Ooh that smell. Can't you smell that smell?

That title is supposed to pay homage to a Lynyrd Skynyrd song. Have you ever listened to the words of that song? It is all about drugs...Whatever. In honor of full disclosure, I will admit that the real reason I know this song is because Lo sings it in her car during Laguna Beach (season 1). Embarrassing for me... but I guess embarrassing admission is sort of the theme of this post.

Back to the real post:
I love my perfume. I smelled many different perfumes on many different shopping trips. I took the badgering of the sales ladies, I asked for samples etc. Then I took the plunge. I purchased Versace Bright Crystal. I had just finished off my previous perfume (Chanel Chance. The green one... I don’t remember the specifics of it). I LOVE my current perfume. I wear it often, but not everyday.

Lately I have been getting some compliments on how I smell. Unfortunately, it has been happening on days that I am not wearing my perfume. I initially thought, "oh, my natural sent must be intoxicating!!!" Hahaha! (I automatically think of that Friends episode where Pheobe and Monica’s old friend comes back all fake British and braggy. Anyone?)

After some figuring... Turns out it is my shampoo. I recently switched shampoo for the winter months. You have probably figured where I am going with this... It is dandruff shampoo!

Maybe it is just me, but I find it embarrassing to admit that I am dealing with a dry scalp during these wicked winter months. I even contemplated not writing about it. But I have decided that it doesn’t matter. Why not be real about it?

But really, what am I supposed to say to these people? "Thank you! It is my Head and Shoulders 2in1."

Rather than sparking attention with the fragrance I fawned over and am proud to have selected, I instead get mentions of the sent from my drug store shampoo.

Isn't that just life?!

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Like on vaca? Road trip! (Sun Valley, ID)

I just got home from an awesome family vacation to Sun Valley. Note: it also included a road trip.

I admit it. We still take family vacations. Yes, we are grown and my sister is married. But, we still love family vacations. It is even more fun now because we actually like each other! We have moved beyond the teenage angst phase and we truly enjoy spending time together.

I think vacations are way less work when you are with your family. With friends, you try and make sure people are happy, enjoying themselves, okay with the restaurant choice etc. With your family it can be go with the flow. You can get pissed and no one cares. You are also fine with looking like total crap the whole time (they see you on Christmas morning and know how ugly you are). With family it can be a real and relaxing vacation.

This of course only applies if you like your family. I get that not everyone does. I just happen to be lucky. Plus, there aren't that many of us. The odds are in our favor because there are fewer opportunities for us to hate each other.

We just got back from a FABULOUS family vaca. Check out the photos below. It was so beautiful!

Baldy

Can't beat a view like this!

View of the town below from the top of the mountain. 

The whole fam damily. 

Note: we drove to Sun Valley, ID. The drive is 10 hours... One way. Totally worth it. 

Hailey on Dwellable

The Oscars: Annoying or not?

I know I am a bit late on the reviews of the Academy Awards. So rather than doing a best and worst dressed, I decided to do a most annoying vs. least annoying. Honestly, I really enjoyed the fashions and everyone looked amazing. Especially the people I find most annoying… which of course makes it worse.

Not annoying:

Michelle Williams was so sweet in her interviews.  I loved how honored she was by the compliments she received from Kate Winslet. Plus she took Her BFF, Busy Phillips, as her date.

Viola Davis also wins the not annoying award. She was humble about her performance in The Help and she always turns interviews back to the project and the meaning of the story.

Majorly annoying:

Angelina Jolie is so freak-yeah annoying. Her dress was really pretty... blah blah… but she ruined it with her stupid posing.

The second annoying award goes to Stacy Keibler. She is so temporary! I hate how pimpin’ she thinks she is. She is clearly a disposable girlfriend for George Clooney. Her attitude makes her look like a stupid little girl. 

I hope you all enjoyed the show as much as I did. I was already on vacation and the Oscars made it even better! Vaca updates coming soon!


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Call Me Maybe

I have been listening to this song non-stop for the past two days. I know it is ridiculously pop infused. BUT I TOTALLY LOVE IT!!!

To go along with the awesome song… some of our favorite teeny-bopper stars did a homemade sing-along video to it. This is clearly why I like it so much! The video just seems hilariously normal. The girls are all in sweats etc. It reminds me of the kind of crap we would do in Black Butte during college (or currently… you decide that for yourself).

Here is a video of Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ashley Tizdale (I secretly love the Tiz), some chick from Hannah Montana, Ashley’s boyfriend and some other peeps all dancing to Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.

Side note: Apparently this girl (who is Canadian) has the same representation as the Biebs. Even so, I still love it. Their ploy for the song to blow up worked on me!

Fitting in, standing out… or somewhere in-between?

I am having a bit of a struggle to find my blogging identity. Most of the blogs I follow seem to bridge the gap between lifestyle and fashion. I really love fashion! But alas, I am not a fashion blogger. Mostly because I am an outfit repeater, and when would I take pictures? I race out the door everyday… while desperately in need of caffeine.

I guess I am sort of a lifestyle blogger. Most of my posts aren’t necessarily about my lifestyle, but more about random life events or what I am thinking about when I sit with my computer. I wonder if it is hurting me that I don’t really fit in. Should I try and fit in the blogger box? How does everyone find time to put together new outfits, decorate, take beautiful pictures, try tons of new recipes etc.? I just live and attempt to function. Then I write about it. I think I just described a lifestyle blog... I guess this is a lifestyle blog! Haha!

I am also trying to find my blog identity without becoming too self-centered. But really, isn’t a blog the most self-centered thing of all? Writing about yourself and assuming someone will find you interesting enough to read it?

Anyway, that is just my random thought today. I am trying to focus on the bigger picture in things. I need to remember why I started blogging in the first place and keep that at the forefront of my mind. Who cares what other people think? I find that blogging is a blast! And I want to keep doing it.

Does it really matter what people might say behind my back? No. Because it is behind my back! I won’t even know about it. Isn’t that the beauty of life? Plus, I have plenty of people who will say whatever they think to my face.

In a social experiment, I asked a few of my closest friends to send me a picture that they think describes me… this is what was presented:

I need to stop worrying so much about having a blog niche and start worrying about why these photos describe me!

Galentines Day Par-Tay.

Like I previously mentioned, I was planning on hosting a Galentines Day Party. Well, I followed through! Some of my wonderful lady friends came over for a night of food, drinks, chocolate and gossip. Does it get any better than that?! I say not.

The most awkward part about this event was the purchasing that happened before hand. I neglected to get a cart at the store figuring that I wouldn’t be buying that much stuff… well, I was wrong. I looked like a crazy person. My basket filled quickly and I was hobbling around (very heavy considering it was filled with wine and champy), struggling to hold on to a festive balloon, all while carrying around a potted Valentine themed plant. It was a sight to see. I then tried to get in line… not a lot of luck. There was a lady with 15 foreign exchange students in front of me! They were all glancing at me (the crazy American chick trying to juggle a basket full of booze and a potted plant) while speaking to each other in Japanese. I am sure they were talking trash. I am still offended.

Anyway, the distress was completely worth it! Not only was EVERYTHING on sale, but we had a blast celebrating a late Valentine's Day together.

Allison made yummy smoked salmon cucumber boats! 

Mama Jo's famous chicken chili

Best and prettiest onion chopper ever! 

I hope you all had fab celebrations for love day! 

Cheerleading State Champions 2012.

Katie and I finish praying as the announcer begins, “Wilson, you may take the mat.”

Okay, our girls have had this routine for six months. They were hitting their stunts all week. Things were cleaned up and motions were sharp. I knew they would have their best performance yet. It was time for them to hit their State Championship routine.

As coaches, there is nothing longer than the 2 minutes and 30 seconds that decides whether or not the kids you have encouraged, pumped up, coached and invested in are going to come out of this day feeling defeated or triumphant. Five coaches, who do not want the responsibility of managing disappointment, and a squad of teenage girls, with insurmountable nerves, prepare and anticipate the outcome of a measly two and a half minutes.

As the music swells so does the anxiety. Our girls attack the mat with energy and determination. I am suddenly filled with pride because I get to be on the coaching staff of this remarkable team.

Watching each section, teeny bits of relief pass as they move from one stunt sequence to the next. Then it comes time for the last one. All of the anxiety comes back for the next 10 seconds. The mind begins to race, “Will they hit this final pyramid? They haven’t hit it at a competition yet this season. But the change we made this week has taken this pyramid to a whole other level of solid. They are unstoppable!”

They hit it! The next part is a blur. There is nothing more exciting than seeing kids that you care about have their best performance of the year, the performance of the day, and for the senior’s, one of those life moments they will never forget. (Hopefully the underclassmen get to have another… but you never know!)

They will never forget that moment for the rest of their lives. Tears, excitement, hugs. Everyone was over the moon. They had worked so incredibly hard for that outcome and they deserved it! Wilson was going to take home the first place trophy.

This is the moment our girls knew they had won! Priceless faces.

I posted a video of the performance below. For a better version: Click Here and go to 1:36

I know I have been the worst blogger ever, but I am back!