I got an email a couple of weeks ago and was asked some questions. Thought I'd post them on my blog since I've been slacking. This is my 300 post BTW.

What is the best thing about your childhood?

Being mothered by a woman that was charitable. I knew that she loved the gospel because she lived it every day. I don't remember ever questioning her love nor did I ever feel that she wavered in her faith when times were difficult. She is gone now, but her life lives in my heart.

Tell us a little bit about your husband and children.

Just a little bit? There's so much I could say!! They're the reason I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow! I have one- loving, honest, loyal, hard-working husband who still loves me after 10 years of marriage. He's the smartest, cutest guy I know. We have four children- 2 boys 2 girls. They love to play monster mom, laugh on play on the floor, play board games, anything that involves time with mom (something I'm working on). They have the choice experience of watching me try to balance a gazillion things all while "smiling and speaking softly."

What is your favorite thing to do?

I love to travel and do fun things with my family. I also LOVE to find deals, second hand goods that need some TLC, and decorating on a dime. I love to laugh until I cry.

What is your favorite food?

Mexican- I could eat it every day.

What is your favorite book?

I have two absolute favorites- Jane Eyre and These is My Words

What is your favorite sport?

My favorite sport to watch is Basketball, my favorite sport to play is softball.

What is your favorite kind of music?

Music can bring me to tears. I LOVE it all except Hard Rock, Hard Rap, & some twangy Country Songs

What is your favorite song?

Evergreen- Barbara Streisand (Makes me cry)

What is your favorite temple?

I love our temple. I will never forget when President Hinckley announced that it was going to be built. I'd love to do a session in the San Diego Temple, I think it's the most beautiful temple.

What place you would like to know about?

3^rd World countries

What place would you like to visit?

I'd love to visit the ruins in Mexico. I'd also like to visit a impoverished country with my family so we could all be a little bit more grateful for what we have and maybe not so greedy.

What is your favorite thing about your mom?

I loved it when she laughed and when she'd rub my temples to calm me down. I remember her always being sweet.

What is your favorite thing about your dad?

He get out of any kind of bind.

What is your favorite thing about yourself?

That I have a tender-heart. Sometimes I wish I wasn't brought to tears so easily but I guess it's a by-product of feeling and understanding things on a more intense level

Do you like to sing?

Yes, not in public, but to my children. I love to sing Primary songs with them.

Do you like to dance?

LOVE LOVE LOVE to dance but not on stage in front of a crowd. I tried it once a few years ago-ward talent show, without choreography (needed Jenne Kissell) it was bad.

Do you like to play a musical instrument?

I play the piano but not very well. I took lessons for several years but quit because I never got good enough to really love it. Looking back I wish I would've stuck with it. I'd like to take lessons again someday.

What musical instruments can you play?

Piano

What is your favorite type of art?

Photographic art

Have you ever seen a broadway musical? I saw Phantom of the Opera Do you like theater? Yes, I'd love to see Les Miserables.

Do you like building things?

I like changing things but not really building things.

What would you like to learn about cars?

How I could get my hands on a Honda Odyssey without paying a dime.

What would you like to teach others about?

Exercise, Frugality, How to do Make-up

What are three adjectives which describe you?

Tender-hearted, eager to please, industrious

How would your friend describe you to someone who has never seen you?

Red-Haired, about 5'8" medium build- smiles a lot and is put together when she's not looking for her kid's shoes or sweeping up sugar and is out on the town with her hubby.

In five years, what kind of person will you be?

Hopefully better, kinder, and less defensive. I'd like to make my simple life make a difference to everyone that knows me.

In ten years, what kind of person will you be?

A mom with a missionary- YIKES!, sweeter, less-worried about things I can't change, Happy, still in Love, still loveable.

What do you want to be doing in five years?

In five years I'd like to be able to do more things with my little sisters, taking really good pictures.

What are your favorite subjects in school?

Biology, English, Social Studies, Art

When you have an hour of free time, what do you like to do?

Read, write on my blog, read others blogs, study photography, organize, decorate, thrift shop
What is your favorite church movie?

Together Forever

What is the strangest thing you ever did?

Danced alone-freestyle in front of my old ward during the Ward Talent Show.

What is the strangest food you ever ate?

Rocky Mountain Oysters (Bull Tenders) They were actually pretty good, I was just grossed out about what they were.

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My thoughts about "50 creative ways to make your blog POPULAR"

So, I was searching google yesterday for some much needed help in making my blog wider. I opened my google home page and typed in "How to make my blog... and as I typed away, google was helping me along because there were prompts I could pick from below the subject I was trying to search. I looked below while I was typing to see if I could see "wider" but it wasn't there. Guess what was? Right below, first in line was, "How to make your blog popular"
And because I'm curious I clicked away and found numerous links on the subject. One being
"50 creative ways to make your blog POPULAR". So, what did I do? I clicked it of coarse,

(I was one of those girls in High school that tried to find the secret to being popular. I told the YW last week that I thought everyone would like me if I was prettier, drove a Toyota 4runner, had blond hair, and wore the best clothes in school. I also wanted to be Homecoming Queen and thought that it would be ultimate highlight to my high school experience and that somehow it would make me happy.)

but first I thought about what might be some of their suggestions. I was happily surprised to see that posing nude wasn't one of them.

This week I finally started to read Pioneer Woman. I don't know how its humanly possible to do as much as she seems to do but I must say that she has quite the following. I, myself, started reading her blog to find out more about photography since I have this new camera and need some guidance in how to use the thing; its a wonderful gadget but I wish a brain came in the packaging. And then there's Nie and her sister, CJane and their whole family, and Design Mom, and a host of other bloggers that have received celebrity status. We bloggers know who they are and when we speak to blog muggles about Nie and the plane crash and we break into tears it may seem a bit strange to some. I've known about a lot of these popular blogs for awhile but only just recently decided to become a follower. I, for some reason tend to wait awhile so I can form my own opinion. Twilight's a good example. I bought the book and it sat on my shelf while all the histaria went on, then I read it. Same thing with the movie. I finally went and saw it a couple of weeks ago. *If you don't want to be offended don't read the next couple of sentences. I didn't like Twilight that much. It was a fun read but it wasn't enough for me to finish the last book. Now, "These Is My Words" is a GOOD book and so is "Jane Eyre" my all time favorite. I just didn't dig the whole vampire thing and Bella isn't someone I want my daughters to assimilate with .

There's a good reason why some of these everyday women became popular. I've tried to keep my distance but to no avail, I've been dazzled by them and for food reasons. They ARE amazing, loving, talented women, and they're real. At first, back in Nov. '06 I used to read and compare but while blogging and growing up especially in the last year ( that tends to happen when you have to say goodbye to your mom as you watch her die) I've realized how important is to discover Kim and develop what talents I have. I wish I would've learned this 15 years ago but I suppose I can teach my children so they don't try to wish their high school years away trying be something other then themselves. I've always wanted to feel important and admired, I suppose that's one of the reason's I blog, if stardom happens I'd like it but if it doesn't I'm okay with that too.

Last week I talked to the girls in YW. I was asked to come in a speak to them about Finding Joy in your Divine Potential. The following is what I told them:

I was impressed to share my silliness in high school and asked the girls if you knew me and you had a magic wand and a spell that could bring me unbelievable Joy what would you give me? Would you grant me all the things that I wanted at the time? Would that bring me Joy? What brings us joy? When I get sucked into things that bring temporary happiness, I like to imagine myself in the middle of the aftermath of a horrible storm. Stripped of clothes, my fancy house, my black boots that I think make me look pretty cute, makeup, and I can't do anything that I normally do, I'm essentially left with nothing. Who would I be? What I do and what I have does not define me. I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father. There is so much in this heart of mine I haven't discovered yet. I might just discover them as I type away on my own little piece of cyberspace. I feel pretty blessed with those of you that think I'm pretty swell without a list of blogging awards on my sidebar. I think you're pretty swell too. I'd crown all of you with you're very own tiaras if I could. And to satisfy your curiosity here is the list I found via Blog oh Blog.
I like #50.

1. Start a controversy. Just remember not to cross the line.
2. Start a contest. Make sure to end it too.
3. Give away free goodies. People love them.
4. Write about other bloggers to interest their visitors to read your blog. Keep it positive.
5. Dress up your blog often (By dress-up I mean tweaking the design)
6. Interview other bloggers and post the interview.
7. Write about your personal life sometimes.
8. Ask questions to your visitors.
9. Share some secrets.
10. Celebrate your birthday with your visitors. Think of innovative ways for doing this.
11. Celebrate your blog’s birthday too.
12. Write something funny or disgusting. (Don’t make it a habit)
13. Make a bumper sticker with your blog’s name and stick it on your car. (Just make sure you drive often)
14. Write an e-book and distribute it to your visitors for free.
15. Introduce a commission based affiliate program.
16. Tell your visitors about your latest fad or obsession.
17. Post interesting pictures of your pets.
18. Congratulate the top commentators occasionally.
19. Encourage sharing of opinions.
20. Donate for a cause or become a volunteer for a non-profit organization. Ask your visitors to join you.
21. Put your blog’s ad in the local newspaper or the yellow pages.
22. Hold blog competitions.
23. Create polls.
24. Hold an auction and let people bid for something useful (For example, advertising space on your blog).
25. Write about your blog achievements.
26. Share your hopes and aspirations about your blog.
27. Start an award distribution system.
28. Make contact with your local visitors and hold a get-together or a bloggers’ meet.
29. Start a blog comic strip.
30. Dig up some old article that you wrote on your blog which became famous and start a discussion.
31. Try and get a photograph clicked with a real celebrity and post it on your blog. (Hold on Tiger..don’t rush to that Photoshop button!)
32. Post videos that will help your visitors learn something new. Also submit them to video sharing websites like YouTube.com.
33. Write about your hobbies and interests. (For example, if you like cooking, post a new recipe)
34. Post about one of the weirdest thing that you ever did.
35. Get featured in a print magazine.
36. Buy a paid review from any famous blogger(s).
37. Brand your blog with a catch phrase along with a logo.
38. Distribute T-shirts or merchandise with your blog name on it.
39. Join Yahoo! Answers and put a link on your website to your answers.
40. Keep a track of websites that pick up your articles or press releases. Offer them exclusive news or content.
41. Do surveys and publish the results to your visitors.
42. Build tools that your visitors might find use for.
43. Start a newsletter.
44. Podcasting is another good way to make your blog popular.
45. Publicize your blog to your friends and relatives and let them do some work for you.
46. Be active in Social Bookmarking websites.
47. Share Link Love and you will get it back.
48. People like to read about Web 2.0. Write about it.
49. Write about something that’s already famous.
50. Last but not the least, be yourself.





Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

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Happy Day Hallelujah!

On January 8th, almost 11 months of waiting, our house went under contract. Finally! What a journey it has been to fix this little 40's built home into something marketable. When we first bought this house I was the mother of 2 boys and I'd been married for 2 1/2 years. Our requirements? Very simple. We wanted space, trees, a garage, a unfinished basement, and a big kitchen. Jeff was only making $12 and hour. Walk in closets weren't not in the works for awhile. I saw potential for beauty within the walls of this house but I didn't know the first things about decorating or really any idea what I really liked. Its been thrilling to learn how much I love create and make old things into new things.I LOVE to decorate and put things together on a low budget, while making every thing look expensive. Together Jeff and I have turned this house into a home that we're very proud of. I've learned a lot about myself in the almost 7 years that we've lived here. A few more things I've learned...

• to spend way less than we make.
• how to wire a switch.
• how to redo a room in one weekend.
• how to make an ugly room my favorite one in the house.
• to simplify and declutter.
• I can live without television. There's so much more I want to spend my time on.
• how to be frugal.
  
• what to do without a coat closet.
• how to share an itty bitty closet with my husband.
  
• how to cover graffiti.
• how to love my neighbors.
• how to sell a home in an ugly neighborhood.
• how to clean my whole house in a 1/2 hour.
• how to be patient when things don't go my way.
  
• how to lay on the couch 10 months pregnant and let my mom and friend paint my nursery.
• how a sump pump works.
  
• that I can't wait to have a self-propelled lawn mower.
• that I CAN do hard things.
• that I DON'T like too much stuff. Because then I spend all my time trying to manage it.
• I love to be organized but I need to find a way to be better at it.
• how things don't always work out the way you plan.
  
• that my husband is the studliest, smartest, most talented man I've ever known.
• to realize that my timing isn't always the Lord's timing.
• that spray paint is the best thing ever invented.
  

So two days after we got our house under contract we found our NEW home. As soon as I walked into it I KNEW that I wanted it. We found it the day it was listed and decided after a day of number crunching and praying that we would put an offer on it for $10,000 less than what they were asking, also contingent on the closing of our home. We put $2,000 down in earnest money and waited for our agent to make the offer. On the way to make the offer my agent called to let me know that there were several other people looking that day as well as the next and warned me that if we didn't offer full price we could get bumped.

We ended up offering full price contingent on the closing of our home. The seller didn't like that we were out of the deal if our house didn't close so she didn't except the offer with the contingency. We then had to decide if we wanted the house enough to lose our $2000 if our own house didn't go through. Long story short. Everything is working out. We took off the contingency and decided to take a leap of faith that everything with our house would work out. There is a couple of contingencies on our home and it was kind of scary to make a decision. I was a bundle of nerves for 4 days straight. The offer was finally accepted on Wednesday and then I decided that I needed to look into financing while the interest rates were in the 4%'s. On Friday, after another crazy two days of calling and comparing we signed a loan. If you would have seen me that day I would given you a big fat hug! I was the happiest woman alive. In fact we went over to our agent's office (who is quickly becoming on of my closest friends) to sign some papers and I completely broke down into tears because of the intensity of joy I was feeling. I felt totally overwhelmed with how everything was turning out for us. In fact, our Realtor wasn't even going to show us the house because we it was a tad over our price range, but from the moment we fell in love with it, everything has fallen into place. Since I'm a big Dave Ramsey fan and I wanted to follow everything he's suggested, I wanted to make sure that our payment would be 23-25% of our monthly income.

I really feel like the windows of Heaven have been opened on my life. Its been a heart wrenching year, mostly because of my mom's death. At times I felt like our efforts were in vain. Every time we showed the house with no results I tried to be patient. I worked really hard and studied how to stage a home and wanted so badly to be out of this house 10 months and 29 days ago, but if it would've happened when I thought it should've happened none of this would be happening, especially locking in such a low interest rate.
I'm so excited for our closing day, February 24th. I lie in bed at night and dream of our house. I can't wait to make it my own. I can't wait to pull my car into my first garage and use a garage door opener. I can't wait to cook in my kitchen and soak in my garden tub. I can't wait to put coats in a coat closet, and hang my clothes in my very first walk in closet. I can't wait to sit on my deck and watch the kids play on in our yard on the Coscto swing set included with the house!! I can't believe I can own a home like this, it hasn't been easy for us, but still I feel so blessed because I know that there's so many people in the world that barely have a front door. I'm thankful that we started out in our little 40's house. I learned a lot.

Floor plan






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I tag

TAG from Jan

i am- a daughter of God, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend

i think- too much.

i know- that I will see my mom again.

i want- peace of mind and heart.

i have- so much to be thankful for, I'm going to start a gratitude journal this week.

i dislike- the misuse of and degradation of sex.

i fear- the influences the world has my children and on me.

i feel- overwhelmed at all there is to motherhood.

i hear- "Have a Little Faith in Me"

i smell- red beans and rice lingering from dinner time

i crave- fresh veggies and fruit

i cry- a lot lately. I miss my mom.

i usually- forget to count my blessings.

i search- for a way to help my oldest boy do okay in school. He can't seem to focus.

i wonder- if my mom is watching me and what she's doing.

i regret- that I didn't take enough pictures of my mom with my kids and that they didn't spend a lot of time with her.

i love- the Lord,my husband, being organized, laughing with my kids, feeling skinny, eating clean, good music, a clean inspirational movies, sweet people, the temple, Rick's college, the beach.

i care- about others feelings.

i always- think the worst (when communicating with my husband)

i worry- that I'll mess my kids up with my mistakes.

i am not- easy going.

i remember- the way my mom rubbed my temples to put me to sleep.

i believe- that the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored through a prophet.

i sing- out loud and dance in my kitchen.

i don't always- live like today is my last day.

i argue- about medicating my son.

i write- to remember

i win- uno games with my hubby.

i lose- my patience too much.

i wish- I could relax about some of the things that I think have to be done a certain way.

i can usually be found- at home cleaning.

i am scared- to lose any of my kids to the world.

i need- to be prepared spiritually and temporally.

i forget- who's in charge.

i am happy- when I'm doing what God wants me to do- serving my family, loving my neighbor, doing His will.

How do you feel today? You feel _______________? Play along if you would like.

TAGGED TWICE: A Few little known facts about me

1. I like the clothes in my closet color coordinated. It makes me happy.

2. I got an F in my Family and Marrriage Prep class at Ricks College. (I accidentally missed a test and later made it up but that still only gave me a C.)

3. I'm 30 years old and I've yet to feel comfortable "in my own skin." I'm working on it though. I'm much more comfortable than I was 10 years ago.

4. I danced to Michael Buble's Crazy Little Thing Called Love at last years Ward talent show. I was winded within 30 seconds and basically made a complete fool of myself.

5. I wish I could instantly learn how to prepare and cook meals that consisted of 100% whole foods. If I had an in home Chef it would help.

6. I've always enjoyed cranking up the stereo and dancing my heart out. I always pretend I'm on stage but I would die if anyone saw me.

7. I have a temper but I'm learning how to keep it under wraps. It helps when I remember I can't control everything.

8. I apologize to my children almost every day for my adult mess ups and explain that I too am still learning how to be my best self.

9. If I had 24 hours to myself I would most likely catch everything up but at the same time would love to be at a Day Spa.

10. I wish I could take my family to a 3rd World Country for 3 days. I think we would all be more appreciative of what we have and not want more all the time.

11. There are a ton of character traits that I hope become part of the moral make up of each one of my children. There's especially five things that I hope they learn while they are in my care. The love and testimony of all three members of the Godhead, a knowledge that they can become more when they trust in God and not men, love of self that doesn't come from outside influences but from their heart and from giving of themselves, a knowledge that happiness in life is directly linked to the ability to lay in bed at night and be content with the day that was spent while looking forward to the day ahead, and knowing that what they learned from their parents made all the difference that they want to live the same way in their own lives and with their own families. It would be easy to add to this list but for now I think these five help accomplish all the other hopes I have for my children.

12. I don't think most women know how to feed their self- worth the right way. I would love to teach women how to truly love themselves. I think this would alleviate a lot of debt, obesity, sickness and overall heartache. But first I've got to figure it out myself!!!!

I tag: NICOLE, LAURA, JEFF my hubby, SHERRI, MARILYN, ALLISON, and THARKER too