Why I love Mindy Kaling

So I read back through my last real blog and it highlighted some things I really wanted to blog about. Mindy Kaling was one of them. She is the best of lighthearted funny and fun authors. She is a director, writer, and producer of the Office. And she sounds like a 10 year old. So that will be my topic today (especially since I can't continue my photo challenge until Thanksgiving).

Mostly, I am just going to quote a huge chunk of her book about men. This will be paraphrased a bit. This is her advice to men regarding women. I largely agree with her. It has a lot to do with how very small the list is for a guy to really be great.

1. Buy a well-fitting peacoat from J. Crew. (Get it cleaned once a year)

2. Have a signature drink like James Bond. (We are mormon, so you should have a favorite non-alcoholic drink)

3. Own several pairs of dark-wash straight-leg jeans. (not skinny, not boot-cut)

4. Wait until all the women have gotten on or off an elevator before you get on or off.

5. When you think a girl looks pretty, say it. "But don't reference the thing that might reveal you are aware of the backstage process: e.g., say 'You look gorgeious tonight,' not 'I like how you did your makeup tonight.' Also, a acompliment means less if you compliment the thing and not the way the girl is carrying it off. So say, 'You look so sexy in those boots,' rather than 'those boots are really cool.' I didn't make the boots! I don't care if you like the boots' design! We are magic to you: you have no idea how we got to look as good as we do."

6. Avoid asking if someone needs help in a kitchen or at a party, just start helping. (unless you actually don't want to help, then ask.)

7. Have one great cologne that's not from the drugstore.

8. Your girlfriend's sibling or parents might be totally nuts, but always defend them.

9. Keihl's for your skin, Bumble and Bumble for your hair.

10. I really think guys only need two pairs of shoes. (a nice pair of black shoes and a pair of chuck Taylors that you replace every year)

11. Bring wine or chocolate to everything.

12. Get a little jealous now and again, even if you're not strictly a jealous guy.

I know that this part isn't particularly funny (She has a lot more notes on each thing), but I thought that every guy should read it. And sadly, few will because I am sure that I can count on one hand the number of men that I know that will read this book. Sad.

Good Book to read: I am reading the Hush Hush Series by Becca Fitzgerald right now. Not bad. Entertaining, light reads. It's nice. There are three books, and I am on the most recent. Evidently there is one more on the way.

Good Song that I really Like: Home by Girls Love Shoes

Treat yo self - Parks and Recreation

Jameson and I now use this phrase. More often than we ought. Treat yo Self!!

I know this song is crazy popular, but I still love it

30 Day Photo Challenge

So here we are. I would rather not discuss the MASSIVE amount of time that has passed since I last blogged. And since I am the only one really interested in my ramblings (other than when I say, "Hey Jameson, look at what I wrote -- isn't that witty and charming?) I am just going to celebrate the fact that I am doing this. I am doing it whilst I avoid obvious and dreadful chores that desperately need doing (alliteration), but that is beside the point. I decided that lists are really the way to go for me. So first of all, I am going to do the 30 day photo challenge (it will take me longer, but I intend to make it all the way through the list). Here is a photo of myself:

I am completely aware I look like a slightly wal-eyed, half crazed squirrel. But I kinda like it. Also, I was really done trying to take a picture of myself that made me look both smart and sexy. So I went with crazy and ditzy instead.

Here are ten fun facts about me:

1. At the time this picture was taken (about ten minutes ago) I had broken the button on one pair of pants because they were painfully too small, and the crotch in my other pair of jeans has been worn thin by my sausage thighs rubbing together. It finally ripped this morning. I have my one surviving pair of jeans in the dryer. With like a million towels. It will take forever to dry.

2. I am reading Mindy Kaling's new book 'Is everyone hanging out without me?' and it is way better than Tina Fey's book. I will probably devote another blog to this. If I don't forget by next week. Maybe I will write it down . . .

3. I own a lot of shoes I never wear. And they are mostly fancy sandal/heels type shoes.

4. I won first place in a relay sprint triathlon with my brother and father. I did the swim portion. Also, I am not skinny. For proof of this, please refer to point number one.

5. I own a sweater from my rival highschool that says 'Riverton Track and Field' that my dad found at the Track Field after a Track Meet. He brought it home washed it and gave it to me. And it is the most comfortable thing I have ever worn.

6. I own a Kindle. It makes me feel fancy.

7. I am desperate to decorate our apartment crazy cute. I am also lazy. These two things battle constantly in my head.

8. I am going to IKEA later to get lost, and get some boxes to organize our back room. I want to blog about IKEA as well later. Please take note.

9. I really like to cook. And eat. I am probably going to make pumpkin pie or some such nonsense today or tomorrow. Probably tomorrow. I had these really cute little pumpkins all over my house, and now that Halloween has come and gone, so too do the pumpkins. I need to get my Thanksgiving decorations up before Thanksgiving. This may or may not happen.

10. I am big on disinfectant, I hate brushing my teeth at night, I really like shopping and style even though I really am lacking in the latter, and I have a weird love of office supplies.

I think that should cover it for me. If anyone feels so inclined they are welcome to add.

Favorite song of the moment: Someone Like You by Adele (who has a cockney accent -- who knew? Jameson hates her for it)

Favorite Book of the moment: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

Honey Bee

Jameson and I watched this for part of our thought in Family Home Evening. It's a pretty cute showing of the different roles of men and women in relationships. Also highlighting that maybe we each need each other. Jamie is for sure my strong and steady. :)

Family Tree

So I have been thinking quite a bit about my Grandmother lately. So . . . I decided that maybe I could mormon up and do some geneology. Who's with me?

My next question is how to get started? I think that there is some kind of computer program, magic book, or some such nonsense that you would need to begin such things. Also, this needs to be done in between my obsession with books, cleaning and overworking in general. So the magic book might be the best option.

Here are my memories of Grandma Jean:

1. Playing with her jewelry and then getting some if it (covered in her old lipstick).

2. Going to dinner with her and watching her chuckle every time Grandpa told the Pie joke* to a cute and ever so patient waitress.

3. Mayonnaise.

4. Turquoise jewelry.

5. Her shock when she would hear stories of the torture that my father endured as a child from his older siblings.

6. She liked my mom a lot.

7. She also liked cats a lot. The last one I ever met was named Magic and it was all black (familiar?) and it would drool when I would pet it on the back porch.

8. They had cable and I would watch Kidz Inc. whenever we would visit in the back room on their big white leather Lazy Boy.

9. The way she and my Grandpa were so sweet to each other in their later years. But only my Grandma was sweet to other people. My Grandpa, not so much.

10. I think that instead of turning into my mother, I think I am turning into my Grandmother.

*The Pie Joke:

Grandpa: Do you have any pie?

Waitress: We have blah blah blah blah blah and pumpkin pie (i love pumpkin, so I would always listen for it)

Grandpa: Well, I only like four kinds of pie.

Waitress: Oh? (permasmile in place)

Grandpa: Hot, Cold, Cut, and Uncut!!

Lake Powell

I am sure that everyone on this is aware that we were at Lake Powell for about 5 days. Most of those days were spent in a swim suit. Consequently, pictures will be absent. That's right, in case you missed it, I am a vain vain girl.

So I will just list my top ten from the vacation:

1. Reading Halo by Alexandra Adornetto. I won't lie, I was prepared to think this was the dumbest book of all time. I only read it because I told Beth Jackson, my sister in law, that I would. I really enjoyed it. It had romance like Twilight (meaning kinda dumb and over done), but that wasn't what I enjoyed. I most enjoyed the references to God and his reality and how we can bring others to him. It was unabashedly FOR our Father in Heaven. It was fantastic.

2. Cicily and Derek hooked up (I didn't know what was going on until the drive home).

3. I got to hook up with my hubby. :)

4. We took some glorious naps.

5. I started War of the Worlds by HG Wells. Yes, it is boring, but it is the original alien invasion book, so I suppose that it is worth it.

6. Did I mention glorious naps in the shade?

7. 'Noodling' around in the water. It's funny, because we were on noodles, and I said noodling.

8. Listening to Shaun and company in their witty repartee.

9. I hiked through Jay's Crack (Jameson's family's name for a specific hike). I was the biggest scaredy cat, but I made it through with flying colors.

10. I did not go cliff jumping. No one did. The boat broke down.

Overall, it was loads of fun. I am sure I can direct you to Debbie Jackson's facebook page for some real photos.