Wedded bliss in the District.

Saturday was wedding day, the day I was most excited for (and the day you are probably most excited to read about). Sister Hansen's house was really close to the temple, so we were able to wake up at a reasonable hour to get ready for the day. Kind of funny, when Sis. Hansen saw me that morning, all dolled up in my fancy clothes, she said, "Oh, that's kind of a cute outfit." I said "thank you," but then immediately wondered if I had mistaken an insult for a compliment.

The D.C. temple is really spectacular. It looks like a marble castle with huge golden spires, surrounded by trees and flower gardens. And the inside is just as beautiful as the outside. My favorite part was the jewel-toned stained glass in the stairwells.

(Read more about what goes on in the temple here.)

My hunny and me

After we participated in some proxy sealing ordinances for some of Dill's deceased relatives, we went to the marriage waiting room to gather for David and Rachel's wedding. All the guests were supposed to be in the waiting room 30 minutes prior to the actual ceremony. Time was ticking by and at about a quarter 'til, we noticed none of the groom's family and friends had arrived besides us and his dad. Uh-oh ... The time of the ceremony came and went and there was still no sign of them! I started to get a sick feeling, imagining car accidents, cold feet, all sorts of awful scenarios. Finally, they showed up -- turns out their GPS navigator had taken them on the longest route possible, on the belt way, all the way around the city!

(If I learned anything on this trip, it's never trust a navigation system.)

The ceremony started a little late, but it was certainly worth waiting for. David and Rachel looked so exquisitely happy. I have been to lots of weddings, but never one where the bride and groom seemed more perfect for one another than David and Rachel did. They were glowing with happiness. They knelt at the altar and promised to love each other and God eternally. It was amazing.

After the ceremony, we all headed outside to greet the new husband and wife as they exited the temple. Pretty standard for Mormon weddings. You can usually count on about a half hour for the bride to get completely gussied up and ready to go, so you chat with friends and family and snap a bunch of pictures while you wait.

Dill talks to his aunt Sherri, the groom's mother

Groom's sister, Kristin, looking awfully purdy

Well, an hour passed and there was still no sign of them. What was going on? We were all getting pretty impatient, especially the kids. Eventually, they emerged and we had the customary celebrations, kissing, hugging, pictures, etc. Turns out Rachel's zipper had broken and she had to be sewn into her dress. Yes, you read right -- SEWN INTO HER DRESS. After I found out about that, I was amazed it didn't take longer than an hour!

David hugs his sister

David's sister Michele captures the happy couple

Bride Rachel hugs her adoring niece

David and Rachel were so kind as to provide boxed lunches for all the guests who greeted them as they came out of the temple. It was a really thoughtful gesture, one I'll have to store away for when my children get married.

After the temple festivities were finished, we figured we had a few hours to kill before the reception that evening. We headed over to the National Cathedral in the meantime. Boy, am I glad we did. It was a sight like no other!

Taken with my point and shoot -- how can you NOT take an amazing picture of this?

One of the towers ... just gorgeous.

I couldn't help but gawk at it from the outside, but the inside was even more elaborate! Unfortunately, my point-and-shoot didn't capture the enormous stained glass windows quite as well as I'd hoped, but we did get one good shot of the two of us inside:

I mean, seriously ... !

The crazy thing is this magnificent structure wasn't even COMPLETED until 1990. Could have fooled me -- looks just like an authentic 16th century Gothic cathedral to me.

While at the National Cathedral, we got word from the groom that we needed to be at James Madison's Montpelier, the reception site, an hour earlier than originally planned for pictures. We figured we'd have plenty of time, but we hopped in the car and got going. Good thing we didn't waste any time -- an accident on the highway added an extra hour to what was already going to be a 2 1/2-hour trip! We barely arrived in time.

Montpelier is, how should I put this? GORGEOUS. I mean, it was like being in a fairytale land. Rolling green pastures kissed by the sun, huge trees framing the picturesque scenes ... I couldn't help but stare. It looked like it hadn't been touched in hundreds of years!

The bride had arranged for all of her guests to take a tour of James and Dolley Madison's mansion before the reception. One of the best parts was seeing the room where Madison first drafted the Constitution. Talk about hallowed ground! At the end of the tour, Dill and I went up on the terrace for a photo op.

Totally real (the people and the background)

Here's Rachel and David, walking up to their new mansion. (They wish!)

Rachel shows off her gorgeous dress, the one she was sewn into.

David, looking quite dapper.

The Mr. and Mrs.! Check out her bouquet.

Can't have too many shots with this background.

The tour ended with a self-guided walk through the Madisons' garden. I'll add I want a garden just like this when I grow up. Someone please make this happen. A tiny path lined with immaculately-trimmed hedges, roses and flowers of all colors and sizes, a pretty wrought-iron gate at the end and just beyond that, a horse pasture! No joke.

Dress: borrowed from sister, shoes: $7, Payless, necklace: also borrowed from sister, corsage/pin: purchased at a boutique last season!

Oh yes, I spent $7 on the outfit I wore to the wedding. It's just how I roll, I guess!

Kissing in the garden? DUH + me by the gate.

The reception and dinner was held at the visitors' center in the Grand Salon and it was just beautiful in there. Unfortunately, my camera had died by that point -- too many pictures in the garden, I guess. But you can check it out here if you're truly curious. The food was great and the company even better! After dinner, the groom and bride exchanged rings and vows. Again, their love for each other was so  honest I couldn't help but get misty-eyed. Then, they cut the cake -- a unique peanut butter and chocolate cheesecake made by a local baker. It was heavenly!

We finished off the night with a divine slice of cheesecake and dancing out on the patio. I even did my Beyonce' booty shake for everyone (peer pressure).When it was time for the newlyweds to depart, we formed a victory tunnel and someone unleashed a bottle of sparkling cider. Classic.

It was a perfect day for a perfect couple. I feel honored to have been part of it!

The District sleeps alone tonight, part 3.

Friday morning, we got up a little later than the previous day and headed down to the metro to catch a train to the Pentagon. David, the groom, had arranged a tour for us and other family/friends in town for the wedding and we were stoked. Sadly, there was some miscommunication about the tour date and it had actually been scheduled for the previous day. So sad. I was OK with it, though, because I had really wanted to see Arlington Cemetery and didn't think we'd be able to fit it into our schedule. So, this mishap freed up enough time for that.

Arlington is pretty close to the Pentagon, so we hopped back on the metro and made our way north. When we arrived, we walked into the main visitors' center and I grabbed a map from the Information desk. I noticed an older man at the desk, asking the guide how to get to the Tomb of the Unknowns. She asked him if he wanted to take the tram -- I probably would have asked too, due to his age -- but he surprisingly said, "No ma' m, I want to walk." And his words hit me like a ton of bricks. We needed to walk. The tram is great -- they stop at all the important points and rattle off all the important names and dates. But I felt like there would be a certain reverence in walking up the paths, through the trees, past the graves of the multitudes who gave their very lives for our freedom. I felt like I owed it to them to walk. And if this old man could do it, I certainly could. So, it was settled -- we were walking.

Dill and I started up the path and I immediately knew we had made the right decision. The cemetery is breathtakingly beautiful -- rolling green hills, monuments of all shapes and sizes, and huge trees sheltering the resting places beneath them. The walk toward the Tomb of the Unknowns was fairly short, only about 15 minutes, and we stopped to take pictures quite often.

At the Memorial Amphitheater

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

When we got to the tomb, we were pleased and rather surprised to experience a palpable reverence amongst the tourists. There were throngs of middle and high school students present, but they were all incredibly respectful and perfectly quiet. We watched the guard pace back and forth for quite a while, taking it all in. Then, when the clock struck 11, we watched the Changing of the Guard. I reflected on those who died serving our country and those who will continue to die doing so. I was struck with gratitude and humility. I think everyone was.

Left: Guarding the Tomb, Right: Changing of the Guard

After the ceremony, we walked back down the path and took the fork towards the Kennedys' graves. I really liked the JFK quotes engraved on the memorial site. My favorite one reads, "Let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on Earth, God's work must truly be our own." Profound.

JFK Memorial, Washington Monument in back

We left Arlington feeling a little tired but full of gratitude for the great people who sacrificed their lives for our country. The historical artifacts, sites, museums and monuments in D.C. are wonderful, but they wouldn't exist if it weren't for those who willingly fought for them. For us.

After we were finished paying our respects at Arlington, we went to the National Archives to see the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They are all highly secured and kept in a dark room in special cases to prevent their further deterioration. It was quite amazing to see the same documents created, signed and handled by our Founding Fathers. Also, did you know they were written on animal skin? That is how they've managed to survive for so long.

We ended the day with a trip to the Smithsonian American History Museum. There was so much to see there -- Abe Lincoln's top hat, Judy Garland's ruby red slippers, Julia Child's kitchen, among countless others. So many historic artifacts. My favorite exhibit by far was the Star-Spangled Banner ... yes, the ACTUAL flag that was flown over Fort McHenry and inspired the national anthem. It is HUGE -- 30 by 42 FEET. It actually was too big to fit in Mary Pickersgill's home (she's the seamstress who sewed it). So, the Smithsonian actually has this flag on display and it's amazing. It's in a very dark case and the words to the Star-Spangled Banner are projected on the black wall behind it. I couldn't help but get choked up at the sight of it. Striking.

My other favorite was First Ladies exhibit. In it were paintings, accessories, china and dresses of many of the First Ladies. So many of them had such great fashion! Definitely fun to see.

After the Smithsonian, I was dead tired and could barely walk, but we all wanted to head to Georgetown to see the historic homes there and get dinner. Fortunately (or maybe not), we had plenty of time to ogle the cute Victorian houses and rest our feet since it took about an HOUR to go just a few miles by car. Georgetown University students were graduating that day and we didn't quite foresee the traffic problem until it was too late. It made for some interesting conversation in the car since I was really thirsty and Melanie really had to pee.

While driving (more like crawling) down Main Street, we saw a little shop called Georgetown Cupcake. As you may or may not know, I love cupcakes with a fiery hot passion, so I was bound and determined to get my hands on one. Little did I know, Georgetown Cupcake is the same shop featured on TLC's DC Cupcakes! Let me just say they are famous for a reason. Sprinkles Cupcakes are amazing, but these are heavenly. HEAVENLY. Worth any line you might have to wait in.

So many cuppycakes!

My red velvet (R), Dill's peanut butter chocolate (L)

A scrumptious red velvet was the perfect way to wrap up a very tiring but fulfilling day in D.C.

Metro waits for no one.

Melanie, Debbie and Roger riding the rail. One of my favorite shots of the trip.

Dill waiting for the Metro at Arlington

Arlington again, looking pensive and kind of failing.

It was Thursday evening and we were a little lost in Crystal City, trying to find the rooftop dinner (which was in Pentagon City, just a few stops south). Once we figured out we needed to go a little further on the metro, we hurried back down to the tunnel to catch the next one. Lucky us, it just so happened it was pulling up to the station as we got on the down escalator.

One thing you should know about the metro is it's efficient mainly because of how quickly it stops to pick up and dump off passengers. It screeches to a halt, the doors fly open, people pretty much run off or on, the doors shut and it's blasting off again. It's about a 30-second deal each time. And metro doors are not like elevator doors in that they don't re-open when you frantically throw your body through the threshold. Basically, if you're late, you're catching the next one.

So, we're on the escalator and we hear the train coming. Dill and his dad, Roger, get this crazy idea to run down the escalator and hop on before it leaves. So the two of them and Melanie bolt down the escalator to the platform. Well, Dill's mom and I were in flip-flops at the top of the escalator and we just really didn't have it in us to run. But the fear of being left behind won out, so we gingerly shuffled down the escalator as quickly as we could, trying to avoid any Cinderella moments. When I reached the platform, I made a mad dash to the door and slid into the car just before it closed. Phew! Indiana Jones, eat your heart out!

That's when I thought, Where's Debbie? She was just behind me ...

And I turned around to see her, still on the platform, like a deer in headlights, her hand and forearm wedged TIGHTLY between the doors.

It turns out I am not the person you want to be stuck with in a situation like this. I basically sat there, dumbfounded and helpless. Staring in horror at the scene before my eyes. Thinking, What do I DO!?! Imagining the train barreling down the line, dragging Debbie (or probably just her arm) in its wake. Scared crapless.

Next thing I know, the doors fly open, releasing her arm from their grasp. At first I had thought maybe I'd willed it to happen with the powers of my mind, or maybe a heavenly being had come to the rescue. Then I looked over and saw that Roger had wrenched his door open, causing ours to open, too.

Well, I'd expect nothing less from a former cop. Roger saved the day!

Later, I was so loopy from exhaustion that every time I'd think about what transpired, I'd get a fit of the giggles that would turn in a maniacal rage of tear-streaming, belly-aching laughter. I know, heartless! But everything turned out OK, with the exception of some minor bruising.

Lesson is: Metro waits for NO ONE. So if you're running late and you like your limbs, better just catch the next one.

And now, for your entertainment: Here comes the metro! (No one was harmed in the making of this video.)

The District sleeps alone tonight, part 2.

So, I should preface this post by informing you all, World Wide Web, that I do not travel well. Never have. Three things in particular happen to me every time I embark on a vacation. 1) I get hangnails 2) I get constipated and 3) I start my period. And as I'm sure you've already guessed, the Trifecta of Traveling Woes made its appearance right on time for my D.C. trip. Yes, even Aunt Flo, who was gracious enough to postpone her untimely visitation for ... wait, let me do the math ... nearly TWO YEARS. The nasty hag.

Anyway, enough about me and my rogue bodily functions. Let's talk about D.C.!

Thursday morning, I could not figure out what to do with my hair. I had a genius plan to run a flat-iron through it to create some waves. Well, that most certainly backfired and left me looking like a half-straightened freak the rest of the day. Awesome. Anyway, we left bright and early and took the metro to the White House. We weren't lucky enough to get a tour, but we did see the visitors' center which was pretty impressive.

Obama's crib.

After that, we headed south (past Washington Monument) and had breakfast at the Holocaust Museum Cafe. My father-in-law, a former police officer and also a genius, brought his old police I.D. card so we got to skip the long "civilian" line to get into the Holocaust Museum, which was brilliant. There were a ton of people there. I didn't think we'd be able to pull that one off, but I'd heard so many good things about it and didn't want to miss it. So glad we didn't have to. It was extremely moving. I had a hard time choking back the tears as I saw the thousands of shoes, the train cars the victims were transported in, the pictures ... the countless pictures, most I'd never seen before. To think that so many people died at the hands of one evil dictator is baffling. They also had an interesting exhibit (aside from the main one) about how Hitler used propaganda to lull so many people into wholeheartedly supporting his evil politics. But mostly, my heart hurt at the thought of little, innocent children being gassed to death just for existing. What a terrible, shameful scar on our world's history. The silver lining in it all is that we can learn about what happened and see to it that it never happens again.

If you're ever in D.C., make the Holocaust Museum a high priority.

That afternoon, we were slated for guided tours of both the U.S. Capitol building and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. We headed to our congressman Jeff Flake's office and met up with our tour guide, Rob. Come to find out he is a BYU student interning at the House of Representatives for the summer. How awesome is that? We started the tour in Rep. Flake's office, where I snapped this picture:

Verdict: Rep. Flake is a Cougars fan. His daughter is actually attending the university now.

We saw some really spectacular things in the Capitol, including ...

This gorgeous chandelier

 

The dome of the rotunda. This painting is entitled,  "The Apotheosis of George Washington".

Unfortunately, we finished the tour a little too late and couldn't make it to the Bureau in time. Bummer. I was looking forward to seeing all the dollar bills being printed, destroying our economy. Oh well, there's always next time!

(Whew, I'm getting a little political ... sorry for the detour. )

Once we realized we weren't going to make it on our tour, we headed to Pentagon City for a magical rooftop dinner for the bride's and groom's families. And when I say it was magical, I mean it. It was held on top of a condo high-rise and the view of the city went on for miles. The groom's good friend Austin made a most fabulous dinner, which included butternut squash ravioli in a browned butter sauce, grilled asparagus topped with mozzarella, a delicious spinach salad, wild rice, chicken in lemon cream sauce and for dessert, grilled pineapple on top of vanilla ice cream. Divine. Holy. The weather was perfect. David and Rachel gave a highly entertaining PowerPoint presentation about their friendship, courtship and engagement. It was great to be able to socialize with Rachel's family while relaxing and eating a fantastic meal.

After dinner, we (meaning myself, Dill, Melanie, and my in-laws) decided it would be a good time to tour the monuments. The weather WAS perfect, and we'd heard they were most beautiful at night when they're all lit up. Well, hindsight is 20/20 and it turned out to be a not-so-great idea. The monuments and memorials were overcrowded with middle schoolers, which totally quashed any reverence or respect that would have been present otherwise. Our cameras were not very good at taking night pictures, either (our cell phones actually took better pictures than our real camera -- go figure). 

Honest Abe

We were super-tired and sore from walking all over tarnation earlier that day, so that kind of killed it, too. Plus the reflecting pool has been drained for some unknown reason (maybe it's part of budget cuts?). But we were doing alright and enjoying ourselves reasonably well until ... it started pouring. And pouring. Here we were, wandering about in the dark wooded areas of D.C. with images of Chandra Levy creeping up in our minds and it starts raining as hard as it can. Dill and I had one measly umbrella between the two of us and it was hardly doing any good. To make matters worse, the metro was hundreds of miles away (it seemed) and we didn't even know if it was still running. And Sister Hansen had given us a curfew -- 11:00 -- which we had no chance of making. So I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact I would be sleeping on a bench in D.C. or maybe on her front lawn if the metro was operating.

By the time we got home around midnight, we were so exhausted we could hardly think straight. And I swear, my feet have never hurt so much in my life. And stupidly (I take full responsibility) we had another huge day planned for Friday. Now that the trip is over, I see that we would not have been able to fit in as much sightseeing as we did if we hadn't planned it this way, but at the time, I was pretty much hating myself. Obviously though, we lived to tell about it!

The district sleeps alone tonight, part 1.

Last Tuesday afternoon, I ventured out to Queen Creek to teach a few piano lessons and then, I LEFT MY KIDS and their packed little suitcases with my mom. I drove home. Alone. With no kids.

It was weird.

Dill and I had a few errands to run before leaving the next day. I had forgotten how convenient it is to go places when you don't have kids. No buckling screaming banshees into car seats. No repeated strains of "Are we there yet?". No random escape attempts in the grocery stores, no tantrums, no impending bedtime to ruin the fun. As we traipsed around town in kidless bliss, I wondered why we didn't go more places before Bubby and Smush were born.

If you're reading this and you don't have kids, stop and make plans to go somewhere tonight. And tomorrow night. And the night after that. Just trust me.

Anyway, Wednesday morning came bright and early and we rode with Dill's parents to the airport. Our flight left around 8 a.m. and we were in the air for about 2 1/2 hours before we had a layover in Kansas City. Let me tell you: Kansas City has the most awful airport ever. It's tiny and run-down and there's only one bathroom beyond the security checkpoints. I'm not even kidding. I pretty much waited in a bathroom line during the whole layover and then it was time to hop back on the plane.

Another 2 1/2 hours passed and there we were, in good ol' Baltimore. The first thing I noticed was how HUMID it was. My hair immediately went flat and started curling up. I felt sticky. I am from the desert. I don't really know how to deal with humidity. I tried really hard not to cry when I saw my hair in the mirror. But on the flip side, humidity makes for some beautiful scenery. I couldn't get over how green it was. No brown in sight, anywhere. Trees, trees, trees. It was like another world.

After we secured our rental car, we picked up my sister-in-law Melanie and made our way to our "home" in Kensington. Since we were in town for a temple wedding ceremony, we were able to stay with a woman, Sister Hansen, who rents rooms out to temple patrons for $20 a night. That was pretty sweet, though I'm not gonna lie -- her home smelled strongly of old lady and she was slightly senile. But hey, $20 a night for a place to sleep? I'll take it. Plus it was only a mile from a metro station so that was an added bonus. And Sis. Hansen was pretty nice, though she was adamant we make our beds every day.

Once we got settled, we took the Metro Rail to downtown D.C. I had never been on a metro before. We got our tickets and went down to the tunnel. First thing I noticed: it smelled just like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, only worse. Second thing: it was entirely freaky. You get down there, way under the ground, and there's this huge, dark, silent tunnel with tracks running down the middle. Then all the sudden, a train comes barreling noisily out of nowhere. I was completely unprepared for how the metro would be. I did get used to it eventually, but man, those first few times? Scary.

When we got downtown, we joined the bride and groom and the rest of the groom's family for dinner and dessert at Co Co. Sala. It's this super-swanky restaurant and bar and all the menu items, even entrees, have some special chocolate feature. It was unreal and delicious. Dill and I shared a delectable creamy artichoke tart and then we each got a dessert of our own. Mine was called A Sticky Situation, and it was basically a sticky pudding cake topped with whipped cream, toffee sauce and chocolate shavings, served with a side of ginger caramel ice cream. WOW. Dill got a chocolate crème brulee with marshmallows and graham cracker crumble on top. Another WOW. I tried to get a picture of our desserts but the lighting was low and they didn't turn out. Here's a picture of Melanie's dessert:

I mean, seriously.

Some of the crowd at Co Co. Sala.

After dessert, we were all stuffed and drunk on chocolate and good conversation, so we took the metro back home to catch some Z's.

Footsie.

Oh, hello world! I'm back. My feet went a lot of places last week and they are TIRED.

Above George Washington's intended crypt at the Capitol

On the steps of the Tomb of the Unknowns

Waiting for the Metro

On a grate at the National Cathedral

On the gravel path in James Madison's garden

What's that? You wanted to see the rest of these places? Well lucky you -- I'll have more soon! In the meantime, I shall finish a whole lot of laundry and errands that went undone last week while I toured D.C. and attended a most glorious wedding. Oh, and sleep off this jet lag!

Hope you went to a great museum while I was gone!

Old-fashioned cleaning.

When we bought our home a little over a year ago, it was in DIRE condition. Actually, I don't even think dire is an accurate description -- it was worse than that. It was more like in "never maintained in 5 years" condition. It was just ... tragic.

The worst part about it was the main room, which was entirely carpeted. As you can imagine, the lightest-gray carpet was completely stained, soiled, peed-on and thrashed. Oh yes, peed-on. Did you catch that part? It was.

The first thing I KNEW we needed to do was put a nice hard floor in where the carpet had been. Carpet is entirely impractical in that room because it gets so much traffic. Not to mention it's also where the dining table goes. So we promptly ripped it out (even before the house closed!) and put in a sharp-looking wood laminate, like this.

Oh yes, this is my beautiful home.

Of course, I immediately started to worry about how to care for this floor. I had all these nightmares about it fading, peeling up, and twisting. So I decided to consult with the all-knowing Google about how to clean wood laminate flooring. And Google told me it was super-easy -- vinegar, water and a microfiber mop. Vinegar is a natural, gentle cleanser. Your grandmother probably used it to clean. Nothing like good theold-fashioned way of getting things done.

Here's what you need. A squirt bottle, like this:

(I got mine in the mop section at Wal-Mart)

And a flat mop with a removable microfiber pad, like this:

Aren't they so cute together? Look out, Kate and Prince William!

I am not sure where to get the mop since mine was a gift from my mom. But I can tell you it was made by Vileda. And I do believe I saw those pads at Wal-Mart the last time I was there. You'll probably want to buy two pads because they get dirty fast.

In the squirt bottle, mix 1/4 cup of white vinegar with about 4 cups of water. My bottle is pretty large so I just fill it up with water. Then I gently mist the floor with the squirt bottle and mop it right up! It's that easy. Your floor will shine (as you can see by my picture). When the mop pad gets dirty, flip it over and use the clean side. And when BOTH sides are dirty, throw it in the wash with your other cleaning rags, etc. It will come out perfectly (unless you wash it with a bright red, hand-dyed rug. Then it will turn pink. First-hand experience right here). As for the bottle, I just store it in my closet with my mops and brooms.

Some people don't like the smell of vinegar. Personally, I love it -- it reminds me of Easter and coloring eggs. But if it makes you ill, you are going to have to find another method. This site has some other good suggestions.

Also, I sometimes use this method on my tile floors, but not for deep cleaning. Tile and grout are porous and I prefer to use a regular mop, bucket and Pine-Sol on those to get them super-shiny and clean.

So there you have it. How to clean your floors with vinegar and water. My little sister cleans homes and she swears by this method, too. Give it a try -- it's cheap, easy, and if you hate it? No skin off your nose.

Live Your Best: Challenge #4

So, how did challenge #3 go? Did you get around to trying the oil cleansing method?

Here's a little anecdote to show you how well it works. A few days ago, my face started to get a tiny bit dry again. Instead of trusting the method and just adding more olive oil to the mixture, I decided to use a facial moisturizer right after cleansing my face. Bad idea! I got a big zit on my cheek yesterday. My skin was obviously furious with me. The good news is I did NOT use the moisturizer again last night and the zit's already significantly smaller. So, trust the oil! That's the lesson for today.

Challenge #4, I've decided, is going to go right along with my upcoming vacation. Why yes, Mr. Dill and I are leaving our kidlets behind (don't worry -- they're in good hands) and heading to Washington, D.C. next week for a wedding! It's the first time I have ever left my kids for more than a few hours. I'm really quite worried and excited all at the same time. I'm sure they'll have lots of fun with their Grammy and Pa.

This is also the first time I have been to the nation's capitol. I have a huge itinerary of stuff I want to do while there, mainly museums. I used to think museums were possibly the most boring places on earth (second to church, before I had kids), but then I grew up and have since realized how neat they are. Where else do you get to learn about history or science by looking at artifacts and exhibits? And they're often free or relatively inexpensive.

I guess that since I'm not in school anymore, I find that I actually enjoy learning things. Who knew.

Which brings me to Challenge #4: Go to a museum or art exhibit.

Do you live near a university? There are often free art and science museums on campus as well as student art displays and shows. When I lived in Provo, I loved visiting BYU's Museum of Art (affectionately called the Moa) and then getting a bite to eat in the delicious MOA Cafe. Arizona State University also offers a variety of museums, galleries and collections for your (free) entertainment.

The best part about this challenge is it directly coincides with International Museum Day, next Wednesday, May 18! How rockin' is that?

Earn some bonus points on this challenge by taking the kids with you! I know, scary! And hardly fair since I won't have my kids with me. But it could be fun.

One of the aims of a BYU education is to encourage "lifelong learning and service." That always struck me as important. It's good to always be learning things, isn't it? The world is so full of treasures -- why limit yourself to those that are easily unearthed during your formal education?

Don't forget to blog about your museum adventures!

Oh, and check out my left-hand sidebar. Links to all the past challenges!

(Also, any tips for a D.C. first-timer would be greatly appreciated.)

In which The Smush shows off his skillz.

I know, it's a shameless video of my kid. But in it, he's doing what I never thought he'd do. Ever. So please, humor me and watch it. And the strange object in his hand? The bait toy. If you've ever taught a kid to walk, you know exactly what I'm talking about. And if you haven't, you can probably infer as much.

And sorry he's not wearing any pants. I know that bugs some people, babies not wearing pants. I, for one, like when his chunky legs are exposed so I can squeeze them whenever I feel like it. And while doing so, I sing a little song that goes, "Chonky wegs, chonky chonky!"


Oh yes, Internet. I just admitted that.

So, on Wednesday, we lovebirds, meaning the Dillster and I, are gettin' outta here. Taking a six-hour flight across the U.S. of A. Going to a wedding and lots of monuments and museums, including this one which I am particularly stoked about. I mean, hello, a whole museum dedicated to the very subject I majored in. Winning!

I'm kind of nervous for this adventure, though. Confession: I've never been separated from my kids for very long. Like, I believe in babysitters, no denying it, but ... overnight is a different story. Bubby's slept in a different place only a handful of times. Smush never has. So. It could be interesting. Mom, I know you're reading this, so I'll just say, Buena suerte! Hopefully you haven't forgotten what tantrums are like.

Hope you miss me lots, Internet. You'll be rewarded with a whole slew of pictures when I return!

Memories of Mom.

My mom, Grammy, with baby Bubby. Can you believe she's almost 50?

If I could sum up my mom in one word, it'd be FUN. Kids at school and church always used to tell me I had the coolest mom. She just really understands kids and doesn't let things bother her too much.

When I was a kid, she had a special tradition of taking one child grocery shopping with her on Friday nights. I always thought those trips were the best. Grocery shopping takes a lot of time, which meant Mom and I would get plenty of time to talk.

When I was 12, I was a hardcore Backstreet Boys fan. My super-cool mom surprised my sister and me by taking us to the Backstreet Boys concert. Boy, was that an adventure! It was only my second real concert (my first one being Neil Diamond -- quite tame in comparison) and I was blown away. That was one of my best memories for sure. We still talk about how the high-pitched screams of the adoring fans made us temporarily deaf. We walked out of the arena unable to speak properly for quite some time. To commemorate my mom's 50th birthday, coming up this year, we are taking her to the NKOTBSB concert in June. We gave her the tickets at Christmas (since her birthday is after the concert) and she flipped out with excitement. This time, all of my sisters are coming. It is going to be off the hook and I can't wait.

My mom is so good at surprising people. She often shows up at my house randomly with McDonald's or treats or random gifts. And speaking of which, she is the best gift-giver. She always gets exactly what people want, and if she can't figure it out, she just gives you cold hard cash. She did this for me when I was a teenager (and she still does sometimes). She would give me $100 and then she'd take me to the mall for a whole day to spend it however I wanted. Now THAT's a teenage dream if I've ever heard of one. Try again, Katy Perry.

Last but not least, my mom is compassionate. She is always looking out for others and never thinks of herself first. I think of all these fun memories and realize they all meant she had to sacrifice in some way. She didn't even get alone time when she went to the store, something I demand, because she wanted to create a bonding experience for one of her kids. My mom is one who gets emotional when she sees a handicapped or disadvantaged person. She is always willing to take dinner to people who are sick or grieving, give her kids' friends rides all over town and make beautiful dinners for her family, even though she hates cooking (but don't let that fool you -- she is an AWESOME cook!). She is always helpful, kind and giving. And she makes everything fun!

Mom, I know you sometimes wonder if you raised us right. Well, rest assured that you most certainly did. You are an exemplary mother, one I want to be just like.

Love,
Jenna

The oil cleansing method.

In my last post, I told you all how I now clean my face with oil and nothing else. I know, it sounds awful, right? These are some questions that might be zooming through your mind right about now:

1. Will I smell like fried chicken?
2. Will this cause me to have a major breakout?
3. Will my face turn into one giant pustule?

The answer to all the questions is the same: NO. So you can stop worrying about that.

Here's the first thing you need to know: Oil cleanses oil. Our skin naturally produces oil to care for and heal itself. Oil alone does not cause acne. Bacteria, hormones, dead skin cells and dirt DO cause acne. How? When the skin becomes irritated (such as through drying cleansers), dead skin cells, bacteria and dirt burrow their way into the pores, causing them to become very inflamed and even infected. That is what a pimple is -- a mini infection raging on your skin.

Go to the bathroom and take a look at the ingredients on your facial cleanser. What do you see? Things like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and fragrances, most likely. While these ingredients are good at removing bacteria from the surface of your skin and helping it smell fresh, they excel at drying and irritating the skin, too. A lot of people (myself included) have tried to remedy bad breakouts with excessive scrubbing and washing. This doesn't help -- it only worsens the problem in most cases.

So, the first step: STOP using your cleanser. I know, breaking up is hard to do. But this boyfriend is a particularly bad one and he's just going to string you along forever. Your heart can only break so many times. Say goodbye and good riddance. Eat some chocolate if you need to.

Now, head to the grocery store. Go to the laxative aisle and find a bottle of castor oil. It isn't expensive and you won't need a lot -- chances are, that little bottle will last you quite a while. Put that bottle in your cart. Note: If you've ever been pregnant, you might already own some castor oil (it's supposed to help induce labor, although all I've heard of it is it really only induces diarrhea and nausea. But to each their own!).

Next, go to the cooking oil section of the store. Locate a bottle of extra virgin olive oil. Any brand will do. You can also use sunflower seed oil, which is allegedly better, but it's more expensive and harder to find. Add this to your cart.

Last, you will need a small empty bottle. I picked up 3 oz. one with a flip-top lid for just 99 cents at Wal-Mart, in the travel-sized products section. If you already have an empty one lying around at the house, feel free to use that if you want. This will be the container for your oil mixture.

You will want to do your cleansing routine at night, right before bed. And you don't need to do it again in the morning -- just a quick wipe with a warm washcloth will do. You definitely don't want to OVERcleanse, even with this method, as it can really dry your face out. Don't ask me how I know.

Now comes the mixing. The castor oil is what will cleanse your face; the olive or sunflower oil will moisturize and help lubricate and move the dirt and skin cells on the skin. Mix the two oils in the empty bottle as follows:

• Oily Skin: 30% castor oil to 70% olive/sunflower seed oil
• Balanced Skin: 20% castor oil to 80% olive/sunflower seed oil
• Dry Skin: 10% castor oil to 90% olive/sunflower seed oil

You don't have to measure precisely -- just eyeball it. I have dry skin, so I did a small amount of castor oil and filled the rest of the bottle with olive oil.

For the cleansing part, you will need a clean washcloth and hot water. Keep the washcloth handy because it won't be fun to go searching for one with oily hands. Again, don't ask me how I know.

Start with clean, dry hands (don't want to add more bacteria to your face!). Begin by shaking the bottle to mix the oils well. Next, squeeze a small amount -- maybe the size of a quarter -- into your palm. Use your fingers to gently massage the oil into your face. Don't worry about your make-up; the oil mixture will take it all right off (amazingly well, I might add). Really work it into the pores. One article I read says to "picture what your face would look like if it were completely clear and free from blemishes." So, you can do that. I like to talk to Dill while I cleanse. Maybe you'd like to hum your favorite song. It's up to you.

Massage the oil into your face for a minute or two, until it has sufficiently soaked into your skin. Then, take the washcloth and run it under hot water. Don't scald yourself, but you'll want the water hot enough to open your pores and let out the gunk. Thoroughly wet the cloth and then wring it out. Place the entire washcloth directly over your face and just ... relax. Allow the washcloth to sit there until it becomes cool. Then, GENTLY!! wipe your face to remove the oil and rinse the washcloth in hot water again. Place it over your face and allow it to cool a second time. Usually, after my second go-round I'm feeling fully cleansed, but some people might want to do it one last time. When you're done, rinse your face in COLD water to close your pores. Pat your skin dry and you're done.

Notice how smooth and soft your skin will feel. For me, the water seemed to evaporate all on its own. My face felt invigorated and supple right away. I noticed my pores look a lot smaller, too.

This method does take some adjustment time, especially if your skin is regularly washed with harsher soaps and cleansers. You might feel extra greasy for the first few days. This is a good sign; it means your pores are learning how to produce the correct amount of oil. Since I have such dry skin, I didn't have any greasy days, but the article I referenced before says it's common. So don't be surprised if that happens. Keep plugging along.

After about a week, I noticed a huge difference in the quality and feel of my skin. The dry spots were gone. No more red blotches near my nose and under my eyes. Flaking around my nose: gone. My forehead, which used to be perpetually covered in bumps, is now perfectly smooth. I also had some pretty deep worry wrinkles that are now a lot more shallow. My pores are way smaller, too. Dill told me last night that my face looks healthier. I agree! And this is after only two weeks, mind you.

So here are my do's and don'ts for the OCM:

DO:
-use a clean washcloth every time
-cleanse prior to bedtime
-relax and enjoy how nice your skin feels
-keep at it, even if you feel greasy at first

DON'T:
-reuse your washcloth from day to day
-overcleanse
-scrub your face with the washcloth
-give up!

Are you ready for the best skin of your life? GO!

Here are some additional resources:

The Oil Cleansing Method
Acne.org: The Oil Cleansing Method <-- this one talks about different oils you can use

Live Your Best: Challenge #3

(Go here for #1 and #2)

So, how did Challenge #2 go? Did you do something frightening but awesome? Technically, you still have until the end of today to finish it. One of my readers, Beth, said she is going to start a monthly service club for women she knows. That is so inspiring!

I have to tell you, I decided to complete this challenge twice (I didn't think it was fair that I had already done my challenge before I issued it to y'all) and volunteered to play in a piano recital with my younger sister this weekend. Gulp! She is 16 and takes lessons from the same professor I studied with in high school. My mom called to tell me she was playing in a recital this weekend but was feeling insecure. I don't know what got into me, but I piped right up and said I'd play, too. Haven't done this in about six years! Wish me luck. It's in a few days and I'm playing a somewhat difficult piece.

As for my EVCMO audition request, they have quite a bit of interested folks so the earliest I can audition is August. At first I was a little bummed, but I guess that gives me a chance to hone my skills in the meantime!

Onto the subject at hand. Since starting this blog, I've become a little more "natural" than I was before. Meaning, I do things like no-poo, eat 50% raw, make my own bread, clean my floors with vinegar and water ... that kind of thing. A lot of these things save me quite a bit of money, but all of them have improved my life in some other way, too.

A few weeks ago, my younger sister (19) told me about this new facial cleansing method she'd been trying, the oil cleansing method. I had heard of this before but was too scared to try it. The basic idea is you use oil (part castor oil, part olive oil) to clean your face. And only oil. No soap. Crazy? Yeah, now you see why I was reluctant to try it.

But after my sister mentioned how smooth and fresh her face was looking (and I could see the difference, too), I thought I'd give it a whirl. My sister has suffered from pretty severe acne since she was really young and even went on Accutane a few years ago. She said she noticed recently that her breakouts werecoming back full-force, so she decided to try the oil cleansing method as a last-ditch effort to conquer acne.

Now, I've never had SEVERE acne, but I have pretty dry skin which causes my oil glands to overproduce at times (usually related to my hormones, not surprisingly). This results in not only occasional breakouts, but also red blotches and flakiness around my nose, eyes and on my forehead. My make-up, no matter how much I spend on it, has never gone on smoothly and seems to just get absorbed into my skin.

One thing I have always done is wash my face with a cleanser. Well, apparently that has been my problem all along. Cleansers -- even "gentle" ones -- contain harsh chemicals that strip the face of its natural oils (sounds familiar? Like shampoo!). This dries out the skin and makes the oil glands think they need to make more oil. So they do. And then, BOOM! Acne.

After my sister educated me on this topic, I felt ready to try it. I'm pleased to report I've been doing the oil cleansing method every night for two weeks, and I am LOVING the results. My face has never looked better. It's taut, smooth and healthy. And I've found yet another natural replacement for a chemical-filled, expensive product! Now that my trial run is over, I'm finally ready to ditch my cleanser and make the switch to oil permanently.

Next time, I will detail the oil cleansing method for you. But first, it's your turn to complete the challenge:

Replace one household, beauty or food product you use/eat regularly with a more natural alternative.

Examples: you can go no-poo finally. You can replace paper towels with regular ol' hand towels. You can switch to cloth diapers. You can make your own bread. You can use vinegar as a fabric softener. You can stop buying cookies and only eat homemade ones. You can try the oil cleansing method!

See what you can come up with. The possibilities are endless!

Why Sundays don't have to suck.

My friend Jenn at Baby Making Machine blogged recently about how torturous Sunday services can be when you're a Mormon mom with young children.

In case you didn't know, we Mormons have three hours of church services on Sundays. The first hour consists of a general congregation meeting called Sacrament Meeting. It begins with a hymn, followed by a prayer. Then, we sing another song and the sacrament is blessed and passed to the congregation. After that, two or three members of the congregation deliver short sermons on a pre-assigned topic. Once that's over, we sing another song and have a final prayer. Then, it's off to Sunday School for another hour, followed by a final hour of Relief Society for the women or Priesthood for the men.

In my congregation, I lead the music for the children's services, called Primary. Primary is also held during the second and third hours of church. Seeing as how I am a little busy during that time, Dill takes Baby Guy for the whole two hours (Audrey is old enough for Primary so she goes with me). To make up for this injustice, I buddy up with him for the duration of Sacrament Meeting. And yes, when I say having to take care of Smush for 2 hours during church is an injustice, I completely mean it. Bless Dill's heart for being such a trooper.

While reading Jenn's post, I basically nodded my head and thought "Amen!" the whole time. I have so been there. I am still there. Jenn: if you're reading this, it gets better, but then you have another baby and it immediately gets worse.

Fact: Church with small children is difficult. It is usually hard to pay attention to the sermons because you are either 1) telling someone to knock it off or 2) chasing a runaway. Trying to corral and maintain even ONE child for a whole hour is exhausting in and of itself -- then, add a preschooler to the mix! "Mommy, I need to go potty. Mommy, I'm bored. Mommy, I want to color. Mommy, all my crayons just spilled on the floor and rolled into the pew behind us. Mommy, I need to go potty again." Meanwhile, your 1-year-old is going, "MAAAAAAAHHHH!!" at the top of his lungs, trying to crawl under said pew to eat every crayon he can get his hands on. You feel lucky if you even manage to hear the "amen" at the end of the sermon! And then, after THAT'S over, you still have two more hours of baby-juggling. By the end, you are just so. Done. You're beyond tired, you have a major headache and you don't even care how many people undoubtedly saw your unmentionables as you wrangled your wild, squirmy monster (cute squirmy monster, but a monster nonetheless) in high heels with who knows how many Cheerios stuck to your butt.

Do you need a nap yet?

You're probably going, "Why do you people even bother?" Well, here are a few of my reasons.

1) Church is a family affair. And as such, there are plenty of other families in the congregation wrangling wild monsters with Cheerios stuck to their butts. So it's OK! You're in good company. And even those who are beyond the baby years can sympathize. Those kinds of memories are like ketchup stains -- they don't go away easily.

2) It's important to get kids into the habit of going to church. My parents were always diligent about taking us to church, rain or shine. They had five kids to wrestle -- FIVE! -- the first of us being twins. As a kid, I LOVED church. I really enjoyed seeing my friends and coloring and singing in Primary. Now, Bubby really enjoys going to church, too. She's only 3 1/2 and she already knows Sunday is Church Day. There were times when she was a baby when church was equally as impossible as it is now, but we still dragged ourselves there and went. I'm glad we did -- she's developed a love and appreciation for church at a very young age.

3) Attending church is an act of worship. I believe God wants me to go to church, therefore by doing so, I am worshiping him through my obedience. Church with babies is hard, but so are a lot of other worthwhile things in life. Yeah, I usually get home and immediately collapse onto my bed, my nerves shot to hell. But, I know God is pleased that I made an effort to worship him and be of service to my fellow congregation members.

4) I may not get anything out of it, but at least I am surrounding myself with good feelings. When I walk into the chapel on Sunday morning, no matter how hectic my life has been, I always feel at ease. I'm greeted by happy neighbors who are eager to shake my hand and ask me how I've been. The organist is playing calming, worshipful music. Everyone is dressed up and exuding a sense of reverence. And I may not be able to hear a word the speakers are saying, but I can certainly feel them. I can feel their enthusiasm and love for God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's palpable. And that alone is worth going for.

On that note, here are four things I find essential to surviving church: Cheerios, crayons, coloring books and Bear (Smush's lovey). With those items, we can get through anything!