Floral dresses can kill you.

When we were first dating, Dill told me emphatically that he did not like floral prints. On anything. Beds, curtains, pillows, and clothing. They just weren't his cup of herbal tea, I guess.

This one time (also before we were married) we went to Dillard's so I could find a new dress or skirt. I saw this floral dress hanging on a rack: collared, ankle-length, short-sleeved with a few buttons down the bodice and it tied in the back. You know the style I'm talking about, right? It was pretty popular amongst LDS girls for a while, back when sleeved dresses were a rarity. Anyway, I had never tried on a dress like this so I figured that was as good a time as any. Dill wasn't thrilled about it, primarily because it was constructed of floral fabric. But I'm a firm believer that you can't knock something until you try it, so off the rack and into the fitting room with me it went.

One thing you should know about this particular style of dress is that it doesn't come off easily (which I guess adds to the modesty factor). After trying it on and deciding it wasn't for me, I untied the back, undid the buttons and attempted to remove it from my body. I could NOT. Get. It. Off. I tried sliding it off my shoulders and shimmying it down my legs -- no such luck. The fabric was stubborn and wouldn't stretch even slightly. This dress would have to go over my head. But I couldn't get it off that way, either! Every time I tried lifting my arms to shrug it off, I heard the threads loosen and I freaked out. My heart started pounding -- I was stuck in a dress at Dillard's and my boyfriend was going to have to help me out of it. Or I was going to have to buy it, and (surprisingly) it wasn't cheap. Both rather unfavorable situations, if you ask me.

I decided it'd be less embarrassing to ask Dill for help rather than call a store employee. Thankfully, I had left my camisole on underneath the dress. Then, I had the genius idea of putting my pants back on so at least he wouldn't get to see my underoos. Once I was sufficiently decent, I called Dill into the fitting room and told him of my plight. Mind you, we were still new at this dating thing and I was beyond humiliated. I wondered if a knack for getting tangled up in bad clothing was a deal-breaker for him. But he was a good sport (duh) and helped me out of that strangling dress. And we got married anyway, despite the fact I have gotten stuck in several more shirts and dresses since then.

But I learned my lesson: floral prints can be dangerous.

Recently, they've made a comeback and I'm totally on board (as you can see by the pictures). And for the most part, so is Dill -- as long as it's "the right kind of floral" (whatever that means). But I always make sure every article of clothing has an easy escape route before trying it on. ALWAYS. Because few things are scarier than being strangled by a dress at a store. I would know.

Question of the Day: Have you ever gotten stuck in an article of clothing?

When you're married to wilderness man.

So one day, many moons ago (I think it was last October or November), Dill randomly applied to be an extra in a New Testament film project our church would soon be working on. They needed Jewish/Arabic/Roman-looking people for these roles. Dill very obviously fit the bill (I think the nose is the most convincing part) so he easily made it through all the rounds of casting. At one point, they asked that he start growing his beard and hair "in earnest" so that endeavor began at the end of May, pretty much the moment we got home from D.C.

About three months has passed since that day. Now, I wake up and my husband looks like this:

You like my paint skillz? I know.

I used to think a humongous beardstache-thing on my husband's face would scare the living daylight outta me but so far, I've managed not to flinch and shriek when I see it. The babies at church sometimes do, though.

And since I'm sure you're dying to know: yeah, it's not so fun to kiss him anymore. Someone should do a study about how facial hair affects marriages. I bet it would be enlightening. And Gillette's stock would probably skyrocket immediately upon its publication.

Anyway ... this beard has been through quite a few phases. First, it was a sexy 5 o'clock shadow of scruff. Then, it evolved into the rugged, "I just camped for five days because I'm super outdoorsy" look. It quickly (and surprisingly) became a real beard within about a month. Back then, he got a lot of compliments like, "Wow, you wear a beard SO WELL!" And then, he started looking like a Biblical prophet and the compliments turned into strange stares and uncomfortable questions. It's been at this Moses state for a few weeks now and let me just say, I'll be glad the day it's gone. And I think Dill will, too. He's constantly worried he has food in that nest of hair around his mouth and he's a bit tired of having to explain that he has a monstrous Hagrid beard because he's going to be a movie star. You think that would be an awesome excuse but the truth is, Dill has, um, no acting experience so it kind of sounds like a joke. Here's how the scenario usually plays out:

Random person from church/high school/work: "Dude, what's with the beard?"

Dill: "I'm going to be an extra in a movie about Jesus."

Random person: "Hahahaha ... Seriously ... ?"

I find the whole concept of Dill acting in a real production quite amusing. I love telling people my husband's going to be in a movie, even though it's really just a collection of short clips that will be used mostly for educational purposes. But that doesn't stop me from bragging all day about it! I sometimes blurt out the news without warning in conversation: "Did you all know that DILL'S gonna be in a MOVIE?!?" That one really gets the ball rolling. I can't help it; I'm so PROUD! He's living the dream, right?!

So this is FINALLY happening. Tomorrow, Dill is carting his hairy face up to Utah to shoot the movie for a few days. The kids and I are parking our non-hairy faces here because Bubby has pre-school and I have choir rehearsal (oh yeah, did you hear? EVMCO is letting me sing with them!). We're going to get a taste of Daddy-less parenthood and I have a feeling I'm going to have my butt handed to me at the end. Yay! Stay tuned!

(Click here for info about the New Testament project.)

Goosebumps.

Watch this, and try not to let them pop up on your arms. I dare you.



I feel so honored and fortunate that I get to be part of this amazing ensemble! If you're in the Mesa/Gilbert area, be on the lookout for concert updates. You will NOT want to miss it!

Blizzogging.

My good side. (No really; it's the one without zits.)

There has been some talk about this around the Blogosphere lately and I think I'm gonna chime in.

I love to write. I have always been a good writer and I take pride in that. Even back in elementary school, when asked to write a Christmas story about a present, I wrote a full-blown sonnet. When assigned to write a paragraph about a leprechaun, I wrote a short story complete with characters, development, climax and denouement. In college, that was my favorite part of my broadcasting major -- the stories. I love telling stories and I love making the written word come alive for others. (Video makes that pretty easy, too.)

When I first learned about blogging back in late 2007, I realized it was my "thing." I started a family blog right away and began chronicling our lives. Then, about a year later, I started this blog -- Mom, the Intern. It was originally meant only to update family and friends about my adventures as a news intern, but it quickly became more. And when I finally graduated from college and was an intern no longer, I couldn't let it go. I had a small readership and hey, I love to write, remember? So I kept it up.

And here we are, nearly 2 1/2 years later, still goin' and still growin'. I am flattered and honored that so many of you enjoy my words and look forward to reading them. I love that you all take the time to read and comment, give me advice and suggestions and compliment me in so many ways. I never expected any of this, so it has sure been a pleasant surprise!

Lately, though, I've been feeling so exhausted over my blog. You see, I love to write, but I am also very busy as a wife and a mother of two. As if that's not enough, I also teach music lessons and am a contracted freelance writer on the side. And on Sundays, I lead the music for our church's children's program. Between my first job as a wife and mother, my second job as a homemaker and my third, fourth and fifth jobs (previously mentioned), I am flat-out tired. Add all these responsibilities to replying to readers' comments, reading my followers' blogs (which I LOVE, don't get me wrong!) and maintaining my Twitter and Facebook pages, I'm practically a dead woman walking by the end of the day. Even a life full of good things can be too much sometimes.

(And now we know why I have acne.)

This blog started out as a simple journal, but I'd be lying if I didn't want it to be more than that. I would be OVERJOYED if I could help support my family financially by doing something fulfilling and fun: writing entries for this blog. I LOVE coming up with post ideas or answering your questions, building sentences and cranking out paragraphs, proofreading, adding photos and putting on little finishing touches to make each post extra special -- all for you! On the other hand, it kills me when I write a post that I feel is mediocre. Because if you, my wonderful readers, are going to take time out of your busy lives to read my blog, I want it to be spectacular. I want it to make you laugh, cry and think. I want it to enrich your life just a little bit, if not a lot. Otherwise, why should you even bother? If it's not "virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy," it ain't worth your time.

So, I put my all into this little blog. And I want you to know I love you. All 140 of you (and more I know are lurking in the shadows, which is totally OK by the way). I really do! (Especially you, Mom and Dill.) That might sound fake or contrived but it's the truth. Every comment I get makes me smile (except for the mean ones, but we haven't had any of those in a long time). I'm honored when you link to me on your own blogs or post about something I recently discussed. It makes me feel like a million bucks!

To reward you for your awesomeness, I want to continue telling stories that lift you up and help you fall in love with life and maybe make you smile. After all, you deserve it! There's a whole sea of blogs out there and you've chosen me; it's the least I can do.

Now it's your turn: Critique this blog. What do you like? What do you want more of? Is there a feature you'd like to see regularly? Is there anything you absolutely hate (be gentle)?

Also, please know that in the near future, I will probably cut my blogging down to three days a week so I don't wind up dying of a heart attack in five years. I hope that doesn't make anyone sad! But if I'm dead, I can't write! It's for the best.

House tour: Downstairs

When we bought our home, it was tuh-RASHED. As in, dog urine (and maybe human?) on nearly every inch of carpet, filthy, banged-up walls, black grout, clutter everywhere and it stunk to high heaven. Even so, I put an offer on it immediately because I knew it had good bones and would clean up nicely. (Which it did. Thank you to all who helped!)

Here it was before:

Ugly blue/grey wall color and trashed beyond recognition.

Here's what we did to it:

The first thing I noticed about our house was how filthy and trampled the carpet was and decided immediately it'd need to be replaced with something hard. I'm not a huge fan of tile in living areas because it feels cold and uninviting to me. And echo-y. You can remedy that with a large, thick-pile rug, but I just prefer carpet or wood flooring. I knew carpet would never hold up to the high traffic this room sees, so we went with wood laminate. We got it at Sam's Club for a sweet deal and the pad was included. Best decision ever. It still feels like a living/family room, but I don't have to worry about the carpet getting thrashed to death.

We repositioned the couch to go along the side wall which opened up the room a lot. I chose to go with a dark brown microfiber sofa and jazz it up with some fun pillows (IKEA). The table holds some toys, puzzles and piano music.

Here's the wall by my front door. I really want to treat the windows somehow. I'm not sure about curtains, but I do LOVE this idea. I could paint or upholster the center part in a fun color/fabric.

Next up is the piano corner. Before, it looked like this:

Not BAD but definitely not good, either. It made no sense in my mind to put a dining table there because there's a chandelier on the other side of the room where it ought to be. So this is what we did with the space instead:

I love to sit here and play and sing with my kids while we look out the window. It's a dream come true. Sometimes, little birds land on the window sill and watch us. Straight out of a Disney movie, I swear.

The Ansel Adams picture was purchased at a BYU Bookstore sale many moons ago. I've always loved it.

Also, props to Dill for cutting and installing the baseboards all by himself! I helped paint them, too. Upgrading baseboards is surprisingly not that hard nor expensive. We only did the downstairs out of necessity (had to tear out the old ones to put in the new floor) but now I want to do the whole house. Of course.

And also, I think I need a small, eclectic chair to go directly under the wreath. Thoughts? Ideas?

Curly girl.

Ok, I have had a few people ask how to see what others are searching for to get to your blog. I know you're dying to figure out what pervy/strange phrases are directing people to your site! It's a blast.

If you have Blogger, go into your Dashboard. You'll see one of the tabs says "Stats." Click on that. Then click on the link for "Traffic Sources." Scroll down and there they'll be!

Now, an outfit picture:

I know what you're thinking. The yellow shirt AGAIN? Yes, again. But the good news is, I have six outfits left in the 30 for 30 challenge and it won't be included in any of them. I do love it with these purple shoes, though! Gap does me so right.

Also, I heard that Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, has been getting some flack for wearing repeat outfits. Um, seriously? Who decided that this even matters? She's gorgeous and I love her modest, flattering style. And she's a freaking duchess. Last I checked, that means she can wear the same thing every day if she wants.

I have curly hair. (See above.) It hasn't always been this way, though. It was basically stick-straight until about fifth grade, at which point it suddenly became wiry and uncooperative. You should also know I had bangs at this time. Combine these small details with the amazing dexterity that 10-year-olds are known for and you have a recipe for some awesomely bad hair.

My mom always got so frustrated with me in the mornings. I'd come downstairs for family scripture study and she'd take one look at me and say, "You didn't even fix your hair!" Then, I'd burst into pre-adolescent tears and insist I had just spent an entire hour desperately trying to get my previously easy hair to simply lay flat, even manipulating it with a round brush and blow drier (which is super-hard when you're 10). "I swear, Mom! Something is WRONG with my hair!" I'd say. She didn't believe me until I was about 13 and it suddenly turned into this:

(I can't get over the fact that was once my natural hair color.)

Something was definitely happening -- it's called puberty. Who knew, right? "Hair may suddenly become unmanageable and you will begin to resemble a cavewoman" was NOT mentioned in the weird-o puberty video they showed us in school. All I remember was a breakfast entree that had an uncanny resemblance to the female reproductive system. (Please tell me you were also privileged enough to view that film.)

Anyway, I've had curly hair ever since. At times, I have embraced it. Other times, I have cursed it and tried to straighten it into oblivion. But I've come to the conclusion that it's my crazy curly hair and it's here to stay! And you know, as much of a pain as it is to fix, it holds a style very well.

Question of the Day: What's your hair like? Curly, straight, wavy, red, brunette, purple, blond? Do you love it or fight it?

Whatcha lookin' for? Round 2!

Remember the last time I let you peek behind the curtain to see what people are searching for to land on my blog? It was mildly funny, weird and even creepy. So let's not waste a good thing! Here we go again:

Weird Search Terms that People Put into The Google to Get Here

1. Meg Ryan hair. I did have it, once upon a time. Remember?

Do people really WANT to have Meg Ryan's hair of 1995? Or are they just making fun of me? Probably the latter.

2. Even a caveman can do it. Yes, this the catch phrase comes from a series of funny and somewhat scary GEICO commercials made a few years ago (I much prefer the gecko or the googly-eyed stacks of dolla dolla billz). I once mentioned it in passing here. And I still bring it up from time to time. It's our little inside joke, isn't it?

But who in their right mind would willingly seek out pictures of that scary caveman dude on Teh Internetz? Someone with a prehistoric fetish? A terrorist's torture victim? Any other situation seems implausible.

3. Heather Bopra. Gesundheit.

Oh, you were looking for someone named Heather Bopra!

Never heard of her. I know not the woman. Sorry, wrong number. But, you should stick around if you like Meg Ryan hair and cavemen!

4. Huge baby belly. Thanks. Thanks a lot. I mean, I know how gargantuan I get when I'm in the final months of incubating human beings. But let me just say, you'd be huge too if you had an 8-pound person inside you.

5. Lose virginity blonde. Well yes, I am blonde and I have indeed lost my virginity (I have the kids to prove it). I remember it well. It was December 30, 2005. Somehow, my mother-in-law pulled some strings and got us THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE at the nearest Hilton for our wedding night ...

... oh, wait. This is a family blog. Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm gonna have to put the brakes on right there. Yanno, kids might be Googling about cavemen.

Question of the Day: What weird things are people searching for to get to YOUR blog?

Oh and let's not forget ... it's my mom's 50th BIRTHDAY today! Happy birthday, Best Mom Ever!

I know, she looks amazing. And check it out -- she's married to Donny Osmond!

I can't believe I'm married to this.

I mean, how'd I get so LUCKY?

Not everyone can rock a beard like this. That's hot.

Also, we're reeeeeally hopeful I'll have a positive update about the beard in a few weeks! It's looking good!

The time she sucked up her hair.

May 1997. Don't laugh!

When I was little, I was helpful around the house. I have this story to prove it.

I was probably 10, close to the age in that picture. It must have been summer vacation because I remember this fateful event happened during the day. At the time, I had long, luscious locks of blond hair all the way down my back. I was kind of famous for it. It was the hair every girl wanted.

Anyway, it all started when I was vacuuming the family room floor. See? There's the evidence right there. (As a side note, we never had assigned chores growing up; we were all expected to help out as needed. And we did. I liked that.) We owned a big, heavy vacuum and it sucked HARD. As in literally, it sucked stuff up really well as all vacuums should. Not tryin' to dis' the vacuum. However, why are today's vacuums so crappy? They just don't make 'em like they used to.

Back to the story. So, I was plugging along with this massive machine when suddenly, I saw out of the corner of my eye a miniature Tupperware container on the carpet. My idiotic 9-year-old self thought, "We should pick that up," while my smarter half said, "Don't bend down while this thing's on or your hair will get sucked right off your head!" Somehow, all logic was lost and in a matter of seconds, I concluded the vacuum could suck up a good-sized hunk of plastic but NOT my hair. (In other words, I listened to my stupider half.) I proceeded to bend down and reach for Mr. Tupperware when --

FWUMMMPPP!

(That's the sound of my head being sucked up against the bottom of a vacuum cleaner at a high rate of speed.)

In a second flat, I was bent over with the side of my head against the floor: the machine had violently and ruthlessly consumed my hair and it was not going to let go. I could not move. I could only scream.

Let me tell you, the thoughts that go through your mind when something like this happens are quite ... colorful. I saw: myself entirely bald, myself with a shredded up bloody scalp, myself dying (of course), myself trying to explain this one to the cops, myself with half a head of hair, myself riding in an ambulance with a vacuum on my head. Meanwhile, as these images are flashing through my mind, I'm screaming bloody murder for help, but no one can hear me over the loudness of the massive, over-achieving vacuum. This is it. I'm going to die because I was a good kid who wanted to help her mom! They'll find me in a pile of my own hair! The vacuum will still be sucking away like there's no tomorrow! I'll be on the news!

Well, much to my good fortune, my twin brother soon happened upon the scene and unplugged the vicious Hoover before it could cause further damage. What a smarty, unlike his Tupperware-rescuing sister. I recall the obnoxious whir of the vacuum ceasing immediately as he yanked the cord from the wall (coincidentally, this is the same brother who rescued our baby sister from a bagel fire. Story forthcoming).

My mom then frantically ran over to me, yelling in an exasperated tone as if perhaps I had wanted this to happen. Isn't it funny how moms do this? They're 100 percent concerned until they see their child is still alive and not seriously injured, and then they get angry and lay into the poor kid as if she didn't just have a brush with death. It's like, "I know you're mad that I acted so dumbly, Mom, but I almost lost my scalp. Can I at least have a hug now?"

I nervously awaited my fate as my mom tugged at my hair. Certainly, I'd need a buzz cut if I was lucky. Worst-case scenario, I'd need a scalp transplant. Things weren't looking too good. This was the Suckiest of All Vacuums, remember? I was not getting off easy.

But oh, I did! I walked away from the wreckage missing only a few strands of hair. Relieved but completely freaked out of my mind. Post-traumatic stress. I swear, I did not vacuum for another year after that. My mom was sympathetic.

To this day, I do not pick things off the floor while vacuuming. Even with short hair. That's not a lesson you easily forget, friends. Although I must say, I'm not entirely sure that my current vacuum is even capable of doing that. It's a worthless piece of junk. Which leads to the ...

Question of the Day: What kind of vacuum do you have and DOES IT WORK WELL?

Wordless Wednesday.

House tour: Bubby's room!

Bubby had a great time at pre-school yesterday! Didn't even miss me. I figured as much. You should have seen her when she went to Nursery for the first time at 18 months -- she literally ran in and never looked back! She was the kid who'd cry when we came to pick her up. Way to boost my self-esteem as a parent. I promise she has a good home life! She's just one of those social kids who has no fear or reticence when it comes to being separated from Mom. So far, it appears Smush is the same way.

Speaking of Bubby, I know you guys want to see pictures of my house and I thought I'd start with the cutest room of them all -- hers!

This is what you see when you walk in. The bedding and rug were handed down from my sister Sarah when she got married a few years ago. I love that it's feminine but not frilly, and there are lots of colors to coordinate with. The bookshelf was given to us by family members. Table lamp, flower lamp and pink toy bins/shelf are all from IKEA. I love that place.

I'm on the prowl for a cute mirror or work of art to go above the bed. I really like this silhouette of the Mesa Temple; I'm thinking hot pink or lime green. I also think a window treatment could liven things up, too.

Opposite of her bed is a little reading nook. Chair: IKEA.

Dill painted this shelf before Bubby was born. Dill's step-grandfather, a skilled craftsman, made the wooden bunny before he died. I painted the piggy bank at As You Wish. My cute friend Kate made the picture frame as a baby gift for Bubby.

There's Bubby's real name! (Is a bomb going to go off now?) I made those letters before she was born. Super easy: I just bought some wooden letters from Hobby Lobby (1/2 off), traced them over some cute scrapbook paper, cut it out and Mod Podge'd it on! Easy way for a very pregnant woman to feel like a huge success, let me tell ya. The tables and green toy bins are also from IKEA. Bubby loves her "Tateeo Heads," as you can see.

Notice there's no dresser? I don't like dressers because they take up useful room space. So we store Bubby's clothes in plastic drawers in her closet.

Question of the Day: What's your favorite room in your house?

Sassafras.

The house is strangely quiet.

Today is Bubby's first day of pre-school. In fact, she's there right now and has been for 30 minutes. But who's counting?

Before leaving we took a customary "first day" picture. I told her to give me a cute pose and this is what she came up with. Sassypants! She's still in the running to become America's Next ... Top ... Model.

Is it bad that I'm not at all sad to send her off? I just know she's going to have the time of her life!

In other sad and very upsetting news, my mother's cousin was shot and killed yesterday afternoon in her home. You can read the story here. The family would appreciate any positive thoughts and prayers you can spare.

She sushis.

Try saying that one five times fast.

On Friday night, Dill and I hit up Sakana for some sushi. This is what I wore, in case you were wondering:

I really love sushi. Fresh, high-quality, authentic sushi. Not crappy sushi from the Baltimore Airport. Let's just say a 5-hour flight to Phoenix is not made any easier by bad sushi.

Some people think sushi is gross. If this is you, I won't criticize because heaven knows I despise some foods that many people find delicious. My number one most hated food ever is celery. Don't get me started. I know, what a weird food to hate, right? But I've tried it 100 different ways and I still find it absolutely wretch-worthy. Even coated in peanut butter. ESPECIALLY coated in peanut butter.

But I digress. Sushi isn't for everyone. But before you rule it out entirely, let me first debunk some sushi myths for you.

1) Sushi is raw fish. Not always! There are mainly two kinds of sushi: nigiri and maki. Nigiri is most definitely raw fish sushi. Take a gander at the picture up there -- see it? It's a little slice of (heaven) raw fish on top of a ball of rice. Not much to it, but I think it's delicious. My favorites are salmon and tuna. There's also sashimi which is a slice of raw fish all by itself -- no bed of rice, no seaweed, nothing. Just fish in its birthday suit.

See those little rolls? That's probably what you imagine when you think of sushi. Those, called "maki," aren't always comprised of raw fish. Perhaps you've heard of a California roll -- those contain avocado, cooked crab or imitation crab and cucumber, which is stuffed inside a thin layer of seaweed and rolled in rice. No scary raw meat to be concerned with. There are also lots of vegetarian and cooked fish rolls similar to the California. When in doubt, ask your waiter.

2) I hate cooked fish -- why would I like it raw? Well, I'm no expert, but I've found that raw fish tastes nothing like its cooked counterpart. I find it cool, refreshing and light. No "fishy" flavor like you might find with grilled or baked fish. So, just because you don't like cooked fish doesn't mean you won't like it raw.

3) Sushi is chick food and won't fill me up. Plenty of men enjoy sushi regularly -- it's not girly food. However, Dill decided that sushi is much like a chick flick -- he enjoys eating/watching it, but he would never choose to eat/watch it and probably wouldn't do so without me. And definitely not with other guys. Dill much prefers a big steak dinner to sushi, but he still enjoys it with me.

Sushi is not particularly filling, true (we Americans are used to pigging out when we dine), but it's fairly inexpensive so you can buy a lot of it if you must. Most roll plates are between $5 - 10 and contain 8-10 rolls, like this:

This is a rainbow roll platter. That is definitely raw fish on top, either tuna (red), yellowtail (yellow) or salmon (orange). I also see a sliver of cucumber. The next layer is rice, followed by seaweed and stuffed with avocado and crab. This platter would probably cost about $10 at a reputable restaurant. See, not bad! I'd be pretty full if I ate that whole thing. Not to mention most sushi joints give you a complimentary salad, soup or noodle bowl before your main course.

Here are my tips for sushi virgins looking to broaden their horizons:

*Go with experienced sushi-lovers so they can recommend a reputable, authentic restaurant and help you order. This also allows you to order a lot of different types and try them all to see what you like best. Many people enjoy going to eat sushi in large groups for this reason.

*Use the provided wasabi, soy sauce and ginger to further flavor your rolls if desired. Wasabi is spicy, ginger is ... ginger, and soy sauce is the brown, salty stuff used in most mainstream Asian cuisines. I usually do a little of everything, but some rolls stand on their own just fine.

*If you can't use chopsticks, ask your waiter for a fork or "trainer chopsticks" (fastened together with a rubber band). I've had sushi about 10 times and still don't really feel comfortable with legit chopsticks. No biggie. However, sushi is rather delicate and chopsticks allow you to handle the pieces without smooshing them to smithereens. So ask for the trainer ones.

*Make sure you eat everything on your plate -- in Japanese culture, it is considered rude to leave food behind! Sushi is as much art as it is cuisine; the chefs pay close attention to make the plates beautiful AND tasty. If you absolutely can't eat it all, take it to go. But don't leave anything on the table. It's insulting.

*Most sushi restaurants also have some sort of a la carte menu for teppanyaki (fried meat entrees), salads and soups. So if you get to the edge of the diving board but don't think you can dive into sushi after all, order from there. Can't go wrong with panko-crusted fried chicken, amiright?

But as they say on Yo Gabba Gabba: "Try it -- you'll like it!" You can't fairly assume something is gross unless you have tried it. I will say I never though I'd eat eel in my life, but I ordered the crunchy eel roll last night at Sakana and was in heaven. So you just never know!

Make them go away.

Somehow, I went through high school relatively unscathed when it came to acne. A zit here and there, nothing a little concealer couldn't ... conceal. I didn't realize how lucky I was.

This is me now, at 24 flipping years old.

Yep, that's my crater face, unedited and uncut. All for your viewing pleasure. But I already showed you my stretch marks, remember? This is child's play in comparison to that.

I've tried: going off the oil cleansing method, using a mild cleanser by Aveeno (made it worse), using an exfoliating cleanser, using a moisturizing cream, using a combination of all the above, going back on the oil cleansing method ... sigh.

It'll go away someday, right? Please bless that it happens soon.

The good news is I didn't have to endure this as an insecure teenager. The bad news is now people are wondering how the 14-year-old girl shopping at Wal-Mart has two children.

Question of the day: It's Fridayeeee! Doing anything fun this weekend? Dill and I are going to get sushi tonight. Tomorrow and Sunday, we get to hear from this guy. Can't wait.

Can't carry a tune in a bucket.

Did you all see my guest post at A Mormon Mommy yesterday? It's all about blog envy and how you can combat it. Because no one likes a green-eyed monster, right? And blogs are meant to be fun! Go check it out if you haven't.

I had my East Valley Mormon Choir audition last night. It went really well. So well, in fact, the director said "You're in!" ... as long as I can come up with a "strong male singer" to join the choir with me. He likes his choirs to be balanced and I can't blame him; I've been in my fair share of top heavy choirs and it's not exactly fun. So, I'm trying to find a lucky schmuck to audition in the meantime. If you could help me out, I'd appreciate it. If not, it's OK. Some things aren't meant to be. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little sad, but hope's not entirely lost yet!

But Jenna, why don't you just wrangle your husband into auditioning? That's a good question and I have a brilliant answer to go with it: while Dill is expertly skilled in growing beards, talking bidniss on phones and playing Zelda, he cannot carry a tune in a bucket. If he had to sing on pitch to live, he'd be dead. It's not mean; it's true. He knows it and so does anyone who has sat within a 10-ft. radius of him at church. No, I was not tricked into marrying him. It's just that his awesomeness in other areas of life more than compensates, so it's all good!

But one thing's sure: I love my tone-deaf bearded finance + Zelda expert..

Does the look on Bubby's face not melt your heart out? Hello, cuteness!

Question of the day: What mad skills does your husband/significant other possess?

Blog swap.

Last week, fellow blogger A Mormon Mommy (pictured above) asked if I'd like to swap blogs with her this week! I thought, Sure, why not? I figure, swapping clothes is fun ... and swapping spit is sure fun. Turns out, swapping blogs is fun, too!

A Mormon Mommy is exactly that; a darling Latter-day Saint mother of three who enjoys writing about her life and faith. And get this; she was once a news intern, too! At a CBS affiliate, no less! What are the odds?

Hope you enjoy her guest post! Be sure to check out my guest post on her site today!

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Buddy, Princess and Little Man

Hey all you Mom, the Intern readers! I am so excited to be blog swapping with Jenna! She’s a pretty fun gal and super talented writer!

I, like Jenna, not only have a degree in Communications, but also interned at KUTV! Small world, right?

I blog over at  A Mormon Mommy where I talk about anything and everything. I talk about my  faith, how my religion shapes my life, I talk about my kids, how I met my husband, our trials and all the fun things in our life!

I know for many of you school is just starting.  It started for us a week and a half ago. I have a kindergartner for the first time and I love it. It helps that he really loves it, too!

One day a few months ago, I was talking with a group of veteran school moms and I heard that most of them get up every morning and cook breakfast for their kids. At the time, it seemed crazy to me. Waking up even earlier to get breakfast on the table. But now that I am a kindergarten mom, I find myself doing the very same thing. 

Not sure if I don’t want to be shown up by the other moms, if I’m doing it out of guilt or if I just want my Buddy to have a good start to the day. But whatever my motivation, here I am doing it!

So how do I keep from making the same thing or from just getting out the bowl of cereal? I have a list of things in my breakfast arsenal.

We eat oatmeal. Not from a packet, too much sugar. I boil water, pour the oats in the bowl, add the water then sprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar on it. I even tried peanut butter…a-maz-ing!

We eat pancakes. Quick and easy. You can add strawberries and whipped cream or just top with syrup. Or you can spread peanut butter on them with a little syrup! Again—a-maz-ing!

Another favorite is from TrainerMomma. She has delicious recipes on her blog! We love her mini chocolate chip avocado muffins! Yes, I did say avocado muffins. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it!

We do eggs at least once a week. We boil, fry, or scramble them. We add cheese or salsa for a different twist. Add a fruit to the side or a slice of whole wheat toast and you’re good to go!

The when the weekend comes along, out comes the cold cereal and the milk! I may not be the world’s best mom, but by George my Buddy is going to get a good breakfast! After all, it is the most important meal of the day!

What are some of the things you fix your kids before they head off to school? Give me some more ideas!!

Can’t wait to see you over at A Mormon Mommy!

Sissies.

 Nothing like jailbird stripes and a fierce red lip to brighten your mood! I should probably give this poor shirt a vacation after I'm done with the 30 for 30 challenge. But actually, I have one more plan for it!

My sisters are the best and I love them all. Today is my younger sister Sarah's birthday. She's 20! Happy birthday, Sarah! We share some fun memories of Barbies, the Backstreet Boys and "dancies" (you don't even wanna know). Sarah is the most stylish and sweetest sister. She's the lone brunette in a sea of blonds but it sure doesn't make her less gorgeous!

This gorgeous chick is going to be a junior in a few days and she's definitely going to be the star of her high school choir as well as the apple of every boy's eye. My "twin" Mariah -- the funniest, spunkiest girl around (watch her impressive animal noises and try not to laugh, I dare you). And her eyes are killer!

Emma is my youngest sister. She is always willing and happy to play with Bubby. She also has a beautiful voice and can play the piano and sing like no other! Watch out, Taylor Swift.

Tonight, I am her to my old high school to show her where all her classes are, meet her teachers, etc. (*tear*) How is it even possible that she is starting high school? Who gave baby Emma permission to grow up? WHO?

I have the prettiest and best sissies!

Question of the Day: What year did you graduate from high school? I donned my cap and gown in 2005.

"Mormon" style ... ?

I used to be an active poster on a Babycenter message board for LDS families. One time, there was this heated debate about whether or not it's "tacky" to layer a tank top over a t-shirt, as demonstrated in the above picture. You would not believe how passionate the opinions are on this matter! Many people less-than-considerately said it looks dumb and is too "Mormon". Now, there's an adjective you don't usually hear in regards to personal style. You know, like, "Omigosh, that dress is so MORMON." Honestly, my mind has no idea where to go with that description.

Anyway, here I am in my allegedly "Mormon" Bermuda shorts, tank top and T-shirt. Some might think it's a fashion crime, but at least I'm not running around with a picture of Adolf Hitler on my boobs (though I do sometimes sport Jack Bauer). And besides, I am a Mormon after all! No harm in looking like one ... whatever that means.

Anyhoo, thank you for ALL your help on the "Design My Bedroom" post. There are some brilliant decor ideas out there! I sincerely loved them all. I guess I will start by moving my bed to the wall where the desk is. I don't really like walking into a room and seeing the side of a bed, but come to think of it, the furniture was arranged that way in the model home and it didn't bother me. I'll at least give it a shot!

Also, I'm thinking tall panel drapes, mounted close to the ceiling, for the wall with the three windows. I'd like to paint that wall a moderate gray and do a stark white curtain. Something about white on gray makes me wanna shed tears of joy.

As for the desk, I guess I'll wait to coordinate its new color with the bedding I purchase (someday). In the meantime, be on the lookout for some smokin' deals for me!

Question of the day: If you could choose ONE DESSERT to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?

My answer is the original chocolate fondue from The Melting Pot, including all the dip-ins. Here's a visual if that means nothing to you:

via "Make and Takes"

Seriously, it mattereth not how full I am -- I can ALWAYS make room for this heavenly dessert. I mean, cheesecake dipped in crunchy peanut butter-swirled milk chocolate? Yes please!!!!!

Your turn!

Interior decor help.

Thanks for all your questions! Some were easier to answer than others, but I'm always up for a challenge. Keeps me on my toes. I hope you had fun getting to know me a little better.

Now, it's your turn to answer some questions for me.

First, you should know that this is my room.

It's sad; I already know. The rest of my house is pretty cute, actually. At least I think so. But my bedroom ... Oh, my poor bedroom.

(This is the plight of many mothers, I hear.)

Some requests/questions for you skilled decorators out there:

1) Please help me find a new bedspread. I like quilts and/or bright colors and interesting textures. I dislike burgundy, tan, gold, hunter green, navy blue, plum. It can't be too girly (on Dill's behalf). And I don't want to spend a fortune. You know, debt crisis, tough times, yadda yadda. Just link 'em in your comments.

2) What would you do with the windows, treatment-wise? Would you put anything BETWEEN the windows? My heart says "decorative sconces" but my head says, "Too mid-2000's!"

3) What color (yes, I want an actual color) would you refinish the desk in? It's a pretty sweet desk, huh? It's an antique from my cool great-aunt Marjo. I'm open to leaving it alone if the bedspread is right.

I know the lamp is sad and I need another lamp on the side table (Smush killed the old one a few weeks ago). I'd also like to add a small armchair in the space to the left of the bed. But not right now. Let's just focus on the big stuff. Baby steps.

I know many of you are super-stylish and have a knack for this sort of thing, so I'm looking forward to your input! Feel free to answer any or all questions. Or at least sympathize with my ugly room syndrome.

Q and A: Round 3

A few more fun, though-provoking questions, even one from a male reader (you'll know which one):

Natalie asked, "What in the world did you eat when you were off dairy while nursing?!?"

I cut down my cheese consumption, but the truth is a lot of cheeses contain little to no lactose! You can tell by checking the nutrition facts -- if the sugar is listed at 0 grams, it turns out the cheese doesn't contain lactose. I didn't go hog wild or anything but I kept my cheese eating to a minimum.

As for milk, I tried all different kinds of non-dairy milks and found Silk's Pure Almond (vanilla) to be the best.

Eating it with Frosted Mini-Wheats for breakfast felt kind of wrong because it was so yummy!

I also enjoyed Stonyfield Farms' O' Soy yogurt when I was dying to eat yogurt. It's thick and creamy and delish. And organic. Always a plus. And surprisingly, not too expensive! Even the evil empire Wal-Mart sells it.

I didn't eat any ice cream the entire time, though. Ugh, that was painful. In desperation, I paid and arm and a leg for some coconut milk ice cream at Sprouts and it tasted horrible. I just ate the Dreyers' Fruit Bars as a treat instead.

File Transfer asked, "If you, Jenna, could blink your eyes and forever stop someone's heart from beating, who would you choose? Conditions: You absolutely MUST choose someone. And assume that there are no moral or legal ramifications."

Voldemort. Does he count, even though he's already dead? And fictional?

Ok, ok, I'll bite: Kim Jong Il. I would have picked Osama bin Laden but it looks like someone beat me to it.

EmmaB asked, I'm expecting twins. Got any name ideas? Have you ever been to Europe? How many kids do you think you'll have?

1) Congratulations! First, I must know if they are boy-girl, girl-girl or boy-boy twins. I have a twin brother and his name is Joshua. It's kind of fun for twins to have alliterative names (Josh and Jenna), but I've also read some people think it's tacky/cruel.

If you're having boy-girl twins: Eliza and Evan
Girl-girl: Eliza and Fiona
Boy-Boy: Evan and Cameron

These are all names I love can't use for my own kids for various reasons. So feel free to bestow them upon your own children -- might as well go to good use!

2) I unfortunately have never been to Europe, but there are still places in the U.S. I want to visit first. When I do go to Europe, I'd most like to spend time in the UK and France. Then Italy. Gotta see all those places I learned about in Art History 202!

3) More than two but less than five. The number fluctuates daily depending on the wildness of my children.

Creole Wisdom asked, "Do you ever regret marrying so young? (Sorry if that is too personal) Since you live in AZ, do you ever run into other LDS mommy bloggers? There are quite a few in AZ I think. If you could meet 5 blog friends who would you chose to meet and why?"

1) Not too personal at all! The only times I ever regretted marrying young were when others gave me crap for it, which happened for quite some time. Even though I was young (18, for those who don't know), I was ready in every way to be married. I never felt like I missed out the college dating scene, never wanted to live or travel alone, never wanted to be single. All the things I wanted to do and accomplish, I was able to do with Dill. We essentially became real-world adults together and I wouldn't have it any other way.

2) I have actually never run into a LDS mommy blogger here. Surprising! I'm always expecting it to happen, especially when I'm in downtown Mesa or at a thrift store. I do occasionally meet people who read my blog, and that's always a thrill (If you see me out and about, don't be afraid to say "hi!" Unless I'm yelling at one of my kids). A lot of my blog friends and readers are already real-life friends, which is pretty cool.

3) Five blog friends I'd love to meet: Creole Wisdom (of course!), Alison from She Blogs She Blogs, Sam from Young People in Love, Emmy from Emmy Mom -- One Day at a Time and Brissa from half&half.

Q and A: Round 2

First, some fashion. LOVE that I can put my hair up now.

These are some of my favorite shoes. Gold pointy-toed flats. I call them my "Tinkerbell shoes." They go with almost anything.

Now, for the rest of your questions!

Kara asked, "What is your typical day like? Do you have a schedule for your kids or is it just whatever they feel like doing?"

My kids were both born with internal clocks, I swear. Before having kids, I'd always heard you should follow your baby's cues as to when to feed them, put them down for naps, etc. Lucky for me, both my babies' cues came on a perfect schedule. (One can only hope to be so fortunate a third time, right?)

Our days are pretty much clockwork: Wake up, eat breakfast, lounge for an hour, get ready, morning nap for Smush/playtime for Bubby/blog, Facebook, e-mail, budget balancing time for me, Smush wake-up, snacktime, playtime/errand time/playgroup with other moms and kids, lunch, Smush's second nap, Bubby+Mom playtime, tidy time/baking time/reading time (if I'm lucky), Smush wake-up, afternoon snack, get dinner ready/kids watch Netflix or play Wii, Dill comes home, dinner, Smush bath+bed, Bubby bath+bed, Jenna+Dill talk time/Arrested Development/movie time, bed.

Whew! Tired yet? That was like a crazy calculus problem or something.

The Hernandez Family asked, "What is your dream vacation?"

I really, really, really want to go to Hawaii. Like, whoa. A week would be nice. Just Dill and me, sans kids.

Courtney asked, What would you recommend as a safe and natural kitchen counter cleaner? What's your all-time favorite movie? Are you still doing the oil cleansing method?

1) Water and vinegar, baby! I have granite counters and this gets them really clean. I do still use a naughty (but effective) non-natural granite polisher about once a month to keep the stone nice and shiny. I'm telling you, though, vinegar and water is the solution to all your problems. I put it in a giant spray bottle and whip it out as needed.

2) My all-time favorite movie is 13 Going On 30 with Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo. Yes, even more than the Harry Potter movies. It might be due to the fact the main character's name is Jenna, or because I love those "Freaky Friday"-type movies where people switch places/go back in time, etc. It's just the cutest movie ever and I never get tired of it.

3) As a matter of fact, I AM still doing the oil cleansing method! But I will be honest and confess I recently took a short break. I started getting some nasty acne all over the lower half of my face right after we came home from DC. I thought it was due to the OCM so I stopped doing it, only to find my acne got WORSE, not better. Then I noticed it all over my back, chest and neck shortly thereafter. So, it's likely hormonal and not related to the oil cleansing. I started back up about a week ago and my face is already clearing up.

I have a testimony of the oil cleansing method. Amen.

DaNelle asked, "When are you gonna have another baby?"

I'm not really sure! Some days, I want to be pregnant right now. Others, I want to wait a few years. In the past, I've just "known" when it was the right time. Both times, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Kind of hard to explain. When it's time for another child to join our family, I'm counting on the message to be loud and clear!

Erin asked, "I'm new to Arizona. We live on the east side of Phoenix. What fun, cheap things are there to do with my one year old and husband? Any restaurants you highly recommend? "

Ah, there are so many great things to do out here, even when it's a million degrees.

First, head to a local city pool! Mesa and Gilbert both have pool locations at various schools. Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa is close to where I live and it's a blast. A huge waterslide, zero-depth entry pool with kiddie water features and a diving pool equipped with three diving boards! It's brand new, just opened this year, and pretty cheap.

We really enjoy the library. We go to the Southeast Regional Library in Gilbert. They have a great kids' section and an area where your toddler can run around and have fun. In cooler weather, you can also hike around the adjacent Riparian Preserve. It's a desert nature preserve with trails, areas where kids can climb, trees and even a man-made lake where you can fish!

Also in that neck of the woods is the San Tan Village Mall. It's an outdoor mall with play areas and a splash pad, all completely free! And who doesn't love to window-shop?

A few months ago, I took Bubby to Superstition Farms. Every Thursday from 4:30 to 7:30 PM, the farmer's market is open for business. They have a free petting zoo, hayride tours and lots to see! You can pay a little extra to feed the goats and calves, but even if you don't, you can still pet them. It's a lot of fun, but I'd probably wait until it's not scorching outside to go.

As for places to eat, we LOVE Oregano's (both in Mesa and Gilbert), Liberty Market, Joe's Farm Grill and Joe's Real BBQ. Delicious local food at decent prices. If you're into sushi, I recommend Got Sushi? in northeast Mesa (a favorite of former Phoenix Suns player Leandro Barbosa) or Masa Sushi in Gilbert. For Mexican, you can't go wrong with Tia Rosa's or Mi Amigo's!

Q and A: Round 1

Wowzers! I got lots of questions from you guys. This is going to be fun! I thought it might be best to break it up into two days. I'm kind of wordy (ok, really wordy) and don't want this to turn into a novel.

Elise asked, "If you could be one kitchen utensil, what would you be and why?"

I would be a Santoku knife. Exhibit A:

This is the one I have and I can't live without it.

The Santoku knife is an expensive, valuable utensil, but it can take a beating. It's in it for the long-haul and doesn't risk being replaced like a spatula. It's useful and can cut through anything so it gets a lot of action (wink wink). It's dangerous, so I'd be respected. And at the end of the day, it is placed in a safe, highly-revered place (usually a knife block), not tossed carelessly into a drawer like other utensils. So there's a very slim chance of being chucked to the ground or ruthlessly banged against a pot by a curious toddler.

My Santoku knife has a good life.

The Burton Family asked, "Now that you've done both, which do you like better? Short or long hair?"

Definitely short. Less up-keep, more sass. I still can't figure out why I'm growing my hair out. I so want to go back to this:

We'll see. I figure I should at least give it a year.

Teac77 asked, "What healthy foods do you and Dillon enjoy?"

We're all about the raw fruits and veggies! At the moment I can't eat enough berries, specifically blueberries. They're so cheap and abundant this time of year. I love to add them to a steaming bowl of oatmeal in the morning or a cup of Dannon All Natural vanilla yogurt for a snack. And I'm always down for some fresh broccoli. Yum yum yum.

Dill favors pink lady apples (also known as Cripps pink). They have a special place in his heart. He gets very excited when I buy them. They are a gorgeous rosy color and have a tarty sweet flavor. They're also really crispy and juicy. They're pretty much the perfect apple.

ACW asked, What are your top go-to dinners? What does a mom of two do to stay happy and healthy? Will baby #3 be a C section or VBAC? What are the funniest things your 5 year old has said?

Great questions! I'd like to dedicate a whole post to #2, actually, so be on the look-out for that. As for the rest ...

1) If I'm having company over, I usually make Paula Deen's Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese (but I leave out the eggs) or the Easy Lasagna I posted recently. Those dishes are impressive, tasty and feed a lot of people. And they're "safe" for picky eaters (although, I am suspicious Paula Deen's mac 'n cheese is responsible for 32% of all heart attacks).

If I'm in a dinner pinch and need to make something quick, I default to grilled cheese sandwiches. When all else fails, I always have butter, bread and cheese on hand. Plus, have you had grilled cheese on homemade whole-wheat bread? It's practically a spiritual experience it's so delicious. WOW. I've also been known to whip up Navajo tacos and pancakes and eggs at the last minute.

2) Baby #3 will hopefully be a VBAC. As rough as my VBAC was in comparison to my C-section, I am terrified of most medical procedures and the mere thought of surgery makes me weak in the knees. Plus, I've been told that pushing out babies gets easier with time. Who knows? Maybe I'll be one of those lucky girls who shows up at the hospital dilated to a 10 and the baby just slides on out! One can only hope!

3) Well, Bubby is not quite 4, though she does seem old for her age. But she says some hysterical things, that's true. Yesterday, my mom came over to watch my kids while I taught a piano lesson. After the lesson, she informed me Bubby did not want to get off the computer to spend time with her. I was pretty sad about that. So Dill and I had a talk with her about it last night. Dill said, "When Grammy comes over, you need to play with her." Bubby responded, "Well, Grammy liked to play Nick Jr. when she was a kid ... " It was hard not to bust up at that one. Also, she tells me all the time how when she's 6, she's going to play soccer and when she's 10, she's going to get a white puppy named Illie. Such an active little imagination.

Join me tomorrow for Round 2!