Daddy Dressed Me

    

And we all know how fashionable he is.

Three Things That Make My Life Easier: Chapter 4

I hate ironing. This may be because I'm not very good at it. Or because it is work to dig the ironing board out of the overcrowded hall closet. Whatever the reason I just don't like it. I also don't like looking unkempt and wrinkled. You can see the problem. When Harley and I got married I told him there are two household chores I really didn't want to do: ironing and cleaning the bathtub. Fortunately for me, Harley doesn't mind doing the bathtub so that part has worked out swimmingly. I'm pleased to report I don't think I have cleaned a bathtub in six years. Harley happily takes on that job, which these days is exceptionally easy thanks to our fabulous Bath Fitter shower. I wasn't so lucky with ironing since Harley doesn't like that task either. For years we survived taking turns or just being wrinkled. (Oh the humanity!) Then I discovered two products that rocked my pressing world. (That's another way of saying, "make my life easier.")

1. Nordstrom Smartcare Traditional Fit Dress Shirt

Oh my word, I am in love with these shirts. Leave it to Nordstrom to make my life easier. We bought a few of them years ago and they have NEVER touched an iron. EVER. They don't need to. Something in this genius Smartcare finish makes the shirts virtually wrinkle free. They just come out of the dryer looking starched and smashing. They are thick too, so no seeing through the fabric to skin (or worse) on your husband's chest. Haaaate that.

I'm pretty sure I have Mindy to thank for this discovery. Speaking of white dress shirts and thanking, I have Ben Rogers to thank for ensuring Harley never wears a short sleeved dress shirt to church again. Short sleeved white dress shirt=missionary. I'd been trying to insult Harley with this comparison for years, but it never worked. It wasn't until Ben (one of Harley's many man crushes) explained it like this: Church=formal. Short sleeves=not so formal. Or something like that. Anyway, it changed Harley's opinion on short sleeved shirts and he hasn't worn them since. To Mindy and Ben: thank you and thank you.

These shirts will run you $65. A bit pricey but worth it. Plan it right and buy them during Nordstrom's two sales: Anniversary (July) and Half-Yearly (for men it's in mid-June and late December).

2. Downy Wrinkle Releaser

If I could buy everything with Smartcare finish I would. Unfortunately, Smartcare has yet to spread its greatness to all fabric, so I'm left with many other wrinkled clothing items. Or am I? Enter magic in a bottle.

Spray the shirt, then smooth away unsightly wrinkles with your hand. The wrinkles disappear. Bonus: you get that fresh, soft bear scent.

For best results, spray, smooth, then hang the item in the bathroom while you take a steamy shower. Works wonders. Downy Wrinkle Releaser even works on dry-clean-only fabrics. $4.49 for a 16.9 oz bottle (which will last you forever) at your local grocery store or Target/Walmart.

I also own the travel size, because really, who wants to iron on vacation?

Disclaimer: Downy Wrinkle Releaser can't conquer all wrinkles. I still have to iron certain clothes. It works great on silk, but 100% cotton is pretty tough to tame and often requires a hot iron in the end. Still, so much better than ironing everything.

I have Jessica Diva to thank for this one. She is the master of throw it on, make it work, run out the door and still look great. It shall also be noted here Jessica taught me how to do laundry. I honestly didn't know how to do it. Thank goodness she showed me freshman year. I will also give a shout out to Ryan Peterson. He taught me one of the best laundry/ironing lessons EVER. Throw the wrinkled item into the dryer with a wet washcloth. 10 minutes later: wa-lah! The shirt is mostly, if not 100% wrinkle free! This was an amazing discovery sophomore year. I would do this all the time today except I don't have a dryer in my apartment. When you're paying quarters and schlepping to the basement this trick isn't so convenient. Still, Jessica and Ryan get big thank yous for making my laundry life easier.

3. Fabric Shaver

Continuing the wardrobe theme, another clothes saver is my Fabric Shaver. Again, Queen of All Things Fashion Jessica Diva told me about this years ago, but I could not find one. Probably because I wasn't using the proper name. I think I kept asking for a sweater shaver. Harley finally tracked one down at Brookstone and surprised me one Valentine's Day. I know, what says "I love you" like "Honey, get ride of your sweater pills"?



That's exactly what this little contraption does. It quickly and easily removes all pills, lint and fuzz that accumulate on clothing. Stainless steel, adjustable (3 settings) blades groom the fabric, cutting away unwanted gunk and collecting it in an attached tray. Take my word for it, this thing really works! So many sweaters I'd nearly given up on because they'd just gotten gross. After a once over with this small wonder they have new life. Just look what it did for my winter coat.

Before (see the pills gathering on the coat?)

The collection (I was walking around with all those little friends. Yuck.)

After

Good as new! (Except it's not new. It's four years old. I have yet to wear it this year and I'm already sick of it. Blech.)

Oh and did I mention it works on upholstery? I couldn't find my exact model at Brookstone, but I did find this one for $25.00. Amazon has a version for $12.99.

So there you have it. Smartcare me, spray me, shave me and I am a happier Diva with an easier life.

Other things that make my life easier here, here and here.

GIVING THANKS: Friends & Family

Anyone else feel like my Utah Staycation/BFF World Tour Summer 2009 was a long time ago?  Are you over hearing about it?  I’m kind of over blogging about it.  But then that small (big?) OCD part of me compels me to finish what I started.  So I am.  In one final whopper of a post.  I shall get away with posting it so late by putting a Thanksgiving spin on it.  Which works because I am, oh so thankful.

I couldn’t be more grateful for my loving family and my amazing friends.  On my last Sunday in Utah the Relief Society lesson was on friendship:  “How Glorious are Faithful, Just and True Friends.”  It was the perfect way to end my trip which was, of course, filled with cherished friends.    You know the kind.  The release the pause button kind.  The kind best described in a quote shared in the lesson:  “Each time I see you, all time melts away, precious moments come flooding back and I am reminded of the joy and laughter we have shared over the years.”  It may sound cheesy but that’s how I feel about these friends.

 My Utah Divas:  Kelly (with Tessa), Nicole & me.  Proudly keeping Cafe Rio in business since 2002.  We may or may not have overstayed our welcome this particular night.  When they turn the chairs upside down on the tables is that a sign it’s time to go?

  Childhood bestie:  Haley.  She & her husband, Matt, successfully got us hooked on Shark Tank, Blokus and Kid to Kid in one night.  In true Haley form, she asked me all kinds of bold questions most people avoid.  I love her for it.

Half of Harley’s high school best friends.  Kirk (& Kaija), Harley (& me), and Mark (& Kate).  Good food, good laughs, good reconnecting.

 Alyssa (Britain’s head) & me.  When you visit Alyssa you can expect a delicious, themed meal, thoughtful take-home treats and a genuine display of interest in your child, your husband and your life.  She’s great like that.

 

 

Anderson and I stopped in Denver on the way back to DC to visit some of our very best friends, The Linds.  Jack and Anderson have been best buds since birth.  I love watching them interact and (kind of) grow up together.  Mindy and I had a pretty great time reuniting (again… spoiled, I know) too.  Life goal:  Make Mindy my next door neighbor.  That way Anderson and Jack can really grow up together.  And I can have Mindy in my life every day.  Happiness!

Let’s not forget who Anderson really comes to Denver to see.

 

While in Denver I got to spend time with my old roommate Kelley and her darling family.  Talk about reconnecting.   We hadn’t seen each other in seven years.  From the way we talked, shared and understood each other, you’d never know it.

 

"They shall not want a friend while I live. My heart shall love those, and my hands shall toil for those who love and toil for me and shall ever be found faithful to my friends."

-Joseph Smith

 

While we LOVE our friends, family is, of course,  the big reason we staycation in Utah.  Sprinkled throughout our 39 days were many happy moments shared with the people I care for most.  There are no words to express how much I love my family.  But there are pictures.  Oh there are pictures.

  Aunts Lisa, Ali & Cheryl with Anderson.  I love how much my sisters love my child.

Aunt Lisa with Lincoln, Uncle Tom with Anderson

    

My family struggles with many things.  Cooking is one example.  Most of us are horrible at it.  But we are fantastic at laughing.  Especially the girls.   ESPECIALLY my Mom.  You get us all together and it’s one big giggle fest.

We are crazy about the newest member of the family:  Lincoln.

 Ali & Jonathan’s new home in Lehi.  SO proud of them.

 

In some ways it feels like we were just home.  In other ways I can’t wait to go home again.  I don’t think I’m the only one.                                    That is the face of a man excited to see his peeps.

 

See you at Christmas everyone!

Note the special edition Fabulous Right Then:  Utah Favorites on the left.

Favorite Face

Remember this face? It's back and better than ever. It returned one night when Anderson was shivering after a bath. We asked Anderson if he was cold and this is what he gave us. Over and over again. To him it's "cold." To us it's the return of his "stressed out face." Our favorite Anderson face ever.

Apologies for the poor video quality. Watch it bigger here.

Halloween Tricks

Hooray for Halloween!  We’ve had loads of fun spooking and scaring this year.  Harley and I decided to throw a party and we (read I) had a fantastic time planning, shopping and decorating for it.  I may have enjoyed the prep more than the party itself.  I just love that stuff. 

I sent out the invitations.  Bless you evite for simplifying my life.

We haunted our apartment.  It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.  It helps that our place is so small.  Plus our neighborhood is already terrifying, so we’ve got that going for us.

Candles & cobwebs=classic, creepy and cheap.

 

 

Harley borrowed a projector from the lab, hooked it up to YouTube and played Thriller on the wall.  It was big.  It looped all night long.  Huge hit.

I learned from a great hostess to continue the party theme into the bathroom.  (Why not, right?)  So I added a candle and candy-filled pumpkin to the sink.

 

Of course there were treats.  I asked Maryland Mummies to bring a salty snack and Virginia Vampires to bring a sweet treat.  I filled mini caldrons (won years ago at a party given by the Halloween Master) with candy, stashed fun-size candy bars here and there and made eyeball cupcakes.  I am pretty dang proud of those eyeball cupcakes.

 

 

   

 

It pays to marry a mad scientist.  Not only do we have access to projectors, but also to beakers and dry ice.   Perfect for decorating and for drinking.

 

It’s party time.   The guests arrived dressed to kill.

Matt & Ligia:  Sheriff & Pocahontas  (Pocahontas won best costume.)

Maricel & Adam:  Witch & Dracula

 Eric:  Tin Man

  Krysta:  Pregnant Vampire

Harley & Me:  Munchkin & Dorothy

The Wizard of Oz Family

 

We had a costume parade, read Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven, played The Horror-ible Truth (a game where players identify the real horror movie titles from the fake ones) and wrote our own obituaries.  When all that crazy fun was over, I handed out party favors.

  

 

Monday night we joined friends and carved pumpkins.  Harley carved.  Anderson colored.  I collected the insides to make a favorite fall treat.

  Front Side

Back Side

Can you find Harley?  Go ahead, blow up the photo and play Where’s Waldo.

 

 

Last night we attended the ward Halloween party.  Our costumes made a little more sense once Anderson joined us as Toto.  This is the same costume Cheryl wore when she was 2 years old.  I was Dorothy that year too, my  mom was the Wicked Witch and my 6’7 dad was a munchkin.  We thought Harley should be a munchkin just like my dad.  Only the joke is a little different.   Anderson’s zipper broke 10 minutes before the party started which explains the series of glaring safety pins down his chest.

   

 

This afternoon we’re taking Toto to a Family Halloween Party at the University of Maryland.  Tonight we head to Charlottesville for a weekend of pumpkin patching, trick or treating and baby blessing (Lincoln’s).  I love this holiday!

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

CALICOMA

Once upon a Labor Day weekend four best friends went to California.

They lived in a beautiful house on the beach in a magical place called Oceanside.

Together they entered a coma of sleep, sand, laughter and chips & salsa.

For 6 days.

With (almost) no children. (Not mine anyway.)

It was amazing.

Love these girls: Jessica, Anna, Mindy.

And they lived happily ever after.

The end.

P.S. Calicoma Bonus=a lovely brunch date with Sally Diva.

P.P.S. Check out the left side of the blog for a special feature, Fabulous Right Then: Calicoma Favorites.

You finally go back to your ward after 10 weeks and THIS happens.

Remember my pity party? Remember when I was called to be an early morning seminary teacher? Remember how my mom gave me permission to hate my life? Today, I guess I can love my life again because I was released. I’ll be honest, all the pity was for nothing. It was the easiest hardest calling I’ve ever had. Mostly because I didn’t have to do it. Not once. There are no youth. Sucks for our ward but kind of a nice problem for me.

I received a new calling: Gospel Essentials teacher. What our ward lacks in YM/YW we make up for in new members and investigators. And it’s just me. Teaching them. Every week.

Anderson’s reaction to nursery is pretty much how I feel about my new calling:

Just kidding. I’m actually feeling pumped about this calling. Partly because it means I miraculously escaped the other one and partly for all the right reasons.

And Anderson did great in nursery.

18 Months

       

                 

    

ANDERSON JAMES KING

 

HIGH ENERGY tRoUbS   great sleeper   letter sounds learner  animal LOVER  PACI ADDICT magnet player  great signer  InDePeNdEnT  GO  good eater head nodder squawker  BUG  dancer dancer dancer  so many new words focused oPeN mOuTh KiSsEs  climber music lover  non hand holder  fishy face maker  chip & sna’ack fan  biggest brightest smile intense   CUTERS new spiky hair  LOUD funny bAnGeR Rare Snuggler  lAuGhEr  “hurt” dada’s no. 1 fan   drama KING 27 lb. 3 oz. (70%),  34 in. (90%) opinionated selectively demanding IGNORER  artist   BIG FOOT LOVE smart splasher SOLID   no fear   curious so BIG   Sid Supporter water obsessor INTO EvErYtHiNg HAPPY  social  Tripod Tantrums  GiGgLeS big time traveler  HEALTHY cOpYcAt  softest skin  flexible  tanner  TALL  Anderson Pooper  Such A Good Boy  ticklish   Anders-Ba-Nanders  say “thank you” sign “please" Audience Seeker LiTtLe HeLpEr  GOOD CAR RIDER  getting dressed HATER hAnDfUl   PURPOSEFUL WHINER  jumper  screamer early morning loves  calculated mover  routine appreciator stressed out facer  ORAL   FOOD dropper   fan of own space  FAST party animal  Outdoor Enthusiast HUGE HANDS playful…

JOY OF MY LIFE

Happy 18 Months Anderson!  I can’t wait to send you to nursery Sunday.

We HEART NY*

*We interrupt the Utah Staycation/BFF World Tour recap to bring you some present day happenings.

Harley and I just returned from a quick weekend trip to our favorite place: New York City. We LOVE this city. The energy is intoxicating. The people are fascinating. The shopping is phenomenal. The food is amazing. The theater is unmatched. The friends are fabulous. The Park is beautiful. The entire city is just kind of magical to us.

I lived in NYC for a few months during what was arguably the best year of my life. (I interned at 30 Rock long before this guy. Anyone else excited to welcome back that gem of a show Thursday?) I got engaged in Central Park. I was in love in New York City.

And I fell in love with New York City.

I have visited several times since then. This particular weekend trip was special because it included so many of my favorite NYC things. It began with a beautiful drive with my favorite road trip companion:

Followed by a late night reunion over Thai food with old friends Cara (from our dating years) and Ryan Newman:

Then an early breakfast with Team member, the one and only, Schwerwolf:

Next up, a little window shopping:

I’m proud to say my only purchase was one of these. I’ve been wanting a feather headband for months and found one on the street for a fraction of the store price.

Then we hit Times Square:

Only in NYC, baby. This guy is giving the Naked Cowboy a run for his money.

Where Harley won the ticket lottery and scored us front row seats to In the Heights:

We were pretty stoked about winning. I’m attempting to copy the dancer behind me.

Told you… FRONT ROW. That’s the stage. We got spit on. It was great.

We sampled some of our favorite NYC treats:

I love Nuts 4 Nuts. Seriously loooooove them.

And hung out with these crazy cats some more:

We strolled through Central Park, reminiscing about the night Harley asked me to marry him:

Just Engaged, May 2003

6 years and counting: October 2009

We then raced to the Newmans to get ready for the main event: Sara’s 30th NYC Soiree. My high school bff turned 30 Saturday. That’s a big deal. She threw herself a party in NYC to celebrate. (She lives in LA.) I don’t think there is anyone else in the world with whom I’ve made a bigger deal over birthdays more times than Sara. Growing up we would count down our birthday days, hours and minutes, then sing to each other at the MOMENT commemorating our births. There were early morning kidnappings, decorated lockers, decked out cars, parties, presents and big surprises. When I turned 16, Sara pulled off the biggest stunt to date: showing up in my driveway in a limo full of friends to whisk me away for the afternoon. Together, we’re kind of the queen of birthdays. I couldn’t imagine missing her big 3-0 party in Manhattan. She’s happily embracing 30, kissing her 20’s goodbye. I hope I can conquer 30 with the same optimism.

The soiree was at Sushi Samba (delicious) in the West Village, which was quite the haul from the Newman’s floor we were crashing on in the Upper East Side. I wasn’t about to die walking/subwaying all those blocks, (not to mention freeze) so I walk-ified my party outfit for the commute:

The good news is you can totally get away with this look in New York City.

Much better: with Sara in the painful (but fabulous) shoes.

We’re pretty excited about her birthday.

Old friends, fall drive, a best girlfriend, Broadway, a shopping steal on the streets, Harley, memory lane, a party and Nuts 4 Nuts. What more could a big city Diva ask for?

A BIG shout out and thank you to Ligia, Matt and Madeleine for taking such good care of Anderson while we were gone. You guys are THE BEST!

I Didn’t Marry Him for His Good Looks Alone

No Utah Staycation would be complete without visiting Harley’s family.  I have some seriously great in-laws.  I LOVE them.  Let me tell you about them.

They live in Jerome, Idaho.

They drive Camaros.

They love cows.

These are my in-laws.

I wouldn’t have them any other way.

 

 

I mean, come on, don’t you want a piece of this action?

Ed King had one goal for our visit:   Let a baby calf suck on Anderson’s arm.Done.

    

 

In addition to Camaros, cows and Kings, Jerome is home to a beautiful golf course.  (Okay, technically it’s in Twin Falls.)  I golfed the Blue Lakes Country Club.  With my in-laws.  This is a little ironic because golfing is 100% Weiler.  The Weilers LOVE golf.  They do it all the time.  And they’re really good at it.  I don’t like golf.  Neither do my sisters.  We’re kind of the collective black sheep that way.  However, I loved golfing with my in-laws.  I figured out why: 

1.  They get a cart.

2.  They golf only 9 holes.

3.   They play scramble.  (Which, oh my, is the only way to go!)

Weilers do not believe in the above three things.   In fact, I’m pretty sure blogging about the “weak” way to golf is a major ILM (inheritance limiting move). 

 

 

Catch up with the rest of our Utah Staycation/BFF World Tour here, here and here.  We’re about halfway finished.  Stay tuned for more… assuming I don’t run out of steam.  It was a long (in a fabulous way) trip.