Tierra Coleman

Christmas Eve 2011 (Ho Ho Ho)

2012-01-05T14:04:00.000-08:00

i hope your christmas eve and christmas day was as merry & bright as mine (and in good health!!!). santa came and my nephew and family were all spoiled beyond measure. christmas eve before santa came was my mom's side of the family, annual christmas eve party and my girl cousins & I have our annual gift swap with the rule $5 dollars or under. i totally broke that rule-haha! oh well, i just love giving gifts. christmas morning was met with my grandfathers tradition of breakfast first (french toast, ham biscuits), then go open presents and see what santa brought. after that it was a whirl wind of cooking (i don't like that part....i would have rather gone back to my bed lol) and then lunch with my mom's side of the family and then me on the road by 4:30 to drive an hour away to be with my dad and his side of the family. i had a very near miss of almost running out of gas on the interstate (someone me forgot to fill up her car) but thank goodness after much much prayer, I manged to make my exit an to a gas station. at the end of the day, i was completely e x h a u s t e d ! ! ! ! ! !

by 10pm i was in bed with all my clothes and makeup still on. i was just that "done"!

Christmas Card Picture 2011

2012-01-05T13:29:00.000-08:00

every year I always plan to create a beautiful christmas card from shutterfly or the million lovely paper places online......but ever year, time runs away with it's self and I end up barely getting at least pictures taken. alas, here you go. 2011 christmas card pictures of me and my aunt caroyln, whom i live with. she's such a dear.

no "right" words to make things better........

2011-12-28T18:44:00.000-08:00

yesterday. this morning. this afternoon. this evening. and tonight. i knew what today meant. today meant that the boy i liked was leaving.

(image found on my pinterest page- my new favorite quote)

as i sit here an type this, i think about all that has transpired between a friendship of a boy and a girl. me & justin. justin & me.
and with that, my heart hurts. promises were broken. text messages never returned and phone calls never made.
and just like that, a friendship ended. and now he's in a car driving to attend BYU-Idaho.

now i am not saying this was all his fault. things go 50/50. i shall take my fair share....but still.
promises were broken. text messages never returned and phone calls never made.

and with that, there are no "right" words to make this better.

During the Twelve days of Christmas..... (and a shot in the rear)

2011-12-20T21:27:00.000-08:00

my body gave me Bronchitis! i thought it was just a cold. so i pushed through it and pushed and willed my body into going out into the cold into stores. to church on sunday and even going into work a shift at the hospital. and from there it went from just bad to worse. to even more worse.

right in the middle of my holiday cheer and trying to finish up wrapping and shopping and such....my body just gave out. i have never had bronchitis before and all can say is my list for santa went from please send me an IPAD too please just make me well!!! and fast! tonight is the first night i feel 85% better. i took a shower. clean clothes. clean hair. awwww much better. on monday when i crawled myself to the doctor first thing that morning (which was no easy task) he took one look at me and some deep breathing to listening to my lungs and ordered a fast shot to the butt of steroids. can i just say i have never loved a getting shot as much as i loved getting that one? holy goodness, i went to feeling like deaths door to three hours later able to breathe and taste a cup of broth. he also put me on a high antibiotic and it's helping tremendously so, but now i think i might be getting a yeast infection (gross)!

after my shower, i took one look at my living room of holiday wonderful-ness that then looked like a sick germ infested snowball of tissues and immediately went into picking up, disinfecting, wiping off phones, remote controls, spraying furniture and putting blankets in the wash. my living room is now back to normal.

my thankful list includes:

Gatorade. lot's an lot's of Gatorade.
tissues (three boxes were used)
insurance (my shot to the butt and the antibiotic came to a whopping $900 dollars! thanks to great insurance, i payed $12 bucks!)
disinfecting wipes -need i say more?
soups- i am a FIRM believer that soups play a key role in getting bettter.
funny txt messages from friends and family cousins to entertain me.-justin beiber anyone?
wonderful, sweet guy friends at church to give me a blessing. endless gratefulness for that.
disinfecting spray. (i have sprayed EVERYTHING!)
my aunt carolyn who has been my runner to picking up foods and making me soups and getting prescriptions and being there for what ever i needed. I just PRAY she does not get sick!!!!!!!!
christmas cards. making myself at least get up to go to the mailbox for holiday mail!
and finally, that shot to the butt! goodness, life savor i tell ya! life saver!!!!

i sincerely hope every has a merry, GERM SICK free christmas. and in the words of my friend Ann from facebook.....
Merry Christmas....WASH YOUR HANDS!

around here ( living room "mess")

2011-12-17T11:53:00.000-08:00

my living room looked like this three nights ago. and it still looks like this as i type. it's my favorite kind of mess. packages starting to pile up. ribbons and yarns and scissors and tape all clustered together. wrapping paper everywhere......it's christmas time for sure at my house! ~~except for the now tissues strung about because i have a cold~~ it's beautiful!

never say never (the fray)

2011-12-17T11:18:00.000-08:00

ladies an gents. I, am a horriable blogger. *sighs* oh well. Today i am home with a cold (like what's new) and i decided that i at least wanted to post about my second biggest thing that has happened to me this year. first, i met my favorite actor back in april in person. Then this past week, i was able to get tickets ((((awesome up close)))) to see my favorite band preform. and when i say my favorite....i mean it! i have loved this band from the start and and when i heard that they were coming to my area for a concert...I did everything i could to get tickets (the event was sold out within days) for me and my little cousin Hailey who just happens to love them as much as me. the fray. THE FRAY!!!

in case you didnt read that right.....THE FRAY! that's right, me and hailey were rocking out to the fray on december 11th and making are selves hoarse. the night was fantastic! alive! i shall always hold that night close. isn't it something that you can say you've had to big things accomplished in a year?!

here are the links to my favorite fray songs.
heartbeat is their current single. and when they played it that night....everyone went crazy...including myself lol

over my head (cable car) || you found me || how to save a life || never say never || heartbeat

a table full of thanks

2011-11-27T20:14:00.000-08:00

i decided last minute to put together a table for me an the grownup grandchildren--my fellow cousins. complete with name cards an all! it was a sweet success. other then the hideous metal chairs (i said this was last minute) it was stunning! i loved the navy blue with cream napkins and wood tones complete with real pears as a take home treat.

now it's on to christmas decorating! and i'm happy to report i've already started some shopping. hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving! i know i for sure was "stuffed" teehee

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

2011-11-22T18:59:00.000-08:00

tonight, i seem to be bursting within myself of thanksgiving. i truly am utterly grateful for so many things. this thanksgiving, i'm feeling extremely thankful for my family because i came so very close to not being able to spend the holiday with them.

when you work at a hospital, there is no such thing as having every holiday off. it's just not possible. so every year, your on a track of every-other-year. example: last year i had thanksgiving off, so this year i knew i would be working thanksgiving etc etc an so it goes.... the heartbrake came when my hours changed and i would have to go in at 11:30 Am and not be off until 8 PM that night. basically missing both sides of my families thanksgiving dinners.

my heart was broken. so very broken knowing i would not be there with my cousins... knowing my head would not be able to bow for the family thanksgiving prayer always given by one of my uncles.

i just couldn't fathom not being with my family.

then, i decided to go out on a HUGE limb and ask my head boss to let me come in at 2:30 in the afternoon instead of 11:30 in the morning. just picture a moment when you might have had to go to the principals office.... that was what it felt like going to my head boss.

i pleaded. annnnnnd pleaded. and then.....a smile. a wee small one from my boss. with a major promise to be there directly at 2:30 pm on the dot......she would let me do it.

i tell ya, miracles happen people! they truly do.

so tonight, and all day long my heart has been filled instantly with this huge gratitude for my family. now knowing what it might feel like to be without them....

i've been on the phone with my girls cousins making plans. and im so excited ((ecstatic))) to see them. i'm also happy to announce that my cousin carrie, is expecting a baby in july of next year! we are all so very happy for her and her husband.

i keep thinking of nephi from the book of mormon to where he states he was born of goodly parents. i know that feeling nephi....i know it well. not only goodly parents but of a good family. things might be crazy. things may never go as i think they will go in my life but for always....i have a good family.
i could list all the many things i am thankful for. and believe me, that list is long. working at a hospital you see things that really focus on all the horrible things that can happen to your health and your family. but today and tonight and tomorrow and thanksgiving day....i have my family in my heart.

and that is my fount of blessings. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERY ONE!

Breaking Dawn of course!

2011-11-16T21:16:00.000-08:00

like i said in my last post....my world today is all. about. this! as i type this, i'm thinking back to how this all started. how the twilight saga become my "it" thing. and also the fact that I've met Robert Pattinson! (((aaahhhhhhhhh)))) but really an truly. this is just about me. a simple girl who lost her mom and then discovered these books. and everything was made easier by getting back into life because i fell in love with a guy named edward cullen.

it gave me something to look forward too. call it cheesy. call it ridiculous. but this is mine. my love. my interest. my dedication.

and i wouldn't miss this wedding for all the world! so just in case you've been srsly hiding in a cave and have no life....check out the trailer annnnnnnnnd my favorite song so far from the Breaking Dawn Soundtrack. probably sometime today as your reading this, i will be in the theater waiting all day to reserve my seat with friends for the midnight showing.
yep, that's right...... all day long.
dedication baby!

Shall we say...I've been M.I.A?

2011-11-15T18:29:00.000-08:00

i cannot believe it's November! let alone, thanksgiving is NEXT week. NEXT WEEK! i could spend a lot of computer time an post about all the things that were going on in october.....but let me just say it was a good month! we did are annual pumpkin farm day with the fam that was wonderful! halloween was spooktaculer as ever annnnnnd shortly after Halloween someone turned 26. an lets just say 26 has got a kick!

after last year's 25th birthday "back to the eighties" bash...I knew i wanted 26 and any other birthdays to be low key. and i really mean low key. not to mention but i had to work at the hospital on my birthday :(
HOWEVER that did not stop me from at least celebrating "low key"style a few days prior with of course...my annual cookie cake! the day was spent shopping and out to lunch with my aunt and then followed by my best friend jenny coming later that night for cake and pizza! we laughed and laughed and laughed! it was like old times when it was just the jen and tierra show and all it was about was gossiping, laughing, and eating!

now the holidays are FAST FAST approaching and my head is starting to defiantly spin in witch direction to head first! but....this week is going to be big! like, wedding style big! I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself! can you guess on why this week is big? i'll give ya a hint........FEATHERS! hahaha! tune in later to see what's up!

Pinterest Anyone?

2011-10-09T21:24:00.000-07:00

the new thing (well, not really new) that's popping up more and more is pinterest. it's a place to organize all your thoughts, interests, decorating tips, styles, craft ideas, and just about a thousand different other things you can "pin" to create a board. and the simple unique thing is...it's all about you! your interests and the things you like. how lovely is that? and everything's right there in organized "boards" for you to remember things by and their web address already attached to it. and we all know how i just adore to be organized!

if your on pinterest already, i'd love to follow you!
if not, you can get started by email invite only. so let me know and i'll send you a link for the invite.

and will be pinterest buddies forever more - xoxoxox

the start of something BOOtiful (October 1st weekend)

2011-10-03T20:22:00.000-07:00

this weekend was good. it was oh so good. it started off with going to my hometown football game friday night for the homecoming game (we won!) and rooting for the mighty viking team and my cousin who was on the homecoming court. more on that to come.

the rest of the weekend was spent waking up saturday morning and fixing french toast for my growing handsome little man pictured above, just the way he likes it. with two slices of texas toast bread in the french dip batter, fried and sprinkled with powder sugar and the syrup hot, lightly drizzled.

next it was onto the pumpkin patch to pick the first of many pumpkins for the season at stickley farms. what you can't tell from the last two photos, is that the hill was pretty steep and he was getting quite annoyed that i was taking pictures while he pulled our load. he he. i believe buying pumpkins on october 1st is a MUST!

the rest of the weekend was spent decorating a little for this.
and listening to this. with my favorite talk from her. and doing wee bit of shopping from here.
and i just might have bought this from online here.
and finally, watching this with friends to kick off the the month of all things scary!

how was your first weekend in October? my favorite month of the year!

in thirty eight days....

2011-09-27T13:22:00.000-07:00

i'll be turning twenty six.

and i just do not know how i feel about that......

You are Not Forgotten

2011-09-25T18:38:00.000-07:00

"Sisters, wherever you are, whatever the circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you, with an infinite love.
—President Dieter F. Uchtdor"

...i needed to know this today more then i could ever say....

around here (yesterday evening 6:30pm)

2011-09-14T19:10:00.000-07:00

i was out shopping. the fall "crafting bug" has struck. and yarn is all the rage right now for fall wreaths.

do check back to see how it turns out won't you dearies?

a birthday with to many themes (that sounds so lame <--------)

2011-09-14T19:02:00.000-07:00

*sighs* ...that week....the one i talked about in my last post....oooooooh was it a doozy! so much so, that my brain just couldn't focus on the right "theme" for angelus's birthday this year. so whats a girl to do but go to target and just get a little of everything into the pile. yep. that's right..i was going SO insane that very busy week that for his school classroom party (i do that to save money instead of spending tons at some lame kids party place) i did everything in star wars. for his cake at the "family" party, i went with TRON because lame O Walmart proclaimed they were out of star war cake decor and transformer decor. again, i was SO over it at that point that i didn't. even. care!

but, needless to say the cake was ordered, the school party was a success (with no help from my work not willing to cut me a break) presents were bought and wrapped....and i even manged to take a shower ANNNND help him with all his scout projects. did i forget anything? hmmm...OH yeah....all of the decor for his family party was transformers....So lets see....Transformers, Star Wars, Tron....I think i just about covered it wouldn't ya say?

Enough with my whining. Next week we are off to the beach and I'll have plenty of time to forget about the world while there. *SQUEE!

To note 9 things about my not so little man is as following:

1) He recently learned how to snap his fingers. My little snapper snaps ALL. THE. TIME!

2) Legos...Legos.....Legos! Thats all he plays with. I mean really, how many Legos can a guy have? TOO MANY! His little life right now is all about earning money to buy more legos.

3) With reading we have entered into the stage of reading all things about The Diary of a Whimpy Kid series.

4) When he grows up, he proclaims that he will be an astronaut. And I am currently on the hunt for an astronaut costume for Halloween because I quote "that's all i want to be" is always stated very dramatically. Or any ideas on how to make one? Let me know.....

5) Plain Hamburgers with ketchup or plain hotdogs with ketchup or corndogs are his fave.

6) The kid lives for sweets and breads....if i would let him, he would eat my homemade chocolate cake, kit kats, or oreos or any type of roll or bagel for every meal.

7) He is still the most polite kid I know. I look at other little boys at school and i think to myself...I don't know how I did it but he is very respectful of others around him and his manners. *sidenote: a kid at school gave him a dollar for his birthday during his classroom party and he said "thank you but i cant take your money, you need it" and gave it back. WITHOUT my prompting to do so. I was so proud!

8) His favorite song right now is Tonight by Neyo and Pitbull. He sings this with a little heart content in the back seat. It's too funny!

and finally 9) He still has this major crush on his older cousin Hailey who is 18teen. She was all he wanted at his birthday party! It's the cutest thing ever! When she called to wish him happy birthday and i handed him the phone, his whole face lit up and was smiling from ear to ear.

a nine yearold birthday

2011-09-05T19:22:00.000-07:00

i am so behind! last week was one of the hardest weeks in my working career up to this date! and wouldnt you know it, anything and everything had to be jammed into that week(church YW activities, nephews major school project due, his scout projects due, house to clean, laundry, his birthday parties to plan, presents to buy, cakes to order etc etc) and yet work demanded a lot of hours. darn that hospital! hence me being wayyyyy behind. anywho....

my baby turned 9 on saturday. NINE! as in this will be his last year in single digits and then double digits from now on. NO. FREAKIN. WAY! it really was just the other day that a 16teen yearold tierra was holding and feeding and changing diapers to her brand spankin new nephew. sidenote: i gave him his very first bottle and changed his first diaper when he was only 4 hours old. and didnt have a clue to what i was doing LOL your probably askin why is that? where was his mother? and to that i say...i'm still asking where his mother is.....but thats another story for another day. -----------------------> moving on.

did you hear me say he's NINE! NINE NINE NINE! ....my goodness time flys. and i don't like it one bit. that day on september 3rd 2002 it was pure love at first site. i will admit to feeling very left behind when my brother had announced that there would be a new baby in the family months prior and was just surrrre that i would lose the top spot in my brothers radar.

and you know what...i did.

and it was 1000% worth it the minute the nurse popped in the room to where my sisterinlaw had just given birth and wheeled a beautiful baby boy into the room who was very fussy and hungry. infact....my brother lost his spot on my radar as i picked him up and did what just felt natural. even though he wasn't fully mine and i wasn't the one who had given birth to him...he became a part of me that will forever be attached.

from that point on my world was completely turned upside down and made magical and very busy thanks to that sweet baby boy. he has been my constant in a life full of ups and downs. he has shown me what it's really like to be a mother and to really embrace and love the divine right that heavenly father has given to us women to hold and nurture and care for a child.

Happy Birthday my sweet Baby! more birthday madness to come....

When life gets you down..Get a Pedicure (No, srsly!)

2011-08-17T20:49:00.000-07:00

today, it seems the monthly hormones were kicked up a knotch or two. or three. i was crancky. hormonal. and my emotions were all over the place. and all i really wanted was my mom.

to the world, i'm really good at putting away my grief and not letting it show. it's been 4 years now and really (an truly) i'm okay. my life is a new normal and one that i'm happy with. but let's face it....shes gone. i don't have my mom around to tell me i'm pretty or comment on my toe nails or curl up in her bed and let her rub my head. or tell her all about a certain boy-girl friendship that just seems to be going no where. today, all i wanted was to feel pretty. and to hear it. you know, the comments only moms can tell you that you might truly believe for a second or two before rolling your eyes but deep inside you know that when she says it, it's true?
i miss her so much. i miss her voice and the look in her eye when she saw me.

my self esteem and confidence have been almost non-existent these days (boy is this a pity party!)
so, when life like this comes along...i go and do something realllly girlie.
i have never had a pedicure before and oooooh am i now spoiled. it was.....heavenly. and way ultra girlie lol a whole hour and half to massaging my legs with lotions, skin crystals, hot towels and making my toes extra cute and soft.

prayers for Ruby Jane {a beautiful little fighter}

2011-08-09T10:48:00.000-07:00

i do not know them at all. though mutual friends of friends we do have. for the last few weeks i have been following their family blog and checking everyday to see if sweet little ruby jane will finally get her new liver.

won't you please check out their family blog and read their story? the pictures of this sweet mother and her aching desire to have her baby healthy has me praying every night for their miracle. ruby jane needs a new liver. and fast. oh so very fast. please join me, and say a prayer for ruby jane.

the honest files {let's get real here}

2011-08-07T21:10:00.000-07:00

a few weeks back a dear blog friend posted a real honest to goodness, tell it like it is post. i absolutely stood up and applauded her! i thought it was brilliant in every way. cause, really. let's be honest. our lives are not as cute and put together as our blogs look. or that post that took hours to post of how clean our cabinets are. or how beautiful that picture of such posted of how super decorated her living room was blah blah blah. what we all don't see in such posts as those, especially if there my posts is that HUGE, gigantic pile of laundry and undies and towels in my hallway that get left there for weeks!

so tonight, i thought it would be fun to dish out the dirt. to say what i really want to say! and as honest abe would say...always tell the truth *said with a really big grin*

first off, I LOVE TO READ HISTORICAL ROMANCE NOVELS! there, i said it. yep, that's right. you know the ones with the really sensual pictures (though a lot are not like that anymore...just sayin) on the front? i have about hundred or so of them. and love every minute of it! a dashing young man with a title in england and some wallflower young maiden standing against the wall not dancing at a ball who finally get's her chance -sighs!..... or what about the the 1500's Scottish lord who has to marry the girl in order to save his lands.....adore it! though i do for reals...make sure there not the steamy steamy ones! truth.

i only shave my legs maybe......twice a week...maybe. and i have no shame going to target or oldnavy and such in shorts or capries with my hairy legs showing if your really interested in looking!

if you ever drive with me, then you must know i have road rage. little ol' grandmas on the road....MOVE IT!
as i drive by you with my black shades on from gap with the radio blasting or my ipod on shuffle.

when it comes to comments, i really only comment if i have anything to say and i feel like it. and as for comments on my own blog....it really started to bug me that people wouldn't comment when i just new you were reading/looking.So, i knew i was contradicting my own self and took them off.

in the mornings, pleaaasssse for the love of all thats holy, don't speak to me! i hate chatter after i have just woken up. hate it! annnnnd never speak to me when i'm watching a tv show or you can clearly see that i'm reading something.

i can't stand it when people have bad grammer on facebook. or do not put periods to finish a sentence.
ummm hello? that's what the red underline is for!

if your ever at my house, 85% of the time....it's a mess. i work at the hospital lonnnnng hours and so coming home around 9 or 10 pm...it's the last thing i would ever want to do. clean. so just sayin....my hallway will probably be full of piled up laundry or the living room full of books and magazines and what ever night shorts i threw under the couch. the dining room table piled with young women crafts and handouts and whatever house project i'm working on.

i'm addicted to organizing everything. everything has to have a label and a cute basket in the shelves to be placed in. and i'm being really honest. it will drive me nut's to not have my cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom organized an labeled!

and finally...tierra does indeed let some words slip out fly. ever since i was a little girl and i watched the ending scene of Rhett Butler walk out on Scarlett as he says "Frankly my dear, i just don't give a damn..." it became a lifelong goal/bucket list hopeful to say that to some one an SOOOO mean it!

well, there you have it for now! i hope you took this as fun and laughable. like you all don't have your honest secrets too! until next time.....i'm going to go finish my book (and it's NOT a romance novel...for now anway LOL) goodnight!

Church Parking Lot's at Night {justin & me} Part 2

2011-08-02T21:12:00.000-07:00

taking leaps of faith are such a scary thing! scarrrrrry. as i stood there at the end of his car with my drink in hand that i had bought from mcdonalds...the story just came tumbling out. i told him how thanksgiving was the worst holiday i had ever spent. that i felt like he was ready to bolt at any second and how he was so stiff and silent. that i was miserable. that i was even tempted to bolt myself that embarrassing november day. i poured out how i spent the next few months crying at night wondering what had i done? what was going on inside his head. a few times the poor boy tried to get a word in edge wise and i would just hold up my hands and say
"WAIT! let me finish. i need to get this all out." and continue on. i'm smiling right now as i'm remembering his face as he would still try to jump in every few minutes. poor guy. he didn't see a thing like that coming!

as i started to finish, he had this slightly annoyed look on his face with sheer determination to finally jump into the conversation.

at last, he looked me straight in the eye and told me i reallllly just didnt know him.

that hurt. really hurt. stung you might could say.

he said that if i did, then i should have come to him sooner. even the very day after thanksgiving. that his thought process for that day was to be on his best behavior. not his loud, flirty, sometimes obnoxious self. that he didn't want to embarrass me. that he had heard how my family liked to pick on me being the single one and that he didn't want to do or say anything to cause me embarrassment."ooooh justin, if you would have just been your true self for just ten minutes....TEN MINUTES! everything would have been SOOOO much better" i exclaimed!

"Tierra, you have one MAJOR wall up too you know! because i had NO idea that this was how you felt. Your poker face is rock solid." he countered back.

we went over everything. every little detail. I had told myself that this was it and we were going to lay this all out on the table. except for one teeny weenie minor detail..... that i just happen to semi sorta, well maybe...~~like him.~~

i left that part out.

as the night went on we were there from 9:30 pm till Midnight. Just him and me. It felt so liberating.
but at the same time, so mind numbing bad. knowing that i just couldn't bring myself to let out anymore.

i told him how i felt like i had lost a really good friend.that at the end of the day, that had been the worst part.

after everything was said about thanksgiving, he told me that he just HAD to make all this back up to me. So, we decided on two things:

1) *laughing majorly over this one* justin has to come with me to the Breaking Dawn midnight premiere in november ANNND wear whatever "team edward" tshirt i want + a team edward bracelet. Bahahahahahahahaha! and side note: he suggested this!!!!!!

last year it took me TWO hours just to talk him into to seeing the last twilight movie. Take that sucka!

and 2) he's coming to my families christmas eve party. on that one, well...let's just say if i thought i was nervous about how thanksgiving was going to go last year ....this will take my nerves to a whole new level. and he also came up with this idea as well.

we sealed it with a pinkie promise. (yep...this boy pinkie promises lol)

from that point on in the conversation we went to a little of everything. his plans. his insecurities. mine as well. from talking about his mission and things to come. our jobs and long working hours. a lot more on how closed up i can be. to us flirting.

i knew it was getting pretty late. and much to his jerky statement previous, i do know him. so well that he would have stayed with me all night and let me (us) just keep talking away. so i did what i always do.

let the boy have his exit.

as i stretched up for a hug (justin's 6'3 and as you all know...i'm a shorite) i told him straight in the eyes that i just could not loose him again. that i did NOT want for things to be weird between us.

he looked straight back and told me i would never loose him.

GAHHHH! ladies! that's when it sucked! it sucked because i will be loosing him. he is leaving.

THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS for the not-so-cool BYU Idaho! that means when he comes to Christmas Eve...that will be our last time seeing each other. Merry merry christmas tierra.

well, i told ya this story had a good ending. and to that night, it did.

I got my friend back with everything out in the open ...except for...well, you know!

i wish i could tell ya that we ended up together. that we smooched the rest of the night away LOLOL though id be willing to bet my bishop would not have approved on that last part so its a good thing we didnt :)

so really an truly, the ending is ....i just don't know. The end.

PS. all of you can do me a big fat favor though if you ever see me around at church with a really tall good looking guy and tell him to get with the program!

Church Parking Lot's at Night {justin & me} updated

2011-07-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

last night something amazing happened within myself. something my friends and my family have been waiting for me to do. something i didn't think i ever had inside myself. it all happened so fast, i just had to do it and not think. or even blink for that matter.

this is the story about a friendship between a boy and girl. oh wont you ever so come back later to read it? it has a good ending, i promise.

until then. xoxox

****the scoop****

it was this past Wednesday night. my heart was pounding in my chest. i could here the beats per second from the blood flow in my ear drums. my dear friend christy j. who has known me all the way back to adam listened on the phone as i just explained in a rushed, panicked voice " i blew it! i just blewwwww it! i'm never going to be able to go through with this! and then he'll leave and marry some sickening molly mormon from idaho and i'll just hate her! as i hate myself!!!!" i loudly sobbed. immediately christy knew what to do. she told me very firmly in her "Rhett Butler" "I don't give a D*** how badly this will suck" tone to get off the phone with her, call him up, tell him that we needed to talk that very night OR let. it (him) go.

in that moment i could see it all. feel it all. back to that late November afternoon when my dearest guy friend Justin came to my families thanksgiving dinner last year and ended up breaking my heart. to read about that, go here and here.

for you see, all these months since last November it's been building up inside to what really happened. what was his thoughts on that infamous night? did i just imagine all of this? was it really that bad? WHAT really was that boy thinking? nights i would spend months going over it and trying to view it from all angles how this admiring young man i had felt so lucky to call my friend changed over the course of one family holiday dinner.

and that's when i did it. i just hung up on christy and hit justins number on my cell so fast that i didnt even blink or miss a beat. early that Wednesday night, he had come up to help me with my young women beehive church activity. i had told myself earlier that day that if i saw a moment to speak to him alone. as in alone, alone....i would ask him.

ask him just what in the hoo-ha happened that terrible, embarrassing thanksgiving day. but as the evening progressed, the moment just never came. or it came and i chickened out at the last minute. as i said goodbye to him talking to a mutal friend in the church parking lot and realizing that i would never get him alone without me making the "big step"...i walked to my car with a heavy heart.

that's when i called christy.

when he answered the phone on the third ring i just remember making myself speak english and ask him if he was still in the church parking lot talking to our friend? as he said yes, i asked if he could stay a while longer, that i was turning around and needed to speak to him. that it was important. and that we HAD to be alone.

he said he would.

oooh boy, in that moment, i thought what had i just done?!?! was i realllly going to do this? YOU BET!

i raced back to the church building. as i pulled into the parking lot, i gasped as i saw that our friend was still there. i pulled near justins car and tried to make myself look like i was busy reading text messages and going over my young women Manuel, it felt like forever just waiting there. even though i think it was only just five or six minutes.

finally i glanced over and saw our friends car lights turn on and drive away.

"okay. this is it" i said to myself.....

as i got out of the car and walked over, he smiled and just stood there. i looked up, took a breath, and as they say....just let it all fly!

Part 2 to be continued

a few scenes from a summer almost gone

2011-07-19T21:08:00.000-07:00

my summer so far has looked a little bit like this:

(or at least when i remember to snap a picture with my phone, I've done a lot more then the photos posted here)

picking lot's and lot's of strawberries on our friends farm

walks with dear friends at steele's creek park

taking care of a sweet ~~sometimes cranky~~ little boy who had his tonsils removed

actually going to girls camp as a leader and staying the night. a total success from a girl who just loves ~~hates~~ camping!

laying out in a pretty sundress on the boat docks while the sun goes down and watching the stars come out

going back to the marina with friends for a concert and shaken what the momma gave ya!

the good life {song obsessed}

2011-06-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

i love this song so much. all my life, i can remember my aunt carolyn telling me how life has so much good in it. and even though life has so much heartache....so much pain and suffering.....I say life is still good. it is oh so good. from kind smiles to simple days of cleaning and folding fresh sheets from the dryer to sitting in church and singing your favorite hymn. simple things that i hope you my dear readers...string them along and find that life and being here and having this chance that heavenly father has given us to explore.....is oh so good.

i'll see you when I see you {a sad farewell}

2011-06-08T09:02:00.000-07:00

my younger cousin carrie and her husband sergei {pronounced ser.gay} are moving. boo! their moving in less then a week to Birmingham, Alabama for sergei to start a new job. i'm quiet upset. carrie and me have grown up together and all of us girl cousins are close. when we can find the time we do movie nights together. we phone call each other when family gossip breaks out. and of course i boss her around and make her come to EVERY twilight movie event. i don't like change! and i don't like the fact that my little awesome cousin is moving away from us. she has tempted me with wooing words of great shopping trips and new places to see for visits but still....

i do not like goodbyes. to check out a really funny picture of me and carrie when we were little girls playing together, go here.

New York (Meeting Rob and Reese)

2011-05-31T18:46:00.000-07:00

finally posting my picures from new york. there are SO many of them that to just save time, I'm posting just some from my two days walking around New York. my hotel that was a cross the street from the movie theater where the premiere took place. seeing ground zero and the memorial wall that wraps around the building right across from the site. and then the ones of me meeting the author Sarah Gruen who wrote Water for Elephants while standing inline during major rainstorms. the ones from the early morning of the set up of the red carpet and tv crew after tv crew taking pictures and fliming us pathectic looking fans who has been in that line for 16 hours! and then of course, Rob and Reese coming right up to me at my number 23 spot on the fan section red carpet event.
There is still some other posts (pictures) on my trip i would like to post about but this will do for now. for a very short, summed up info on how this all came to be and my picture with Rob, go here. I have videos and other photos to share but...you get the gist! it will go down as one of the biggest events of my life that i never EVER thought would happen. or, will ever forget!

new bedding?

2011-05-13T20:40:00.000-07:00

hi! life is busy. what more can i say? i miss you blog. honestly. this week i cleaned my house, did to many loads of laundry annnnd folded them (amazing!)! i have blogs to post, a bedroom to repaint (aaaagain) and i bought this new bedding/qulit set from target. what do you think? for me, i have been coveting this quilt for a long time. so when it went on sell last week, i snatched it up. now with it being home, i wonder if i have lost the mojo love for it? hmmm....i just never can make up my own mind on decorating matters. to many ideas...

ta-ta!

Easter Sneek Peak {the pretty Hog}

2011-04-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

easter was lovely. until i had to dash off to work {darn hospital!} but none the less, simply lovely. i have the most amazing cousins. truly i do. but hailey, takes the cake! easter pictures to come soon along with my story of new york & meeting rob but i couldn't resist sharing this to hold you through. ah, hailey bay...what firecracker you are to us. hailey is the "baby" grandchild and she tells you plainly, she is spoiled. she is also loved by all and is going to prom next week and is graduating. Oh! she is a baby no more :( are you all having a great week? more from me soon...

Oh, you know...Met Rob {!!!!} Now life is Complete

2011-04-21T09:11:00.000-07:00

rob and me! ROB & ME! ROBERT PATTINSON standing beside ME! i wish i had the time to write the whole thing out. it's really a lonnnnng story. but, for now, i met Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon and got both their autograghs and the picture with Rob. Reese's security wouldnt let us take pictures. i stood in a 16 hour line from 6pm this past Saturday in tornado rains and winds all the way until 9 am on Sunday morning to get my number 23 bracelet pass onto the fan section red carpet from FOX movie studios. the line was 500 + something and i was number 23. my friends and i had front row standing on the fan section and life. is. now. complete. anyone got any ideas on a new bigger dream? mine just came true! SQEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! the long story will come but this week i have so much life to catch back up on like work and getting ready for easter and all my young women church duties that this will have to do for now. i have a bazillion pictures and i'll be posting the links to all the youtube videos and all the news interviews we made it on asap. promise!

Song Obsessed {little to much}

2011-04-14T11:00:00.000-07:00

lately, i have been noticing how songs playing in the back of movie trailers just pop out at me. songs that i would never had notice unless it wasn't for the trailer. with that said, the trailer for the above pictured soon to be movie something borrowed has been playing a lot on the hospital tv's we have in all the hallways. and the song played at the end of the trailer became and insane fave. to see the trailer go here.

the song is called little to much by natasha bedingfield and i became so in love with it. so in love that it's been my driving jam, walking jam and all others "jams" to listen to. it just puts a little pop in my own step as i walk down a street or in a store. i'm also thinking about buying the book to read on the plane. anywho can't wait for the movie and i hope you like the song. toootles!!!

i sang lion king songs all day....

2011-04-13T13:04:00.000-07:00

my grandfather surprised me the other day at work (the hospital). thankfully he was only there for a stress test and getting some shots in the tush {tee hee}

when i asked him what for, he just calmly explained he was leaving for an African safari. i was like "say whaaaa???" okay maybe not that way but i was shocked no less. my grandfather whose in his 80's just calmly proclaimed he was not only leaving the country but going on the other side the world for a two week resort safari adventure. dang! i wannna goooooo! i'm laughing just picturing my grandfather with his best guy buddy {their so darling to watch!} trumping through the african brush! as i was grinning from ear to ear just picturing this and slightly laughing/halfway joking, I asked if he had bought one of those safari hats....he replied he did. GAH!!! it's just to cute folks to invision. i made him promise to take tons and tons of photos. oooh if only to be a zebra running through the wild arfrican side watching my 80 sumthin grandfather in his oh so african safari hat trudge along! that would be SO awesome don't ya think? i'm so jeal of him and yet extremly proud of him still living life. getting older and still moving along and taking leaps is a privilage and i was so proud to be his grandaughter. and that my coworkers were able to meet him.

so at work my coworkers got to hear (all day long i might add bahahaha) my concert rendition of lion king songs. what can i say? my grandfather inspired me to dig deep and just let the notes fly LOLOL

to listen to my top two faves and crowd pleasers go here and here. on the first song, just picture me singing the first 20 seconds of that song realllllyyyy loud on the elevators! hakuna matata people. hakuna matata!

don't let it be forgot {camelot}

2011-04-10T19:59:00.000-07:00

dont let it be forgot, that once there was a spot. for one, brief shinning moment, that was known, as camelot.

tonight, i just finished balling my eyes out. why? you may ask... well jeepers, ever since i was wee wee little thang{seriously people} i was nosy. who me? nosy?....NO WAY! yes dear readers it's true. and with my ever always present skill for being all- things- nosy.....i was into everything. my grandmother if she were still alive would probably want to switch my legs again for my many shortcomings of snooping. anywho.....i can recall finding all my grandmothers old newspapers from when president kennedy was shot. i thought they were so cool. not in the "he was shot" way but be cause they were history. i felt like my family had something very special that know one in the world had. something in me just sparked for the kennedy family and the older i got the more it came. i have tons of books on jack and jackie. i've studied his politics and watched every documentary there was. SOOOOO with last years announcement of the 8 part mini series on the kennedys...i was like BRING IT! i was soooo pumped. i love history and i love history when it hits close to home. as i'm typing this i just do not think i can convey enough for my deep fascination with the kennedys or jackie and her life after president kennedy was shot. some of you might not even care. and that's okay.

as it was ending tonight with the last episode with the scenes on the assassination and then bobby kennedys assassination... i cried like there was no tomorrow. as if i was there when all this took place. my heart was broken for what would never be. regardless of what you feel for this family or president kennedy as a man, he was a d*** good president. his brother bobby was my type of a man. and bobby would have been an even better president had he not have been shot in 1969.
i look at this nation now and tonight my aunt and i discussed how they might have handle the things that are going on right now. what would they have said? done? i feel like president kennedy had a true love for this nation and his brother did as well. they were men who waded that love to make sure they covered every option before leaping when crises arise. now we have a stand where it's all for show. "change"....well, all the change we have had has been for show. i want a man as my next president who knows his country. who knows his fellow man. and so tonight i cried my eyes out for a past generation that had something special.

as my favorite poem up at the top says....
dont let it be forgot, that once their was a spot. for one brief shinning moment, that was known as camelot.

I HIGHLY recommend you watch this mini series. it was incredible the way the actors looked and sounded like the true persons they were portraying. it shed deep insight into this dynamic family.

This our Hymn of Grateful Praise

2011-04-10T11:05:00.000-07:00

for the beauty of the earth...my favorite hymn. today, heavenly father has blessed us with beautiful sunshine and 80 degree weather. as i was driving to church this morning in my bright yellow sundress and matching bright yellow cardigan, i was noticing all the houses and their array of tulips. i want some. this week i am determined to buy some. a beautiful thought no less to start the week. to see what my friends and i planned out today to go and do....please go here and learn why this month will be so important to me. have a lovely day!

vintage suitcases

2011-04-08T08:56:00.000-07:00

this time next week. i'll by getting ready to board my plane. i'm getting so excited! and the packing frenzy has begun. what am i going to wear? whats the weather going to be like? will my shoes be comfortable? those are the questions i keep thinking about. i love to travel! traveling to me means my life is moving. that good things are in store and with that i can't help but smile. i have to work this weekend but i'm going to try to squeeze in a few shopping trips to target and old navy and see if i come across something extra special buuuuut comfortable and practical. wish me luck won't you dearies? have a great weekend.

Say Whaaaa! {Peeta is Cast for Hunger Games!}

2011-04-04T21:59:00.000-07:00

i just don't know people...I just don't know. they cast this new, young guy as my beloved peeta! Josh Hutcherson. if you haven't read the hunger games, you will have no clue what i'm talkin about and neither am i going to explain {remember tierra does not do book reviews} but i adore the character of peeta from the hunger games series. adore him! maybe just a teeny bit more then edward {just don't tell my one friend jamie from my church ward i just said that-gasp!} but really, i just don't know about this....peeta in the book is for starters BLOND! annnd with light blue eyes. now, i will say this much, at least this guy is the age for peeta in real life and he does have kind eyes and peeta is SO kind as a whole fictional character. again, i just dont know about this....i just dont know.

Oh Rob, I'm coming to Thee {New York New York}

2011-04-01T23:23:00.000-07:00

okay. the title above is totally cheesy right? but at the moment, that's all i got. for the last 48 hours i have been on a roller coaster of emotions but with all that, all that needs to be said is that once again i will hit the traveling road {or in my case the sky waves}. for months now i have known about a dear friend getting the chance of a lifetime opportunity to go to new york city for a certain movie premiere. i posted about water for elephants here. she will be on the red carpet when the stars arrive in the fan section and on into the theater to watch the movie. to say i was jealous doesn't cut it. lonnnnng story short, Wednesday night she talked me into going with her and just splurging on the plane ticket / hotel fee and going for it. so, this morning i threw caution to the wind and just bought my ticket. *snap* just like that i'm going to new york city for 5 days to be on that red carpet with her. so dear rob. yes, that's right Mr. Robert Pattinson, i will be coming to see thee! i make no promises to act like the adult i am known to be. oh and reese dear, i can't wait to see you either! were both from Tennessee and i'm sure will become bffs and beyond. giggles! we will be staying at the Hilton new york and it's right across from the theater where the movie premiere will be held.

this will be my second trip to new york, so thankfully i have already seen all the big attractions. this time, i can just soak everything in without thinking i will be missing something. we leave in two weeks. now i've got to go figure out what to wear?

ps. this is defiantly NOT an april fools joke. my checking/savings account can testify to that!

Simply blog {Blog Feature}

2011-03-31T10:20:00.000-07:00

today i would like to introduce a blog i have been following for a while now.

her name is nicole and she has SUCH good taste in clothes.

i love her wardrobe wednesday and her quick whit and her adventures she has with friends and family.

she is currently waiting down the days for a handsome

young man going by T$ (said tee money) who has been serving a two year mission.

nicole also has a mad love for anthropologie and we all know tierra loves that store :)

today she is featuring her second giveaway of some really cute headbands.

i would so love to be wearing one :)

go on over and posy on through her darling blog. you'll want to keep popping in and in to see her and her wonderful fashion sense!

A Day in the Life of an Average Girl

a really hard night

2011-03-30T10:36:00.000-07:00

last night was a night i have lived at least a thousand times and over again. its the night i try so hard to press in the back of my mind and not let it out as much. and to be honest, it really doesn't happen that often anymore but lately and last night, it came like a dark shadow and i had to let it out. it's my mom. i want her back so badly sometimes. i need her. i need to hear her voice and i need to see her hands. there's something so powerful and yet so soft of a mothers hands don't you think? those hands have helped you in every shape of your life and when their gone, and you can't see them, feel them, my heart just breaks in want to see them again. when these nights come, i relive in my mind her death all over again. i see those moments likes silent steels running through me and i can do nothing but cry it all out as loud as i can. i see the moment the doctor knelt in front of me and was listing all the things he tried to do to bring her back. i see my cousins whom i love so much and their own hearts breaking while coming up to me in that stale hospital lighted hallway and tears streaming down their faces and shaking their heads no.and then the worst memories of them all come. the ones to where i see her in the hospital room all by myself and i put my hand under her neck to hold her and she was still warm. and warm to me said alive. i wanted to shake her to wake back up. pleading with her to please just open her eyes. the most heart stopping moment, the one to which still takes my breath away is the memory of standing at her casket in the relief society room at my church building just shortly before the funeral started. i was standing there and i has just placed my favorite temple handkerchief in her hands. that was my mom, and the seconds were ticking away to where i would never see her face or hold hands ever again in this lifetime and i was holding her hand for dear life. i remember my bishop coming up to me and whispering it was time to close the casket. i panicked and nodded that i needed just a few more minutes. with that, my tears were just pouring, i leaned down and told her i loved her and that i was still and always would be her little girl and kissed her forehead. all the while holding firm to her hand. letting go was so final. so painfully hard that you will never understand until this time comes. i remember i sat down on one of the chairs in that room as my aunt and the bishop prepared and closed the lid to her casket. it's funny, that room was full of so much family waiting to proceed into the hallway for the funeral line but yet i remember being alone. sitting alone.

my life right now is still going just fine. i have my work and my family and friends and a weekend off ahead of me. i think to all the good things in this life heavenly father has blessed me with. given to me and my family and i can't help but feel special. that i have had all of this come at me and yet life still went on. after i cried all last night i could feel my moms love. i knew she was with me last night and no one can take that away from me. i know that i will have more nights like this in the future. grieving it not something to just do and check it off on a check list. it will always be with me. so i say whatever is happening in your life, don't be afraid to grieve. don't be afraid of letting yourself ride through the darkness. life does move on. the morning still comes and you will find that standing alone and facing it, will be the best life teaching moment you will give yourself.

spinning like a hurricane

2011-03-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

these are the moments i shall treasure always. this was taken last week and the sun was shinning and a handsome eight year old boy was running down the slope in the backyard yelling he was a hurricane and spinning around and around. my baby is SO not a baby. we went shoe shopping the other day for some summer tennis shoes and the guy at dicks sporting goods was measuring his foot. the guy proceeds to tell my nephew to place his heel all the way back against the foot pad to get the right measurement. my nephew scrunches up his face and tells him it is. the man shakes his head and looks at me and asks how old he is. when i reply "just eight" the man says "well...your going to have one tall, big guy on your hands because his foot has outgrown the kid measurement foot pad." ....me: "uhhh and your saying....." sales guy: "your going to have to look at the men's shoes. we don't have any youth shoes in his size."

i had to buy shoes for my eight year old "baby" in the men section. are-you- freakin-kidding-me?!?!. he is growing soooooo fast.

Simply Craft {spring projects -take1}

2011-03-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

ever since i was a little little girl, i have had this great passion to create. to craft. i can still remember my grandmother {nannie... called by her grandchildren}teaching me how to thread a needle and sew my first pillow of 4 maybe 5 years old. i'm laughing just thinking how that must have looked! but to me, as just a wee thing thought it was magnificent. and nannie would always allow me to create. to make something. with that being said, once again i have this spring urge to create something simple. something just lovely. a good portion of my life is deliciously wasted away by browsing craft blogs and storing tons {tons} of projects in my craft file. right now, i LOVE the chevron pattern. so, to give you all a sneak peek on what i have been up to and whats coming ahead ...head on over to one of my top five craft blogs tatertots and jello and look at her tutorial on how to make these easy dollar store tiered platter stands. that's right, i said dollar store ladies! $3 bucks for the supplies and $2 dollars for some paint. FYI: these pictures are NOT mine. do not give me credit. though mine do have the chevron pattern on the bottom. mine will be coming soon!

extra! extra! local tn girl goes ga-ga for her fruits & veggies!

2011-03-24T11:56:00.000-07:00

hi. let's just pretend i haven't been "away" for awhile. nothing going on. just your typical "life" gets busy. that's all :) okay. so i really think this is a boring post, but hopefully with these pictures, at least you'll think it's colorful one, right? RIGHT?!? ..... thought so :) tee-hee. anywho, spring is here. it's here! there were long days through winter cold nights to where i thought i just wouldn't make it. but, at last....her beauty is gracing tennessee. my home. and with it i have been on a major fruit and salad kick. not by any chance in the diet sense {who me? diet? yeah right!} i just cant seem to get enough of them. every trip to the store, every stop at a restaurant ..."can i get a small side salad with that please?" or "can this come a with a side of fruit?" i simply cannot wait for our local farmers market to open up and spend at least two hours loading up my basket. i think it's all stemming back to that renewed thought that everything is coming up fresh. new. and the sweet taste of fresh new starts in life that come with spring. so dear friends, where ever you are... i hope you go out and by a salad and a side of fruit. especially strawberries....any moment with strawberries makes life better. wouldn't you agree? have a great day.

rolling in the deep of Adele

2011-03-06T20:07:00.000-08:00

if you havent listened to adele, your not my friend anymore.

okay. that was alittle over dramatic but really, if you havent you need to. adele's new album adele 21 has been on major repeat on the ipod. her voice justs cuts you to the core and the ripples of emotion she pours into a song makes me glad i am a woman. that i a woman and i'm single and i am strong. so thank you adele!

below is my favorite. also check out this one...it. simply. reaches. me.

Oh, Hi March!

2011-03-01T10:50:00.000-08:00

can you believe it? it's march! things are starting to come alive and wake up from winter and i am so happy about it. i fell in love with this picture/quilt somewhere ago and everything about it says spring. spring and life and color and warm and happiness. it wont be too long now that i will get to spend nights on my front porch swing and take walks in the in the sunshine without a jacket on and my beautiful front yard tulip trees will bloom. here's a few things to note about my life so far:

a. i have been really busy with young women church stuff! i had no idea how much went on behind the scenes for the presidency and planning and being spiritually prepared "hard work". young women has changed so much since i graduated and received my own recognition almost ten years ago.

b. it's been a little strange being called sister coleman. it makes me feel old.

c. i'm truly putting my heart and soul into it with everything i've got. i want these girls to light up their lives like the fourth of july {name that song...it's a current fave!}

d. yes. i took comments off again. i just really like it that way.

and finally my dad yesterday fell through a roof he was working on and shattered his legs. apparently my life likes to be in hospitals even when i'm not working! he's doing well though with a long road ahead for rehab and walking again. it scared the crap out of me that's for sure! i told him how he must have forgot that i only have one parent left and he's it! silly man.... on the good note....his surgeon was super handsome and sweet.
i likey a lot LOL.

....I Love {this guy. sorry Robert Pattinson, I cheated on you. TWICE.}

2011-02-28T13:48:00.000-08:00

this past week i saw the new movie I am number Four. now, i'm not about to get all fangirl on you and tell you how awesome the book/movie was because a. i didnt read the book {going too} and b. i don't like to give book or movie reviews. i like what i like and thats that. all i will say is that i always new i had some love in me somewhere for sci-fi/ semi love story/ action story movies....does this make me a nerd? whatever. anywho i am now in love with this new guy. alex pettyfer. love him. love. him. love him. not to mention but i'm seriously thinking of putting his picture up on my back bedroom door {sorta like i'm a in the closet fan girl/act like i'm 13teen freak LOL}

anywho saw the movie twice. reaalllly good. not to mention but alex pettyfer has another movie coming out THIS week called Beastly that me and my girlfriends are eargerly awaiting {even though i don't really care for the high school musical, sappy drama queen actress}. but now I did read that book....

.....I Love {anything thats FREE! oh oh and that's PAPER!}

2011-02-25T14:36:00.000-08:00

i have been searching for the perfect modern design of calendar layouts to use for my new calling in church. the other night after a quick email was sent to one of my favorite bloggers danyelle from dandeedesigns and asking for her help in the search....she emailed back last night with a link to some really wonderful modern designs for calendars. and the best part...there free! yep, thats right free. free. free. free. just pick the one that you want and download. print from your computer and there you go! some of these designs would be beautiful in a frame for your kitchen to keep track. just sayin...go check them out!

didnt i tell ya, THERE. FREE.

Redstamp.com Modern 2011 Yearly Calendars

Switcheroo Blog 2011 Monthly Collection


TomKatStudio.com 2011 Monthly Collection

Anna and Blue Paperie Blog Monthly Collection

....I love {Him. as in Robert Pattinson. as in Can't WAIT for his new Movie!}

2011-02-22T20:34:00.000-08:00

i'm reading the book. i'm counting down the days. and i'm falling in love with this whole new character. tonight, when i was going through what i posted this same time last year on this day {found HeRe}i realized it was about the Twilight saga {mad love for it} New Moon party night. so i thought how fitting for me to post on this same day like i did last year about Rob and his new film coming out in april. if you haven't heard/seen/read anything about this annnnnnd that it has my favorite female lead actress Reece Witherspoon {what more do you need?} then watch the trailer below. it's beautiful. simply breathtaking. and parts of it was filmed in areas near me. it has that whole notebook, forbidden love, 1940's50's feel with flashbacks...

and i. simply. can't. wait!

.....I love {here comes the sun}

2011-02-19T15:56:00.000-08:00

{a clean living room for once....this past wednesday at 4:30 in the afternoon}

these little moments of me coming out of my bedroom the other day and the way the sun was shining through open blinds and through the door into the living room just made me stop. stop and take a picture and think "gee...I really am in my life". as in this life is good. have you ever had those moments? the sun has been out almost every day for the past two weeks with mid 60 to 70 degrees. bliss. whenever we come out of winter i always think of the beatles and their song "here comes the sun" and can't help but sing it out loud. life can be hard. it can be cruel. with things that everyone including me go through every day and sometimes minutes. but those minutes like this...to where you stop and just soak it in and really are alive in that moment....now that is love.

...I Love { Antrho New Wedding Line}

2011-02-16T22:23:00.000-08:00

i died a thousand deaths oooing and awing the wonderfulness that is the new BHLDN line of wedding gowns from Anthropologie. First of all, I LOVE anthropologie. LOVE it like its going out of style. Pleasssse for the love of all that's fashion holiness {!!!}

i give you permission to waste an hour browsing their new line of wedding dresses, shoes, and so SO much more.

YES! dearies go flutter to it and melt your heart out.

now...if only i had a few thousand to buy one of these dresses or at least the shoes.....

....I love {every thing is about timing}

2011-02-15T08:22:00.000-08:00

i. love. this. song. the end.

....I Love {my little toilet man}

2011-02-14T01:00:00.000-08:00

i may not have the boyf valentine...but what i do have is 1000% better. Him. my toilet valentine L.O.L.
from my little "stinker" to yours....{captured last week when he left my bathroom door open}

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

XOXOXOX

....I love {the strut}

2011-02-10T10:06:00.000-08:00

<p>&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;this</p>

this saturday night, i get to babysit the little hottie struttin his stuff from this commerical. yeah. thats right. i'm babysitting a baby celebrity. along with his adorable older two sisters. i tell ya people, it's just who you know! it's just who you know.... {brag brag}aka their in my ward bahahahaha! be jealous people. LOL don't worry though, i'll see if i can get his autograph for you. maybe he'll even teach me how to strut. i'm super EXCITED! later small people, I have met a celebrity awwwhahahahahahaha!

{apparently}....I love

2011-02-10T09:56:00.000-08:00

lip gloss and lipstick and chap-stick like it's going out of style! today i cleaned out my purse. an look to my surprise how many of those babies were taking up space. i'm addicted to all of them. esp. burts bees chap-stick. oh how i love that it tingles. i'm especially addicted to the M.A.C.lip gloss & lipstick section 'HollA!

two cups of tea, a china set for two, dont ever forget that i love you

2011-02-08T17:58:00.000-08:00

i love beautiful pictures. i love simple pictures. i love the smell of cut lemons. i love the sound of my nephew saying my name. i love the ring on my cellphone that tells me i have a text message. i love the discovery of a new recipe your just dieing to try. i love random phone calls from friends. i love the way an outfit just comes together. i love the feeling of knowing i created something. i love the feeling of not wanting to put down a good book because it's that good. i love the smell of a home cooked meal. i love the feeling of getting to church on time. i love the stroll of being in books a million for hours. i love the excitement of painting my toes a new stunning color. but mainly, i just love.

it's the month of love people, and i will do what i do best. love.

nobody said it was easy {part 2}

2011-01-27T22:53:00.000-08:00

{justin plays this on the piano and it's always been one of my favorites of cold play}

broken hearts are a funny thing, ya know? it comes just like anything else in waves or stages. my life though, still went on. my world didnt stop spinning but my heart was indeed hurt. bitter. non-talk-about-it-numb were the waves i fought.

all those weeks leading up to thanksgiving, every night i would lay in bed and go over everything.
ever morsel of comments he made. comments i would reply back.

i was determined to not have this ruin the friendship that was at the heart of who we were.

suddenly, in a matter of me dropping my coat and purse on the floor, i stood up to a new look on his face. something that day on thanksgiving seemed to wipe everything out of its place. my friend was gone.

the phrase from cold plays the scientist...."oh take me back to the start" never rang more true as i cried myself to sleep on the many nights that followed.

i could handle us not being more then friends. i knew it was a big risk. but really, the tragedy wasn't the "what will never be".... the tragedy is the loss of what was. the friend.
the way i knew he would look at me or put his arm around me when i entered the room.

i have no idea why he volunteered to come with me that day. or why with friends the so called "joking/flirting" comments would come up of us possibly dating, justin with a straight look into my eyes would reply
"ask tierra just why were not dating".........."ummm HELLO because you never asked JUSTIN" is what i wanted to scream.

when he left my aunts house that november day, it was quick with his foots treading backwards as he yells ...."see ya later. I make two turns to get out of the neighbor hood right?" and with my nod he nods and gets in his car. that was it.

all through december and into january we didnt speak.
no phone calls. no texting. nothing....
though on december 12th i think it's funny how both of us in our different church wards, at the exact same time, were standing up at the pulpit to give talks in sacrament.

this past sunday, was the first time we saw each other. spoke words. hugged.

it felt, hard.

hard on so many levels that i had not planned for us to see each other at all that night.
i didnt feel like i was "ready."

this past sunday was our stake ysa get together. i had told several friends that i would be there but in the afternoon, another friend had called and asked if i wanted to come with her to go visit another friend. i thought "sure". i really didnt want to go the activity anyway, so off i went.

when seven o'clock came, my phone immediately started ringing from friends asking where i was and why i wasn't there yet to the activity. i decided to ignore them.

just as i was about to put my cell phone in my purse, it rang again. with a quick look, i nearly dropped my phone when i saw justin's picture staring at me as his number was ringing.

it's the picture i adore so much from his mission. i had added that picture to his number contact when i had bought the new phone. that picture has greeted me so many times last year when we would call each other to laugh and argue about twilight or his speeding tickets.

with the phone call though, i ignored it too.

then the texting started. with him telling me "just. get. here." and " I will, see you soon".

i knew though, that it had to happen sometime, so i might as well get it over with. i told my friend to just drop me off at the church building.

as soon as i walked into the cultural hall, everyone was sitting at a table and i was trying to make a straight beeline to an empty seat FAR from his end of the table..... he get's up and cuts my path and wraps his arms around me from the back and whispers..."it's been awhile" with a light squeeze.

i would be lying if i didn't say the thought to swing my purse at his head for that comment and say "AND YOU KNOW WHY!"

but i didnt.

as the night went on it was just plain, odd.

i knew he was looking at me, watching me speak to the other girls at my end of the table and me trying not to look his way.
every now and then he would try to jump in with a comment here or there but i manged to just switch subjects or pick up my cell phone or something in my purse. oh such am i a girl!

as the evening went on, i asked everyone if they wanted any water from the kitchen. as i got up and was headed to the door a familiar voice exclaims "i think i'm going to go spend sometime and help Tierra"....

in my mind with a heart racing I was screaming inside "NO! DO. NOT. FOLLOW. ME!"

he follows me with his "so justin like" grin and gets the door. straight into the hallway all the lights were off and he trys to make small talk. small talk a? i can do small talk, so small talk we do as if that cold November day was nothing but a blurr on our friendship radar.

he tells me he's planning on going back to Brazil in june and stay a month while i chat about being the new beehives leader and plan on going to visit friends in California. i have to admit, it was nice.

nice to hear his voice and watch the way he walks and note how taller he is then me.
it felt like i had my friend again. my old friend justin whom i adore.

but wait, my heart hurts. hurting as i try to keep telling myself that all those looks and comments and him grabbing my chin to look him straight in the eye to come dancing on thursday, don't mean anything.
just justin being him and charming his way. but nothing serious.

i am not the one for him. at least not in his eyes.

as we all started to get in our cars and me in my friend allisons who was taking me home, she parked next him. he tells me to come listen to some new songs he just knows i will love. in which i do. i laugh and tell him i better get a copy of those and try to get in the car. "wait, one more" he states and plays the Latino version of "stand by me" {see below}

i smile really big. that's always been a favorite song, and with the Hispanic flair, i adore it. he smiles back and says "i knew you would like that one"

i laugh and say "again, i better get a copy of that, maybe that could be a valentine gift to all of us girls" with a wink. he's says "no problem" with that sly smile back.

and just like that everything gets scraped under the rug. when i got home that night, i wondered "should i just let it be like that?" "let it all go?"

it's so very hard right now. how do you stop liking someone, have feelings for someone, who doesn't return them in anyway? someone with a quick charm of the mouth who can pour words of honey out so easily? i still think keeping a huge distance from him is my only way of getting over this.

like i said at the beginning, the tragedy is the loss of the friendship we had. i can never let it go back to that. i
know what i want though for him, and that is for him to find whatever it is he's searching for. i hope he will believe in himself more. and i hope he will continue to be that young man whom i admired the night of the church Halloween trunk or treat that was so tall and confident. whose eyes were so solid on things that really matter.

justin, if your reading this....just continue to be you. be that young man that always gives a firm handshake when someone enters the room that i've seen you do so many a time.

as for me, because of you, i will always be your friend and i will always, stand by you.
{the bachata, Spanish version of stand by me. the last song he played me this past sunday night}

back to my november {part 1}

2011-01-25T14:08:00.000-08:00

the day was thanksgiving day. the feeling was uncertainty. my happiness was of things that could come to be.
everyone has been asking me of what happened to the boy mentioned in this post.

justin, is his name.

some of you might remember this post. the night to where he grabbed me up to dance and it was just the two of us in the middle of the floor with white chinese lanterns hanging from above. he dipped me that night.
it was truly one of the best nights and moments of my life.

for a moment, let me take you back. justin and i have known each other for a long time. i'm smiling just thinking back to how both of us have stories of the first time we met and neither one of the stories are the same.

my version is that it was two months prior to him leaving on a mission for our church. he had just been called to serve in brazil and i thought that was so fascinating. a lot of my friends and i were at the home of justin's cousin and we were all up stairs getting ready to watch a movie. earlier that evening, we had all been at the YSA talent night at church where justin had just played the drums. that was my first time i remember seeing him. the boy who had played the drums was now sitting directly in front of me. i don't remember much of what was said except i remember telling him how i liked his playing and that i hoped he had a wonderful mission in brazil. that it must be exciting to leave to such a far a way place. i remember he was very tall with light brown/blond hair with alittle bit of a pudgy face. with the look of a little shy, maybe alittle unsure of himself but defiantly ready to leave and get out of town.

justins story, "verison" states back way longer then i ever thought and one that no matter how hard i try, i can't remember. he always likes to tell how i was the shortie 17 yr.old and he "already way taller" at 15, had asked me to dance at a youth church dance. that i was in purple dress and we danced twice. it's funny, i remember that gosh awful purple dress ....{smiles}!

"THAT"...is how we met, he states.

When justin came back from his mission, i had NO idea the night of my ward chili dinner/trunk or treat in 2009 that the tall, very slender, verrrrrry attracted guy with his head held high and laughing smile was the same guy i set right in front of two years prior with the pudgy face. let alone, a guy that had asked me to dance when i was seventeen years old and could even tell you the color of my dress.

he was there that night as an invite from another mutual friend and was walking all around our cultural hall talking and laughing.

and i, was watching him.

i still had no clue to who he was but attracted, i was, to this reaalllly tall, good looking young man.

2010 was a year for all of us to start getting together more often, me and my friends. slowly the story of who he was and me remembering the night of the boy who played drums came back to me.

after the summer, moments and comments being made between the two of us sent my head and my heart spinning on what could this possibly mean? nights......so many many nights of me up late with friends on the phone going over what was running in his mind and why he was making certain comments that made my heart leap that this.....this just might be something worth pursuing.

as thanksgiving was approaching and the cold chill of november was starting to form on the earth, he volunteered to come with me to my fathers side of the family thanksgiving dinner. i did not ask him.

as the day came and my mind went wondering if this meant anything at all, i was excited. hopeful. but yet, i was not going to push him. we were not a couple. i had not told my family that we were a couple nor had i presented ANY false idea that we could be to my family. he was simply a friend. a good friend. one whom i have come to really like and admire. i like his charm and his cut-to-the-point sarcasm in the way he handles situations. the way he handles questions in general to our church. i love the way he makes every girl feel like they matter, i included. i loved how when someone enters a room he doesn't know, he stands up and presents a firm handshake to introduce himself.

he did that the day we arrived at my families dinner.

but then, something horribly went wrong.

a twist of silence that came from him the moment we set down to eat left me feeling crushed and bitter as he barely spoke ten words to me in my aunts home. the feeling in the air around the dinner table as if he wanted to bolt. to leave. to have nothing to do with me. i couldnt understand why? i hadnt done anything? i had not introduced him as a boyfriend or anything else for that matter! my mind was racing. i didnt eat any food. my heart was barely hanging on and i found myself pacing the house so not to make things worse if i was to go sit beside him.
he stayed for one hour and the silence was loud. so very loud. i was numb after that.

after that day, all the friends & cousins were wondering what happened? why wasn't i calling them immediately to let them know how it went? it took me almost two whole weeks after thanksgivng before i really told anyone. even my aunt whom i live with, didnt know until i could finally let it out without crying.
all this time since that november day, i, have been nursing a very broken, bitter heart.

the best way to describe everything now is, is through these lyrics...."The story of Us" by T. Swift

I used to think one day we'd tell the story of us
How we met and the sparks flew instantly
People would say, "they're the lucky ones"
I used to know my place was a spot next to you
Now I'm searching the room for an empty seat
'Cause lately I don't even know what page you're on
Oh, a simple complication
Miscommunications lead to fall out
So many things that I wish you knew
So many walls up I can't break through

Now I'm standing alone
In a crowded room
And we're not speaking
And I'm dying to know
Is it killing you
Like it's killing me?
I don't know what to say
Since a twist of fate
When it all broke down
And the story of us
Looks a lot like a tragedy now
Next chapter

How'd we end up this way?
See me nervously pulling at my clothes
And trying to look busy
And you're doing your best to avoid me
I'm starting to think one day I'll tell the story of us
How I was losing my mind when I saw you here
But you held your pride like you should have held me
Oh, we're scared to see the ending
Why are we pretending this is nothing?
I'd tell you I miss you but I don't know how
I've never heard silence quite this loud

Now I'm standing alone
In a crowded room

And we're not speaking
And I'm dying to know
Is it killing you
Like it's killing me?
I don't know what to say
Since a twist of fate
When it all broke down
And the story of us
Looks a lot like a tragedy now

This is looking like a contest
Of who can act like they care less
But I liked it better when you were on my side
The battle's in your hands now
But I would lay my armor down
If you'd say you'd rather love than fight
So many things that you wish I knew
But the story of us might be ending soon.....

justin and i havent spoken or seen of each other since that dreadful thanksgiving day ......until this past sunday.

Cha-cha-cha-Changes {in a BIG way}

2011-01-23T22:14:00.000-08:00

early this saturday morning {and i do mean early by my standards} i received a phone call that had me shooting straight out of bed! you see, my ward was split the sunday after christmas and with that, we all new changes were going to be made in ever corner of church life for the now two wards. i, for that matter, was content with my life. i was really {like reaalllllly} sure that my tush {!!!} was going to firmly remain seated in the calling that i had and just carry over into the new ward relief society and anything with relief society all together.

with that phone call, the new 1st counselor in the bishopric asked to meet with me as soon as possible and be at the church building by 11:30 that morning. to say panic and dread and excitement and hope and just plain nosy-ness was running through me doesn't even explain what i was thinking. without further ado, goodbye {tears!!!!!} relief society....hello young women! i'm the new 2nd counselor in the young women presidency.

i.   was. shocked!
i.   was. unsure!

i.   was. speechless! {doesn't happen much folks}

everyone! i am going to need some prayers.....lot's of them. i have said the phrase "just breathe" more times then i can count in this weekend.

and so to end, i'm saying it again........................just.........breathe. look out beehives, it's me!

2011 {the year of simple kind acts}

2011-01-13T19:35:00.000-08:00

in my life, back in those days of 13teen, i know what it feels like to be on the outside. to be the girl that no one really talks to. i know what it feels like to have someone say to your face, a fake how are you. i think we all go through those moments. those moments where your in a crowded room and yet no one, is really seeing you. speaking to you with sincerity. i also know what it feels like to sit there and watch someone else go through that and yet there i sit making no move.

after christmas, as stated in the previous post, my thoughts somehow rushed to the new year. viewing it as a fresh, brilliantly clean new start. of course i thought about the usually of clean out this, clean out that sorta thing but also, my mind was reflecting on how right now, at 25, i feel very watched. watched by my own self on what i'm going to do with my life. i'm not married and from where i'm sitting the view isn't turning that way anytime soon. and thats okay. really. for this year, 2011, i gave a lot of thought to what i want to happen in this fresh new start.

it came to me to turn this all completely around. that i'm not going to focus on me. to be honest, i've had enough of me. what i truly want the most for 2011 is to take back all those times i set and made no move to reach out more to others who could have used a moment of pure kindness. a moment to be seen. i want people to know that i see them. that they matter. to let them know that this life see's them as beautiful. and i in it as well. so, for this year, two thousand and eleven, i am declaring myself to doing sporadically simple acts of kindness. acts of kindness for no. pure. unnecessary. reason. at. all.

i've put together a list. a list of kind things. things that i hope will let the person know that i see them. and that i care. everyone is this life deserves to be cared for. some people i already have picked out. other moments and souls, i'm trusting in fate and heavenly father to lead the way.

to 2011....the year of kind acts. my top ten.  
i will add more as the year goes by an update my blog to document that i did them. 

1. make a large, fresh, fruit basket and give it away.

2. buy & take a "pretty" to someone.

3. send out "get to know us" cards with chocolate to my neighbors.

4. leave a large tip.

5. give away two pictures of Christ in nice frames and give to two non members.

6. fresh flowers in the spring to a friend.

7. send a favorite children book in the mail.

8. give a fresh bread & jam basket.

9. send a homemade stationary set to someone who lives far away.

10. take soup & fresh bread on a cold day.

life is beautiful. and i for one, want to make the most of it. 

to the new & the old {2011}

2011-01-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

as soon as christmas was over, the very next day, my thoughts were already turning for things to come. for me, i don't call them goals, or resolutions. with my anxiety, i couldn't handle it if i looked at this at the end of the year {i'm weird like that} and i didn't "meet" the goal so to speak. instead, i call them plans. my plans. my wishes and hopes for the new year. they write like this:

Plans for 2011

Clean kitchen bottom cabinets and organize pots and pans
Clean out and organize spices and shelves
Clean out back porch mud room and buy/put up new shelves

Donate 5 pairs of shoes
Read 20 new novels and 1old classic
Get a new job with better hours and $$$

Reupholster chairs in the Dining Room
Plan a Family Vacation to Florida

Plan a Solo trip to California/El paso to see Ashlee & Erin
lose ten pounds

stand up for myself when someone is rude

say NO more to projects you really can't squeeze in

go on NO diets, just eat healthy and cut back

love myself more

go back to singing more

stay tuned for why I'm declaring 2011 to be the year of awesome-ness.

The year for kind, no reason, simple acts.....

twas the night before christmas { and the farty reindeer ornament}

2011-01-10T11:33:00.000-08:00

from my home to yours, i hope everyone had a special christmas! i know i did. this year, christmas brought with it snow and chill the bone weather. but it also brought laughter and fun new traditions. with our real christmas tree { i didnt kill it this year-squee!!!} and lee and angelus home....the holidays were wonderful! we were all spoiled by santa and he, as always, enjoyed his yearly visit into our home so he can receive a chilled glass bottle of coke and oreos! angelus read to us {as his tradition} twas the night before christmas and as our tradition...we all oversleep on christmas morning. like, as in, on purpose! yep. thats us, everyear and i love it! while everyone was up by 6 or so....we, in this cozy 1940's home get up by 10. with gifts lovingly wrapped with paper and real ribbon {it was a christmas goal} christmas eve and christmas morning was nothing short but magical.

Christmas Decor 2010

2011-01-04T19:26:00.000-08:00

this year, for my mantle and dinning room decor, i completely changed the look. it all started with seeing those stunning shades of dark brown and creams of christmas bulbs at target. darn that target! i just couldn't pass them up. and believe me, i trieeeed talking to myself out of it. i told me, that i already had tons of christmas mantle decor and my colors were set in stone. whelp. it didnt work! annnnd oh was i so happy it didnt because i fell. in. love. with my mantle. pictures just don't do it justice (all taken by my phone-couldnt find my camera card) so from there, a trip to michaels and walmart would complete the mantle. i was so sad to take it down :(

i wanted it completely simple with sparkles and crisp winter green feel with wood tones.

the wreath in the center of the mirror was real.

For my dining room table, it all started when i saw a picture somewhere in the blog sphere of that Christmas red and sliver christmas bulbs. then, at the dollar store, i saw those two small sliver tree cones and everything from there just took off! target was sooo my friend this year and their dollar section of red and silver bulbs with sparkles were bought majorly! the center tree in red i had to make myself because i refused to pay 12 bucks for it at hobby lobby! I outsmarted them by buying a 3 dollar paper tree and a 3 dollar roll of the glittery red tinsel. went home and straight to the glue gun to save my self 6 bucks!

i hope your christmas was as merry and bright as my christmas red bulbs! i just loved them.

Crazy Christmas Cousins {any takers? I've got Three!}

2011-01-04T18:37:00.001-08:00

this christmas, it was all about switching things up a little bit. so, two days before christmas eve {two freakin days!!} my cousins decided that on our annual family christmas eve party, ugly chrismas sweaters would be the fashion for the night. talk about not giving a girl enough time to plan :(

without further ado...i give you carrie and hailey {alexa, your picture was taken on night camera mode and so you looked alittle drunk haha-i decided you would kill me if i posted it-your welcome!} the ugly christmas sweater divas!

next year ladies....next year...Melanie {my other cousin} and me will be bringing it. Game on girls!

my boyz are comin to town {hot-dog!}

2010-12-20T22:04:00.000-08:00

i just got off the phone with lee and my nephew angelus. they will be in wednesday. i. am. SO. excited! i took this picture back in September when i was there for family our vacation and angeluses 8th birthday. the sun was setting and it was our last night on the beach with the fam. it turned out amazing. it's in a huge frame in my living room that i had blown up for christmas.

oh how i love these two boys.

kitchen gadget gift exchange {new christmas gift tradtion}

2010-12-16T09:46:00.000-08:00

every year since i can remember, me and my fellow girl cousins have given each other

gifts each year and exchanged them on christmas eve.

carrie, alexa, melanie, and myself have always done this.

so this year were changing things up.

we are doing the kitchen gadget swap. all four of us have written down items

that we need for our kitchens but just never seem to remember to buy.

the deal though is that we can only spend up to $5 dollars or less.

when buying presents for all of us and our extended families, presents can defiantly add up.
this way, this year, we are keeping things simple but yet practical.

after all...don't we all think of some item we need in our kitchen but for some reason,
we just seem to forget to buy when were at the store?

as an example, my list goes:

 1. measuring cups { i lose them or the numbers fade
and i'm always needing the 1/3 or 1/4 cup}

 2. apple cutter {you know, the one that slices them evenly
down the center of the apple?}

 3. potato peeler {during the holidays,
you can never have to many!} 

my cousin carrie sent her list and her's are things like spatulas

and cookie cutters and measuring spoons.

if you need a new tradition or a a new gift idea that's simple

and inexpensive, i say try this.

you can always jazz it up too.

want. need. wear. read. {new christmas gift tradition}

2010-12-15T12:19:00.000-08:00

for the past year, i have been following this lovely woman and her beautiful family on her blog. her name is Danielle and her blog is dandee. you can see her sidebar button -----------> over there somewhere. not a day goes by that i don't check her blog. she is absolutely charming with her simple yet sophisticated style.

in her home every year for her children, for gift giving she goes by these 4 word rules. want. need. wear. read.

for my nephew, i fell in love with that idea. you can read her post about it here. I highly recommend it and her.

so this year, that is just what i have done for my nephew. under the tree from me and his granny are our gifts that go by each word rule.

for the want, straight off from his list to Santa is this.

for the need, since he is moving back from the beach, he will need this

for the read, i chose this {this was my favorite to pick out, I'm all about giving him something to read}

and finally for the wear, he will be getting this {also his Christmas pj's}

all of these items i found onsale during the christmas holiday, so don't be fooled by the prices!

i'm so excited for my nephew to open these! i hope that as the holidays approaches, christmas traditions new and old are in full swing.

now excuse me, i need to go blow dry my hair before going to work! it's a lovely 15 degrees outside. BRRRR!

cookies, decorating, and messy kitchen...Oh My!

2010-12-13T21:44:00.000-08:00

the night after thanksgiving, turkey & pie leftovers were still going fierce in my household. so, angelus and i decided to decorate some sugar cookies {well, i decided and ~~i made him~~ he followed. the kitchen was a mess and yes, there is even a chocolate pie leftover plate in the top corner of this first photo. oh well! oh and my camera lens had a smudge. such is real life, right?

anywho, my baby was going to be heading back to the beach the next day and i decided that since he wouldnt be back until a few days before christmas, we were going to just speed up holiday funs in one day!

i have decided that i can't stand the taste of my own homemade sugar cookies. i just can never get them right.
so whats a girl to but head to wal-mart and buy the toll house pre-cut christmas sugar cookie pack and frosting in a squirt can. WHALA! brilliant is what i say. i discovered the easiest trick to frosting is by taking ziplock bags and squirting some frosting into each bag with a few drops of different food coloring and let my nephew squeeze and mix each bag with his hands. then i just cut a small whole at the end of each ziplock bag and i had NO MESS of frosting in bowls to clean up. srsly. people, just spend the $3.48 of frosting in a squirt can and its saves a TON of mess all around.

tierra's insider facts to the photos
{a} tierra hates her counter tops and cabinet handles. like majorly!
{b} tierra's family are all coke a cola-aholics.
{c} the ceramic turkey in the corners name is Georgie

need a little eye bling? {ring a ding ding!}

2010-12-04T17:33:00.000-08:00

this week i discovered the wonder of fake eyelashes. so random, i know. but it's true. i took my christmas card pictures this week (thanks allison!) and the night before, i picked up a pack of these little babies. i. am. hooked.

in fact, i've been wearing them everyday since. need a little "eye pop"....don't be intimidated....be bold!

an go forth. that is all. LOL! goodnight.

around here {3:28pm}

2010-12-02T15:25:00.000-08:00

today at 3:28pm, my world looked like this. christmas tree shopping at my favorite christmas tree farm lot.

they have the biggest, fullest trees and they home deliver just for me.

smelling everything equal pure christmas magic!

Do I have your Address? {Christmas Cards}

2010-11-30T22:37:00.000-08:00

{no, these are not my cards}

It's my favorite mailbox time! Cards have already started to arrive and each day, its the first thing i do and that's head straight to the mailbox. And ladies...All i have to say is keep. it. comin!!!! I'm a christmas card nut and I adore getting such beautiful mail. So the question is, will you be getting one from me? Do I have your address? If you would like a card, just let me know!

around here {11:11pm}

2010-11-30T20:14:00.000-08:00

oh there's noOooOo place like hommme for the holidays!!!!

my dining room table. 11:11pm

did some major damage at the target dollar section. i think i cleaned them out in the red/sliver glitter ball area.

decorating the home commences tomorrow!

goodnight.

from my home to yours....{thanksgivng review}

2010-11-29T10:28:00.000-08:00

whelp. another thanksgiving has come and gone. and of course this year was not without it's own "excitements" shall i say. first, i truly hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving. my home was buzzing with family, cousins, and running children by 12:30 in the afternoon.

highlights:

1. tierra burns her arm pretty bad by pulling out the sweet potatoes casserole.

she calls it her "thanksgiving battle scar" LOL

2. commotion began from outside of children running in to inform that we had a snake in the yard. apparently word got out that the turkey this year was going to be brilliant and the not-so-little thing decided to slither to my house! yikes....{and i live in the city!!!)

3. word also got out that tierra was expecting a guest to come with her to her fathers thanksgiving dinner a little later that day in the form of a guy and her whole family pinned her for details and stole her cell phone.

a certain someones husband who shall remain anonymous texted the poor fellow and started asking questions.

needless to say, i wont be forgetting this thanksgiving!

I am Thankful {Aunt Carolyn}

2010-11-23T22:35:00.000-08:00

this woman deserves the world. the world. the moon and back again. i love her with everything that i am and would be nothing without her. my aunt carolyn. this year, as the days have been leading up to thanksgiving i thought about what i could share. what are my "thanksfuls" for this year. and truly, these last few days and nights, all my thoughts are completely wrapped up in how utterly blessed i am to have this woman as my aunt. she has provided me with so much love. has given me her time to every event in my life and has had to do without so many things because of me. every cheerleading practice and every game. every basketball game. every primary event. every young women mother daughter campout and activitiy....this beautiful soul has never failed me. when i wanted to go to new york when i was 15, she made it happen. when i wanted that prom dress. when i wanted to go to the movies. when i needed picking up late late at night when i would cry to come home from girls camp. when i wanted anything at all....this. woman. made. it. happen.

dear heavenly father, thank you for giving her to me. i love her so. amen.

Happy Thanksgiving everyOne!

okay. i'm a royal watcher nerd. go figure!

2010-11-18T22:52:00.000-08:00

well i guess you can see that i haven't kept my promise about posting my fall/mantle decor. i sorry. like really sorry. honestly. i blame it on the fact that there is a certain young man in my life that has completely taken over my brain/thoughts/thinking and all things in between sanity. he just might make it on this blog. maybe. will see. that is if he doesn't drive me nuts first! in the mean time, i just couldn't let this news topic go with out my two cents and stamp of approval. like aka prince william phone called a few weeks ago to make sure i was in complete agreement on his decision and i have had to sit with this news for awhile! and as we all know tierra can hardly hold anything in....{gasp!!} so i of course said he must definitely marry kate. i think she is quite lovely and of all the photos i have seen of her on magazine covers and such over the years, when they made their announcement and she walked out looking like that, i thought she hit it dead on! she looked amazing. her hair was just perfect and oh would i kill for her legs! i have always thought kate was an amazing dresser and i loved how the dress made the ring pop! i have heard a few comments on tv and several on facebook who find this news story ridiculous and that the fact that he gave her his mothers ring a "hand me down" {like some sapphire diamond ring is a hand me down? what a joke!}well excuse me people but i for one like to hear something exciting to look forward too and not some celebrity stepping out as gay or a Lindsey lohan disaster 24/7! i know good and well that the world is full of hard things. hard and cruel and dangerous things taking place on this land and over seas....but what in the freakin world is wrong about talking about two people who have been dating for years and announce that they would like to take it one step further? and oh yeah...to the person who put on my facebook page that prince Williams mothers ring is "recycled and probably cursed" ....dont you even dare make a statement like that to me again because my own mother who passed away left me her ring that was given to her by my father. their marriage ended in a divorce and she is gone as well.....but the ring to this day is my most cherished and special piece of jewelry i own. i have ALWAYS planned on wearing it on my wedding day because it represents the love that my parents once had. my parents may not have had the best relationship either dearie but my mother still loved the time and the good memories that she shared with my father. Hence the reason i was born. I was completely and utterly offended that you would make a comment about something that is neither here nor there for the matter. all you did was make yourself look immature. i don't ever recall asking for your opinion on this or anything else. keep your cynical thoughts and opinions to yourself or write it on your own page.

so to william on giving her your mothers ring. GOOD FOR YOU! i will be watching and rooting with bells on. oh how i just love a good wedding!!!

fall craft {coffee filter wreath}

2010-11-15T22:43:00.000-08:00

i had seen this idea on several blogs before and just fell in love with it. so with picking up the items above and just twisting a good 20 coffee filters in the center...cut off the ends of each twist and just start gluing the twists around the wreath. I went with brown filters because i wanted that lightly dark look for fall and then placed the final product in a really large wreath i purchased earlier this year from michaels. so simple!

tomorrow will be my big reveal day of my mantel/fall decor....so stay tuned!

Fall Craft {simple tutorial}

2010-11-15T22:27:00.000-08:00

every year with every hoilday season, the crafting/create zone sweeps over and i must give in. this year, i wanted to do something different. something that was easy and let's face it, cheap. and i know that this super simple craft has been traveling around the blog sphere tons {where do you think i got the idea?} but i at least wanted to show what i did with it.apothecary jars are so inspiring and yet so simple. but also, for the most part not that cheap. I have a few but when i saw this dollar tree craft to make my own .....$2 bucks! i was on board.

I went to michaels and found some orange/dark brown sweet grass and some dry organic wood stings to start the bottom layers. next came three handfuls of nuts {stolen from my aunt's nut jar....DONT tell her!} and then of course free pine cones from my local park. who doesn't love free stuff right? well...TA-DA!!! i love it! i'll reveal later this week just where they went.

a walk with a dear friend...{tennessee fall}

2010-11-14T22:04:00.000-08:00

through my hometown's central park really made my weekend. well, along with a few other moments ~~with him~~ but that's another story for another time. my good friend allison was oh so kind as to come with me to our local park and walk & chat (lecture me on my guy problem woes) as i gathered pine cones for a last minute fall craft. we walked, took pictures, ~~allison told me to get with it and ask him on a date~~ chatted and this is what we were looking at. tennessee will soon see a very dark, cold, almost bitter-chill-to-the-bone cold winter but autumn it seems is still hanging on. and i'm ever so thankful. what can i say but i love my hometown.

around here {2:59pm}

2010-11-12T12:03:00.000-08:00

my bathroom, getting ready for tonight. 2:59pm. while listening to this (new song obsessed).

have a lovely weekend.

oooh and so it goes.....

2010-11-12T01:23:00.000-08:00

i will bet you $1000 smackeroos THAT your day (yesterday) was not as thrilling (oh so thrilling) as mine.
trust me. no, like REALLY trust me! i thought about not posting this and had planned on posting either my birthday pictures or the biltmore trip i took the day after the birthday.....but isn't life just interesting how each day takes on it's own....shall we say, sense of humor in a cruel cruel way??? you know...just to keep us on our toes, right? well, dear readers.....yesterday was that day for tierra. exhibit a: tierra leaves her glasses at a store an hour away from home. exhibit b: tierra locks her keys in the car three hours later after arriving late to work. exhibit c: (the kicker) tierras car breaks down smack dab in the middle of a three way stop at 2:20 AM (!!!) in a residential area and leaked transmission fluid ALL THE WAY DOWN THE ROAD. exhibit d: tierra had the entire neighbor hood lit up like the fourth of july with police, ambulance, firetrucks, the tow truck, ALL with their lights lighting up the neighbor hood like tierra's own personal block party except that she had NO attention of throwing it!!! {!!!!} exhibit e: it. was. freezing. exhibit f: she was in little flimsy ballet slippers standing on the side of the road for hours. exhibit g: the firemen had to pour & shovel 8 buckets of cat litter to soak up the oil before they would let the tow truck guy tow my car back to my house.

of course i will only mention that my car insurance road side assistance number took 45 minutes to even get through (I HATE COMPUTER/TELEPHONE answering machines} OR that they tried to argue that i had no towing insurance on my policy (which I do and I did) and had to keep me on hold for another 15 minutes to "re-look up" my policy (idiots!!!) before they would even authorize a towing.

and to close...i did not get home and into my bed until 6ish in the morning. and oh yeah, the neighbors all came out to watch on their porches....Maybe next year I'll just send invites?

around Here {at 10:00pm}

2010-11-09T20:40:00.000-08:00

at 10:00pm on the dot, i stood up from my spot and took a picture.

my nook beside the couch and tv. you see, i lost my glasses... and so in order to see the tv and watch my shows tonight, i bundled my self up in my nook with my comforter, texted, worked on my thanksgiving menu grocery list, and stared at my fall craft that i "should" have been finishing. what does your house, your moment look like at 10:00 pm?

just a this and that {gifts}

2010-11-08T17:59:00.000-08:00

this year, for my birthday, all i wanted was just a few new things. let's face it, i am a purse and coat kinda girl

and when i became aware of the mormon bachelorette....well, let's just say it had tierra written all over it. i had so much fun watching aubrey go through her dates with 22 guys from all over! and along the way with each date was this gorgeous beauty of a purse. i simply HAD to have it. it's called the "mia" bag by the big buddha collections and you can find it here! already i have had tons of compliments on it! so thank you aubrey from the Mormon bachelorette for your great style and taste in purses!

my closet is filled with coats of every color and every year, oldnavy brings out the very best and brightest pea coats and i die a thousands deaths swooning and itching just to get my hands on one of them. this year though, i had a very hard decision to make on which coat was "singing" to me the most. you see, i love color! i love having that one piece to make a huge fashion statement when you walk into the room and with a great pea-coat, it doesn't matter what you got going on underneath.....you can work it with just that one item. "the" coat. which one do you think i went with? stay tuned to find out! you can find them each here and here.

and finally, for years all i have ever really wanted on my bedroom walls is the movie poster to a film i can watch over and over. both new and old version! and finally, I tracked one down at a great price and it's on it's way and will soon reside on my bedroom walls. you can find your very own pride & prejudice movie poster here.

let them eat cake! {cookie cake that is}

2010-11-07T18:58:00.000-08:00

i'm back! and i'm 25. i turned and celebrated my 25th year this past friday on november 5th 2010. my theme was "been alive since 85" ....so of course, the 80's! we had lasagna from scratch that my dear friend amber h. made with fresh tossed salad and breath tasty garlic bread. sealed with of course my annual birthday cookie cake. and then followed by a trip to the Biltmore mansion and Estate the next morning {more on that later}

i'm going to keep comments on for a while....it's so lovely to be back!

Ashlee's Wedding {May 2010)

2010-09-13T11:15:00.001-07:00

As I have been editing beach photos, I realized i never posted anything from my trip to Utah back in May, let alone, my friend Ashlee's wedding. The whole reason for the trip! So, here they are that never made to the big screen known as my blog. I remember it was SO cold that morning and rainy. No one was prepared for how strong the wind was or how chilly it was going to be. My skirt was in constant battle trying to be whipped up ( I see london, i see france...LOL) and Ashlee's veil kept going somewhere else other then with the bride! All in all, it was a beautiful moment. My friend had waited so long for that special day and it was an honer to be there for her and her family whom i love so very much at the Salt Lake Temple. oh, an a side note: walking in heels for three hours around temple square in rain/cold/winded weather is. not. fun!

When the World Stopped Turning

2010-09-11T10:29:00.000-07:00

I was home schooled that year from High school for early private music/voice lessons 4 times a week during the day.
At 9 something in the morning, I was curled up in front of the television watching Live with Regis & Kelly when the screen went to the early coverage. Not knowing what was going on, all of a sudden, i remember seeing exactly this shot. the second plane hitting the first tower that was already hit. My family and i watched almost all day for anything that could tell us what was happening. Where was the president? Would there be more? And where? That night, as President Bush spoke to the American people, i was so proud to be an American. And the many days that followed, flags flew everywhere. Radio stations played patriotic songs. TV channels went on hold for moments of silence. I prayed daily for those families in New York and Washington. The previous year, I had been to New York to preform at the statue of Liberty with my honers chorus and had taken pictures of those high high towers from the island. I just want to note that I shall never forget. That I love this land. This American soil. And though there are those that say this world is full of so much evil (which I agree) I still say that there is still so much good. And for that, those lost would want us to remember and to still say let freedom ring.

Because there is still so much good worth fighting for. I am proud to be an American. Again, I shall never forget....

174

2010-09-07T10:45:00.000-07:00

that would be exactly one hundred and seventy four pictures i have on my camera, plus about 6 videos that i have to go through, crop, touch up, and zap out any pimple that you'll never know was there in my pictures! isnt modern day thingys great? well, with that, I. AM. HOME. and summer IS. OVER. how sad is that? i think this week at the beach, i truly enjoyed summer the most. now, i know nobody really likes to read just ol' boring post with no pictures but i sorry. i have laundery i've been doing all day. sand to dejunk from places i have no clue how it got there and swollen feet that came out of the blue to come down! and i'm diiiiiieeeeing to see my friends. maybe tomorrow? later this week? well, will see. and it won't be the hundred and seventy four :)
while on this trip i discovered a few things i would like to share. uh-hum...clearing my throat. flexing my fingers...okay, ready to type. 1. my ipod is the best invention in the history of the world!!!!!!!!! my aunts, though, i love them...DROVE ME INSANE while in the car. Hence...my ipod became my best friend. 2. an old man with a tan darker then mine in a speedo is a def. fashion NO NO. end of story (i have a picture!!!!) 3. the beach or by a pool with a book, sun out and hot and wearing a bathing suit is tierra's ultimate happy place. end of story. 4. never in my life have i felt more confident in a bathing suit and walking around the resort without stressing over covering up. 5. wal-mart people are stupid. end of story. 6. i wore just about every color in the rainbow and didnt even realize i packed or owned that much color. 7. strawberry Italian ice on the beach in 105 degrees HITS. THE. SPOT. and finally 8. i recieved the MOST HILARIOUS comment i have ever been given EVER!!!!...."your one fine piece of the swirl" was said to me by some bubba in the hottub one night LOL (story on that one to come later)

summer. i'm going to miss you. i'm going to miss the color of the sky and how blue blue it gets around 1:30 in the afternoon. I'm going to miss Popsicles and mint ice-cream hitting your tong when you think you just can't take the heat one more second. I'm going to miss that gush of wind that picks up the back of your hair and restores you through the next minute. I'm going to miss that feeling of taking a cool shower and then sitting on the front porch in night heat and feeling so so clean and refreshed. but, as they say, all good things must come to an end. and with that, this post needs to end.

you were born today

2010-09-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

dear angelus,
today, i turned around and now your 8. eight years old is such an important number. if i was to share my favorite thing about you to the world, i would share how very kind you are. it truly amazes me how sincere you are to your grandmothers and watch out for them if their going down steps or hold the door for them or fuss at them if they say the don't feel good and you ask them to lay down and rest or if they took their medicine. i love you with all my heart. let's see...eight things to note.

1. you are VERY tall. and it's really funny how i make you hold my hand when were at the mall or crossing the street and your only 3 inches from my full height.

2. you fuss if some one changes the channel on the radio or takes out your cd because your in the back seat singing away.

3. corn dogs and mashed potatoes are your favorite meal

4. army men, building blocks, and legos are your favorite things to play with.

5. your dad is your best friend and you guys do everything together

6. you can't stand for any of us to say "i love you" in public because it embarrass you LOL
and i love to torcher you with saying things like "angelus, do you need any new underwear?"...really loudly in stores.

7. you have this adorableness of a small mole right above your upper lip that i just heart

8. and finally, you LOVE to break dance!!! many a video do we all have on cell phones, cameras etc of you and your break dancing skills for future embarrassment!

Happy Birthday to my little stud whose not so little anymore! And to celebrate, I'm sharing an honorary song obsessed from Angelus. This is his current favorite..."turn the radio up, nobody talk to me because this song is on" obsession.

to the beach & song obessed "mine" {taylor Swift}

2010-09-01T01:55:00.000-07:00

it's 4:54 am. AM! and for some reason, i just cant sleep. i'm leaving in less then 3 hours for one final summer vacation but yet a very important one. my nephew (did you know he's lucky enough to live at the beach?) will be turning 8 years old this friday. and for that, i wouldnt miss it for all the tea in china....it's a good thing i don't drink tea (!!) LOL. so, my suitcase is just about packed and my toes are painted a lovely shade of hot pink. my ipod is charged with freshly new purchased driving (tuning out my aunts) songs and my beach bag is filled with books to escape too. this friday, I have a scheduled post that will be popping up while i'm gone but let me draw your attention to the music video below. did you know i heart taylor swift? like, i can sing every song off both her albums sorta way :) well, her latest song "mine" was just released and i immediately bought it off of itunes. i thought, cute, catchy...but not one of my faves. HOWEVER, when i saw her music video that goes with it last night....i fell in love! i'm freakin obsessed with how cute it is (minus a few cheesy cheesy looks now and then) srsly. I adore it! please watch it. like, all the way. it makes me wish it was some sappy chic flick i could watch play out over and over. go a head, click it.

Taylor Swift - Mine from Stephen Murray on Vimeo.

craft idea {birthday tin}

2010-08-27T10:25:00.000-07:00

this weekend, my days are going to be mixed with going to work- (it's my shift to work at the hospital this weekend) eek! and getting last minute birthday presents for my nephew together before we leave next week. last year, one of the cute things i started was putting together a birthday tin. i was inspired by my friend ann on how every year she makes her children a birthday tin. filled with just little last minute goodies. isn't that the sweetest, easiest thing? well, i thought so and with that, i went straight to the nearest dollar tree and went to my cabinets to find a can of something that i didnt need and then SHABAM...the birthday tin was presented when he came home from school last year on his birthday. he loved it and i course must make this a tradition. this year, i want to make it a little better. of course i'll update with pictures soon but i thought i would share the idea! happy weekend and if you happen to be reading the final book in the hunger games...don't tell me anything! i still havent read it yet :(

Peeta. Peeta. Peeta!

2010-08-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

dear edward, i still love ya. like a lot. but, srsly. it's all about peeta these days!
peeta. peeta. peeta. i just can't stop saying that. honestly. mockingjay, i haven't read you yet (because i know i won't be able to MOVE from my spot) and i have things to do. but peeta, you are ever always on my mind and when we hit the beach next week together.....it is on!

let's talk old navy

2010-08-24T09:36:00.001-07:00

fall is in the air. it's coming and i just can't wait! when i get back from the beach, fall decor will be going up (squee) but today, today i am content with posting some items that my good friends at old navy are offering. cardigans are my MOST favorite item to wear during the fall. for summer it's sun dresses but for fall, it's the never ending round of cardiagans! and when i saw these, well they sang to me!

i hate jean shopping. let me repeat, i ABHOR jean shopping. i'm short with a little to much junk in the trunk and almost ANY kind of jean is going to be extremely baggy in the leg. hence, the miracle of the skinny jean. amen. thank you. the end!

i found the perfect button down for my nephew's 8th birthday shots on the beach. these colors will look amazing with the ocean. now, i just have to come up with a decent bribe to get him to do yet another round of "i hate this day and i hate photos" session from him while i snap my heart out.

oh jeepers, the time has come for me to go to work....

ramblings, thoughts etc...

2010-08-22T18:59:00.000-07:00

tonight, at this very moment, I am craving an apple. big news isn't it? really though, i just finished an oh so rich-should-be-sinful brownie (with chocolate chunks inside) and now i'm in the mood for something healthy. weird i know. oh how i already know i'm weird! i figured though that i needed to update my blog on where i'm at right now. though as my Sunday is just about over since it's 10:01 pm, i feel the need to just relay some facts. in less then a week, i will be at the beach. my toes are already screaming to be painted hot pink and i have a list of books to read while sitting in the sand. were going down though because it will be my nephews 8th birthday. eight years old is so hard to believe. i just can't understand why time is moving so quickly? i want it to stop! or, at least slow down. for me though, i'm still working at the hospital and i'm trying to get in as much hours as my sanity will let me so i can hit the stores an outlets while at myrtle beach. the thing with my new "fella" is over. well, over sounds so drastic when really it was just me deciding that other then work and co-worker happenings, we don't really have anything in common. we see the world completely different. i mean, i wasn't expecting anything from this at all and it's been completely natural for things to just ease into a stop. so please note, i am completely okay with that. in other things, my favorite thing right now has been reorganizing my kitchen. i have SO many pictures to show and i'm ever so excited to post them. i've also been doing a lot of thinking. thinking of things par-taining to my soul. things on how much i love the gospel of Jesus Christ that's upon this earth. on how the temple is the only place i will ever allow myself to get married in. thinking about that dream i had a few years back where i was talking with my grandfather and he chuckled softly and said "it wasn't what you thought it would be". those endearing words ring true in mind in everything consisting of my life. the good and the bad. how i wish though to just chat with my mom. i never really saw how much i asked for her opinion on things or just how much i would dramatically explain my life to her sometimes until now. i've been thinking so much about the temple and all the beautiful temples we have on this earth. everyday i pray to heavenly father that my life will settle down and fall into step so that i can go back. i've constantly been relying on prayer and pouring everything i have to my father in heaven to make it through this wonderful opportunity we have to experience this time on earth. my life isnt perfect. there are deep sorrows that i find myself rehashing over and over in mind at night. there are places i want to see and peoples lives i would like to touch. there are endless worries that sometimes i feel like i just want to go home (not in the suicide way at all people-more like the, if i could just walk with the savior all day "home") so i don't have to worry about them.
prayer is so important to me. as i look back at all those Sunday school lessons and talks from my mom, i can't believe how right she was. is. i can tell you with an absolute power within my knowledge that my momma still prays for me everyday. and i tell her too. infact, i tell every one too! okay, well not everyone! but, there is the most sweetest, spunkiest little elderly lady in my ward and we have talks every sunday on how she remembers me in her prayers for me to find the right one or him find me and marry me! (LAUGHING OUT LOUD!) oh god bless her heart for that! and you know, i truly know that she means it and actually is! a few weeks back, i was in a heated debate about my religion. in not going into detail, i kept telling myself to just stay calm and bear my heart. my testimony. i do not have to prove to anyone of what i know to be true. well, after if happened, for days my thoughts and mind struggled with the thought that i didn't give my church justice. that i "let down" my religion. i was in a constant thought that i failed some how and my heart was pretty broken. one night, i finally couldn't take it anymore. in another round of telling my father in heaven everything and crying like there was no tomorrow, the most precious words entered into my mind. "let not your heart be troubled, for I, the lord, am with thee." i bare to who ever is reading this that i know that my father in heaven heard me. that he loves me. that he knows my heart. and he knows of my testimony. that i do not have to make the whole world see or understand. that all i have to do is bare my heart. to state what i know to be true and to let the rest, rest. that's all i can do. with that being said, these last few days have just been going over all the things i need to better my self on. goals to work on for the rest of the year. of course, i have to report for the end that last night i saw eclipse in theaters for my 5th and final time. you see, my sucka of a friend justin has done nothing but egg me on since we met about my twilight madness. and so, he cannot WAIT to see that vampires sucks movie. i hate spoof movies. regardless that this ones about twilight, all the others spoofs are just down right stupid. so, we made a deal. he went and saw eclipse last night with me and friends and now i will go an see that darn vampire sucks movie with him. to know justin, you would know that that was one deal i just couldn't let pass up LOL

and then, he dipped me

2010-08-15T10:54:00.000-07:00

last night, my friends and I went dancing at our fabulous, insanely talented friends concert. i was just sitting there tapping my feet and swaying to the music when my very good friend justin pulled me up into a slow dance. justin, loves to dance. and justin....loves to spin you. i, however regret to inform that i am a horrible spinner. {giggles} at the end though, he dipped me.
HE DIPPED ME.

and i, loved it! thank you justin for a wonderful dip! I just adore you.

ps. i was wearing these stunning new beauties. excellent for being dipped in. i highly recommend it.

notebooks and conversation

2010-08-12T20:47:00.000-07:00

for the next few weeks, I feel like I'm going to need about a BA-zillion of these little beauties. well, okay fine. at least one! I stumbled upon these sweet little darlings just a moment ago and just had to share. these hand made covered note books are so pretty! and can be found & purchased here. as a firm 1000% list/note book/paper fanatic, this is right up my style. anywho, things are going to get a little stressful for me in the next few weeks. i realized today that the relief society activity is next week. did you hear that?!? NEXT. WEEK. and then to add to my plate of planning, my nephew was in this week from myrtle beach for a short visit and we discussed his upcoming/fast approaching 8th birthday. i was hoping to steer clear of having to plan a party and worrying about entertaining 20 something kids. notice i said "hoping". the conversation went like this.

me: hey you not-so-little-anymore-stinkeroo, don't you want to have just a nice, fun, just family, party and day at the water park for your birthday? i'll even make Darth Vader cupcakes?
(praying that sealed the deal)

nephew/stud: no. {said very firmly}

me: but what if we spent the entire day riding all your favorite water rides and topped off the night with mini putt put and fireworks on the boardwalk?
{I don't know about you all but that was a pretty killer deal}

nephew/stud/being a stubborn stinker: but it's MY birthday. my 8TH birthday! what about my friends? {said while rolling on the floor like it's the end of the world}

me: { rolling eyes...walking away}

dear myrtle beach. can we make some killer deals on birthday party attractions? like asap? wait. what was that? you want to charge me $30 dollars per child at the water park?
ARE YOU INSANE?! well guess what, i'm not! no, thank you.

dear tierra. guess you better get cracken on that planning!
................................................................
ps. just incase you might be wondering.
no, were not taking him to the beach for his birthday.
he lives there.
and yes, i am jealous of it every single second.minute.day of my life that my brother of all places, got lucky enough to find a job {he's a WAY boring PGA golfer} at the beach. we are going down for a week for my nephews birthday. we are not crazy people taking a child to the beach just for his birthday. just FYI.

couture love {viva style}

2010-08-11T09:02:00.000-07:00

everyone and there dog may also be wearing this...but i simply don't care. back during the Easter holiday, i was sitting on my front porch surrounded by cousins on a beautiful spring day when my nose caught the scent of something brilliant. so, i searched out that scent and came to my fabulous cousin Hailey and kindly said " WHAT are you wearing?!?"

to which she replied three. stunning. words.

"viva la juicy"
VIVA LA JUICY is pure everything in a bottle.
so, if you find yourself wondering...
hmmm, what does Tierra smell like?
have no fear readers, i have answered your call!

simply a picture {bowl of cherries}

2010-08-10T11:44:00.000-07:00

life, is just a bowl of cherries. sometimes...dear tierra. in your life right now, you need to remember to finish laundry. clean the living room. clean the bathroom. take a shower. return those books back to books a million. start working on august activity for church. etc etc etc. and oh yeah, get ready for work!

being his little girl

2010-08-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

dear daddy. i'm coming to see you today. i'm ever so excited. as i write this, my new dress with my new cardigan is hanging up and just waiting for me to change and be on the road. of course, your ever faithful daughter will most likely be late. but then again my ever so faithful father is always late. haha. did you make granny's potato salad? i hope so. it's my favorite. i also love the fact that you love that it's my favorite. there are so many things i want to speak with you about. some many things i want to hear from you. but you know what? really and truly, at this very moment, all i want is a hug. just one small moment of my head on your shoulder and you telling me that i'm your baby girl. and i am. i always will be. see you soon! love, me.

Half of My Heart {Song Obessed}

2010-08-04T19:02:00.000-07:00

i heart john mayer. like, a lot. and this little number below is currently on repeat in my household. it also features another favy of mine, taylor swift (good call john!)
please enjoy! also, just FYI
(and keep this a secret will ya dearies? -like that's gonna happen LOL) ..... tierra's going on date tonight with the fellow(GASP)!! On my list of things to do is go get my nails & toenails repainted. I'm thinking red...for both. What say ye? I say YES PLEASE (SQUEEEE)
dear john, you look oh so good lookin in this video. the hair? *Sighs* just sayin.

nostalgia of the autumn

2010-07-29T10:38:00.000-07:00

i'm ready for fall. i'm so ready for the fall! as we are this close to august coming up this weekend, i can't help but have my thoughts turn to the crisp feeling of autumn, with warm breezes, and beautiful eastern, Tennessee trees coming around the bend. my heart is skipping a beat as i write this. oh to hear the sound of the mighty viking high school band practicing in the distance. the much anticipated Tennessee high vs. Virgina high foot ball game (my ol' Tennessee high has never lost a game to Virgina high in 18 years). that feeling you get of smelling warm, cinnamon apples and wearing new cardigans everyday. to me, this is the time that i love the most. whenever i'm in target, i get this giddy rush to go buy school supplies and write my name in cursive in freshly new notebooks and buy every single item they have on sale for back to school specials. actually, i just might have already done that-sighs. yes, this is the time my heart is truly at peace. truly at home with myself. nostalgia of the autumn. heavenly father blesses this earth so much with it's each passing stage. i am so happy to know who i am and where i came from. to also catch you up just a bit, me and the fellow are still in that stage of stolen glances at work, little moments of flirting banter, and my new favorite, me, going in on my days off to have lunch together.though, i still haven't mastered to control the grinning from ear to ear or blushing every two seconds when he says my name. lol. were taking things slow. and by slow, i mean slow. and i like that. that is just the right pace for me. i haven't been in a relationship since my mother passed away and he is being ever so understanding. though right now i'm alittle bit grumpy do to the fact that our schedules are not coordinating and we won't work together till Monday. but, this weekend promises to be a good one with a friends wedding reception and the hope of a "possible" last minute trip out of town. I hope so. but, will see.... anywho, go out and buy a pack of crayola crayons and number two pencils and i a sure you, you will get giddy too.

it's all about the lipgloss

2010-07-27T21:43:00.000-07:00

today, was a really great day. you know what made it great? well.... i didnt fall in love, i didnt win the lotto, and i didnt go see a taping of oprah or ellen (though all three of those things would make a super great day *happy face*) it was just an ordinary day with a last minute phone call and drive to see my cousins that made this day great. miss hailey blaine (in true element pictured above) and me went to the mall. we talked. we shopped. we gossiped. and we each bought new shades of lipgloss from mac makeup. in which that qualifies as a great day.
thank you hailey bay for being one of the most truly unique, beautiful souls that this earth has.

simply pictures {weekend style}

2010-07-25T18:26:00.000-07:00

my weekend was spent doing a little of this. a little of that.
but my favorite part was making this...

and turned it into this....

whatever you did this weekend, I hope it was lovely!

Email to the Girls AKA the story of the "weekend"

2010-07-23T21:32:00.000-07:00

ATTENTION dear readers: since I'm still couching up a lung and do not feel like writing the story of me and my new fellow and making it all blog worthy fun to read....You'll just have to read the massive email I sent this past Monday to my cousins alexa and carrie via facebook. honestly it's pretty cheesy and long writing if you ask me but, it will just have to do. please take notice that it was written super fast so they would get it before i had left for work that day.

Another side note is to know that i work at our local hospital and I'm a dietitian's assistant. so i'm around a lot of our cooks and chefs for the department. Okay, carry on as I go take my meds and proceed to be knocked out again LOL

GIRLS!!!! Okay. this is going to be long so here goes....

for the past 5 months there is this guy at my work that was hired that i have had a crush on. his name is Chase and he is a chef. well, we've sorta been doing this...he's looking at me, im looking at him but neither of us are saying anything that we might like each other. just a lot of moments where i could feel him watching me and me always looking at the schedule to see if he might be working the same nights as me. but really, nothing had ever happened and we were constantly on opposite shifts so i would just let it slide.....

i really cant explain it well but something changed majorly this weekend. I went into work on friday and saw that for once we would be working the same shift that night and would be working kinda close around the other... and so we actually got to talk a lot more. to know Chase is to know that he's very quiet. he's not one to start the conversation and he's kinda serious. he's the type that he just does his job and stay's out of any drama that is always going on with somebody at the hospital. but to me, we've always talked or flirted LOL in those sarcastic yet not mean flirting ways :)

So, again friday, I could just feel that things were different. we were talking longer and i was def. wondering if just maybe....maybe he might be feeling something too. so, sat. i worked (dieing while in the process from this wretched crud but no more sick leave for tierra so i had to carry through!!!!!) and he was not there. but when i came in on sunday...there he was. so, i of course went up to him and was kinda flirting (looking absolutely HORRID, alexa, you would be ashamed *sad face*) and asked him what in the world was he doing there on his weekend off.

his reply...."because your here tonight"

insert tierra blushing and grinning really goofy like and trying to brush it off by saying "oh yeah right,...seriously, did some one call in and they called you?"

he said " well yes actually but when they called, I asked who would be working that night and if you were on the schedule and they said yes, so i agreed to come on in"

insert tierra completely red faced again and not sure what to say to that...
I think i just laughed and tried to keep insisting that he was joking.

After that, i went right up to my supervisor and before i could even start talking she said "dont even ask. yep it's completely true"

i said "how do you know what i'm going to ask" and which she points to my very flushed face and big grin and said that indeed, when she called Chase that morning, he had asked if i was on the schedule and would come in for that.

my brain at that point was just, well, not working!!!
also to note that i have been pretty sick lately so i was not really feeling that well and Chase could tell, he was always asking if there was anything he needed to get for me and asking if i was okay.

when it got to be about 5:50 pm, i noticed he was cleaning up his work area and he wasn't suppose to go home until 6:30, so i asked what he was doing. he said that since they called him in, he came early and had to leave by 6 so not to get any extra over time.

i have to admit, i was pretty bummed :( so, we started talking for just bit and i was telling him how it would be my luck that after he leaves, a bunch of orders from patients will be printed and that i would have to be the one to fill them ( im used to that but i was just teasing)....

so, he just kinda laughed and we both went back to work. then around 6:15, i noticed he hadn't left yet and so i told him he was past his time and that i didn't want him to get in to trouble.
he said that he had decided to go a head and stay till 6:30 just in case we had anymore orders cause i wasnt feeling well and he didnt want me to do them by myself.

i was completely flattered by then but i told him he really shouldnt stay because we get lectured a lot in my department if we go over out time....

that's when he said that he had already clocked out at 6.

ALEXA!! CARRIE!! he stayed pretty much a whole hour and worked while i was the one still on the clock and just stood there and talked while he was not getting paid!!!

well, after he finally left, i couldnt concentrate at. all!!!!!

theres lots more to tell but you'll just have to call me :)
I have no clue what this means LOL but i guess will see...

Scarlett Red

2010-07-21T21:28:00.001-07:00

I adore Scarlett O'Hara. truly, I do. when I was little, I can remember the first time i ever watched Gone with the Wind. to me, it was so full color. lot's of color. i mean, me, being probably about 7 or so and not really taking in what the film was about, i just saw all the gorgeous dresses in different colors and wishing i had some like them to play dress up in or at least my barbies. then about 12 i saw it again on tv with my mom and i really took in the story.

now. yes, alas... to those who have seen it, Scarlett is a complete B$%^&! LOL in the most fashionable way of course. but, lets be honest here. Scarlett takes care of business. she completely takes control of her life and sets out to do exactly what she sets out to do! even if it's the wrong thing, she at least sees it through. and then there's Rhett Butler! LAH dont even get me going on how men are just not made like that any more!

Okay, so my point.

my life right now is a big basket case of ridiculous, cheesy, grinning like a fool, heart racing, can't sleep, can't read (GASP, I know right?) can't even really think straight of emotions(!!!)----> all because of this past weekend.

yep. that's right. this weekend, things have changed. and with that, here i sit, wishing i had just an ounce of power and control that scarlett had....all because tierra has a new guy in her life. (SQUEEEEEE)

well, dear readers, do you want the story? like, really?

truly? as in, you'll actually read the story of "us"???

well, you'll just have to tune in later to find out!

(i know, i'm cruel) (but i'm still getting over this bronchitis crud and i just took my meds and it's getting ready to knock me out)

PS. when ever i see him, i turn Scarlett red! It's annoying as heck but what can you do, right?