Phrases I don't like

"Everything happens for a reason"
What does that even mean? I have always wondered. Why do people believe this?

Well, literally, yes everything happens for a reason. The reason someone gets hit by a train, is because...they were in front of a train.
But people tend to use this phrase in situations like...they didn't get a house they put an offer on, people often give this "advice" to couples struggling with infertility (LAST thing they want to hear, PS) (edited to say, I can't speak for ALL people struggling with infertility..just the ones who have told me this), not getting a job you interviewed for, etc.

No, you didn't get that job you interviewed for because they felt someone else was better for it. If you sleep through your alarm on your way to work doesn't mean if you woke up on time you would have gotten in a car wreck.

Are you pickin' up what I'm puttin' down?

Take 9/11 terrorist attack for example. All those stories of people that were sick that day, slept through their alarm, etc and weren't at the World Trade Center that day and therefore didn't die....They weren't supposed to die, but everyone else who was responsible and showed up WERE supposed to? Puh-lease.

I believe God gives us blessings. Many blessings. Especially when we keep his commandments. But our lives are NOT determined. Yes, God knows what is going to happen but that doesn't mean you can coast through life. You gotta grab the bull by the balls, so to speak. If you want something, go get it. "Oh, I didn't get the job I wanted. Guess it wasn't meant to be. I'll just hold a little ceasars sign on the sidewalk." Can I get an AMEN?
Edited to add one more example...WARNING, its a sad example. How about stillbirth, due to doctor error? What reason did that happen for?? Maybe I'm just looking into it too literally, but if my baby passed away and I knew it was because of the doctor, I couldnt brush it off and say "Oh, these things happen for a reason."


"Never regret anything, because at the time it was something you wanted."
Yeah, at the time, you were also a big dumb idiot! Or just inexperienced with life, is a better way to put it, I guess?
People who say they never regret things [seem to be] the type of people that don't grow and progress as a person, or haven't done so yet. I've made many stupid mistakes in my life, and you better believe I wish I could have learned the lessons I did in another way. However, in a lot of ways I think I have learned life lessons by observing as well (i.e. Ya know when a girl "waits" for a missionary, and then 98% of the time one of them change their mind about the other within the next 2 years? Yeah, I gathered enough statistics to dodge that crap-fest. Its all about setting the correct expectations.)



I guess this can be good, like, I'm a HUGE worry wart..but the only person I knew to say this quote was the laziest person ever. So I don't like it.

Stress.

Saturday night, I had a meltdown. Unfortunately it was in front of about 15 peers of mine that I highly respect.

I'll explain, you see. I received a text 3 weeks ago from my friend's husband inviting me to a surprise birthday party for his wife! Aw! What can I bring! I'd love to bring a salad!
OK, be there at 7:30.

(Now I thought to myself, "Self, do not be late.")

Well. We were late.

We are "those people" that are late to EVERYTHING. Last time I was on time to church? Couldn't tell ya, but good thing it isn't a temple recommend question: Do you do your best to be on time to church?

Anyway, I ask friend's husband (who is also my friend too) if he wants us to wait in the car til after she gets there so we don't spoil the surprise. He says yes, wait. So I say "Ok, let me know when we can come in". Kaius and Monroe wake up because we stop, and start with the whining and crying. 10 minutes waiting in the car goes by. I text him again and say "Wheres this chick at??" no answer. Another 10 minutes goes by and by this time Kaius is screaming bloody murder (Why...oh, my Mom said he had a poopy diaper before we left. I didn't change it, did you change it babe? aw crap.) So we drive down the road out of visual range, and change his diaper. I then text "Hey is your phone off? Cuz my kids are havin' a meltdown and I need an update" no answer. I'm thinking this poor guy is stressed to the max trying to carry out his master plan of doing something sweet for his wife, and he probably isn't looking at his phone, or he is WITH her and doesn't want his phone blowing up.
Plus, this is what we get for being late. Josh and I kept saying that. Its all our fault.
Then next 10 minutes I spend looking up white pages trying to look up her house phone number so I can call the party to see whats up. I found it! oh fax number. I don't have ANYONES number that would be at that party?? Oh, BRAD!
dialing....Hi is Brad there?
"No. This is NOT Brad's phone anymore."
Woops, sorry buddy.
After a half hour of waiting I just run to the house, stealth style. Knock on the door and I see everyone is having a lovely meal. Real cool, friend's husband, real cool. He realizes he forgot to send me the text to come in and I see how sorry he is. I could see it on his face, he feels so bad. I say its not his fault, but say we have to leave because I'm too stressed out. The chin starts trembling and I jet off back to the car. Total diva style.

Josh and I talked..why am I so stressed out? Oh yeah. Cuz I am lacking some serious Zumba in my life. I used to go every day of the week, but since we moved, I haven't found a class I like. I'm picky. Kaius is in his terrible twos....WAY bad right now. Its like he has a goal to make me raise my voice at him. He likes me to yell at him. I give him TONS of positive attention and CANDY when he does something awesome. Which is, like, currency in our house. Remember that facebook status "AAAAH TODDLER FOR SALE!!" (which was just a joke, CPS) its because he pretty much landed on Monroe's face with his elbow. He gets frustrated and hits us or bites us. Whatever, bottom line, I need a freakin break. A daily break to go exercise and be away from the crazies.

My lovely sister Jana invited me a week ago or so to come to California to get certified to be a Zumba instructor. Josh and I decided last night, we're gunna do it. He said if it makes me happy, do it. He said "I am pro-you being happy".
So, we booked our flight (our only and last chance EVER to have both kids on a flight with us, for FREEEEEEEEEEEEE since they are both under 2. Kaius will turn 2 like a week after we get back.

Oh, and its with Gina Grant, who is a big celebrity I guess in the Zumba world!




All my Zumba girls were jealous, anyway.
I'm pumped!!!

Laundry Stain Remover & Other Mushy Stuff

Been a long-time lover of

Shout Advanced. I still have a bottle I'm using actually. But the last few times I've gone to my Dad's in California, he keeps asking me if I've tried this stuff

If you see the little picture on top, its a picture of clothes (pants, shirt, shorts) on a clothesline. He has told me all the things he's gotten out of clothes using it. Oil, grease, blood, etc. And I go, "cool Dad" and then I forget every time I go to Wal Mart. Well, a couple weeks ago when I was in the pharmacy section looking for mineral oil for our


Awesome lady lamp. Have you seen one of these in action, by the way? They're pretty nifty. Anyway, you know how people pick stuff up and then decide they don't want it later and then just dump it wherever (that's GOTTA be annoying for the employees) well, staring me in the face was this container of GOOP. So I snatched it.

I used it on a permanent marker stain and it reduced it significantly. Its gotten oil stains out easily.
Its around a $1 and you can find it in the automotive section. Shout is about $6 for a teensy bottle.

Josh had an oil rain lamp like the one pictured above growing up. They were common for decor in the 70's. Fits our house awesomely! So its a nostalgic piece, but not only for Josh.
Back when I thought Josh was just a good, macho friend of mine...I found out that his parents lived about 10 minutes from my Dad in California (1st date was day after Halloween). Perfect! I'll get a cheap ride since we'll split gas. Well, we pretty much fell in love the 10 hour ride there. I had thanksgiving dinner with his family and there at their house was this crazy looking unclothed (chose that word, instead of the obvious word, so people googling that word will NOT find this blog) statue rain lamp. After dinner we watched princess bride (I had never seen it before) while cuddling. He turned over to me and whispered "I love you" I let out a sigh as if to say "Finally you say it!" and told him I loved him too. We spent the rest of the night talking and pretty much decided my last name wasn't going to be Oler very much longer. No games. He was hot. I was hot. He liked me, I liked him. Lets get married. Lets have babies. Sounds great.

So, that lamp reminds me very much of that night, as it was about 3 feet from me as Josh professed his undying love for me.

Also, some other movies I had never seen before I met Josh: Dirty Dancing, Karate Kid, Casablanca, The Twilight Zone, Ferris Beuller's Day off.

Ramblings

-I don't go to blogs to look at pictures. I will only read a blog if I like the writing style or I just love them. And can laugh at themselves. When people only post the rainbows and butterflies of life, I get bored. ( I do like pictures though, of course)

-Yesterday morning, Kaius climbed in bed with us and started cuddling with me. It was tender. He was still sleepy. He looked up with me and started rubbing my cheek, lovingly. Then he gave me a super cheesy smile! All of this was a rarity. Usually Daddy gets all the lovin'. Then he reached his arm up like he was stretching. His arm cocked back, and he punched me square in the nose. I was stunned. I woke up Josh and made him take Kaius to time out. I cried a little. I hate the terrible twos.

-The last week I actually tried to keep my house clean. I did laundry every day, did dishes every day, and constantly picked up everyone's crap. My house still looks like crap. So disappointing. Keeping a house clean is hard work. I feel so defeated because I feel like I gave it my all.

-You know how they make back massaging chairs? I think they should make back tickle chairs. It would have to be randomized somehow, cuz the same pattern would get annoying.

- I just recently became obsessed with lighting. I love crazy eclectic pendants and I love chandeliers. One day every room in my house will have something awesome.

-My "grown up" life is kind of how I pictured it would be, in every way. I would think that is rare for someone to feel that way, but maybe not. I always wanted to be married in the temple to someone awesome. I wanted to have a boy first, and a girl second...so he could "protect" her from smelly boys. I didn't want to marry for money like some of my friends said they wanted to (some say they wanted to marry a doctor or lawyer, but we all say crazy things as kids). I never had dreams or even thoughts of what my wedding would look/be like. It was always "who". Who will it be? Although my wedding was really special, I don't think I would have been terribly mad with just a day with Josh and I. Wow, epiphany...wedding receptions should totally be like a week after the wedding. The last thing you want to do right after you're officially husband and wife is surround yourself with a bunch of friends (and strangers) and plaster smiles on your faces. You want to get naked.

-I don't like it when people complain publicly about not having money. Especially when they are stay at home moms. It kind of knocks their husband, if he is working really hard. You should always treat your man...like a MAN. (this is not meant to hurt any feelings. Its just how I feel. Not directed passive aggressively at any one person.)

-I always wonder about the other worlds God has created. Do they have colors that we don't have here?

-I often really wish that our society didn't have a currency system. If you've read The Host by Stephenie Meyer, they don't have money to incentivize themselves to work. They all work together in their society and only take what they need. I wish we were like that. Most people aren't. Not to toot Josh's horn, well yes actually, to toot his horn...Josh likes to work. He would work if money didn't exist. He likes to help people. I, on the other hand, would LOVE to sit on the couch and do nothing. I appreciate silence so much these days.

- I am a home body. I probably leave the house maybe once during the 5 day work week. I love being home. I like going out on the weekends most of the time.

- I am not really a phone person. I text occasionally, and I will definitely talk on the phone about plans to do something or something important is going on. But I'm not the type to get to know someone over the phone. I'd rather talk face to face.

- I definitely do know there are mental disorders and that people can have chemicals in their brain to make them feel depressed or sad. I do believe that sometimes medication is needed in some cases. But I also think all humans go through ruts. I believe we have the power to change our minds by serving others, or planting a garden, or painting a picture, or..anything like that. Its different for every person of course. I think everyone feels good when they've helped someone out. I also feel I have already blogged about this.

- My Dad often tells the same stories over and over. I'm sure I'm turning into him hahaha.

- I wish I was crafty and didn't have to get all my ideas from the internet. I wish I could just think of a fabulous idea for a cute & funky pendant lamp that would cost me $5 for the light mechanism.

-I was appointed as the Chairperson (or whatever) for the Lehi High 2005 High school 10 year reunion in 2015. I'm excited but I have no idea what to do yet. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Another Mistake

Sorry, H & M...thirteen grand is a little out of my price range.

I gotta get this out there.

I've been kinda MIA on my blog and Facebook. Its because of this:

I aaam addicted. to.

to.


to.

ONLINE BARGAINS AND FREEBIES.
*exhales loudly*

I'm sure you've seen my posts on facebook. Free sample here, Free Swiffer 360 there, Free bottle of fabric softener, free jamberry nails, free teeth whitening pen... see? I can't stop.

I've been wanting to post this for a while. I feel obligated to share things with friends, because I spend a lot of hours each week looking for free stuff and bargains...I want to benefit more than myself. I always think "Oh, everyone should get this pack of 40 batteries for $8...to have in their food storage stuff for flashlights" or something like that. So I'm just gunna post what I've found to be helpful.

Read it or ignore it.

I'm just going to purge it and then it wont be bugging me.

I check thedealyo.com and freebies2deals.com each day a few times each. I also follow them on facebook and sometimes they'll tell me about something urgent that I GOTTA have.

I take online surveys for $$, or test out products for either free, cheap, or THEY pay ME. For example, at Vindale.com They had an offer for mineral makeup, you pay $10 for the trial, but they put $15 in your account. -$10+$15=+$5 !

They paid ME to try their makeup. Then after you try it, you fill out a survey on how you liked the product/ordering process. They usually credit your account on Vindale very quickly.

For months I always thought "What the heck is Swagbucks, and why do so many of my friends post about it??
I'll sum it up.
Do you use GOOGLE, YAHOO, or BING search engines? Well, Swagbucks is the same thing, only you get points for using their website to search (its random, like every 8th search or so you get points). Then with your points, you can get giftcards. I find the most popular one to get is the $5 amazon giftcard. I've only been on there 4 months or so, and I've earned 2 Amazon giftcards. There are MANY other ways of earning 'Bucks (surveys, special offers like netflix, etc) But I choose not to, out of laziness.

Ok. There ya go. I'll only blog about awesome family stuff now :)

PHOTOSHOPPED??

I mean, COME ON. If you're gunna do it, do it well.