A night of Midgets, Crab, and Deep Fried Ice Cream!

Tuesday Night, The down low after I got off work around 3pm, only ate a pb&j sandwich at lunch (noon), went to a tanning bed in preparation for our Cancun trip Jan 11-14! Sid's Styling & Tanning Shop - kind of ghetto, but Jeff was excited because the owner, Sid, was a midget, dwarf, little person (I don't know what is more politically correct) Plus... it was our first time there it was free!

My question then is, why ever pay a membership when you could go to a new tanning salon every time for free?

Then we went to dinner, I was so starvin that I told Jeff that I'd even eat at Joe's Crab Shack (we had passed it the day before an he mentioned how badly he wanted to eat there)
So most of you will know by now that I don't like seafood except for sushi occasionally and salmon. The fact that I was actually craving seafood was beyond me!
We ordered a bucket of clams, two different kinds of crab, and a side order of fried shrimp (for me), the bucket came with a husk of corn, two baked red potatoes, and a cup of melted butter. I thoroughly enjoyed it! eating the crab was quite the experience too!

Before we got our bucket our waitress, Carissa, came over and put "crab" bibs on us. The cracking, cutting, and forking out the meat from the shells was like a treasure hunt, I was pretty good at it! Almost every time the meat came apart from the shell in one huge chunk. Yummy!
Basically it looked like this minus the lobster!

I'm not sure if the experience was great because I was so hungry or because of the flavoring! It was in an Alabama Bauyo Seasoning! YUMMY! Oh and the fried shrimp, it was delicious! it was like eating chicken nuggets even though it was shrimp...

And then we finished the night off with Genuine Deep Fried Ice Cream from LaLuna's Mexican Restaurant. Oh My it was 'to die for' goodness!

Of course, On the way home Jeff stops to get a $5 Little Caesar's Pizza and ate like 4 pieces before going to bed... I don't know where it goes!?

Yeah Ashley (and the rest of you that make fun of me for "not liking any good food" can you believe it? I actually like Shrimp (not the naked kind though, it may mostly be the appearance of them that I don't like... but anywho I am a changed woman! and I know Jeff is pleased because Shrimp is one of his favorite foods! Now if he could just get me to like Cheesecake!)

I hate my job because....

Because I never know if when I come into work if it will be my last day, if I will be fired or not! Kind of exciting, kind of nerve-racking too!

So today, Friday Dec 18, 2009 I lost my time card, I swear it was in my purse last night when I got off work, I got to work and it magically disappeared. Without a time card you can't clock in and out. I emailed Brian (the manager/owner/dim-wit) to let him know. A friend of mine at work who works the day shift overheard Brian and his Dad, Dennis (co-owner) arguing about time-cards. Dennis was saying that he's going to start firing all of Brian's employees who don't clock in and clock out! Of course just my luck!

I don't know if loosing the job will be a good thing or a bad thing. Good because I won't have to work there any more, and as Mindy says, "a huge weight will be lifted" which is true, the job is kind of chaotic because Brian doesn't know what he is doing and stresses everyone else out for not being able to read his mind! And bad because then I'll have to start looking for another job, and in the meantime won't have any income!

I guess I better start looking for another job! :(

Funny Story...

So yesterday I brought my laptop to work because a friend of mine, Mindy, needed to use it, and she'd just pick it up while at I was at work (a minute out of my working time - a potty break or something). Brian, my boss (and if you ever get the unfortunate opportunity to meet him you will understand why he is a douche) he asks me, "what's that?" pointing to the laptop. I say, "it's my laptop." He then asks, "why did you bring it to work?"
"A friend of mine is going to come by and pick it up."
"Who is it?"
"Does it matter?"
"Who is it?"
"Mindy, You remember her, she's the one you fired."
"I don't like that, she can't come in the building."
"fine, I'll give it to her out in the parking lot"
He looks all huffy and walks away. I go to my desk and start working, which means I got my computer up and running and I picked a good song to start listening to on my ipod. I can see that Brian is standing behind me (from the reflection in the computer screen) this is normal, so I didn't think anything of it, but in the reflection I see that his lips are moving, I take out my head phones. I turn around in my chair and say, "Pardon?"
"You need to put that laptop in your car."
"No. It will freeze, that is why I brought it inside."
"Why does she need to come here, why can't you give it to her tomorrow?"
"Because she needs it tonight, I didn't know that this was going to be a big deal. Is this company policy or is this because it is her we are talking about?"
"I don't want her to come in this building, she left on bad terms, I don't even want her on my property. You are on my time, you should have done this on your own time."
"this is the only time that it works for the both of us... so you're telling me that if my husband needed to stop by and get something from me you're saying that he'd have to wait till I was done with work or get it from me before I get to work?"
"You should have thought about this before, you need to do this on your own time. She is not to be on this property."
"Well can I at least call her to let her know that she can't come to here? It will only take like a minute, what is the big deal?"
"You need to do this on your own time."
"She lives like 5 min away, can I go drop it off to her?"
"Yes"
I thought for sure that I was going to get fired when I came back from dropping it off, due to keeping relations with people who've gotten fired.
Also, 2 other of my friends were fired two days ago for "talking to each other" blah blah blah... WHAT A JERK!

Early Christmas in Vancouver Washington....

We had a fun time in WA with my sister, Andrea, her husband Mikke, and our 4 nieces: Ayden, Norah, Ivy, and Lydia!
It was soooo cold! Sure Logan's temperature is colder on the thermostat -7 degrees, but for some reason when it is wet and humid it is cold. Gosh, it was so cold that their church's water pipes froze and burst! That was an exciting Ward Christmas Party!
We didn't "do" a whole lot, other than play with the girls and help Andrea out with her party. We did go to Sushi Land, which is a sushi restaurant where the sushi is set on colored plates and are set on a conveyor belt that goes around through the tables. Of course each plate ranges from a buck to $3, the plates add up, still it fed 4 girls, and 4 adults for $75... not bad, still cheaper than others... I bet that chain would do well in Logan, UT.

The girls were well behaved and fun to be with, they were more mature and grown up than I remember. Ayden is 7, Norah 6, Ivy 4, Lydia 1. Ayden is really into sewing, Norah is into singing and acting, Ivy is still quite shy but she likes to read, and Lydia is in your face fun!

Most of these pictures are not from this last trip, it was during the summer at the tulip festival.

the girls haven't changed that much and we didn't take that many photos on our last trip.

The Spirit of Christmas...

This will be our First Christmas together as a married couple! we're so excited! So first thing we've done is gotten ourselves a tree- a microfiber light up one. It is small enough to put on top of our tv and big enough that we can put presents underneath.

This weekend, Thursday - Monday we'll be flying out to see my sister Andrea, her husband Mikke, and their 4 girls, Ayden, Norah, Ivy, and Lydia. Mikke tells me that they're all excited to see us, well, we're just as excited to see them! It's been about a year since We've seen the girls and since Mar or so since We've seen Mikke. I saw all of them a few months ago, during the summer I went to Lagoon with Mom, Dad, Dust, Andrea, Mikke, and the girls. Unfortunately Jeff had to work. :(

So this time it will be fun! We're planning on playing games, eating lots of good food, and spending quality time with one another.

New Moon....

We, Jeff and I, bought our Opening Night New Moon Tickets about 3 weeks ago, we didn't realize that the 19 of Nov was on a Thursday... I got off work at 5pm, Jeff had a business/accounting meeting to go to at 7pm... (not that we were rushed, the movie didn't start until 12:05AM Friday. We still had to drive down to Layton to meet up with my BFF Stacy (Suga) and her husband Nick. (It was middle ground since they live in Bountiful). I have read all the books and after watching Twilight the movie, Jeff was intrigued enough to read all of them as well.

The first movie, I was slightly disappointed with... I felt that the acting was mediocre (like the cast hadn't read the books and didn't know what they were doing but reading lines) the special effects were good which made up for the lack of low budget. Also, as a twilight fan before the movie came out, I was a little disappointed with the choice of cast crew members.

However, the second movie, NEW MOON, totally redeemed itself! perhaps the cast finally got comfortable with one another and they read the series, so they can really acted the part and or character. Plus, this movie seemed to flow better, not as jumpy and spacey as the last one.

The atmosphere of Opening Night... surrounded by teenage immature girls screaming and "goo goo gagaing" at every word Jacob or Edward spoke! VERY ANNOYING! however, it was really fun to go on a double date with 3 of my favorite people!

So for those of you who are unsure if you're going to watch the New Moon movie, if you've read the book and liked it you will like the movie.. just make sure you wait a few days so all the teenie bopper kids go and get out of the theatre before you watch it. It will make the movie that more enjoyable. And for those of you that didn't read the books, it is entertaining with drama love-triangle action! Not at all hard to follow, my friend Suga hadn't read past the first book and loved it!

Once the movie got over I was dead tired! I had to go to work in 4 hours! I slept all the way back home! :) worth it, even though I was barely functioning at work the next day... but so what my boss is a jerk-off!

Halloween 2009

Jeff and I stayed up late Oct 28, Wednesday night watching Gremlins 2 to carve our pumpkins. By the way, I had no idea that Gremlins was rated R, but it is a stupid movie... and the 2nd one was even stupider. We didn't even finish watching it cuz it was so dumb, however, we had a great time carving our pumpkins and making baked pumpkin seeds.

Melissa's pumpkin:
Jeff's pumpkin:

Our pumpkins:

Jeff's Halloween Costume... that he wore to the HOWL!

My Halloween Costume that I wore to the HOWL!
Jeff: Big baby with bum hangin out.
Melissa: Asian Future Girl aka.. 80's Futuristic Model
A Neighbor of ours that we don't know took this photo for us, it was a bit awkward!

close-up
The HOWL Official Photograph!

Finally the JOB(s)

I went in today for a job interview at eFurniture Showroom; which is an online furniture store. I went in to interview for the customer service sales rep position but did not end up getting it, fine by me, instead I'll be doing Technical Writing. Weird, I know but totally awesome!

Here's how the interview went:

Brian Clark (owner and interviewer): "What job are you here for? the technical writer or sales rep? There's been so many come in, I can't remember"
Me: "the customer service sales rep"
B: have you had any customer service experience?
M: Yes. I haven't had any sales experience though.
B: that's fine, it is basically inbound calls, customer calls in and you take their order. Are you still in school?
M: No. I graduated in Interior Design last December.
(his eyes got really big and his expression was truly excited)
B: Wow, that would be perfect then! What is your schedule like?
M: I'm free anytime, I don't have a job. What is the technical writing job?
B: How fast can you type?
M: 45 wpm, but the more I practice the faster I get.
B: True, well basically you'd write furniture descriptions for the website. Would you rather do customer service or technical writing? And when can you start?
M: technical writing, Monday.
B: Perfect! I just need to find you a computer. The job is M-F 8am-5pm, $9/hr and after 90 days you'll get a pay raise. Sound good?
M: You mean I got the job? I don't have to look for another job?
B: (smile) No you don't have to look any further, you got the job! we'll see you on Monday. Also, if you want to come to work wearing more comfortable clothes like jeans or something, that's absolutely fine. Sound Good?
M: oh, thank you!

So yes, I'm finally employed and I got what I wanted, don't work weekends, mostly won't have to work Sundays! and its close to where we live.

And the job that I got hired on a few months back, but just this last Monday Oct 12, I officially became Personal Design Assistant to Pamela Jensen, Senior Designer, for Atmosphere Interior Design.

Details: 6mo-1yr work as PDA (personal design assistant) working on both Senior's projects and my own
1yr -1.5yrs work as Junior Interior Designer working solely on my own projects and once in a while for Senior (Senior supervises my projects from start to finish- make sure I'm doing it right)
1.5yrs - 3yrs work as Junior Designer work on projects more alone ask for help when needed. (Senior is there to help when I need it, otherwise I am boss)
3yrs-5yrs promote to Senior Designer (may get a junior designer to train) own boss in every way.

Basically it is my responsibility to get my own clients, however, Atmosphere ID will print off the marketing tools for me. I have been gathering names for a database, it is like in the mission, you contact 1,000 people and only 2 get baptized.... send out upteen # of postcards and may only get 1 or 2 leads from it. It is however a great experience considering that they are willing to give me the real world experience before letting me loose to create havoc! hahaha... good and bad of course!

I'm so excited! the Lord has truly blessed me and my little family (Jeff and Me).. He truly wants us to succeed! :) with this job, we'll finally get to pay our tithing in full! yes!

Random but new change in the Smith Household

Sunday September 27, 2009 I dyed my hair black. I already had the dye from a previous shopping experience, so I didn't break the sabbath or anything... Anyway, I needed a change, you know how you get in those weird funks and you're just not sure what to do, well I always take drastic measures (usually my hair-so not attached to it like most people).

As I was getting used to my hair being black, I was still getting used to the fact that it has gotten so long- only over the course of a year and a few months has it grown from being just under my chin last July, to being a few inches below the shoulders in September! Having long hair is nothing new to me, I grew up with it being long- like when I came home from my mission, it was only a couple inches above my waist. The longer my hair gets the straighter it gets and the more time consuming it becomes- so without giving in to actually "doing" my hair, I'd either wear it in curls for half the day and then wear in up the rest of the time... but I had had enough, and so did Jeff...

so I got my friend Stacy Newman to cut it all off for me, she is an amazing hair stylist! she just recently got a job at a hair salon in Bountiful! I'm so excited for her! I love it! I guess it is sort of a pixie bob! I've got bangs again.

She may not be excited for this, but yesterday my bangs were really irritating me cuz no matter how I styled my hair my hair was in my eyes, so I leaned over the sink and with some scissors I cut my bangs, similarly to how she did mine originally. Anyway, they're much better now. :)

Labor day Vacation

(Sunset over Bear Lake, Idaho.)

This is my (Jeff) first attempt at blogging. I think my wife is very excited that i am contributing because she is hovering over my shoulder to teach me everything she knows, it's cute. For labor day weekend I wanted to take my gorgeous wife to somewhere she had never been so i took her to Paris.

(To the left is the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.)




(To the right is the Not-So-Eiffel-Tower in Paris, Idaho)




As you can see above there are some differences between the two Paris'. and you will never guess which one we visited. O.K. I will tell you we visited the 5-Star Not-So-Eiffel-Tower in Paris, Idaho. Melissa described it as being one of her most memorable experiences of all time and highly recommends that you book your reservation now.(below are some pictures of the accommodations)

After we got settled in and unpacked in the luxurious bed and breakfast, (featured above) room service arrived so we decided to step out to grab a bite to eat and take a dip in the pool, while they were tidying up the place.

(Above: Jeff and the Marvelously Mesmerizing Melissa enjoying Bear Lake's food and fun)

The pool was very spacious but i think the heating element was broken. the water was so cold Melissa couldn't stand to touch it even with her bum (see picture above). After we had had all the fun we could handle we returned to Paris... Idaho to sleep the night away in the luxury.

Note to those that care: some of the above information may be exaggerated.

(Jeff + Melissa!!)

Yellowstone.........................................................

The Road into Yellowstone from the South Entrance

like the crack in the windshield?

The Teton Mountains

Many much moosen! (but I think they were actually elk)

And many buffalos, we wanted to see lions, tigers, or bears oh my, but no, we only saw many much baffalo....

Old Faithful!

the walkabout around old faithful, all the geysers and such. A foreigner behind us asked if she could take a picture of us because we just looked so "qute"

One of the bigger mud valcanoes that we saw, the bubbles looked like something out of the Flinstones. it smelt like rotten eggs or FARTS! GROSS!


Our trip to Yellowstone was very spontaneous, we had talked about going for ages, but we weren't sure if we were actually going to go camping or not because it was Labor Day weekend, all the spots may be taken and what not, even though we packed, we didn't pack as much as we could of if we had just stopped to really think what we needed.

1. don't pack two sleeping bags- we only need one
2. we don't need padding- we're ruffing it
3. it won't be cold-bring only two blankets-we'll share
4. pack matches but don't bring wood
5. bring stuff for smores-but don't bother to bring hangers, we'll use sticks

It rained. It poured while we were setting up the tent and we didn't really pack rain gear either. :)
Even though our tent was purple, this is a pretty good picture of what it looked like after we set up our tent.

Even though it was cold, it was wet (it rained), there was no dry wood for fire or for smores, we bought subway and a few muffins for dinner and breakfast the day before so we were set, but rocks were uncomfortable to sleep on, and the one sleeping bag was way too small for the two of us to sleep restfully in, we really had fun and memorable time camping in the rain at Yellowstone National Park, I wouldn't change a thing about it, we laughed, we got wet, we cuddled, it was fun being out there with my hubby! However next time we will plan more strategically- at least bring padding to sleep on. Our trip was very fun and spontaneous!

the next day we drove around to see all that Yellowstone had to offer....
a petrified tree
a waterfall... obviously


Mammoth Hot Springsthe trees look dead, but they are not, they are actually growing out of the sulfer geyser!
Our Vacation was Awesome and Memorable!