The Elements...Metal...Day Five

The final day of Elements week...this is actually really hard for me to finish. I've had so much fun with these pics...I think I need to do themes every now and again...it gets me to dig into my photo archive and I don't do that nearly enough. So...today I represent to you....metal. ENJOY.

One of the greatest inventions...oil...hence, oil rigging ships... Long Beach, CA

Cruise ships...truly a wonder...how can a floating city really float?? It makes one feel so small.

I know...you thought my metal theme was going to be all about ships...well, I got to thinking what is really important in life...and getting made fun of in public is one of those things...which is why DDR was invented...For those 'not with it'...it is Dance Dance Revolution. Bring a sweat cloth. It's THAT fun. Even if you're a crappy dancer.

And this thing is metal...whatever it is. It looks awesome...and the guy in front looks like a lightning bolt is going into his head...I hope he's ok. ;)

Jail bars are pretty sweet too!

Hope you've enjoyed the metal...I know I have. Anyone have an idea for another theme?

The Elements...Fire...Day Four

I can't help but to giggle when I hear "fire...fire"....isn't that some Beavis & Butthead line or something?? Why do I giggle? I am such a little kid. So, I just love fire, what can I say. Blake says that I say "fire" weird...like Mid-Western or something...well duh, I'm from the midwest!

This pic is a mix of fire/ice trying to warm ourselves under a heater during a snowstorm while at Sundance Film Festival- Park City, Utah.

Fireworks = oooh...awwww = love

This pic I didn't take (obviously) but fire rocks...so it couldn't be better represented.

The Elements...Air...Day Three

The Elements...Day 3. Sarah- I never gave you props for finding this game...so THANK YOU!! Look at my post from yesterday to explain the "elements". Here are some lovely airy-esque pics...These are hard to capture.

Windmills near Palm Springs, California

A windy deck on our Mexican Riviera cruise!

A beautiful Arizona sunset/moonrise- see the plane way up in the cloud?

More to come...Thursday=fire and Friday=metal.

The Elements...Earth...Day Two

So...I'm making up for lost time since I didn't start this until today...Please see previous post to explain what this is all about. Here are my elements of Earth- so many to choose from.

Wasatch Front-Utah

Bouganvilla flower- Arizona beauty

A squirrel enjoying a thorny nest on the ground- Tucson Arizona

Capitol Reef National Park- Utah

The Elements...Water...Day One

I love snooping on other people's blogs...in a totally NOT creepy way. I love pics and I had to do this cool thing inspired by The Glass Doorknob to add pics each day this week showing all five elements- Monday-Water, Tuesday- Earth, Wednesday- Air, Thursday- Fire, and Friday-Metal. I thought it would be fun to go through some pics I've taken.

Lake Michigan

Saguaro National Park- Tucson Arizona- the monsoons coming

Provo Canyon- Utah

To organize...that is the question.

So Saturday Blake and I decided to take the plunge and hike around Ikea. Isn't it nice to go shopping and be so tired by the time you get home that you can't even enjoy the progress you've made?? Well...we have this one room...you know, the room everyone has. The catch-all dumping grounds. I wish I would've done a before/after pic because it really would've been amazing to see. The sad part is that I thought that by buying a huge bookshelf that I was going to be able to eliminate the crap in the closet that was stacked up to the ceiling...but no- I just basically shuffled everything around but put it in a more legit grabbing space. Oh well...at least it looks sweet. And yes...my sign does say "Mandy's Art Studio". It doesn't necessarily mean I'm an artist.



I even took out the closet doors and added some lovely curtains. They don't call me Handy Mandy for nothin...whoever 'they' are.

Dew be. Dew be. Dew.

So in high school my cousin Michelle used to sing the tune of "Strangers in the Night"...but would say "doo be, doo be doo"...and that always got stuck in my head...I still do that myself, to this day. But I thought it was funny- the other day I was drinking my favorite beverage...Mt. Dew...and this is what I saw on the can...

look at the bottom!! Funny huh? One more reason to love this drink! I know, I am easily entertained.

Drive drive drivin along...

So, I hate to be a whiner, but today I just have to vent.

What is worse than a 90 year old driver? I'll tell you what....a 90 year old on a cell phone. Honestly. I was driving home from work today and got cut off multiple times and almost ran into by this geriatric. I love the grammies and gramps' but I almost honked...and I heard once you should never honk at old people because you don't want them to get scared and have a heart attack- but seriously...I'm the one who's having a heart attack here!! I seriously think people over 65 yrs old should have to retake the driving test every year....for the sake of those that could be affected. It should be in the best interest of anyone with a brain.
Then there are the drivers that drive so close to your bumper they could be sitting in your front seat...how annoying. and lame.

THEN there are the F-dudes...you know them...The rednecks in Ford trucks. The ones who love to hear their diesel and exhaust pipe who have to weave in and out of cars to then sit in the left lane on the freeway going 63 miles per hour- I HATE being stuck behind people in the left lane...especially huge freakin trucks you can't see around...especially when they go under the speed limit. LAME!

And then there are the people that all go the same speed that span across all 6 lanes on the freeway...let's get real... how annoying can you be!

I don't know how all these things could happen on my drive today...I guess it was my lucky day! I think the only thing that kept me from screaming was listening to Deee Lite's "Groove Is In The Heart"...that song makes me happy!

I GOT TAGGED!

Getting tagged

Here are the rules:
1. we have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
2. players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. people who are tagged write their own blog post about their eight things and include these rules.
4. at the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged and that they should read your blog.

1. I am the slowest person to get out of the vehicle if riding with others. It has nothing to do with being curtious or holding doors or anything- it would be nice if it was about that. I just can't prepare to gather my things in the car before arriving at my destination.

2. I am jealous of my friends that have cute hobbies and are crafty because I want to join in...I just don't have the time between working and going to school full time. wah wah wah.

3. I LOVE playing board games...Blake would say "BORED" games. He is not at all competetive so he isn't phased...but I LOVE them. Anytime I can play I have a great time. My faves are: Settlers of Catan, Catch Phrase, Phase 10, Uno, the dice game, Pass the Pigs, Careers, Pirate & Traveler, Sequence, and Cranium.

4. I plan too much in too little time. I want to do it all- what can I say? I am trying to be more realistic...Blake is such a good fit for me. He always brings me out of the clouds and into reality.

5. I am really (unconsciously) obsessed with spelling. I get frustrated when I see typos and things on published work- flyers, books, magazines, etc. I don't necessarily like that I do it- it just happens...you know like when Harry Potter didn't know he was a wizard and was able to do magical things when he didn't mean to do them?? Kinda like that.

6. I struggle with my own sense of style and fashion...I sit on the fence about so many clothing options...I really don't even know where to go with this one. If you know me and see what I wear, I'm sure this one makes sense.

7. I love watching movies...I wish I had more time to watch them. I get HACKED when people are too critical. Honestly- is the point of a movie to entertain or be THE most amazing thing you've ever seen? I like to find good things about even the crappiest movies.

8. I will be the HAPPIEST person alive when Blake and I get to start a family. It has been really hard (and of course wonderful too) seeing my friends and family start families. I know that we all have our struggles and that there is a time and place for everything. I know that I am being tested with patience- which I know I am in need of. I just can't wait for that day to come!

Some peeps I tagged: Cori, Katy, Tachi, Heidi, Scott, Jill, Tracy, Stephanie, Alicia

Our little jaunt to Denver...

So last Friday Blake, Chelsea (Blake's sister) and I flew out to Denver for a whirlwind weekend. I grew up in Fort Collins, CO (just an hour North of Denver) so I am ALWAYS phased to beat the heat and head back to my homeland. We headed to Fort Collins from the airport and my parents took us over to Colorado State University to the "experimental" plant garden...it was so romantic that Blake and I did the gazebo "I am 16 going on 17" dance. Later that night, Chelsea wanted to see Ryan Adams & The Cardinals playing at my FAVORITE venue ever...Red Rocks Amphitheater so she took Blake and I to the show. The weather was really crappy so we decided to look hard in our ponchos....if that's even possible... I know- you're telling yourself..."wow, where could I get a snazzy getup like that?" Well- thank goodness for mama Carpenter and her preparedness or we would've been miserable the whole night! Don't I look like an amoeba?? HA! The rain finally cleared out so we got to enjoy the cool weather! Then, Saturday rolls around and we decided we didn't get enough of the water from the rain the previous night so we went to Water World- only the awesomest water park in the world...I actually got Blake in a swimming suit-MIRACLE! We had a great day and we didn't even get majorly burned! Then Saturday night we went to my cousins rehearsal wedding dinner- which really wasn't a rehearsal- just a get together to eat and meet each other's families. It was a lot of fun to see my cousin- who I haven't seen in about 8 years! So crazy!

Then Sunday we got phased off of church and Jim's Wings...only the best wings on the planet!

After lunch we headed up to Lyons, CO for my cousin Ryan's wedding. It was just gorgeous...

Ryan and Linh Carpenter All the girls dancing!! Nate and Chelsea

This was overall a pretty exhausting weekend that will take a few weeks to recouperate from...but those are the best. We had a great time with all of the family!

My overall feelings about the trip....

Harry Potter and series...

What a FANTASTIC book!! I won't spoil this in case you haven't read the book or plan to read the book. If you don't plan to- well you need to get your head examined because these books are phenominal! They are NOT "kids books" nor are they a "childish read". All of the series (books 1-7) have all been very entertaining and even sort of like a murder mystery (sometimes without murder, but mostly with). You will be on the edge of your seat and will even gasp outloud! Yeah, I know...it sounds totally nerdy...but really you will be phased! Do yourself, and me a favor. Take the time to read the books- in case you want to be cheap- go to the library first and borrow it . I'd even be willing to loan mine out!! Then, once you actually see clearly- you will most likely be able to buy all 7 books in bulk from Costco or Sam's Club. You just can't put these books down. This pic is me when I started reading....Blake thought I looked "all concerned"...you'll understand why if you read it! JK Rowling is a FREAKING genius!



In case Harry Potter isn't your cup of tea... if you like teenage love stories (and I'm not talking Sweet Valley High for those of you who grew up in the 80s)- there is a great series of books from an LDS author- Stephenie Meyer- who is from Arizona. The books aren't pervy or have naughty language- which is quite refreshing since books aren't "Rated". There is nothing worse than picking up a book that was "recommended" by Amazon or book club or someone else and reading "F-this" and "F-that" every other word. I mean, come on. Seriously... what a waste of time and money. Anyways...back to this recommendation...The first book is called "Twilight", the second "New Moon" and the third of the series will be coming out August 7, '07 and is called "Eclipse". So, the disclaimer is that the basis of the story is about vampires...yes, I know. Sounds lame doesn't it??? Well, it's not- it's rad. Don't pre-judge...just read it! These books are extremely FAST reads! You could finish them in a day or two! I only have 1 friend (you know who you are!! :) that didn't like the book- couldn't get over the fact of him being a vampire... well, isn't that the point? It's not supposed to be believable...we all know vampires can't go to the celestial kingdom!! Duh! ;) Ok- that comment just ruined this whole blog. Nevermind... I am lame.