swing! I'm in love with it.
I went and saw the Little Mermaid down at Tuachan with my best friend! It was so very cute. Go see it and ooh-and-ahh over the special effects that they do with the water. it's magical. Speaking of magical, I also threw up a blue snow cone, witnessed an almost-fight at the parawan derby, and I'm pretty sure I saw a unicorn on the way home. Now I'm trying to convince Moon to take me to Grease.
As I previously mentioned, Moon worked A LOT this summer. He had 4 days off in two and a half months and one day was for a family reunion and one was for a funeral. So he finally gets a whole 2 day weekend and what does he do? He buys me Sugarland concert tickets! Moon doesn't even like Sugarland. He makes me feel so special. he spends his first saturday off in 3 months, at a concert he didn't really enjoy. But I loved it! "Stay" is one of my all time favorite songs (not really sure why. I think its the emotion that she projects, it's so impressive.) and it was beautiful in concert! I got chills.
We have been wanting to go camping SO BAD this summer. a couple of weeks ago we finally got the chance. We camped with Brady and Haikyn, Maegan, and Meretta, and boy howdy did we have fun. We shot guns, and Maegan and Brady shot the bow and arrow (me and meretta couldn't pull the string back. embarrassing. I got it back once and was ridiculously proud of myself.), we ate a TON because that's what you do while camping, we drove in the beautiful mountains, and we chilled around the campfire. It was such a fun weekend. Moose played so hard that his paws got tired and he slept for an almost solid for 48 hours. And I think Skills, who has gotten to be a lazy fatty, ran more than she has in long time! Can I take a moment to talk about the food? I love food. And we had some seriously good food. One night we went to Brady's dad's camp and Monta fed us. oh yummy! and Then Casey made Heart attack toast and hungry mans for breakfast, we also had cobler and dutch oven cakes because Moon is amazing with a dutch oven. But, I think my favorite thing was the s'mores. It has been a long time since I've had a yummy s'more and I've been craving more since we got home. We used the really big marshmallows and because it's me that was probably a bad idea. I somehow managed to get Marshmallow on my forehead and in my hair.
Anyway, All is well with us and things are finally back to a normal schedule for Casey. I'm not reading at such a rapid pace, but football season did just start so that might change. Hope you enjoyed the update and I'm sorry I'm not a picture taker. I know those would have told the story much better than I can with words.

4 years later

Tomorrow is our 4 year anniversary! I feel like we just got married and at the same time like we've been together forever. (yes, I know, "really Leslie? another mushy post? especially another one where you talk about how great Casey is... ugh." but it just has to be said. Sorry!) Casey and I dated on and off for 3 years before we got married. So here we are, 7 years later, and that boy still twitterpates me like crazy! I still get the tingles when we kiss and I still can't believe that he picked me.

Moon Face,
You are the Copper to my Todd, the cake to my fat kid, the hoot to my holler, and the reason that I'm so happy. You crack me up on a daily basis. You know how to fix me when I'm broken. There are millions of reasons why I keep you around but I think the most important is you're insanely sexy and that never hurts ;-). I love you like crazy!

Love,

Your creepy and weird Wifey Moon

Purge

Last week sucked. There's not much else to describe it. It just sucked. (Sorry mom I know you hate the S-U-C-K word). So in honor of this crappy week I will be purging all of my anger into this post about things that I'm hating right now.

• Allergies. and all things allergy related; mainly snot, itchy throat, and watery eyes.


• Cubicles. I want to be outside!!!! (where I can further complain about my allergies)


• That you have to wear shoes in most public places. Shoes are overrated.


• PCOS


• Hormones


• When some one says you aren't allowed to complain, or judges your complaining. watch me. Now you've pissed me off and I'm going to complain more.


• unwanted sympathy. When I say I'm fine, let it drop or I might cry. I'll talk when I'm ready.


• Bratwurst's. the look the smell, all of it is just nasty.


• Waterproof mascara


• Books with no climax. Or worthless main characters.


• Mean "significant others". You know who you are. and if you had man junk I'd give you a "you know why!" moment. (Not mine. He's awesome)


• laundry


• Lana Lang in Smallville.


• and most of all I hate my negative attitude. I'm not this person. I'll work on fixing it.

Now to be fair... I think maybe I should say that I have had some awesome things happen this week. Casey is as amazing as ever and he takes such good care of me when my week sucks. He really is my pillar of strength. My friends and family are the BEST. I know it's stupid but we're dog sitting for some friends and now have 4 dogs for over a week... you'd think this would be a bad thing, but they love me more than Casey and follow me everywhere in hopes of getting cuddle time. It makes me feel special. I like being a crazy dog lady. Also I have re-discovered tootsie-rolls. YUMMY! That's my rant for the day. The end.