just a little update.

kinda boring without a photo, but i felt an update was necessary.

first, finding the time to blog is becoming more and more difficult. 
maybe its because any free online time i get, i'm spending it on pinterest.
not sure how i'm going to keep this little ol blog moving along...

february was a crazy month for us. couldn't be happier to turn the page over to march.
chase and i had some pretty big decisions to make... one of which was accepting a new job.
chase officially starting working for fluid studios yesterday.
it's another local advertising/design agency and he'll be the business development/sales rep.
awesome opportunity.  we're both really excited!

i've been up to my elbows working for my dad's new company, inet solutions.
i've also been immersed in producing this year's sterling scholar awards ceremony for ksl.
throw in photo shoots, enrichment activities, and a two year old... busy is an understatement.
free time has been few and far between, but i thrive on busy (and those bonus paychecks aren't too bad either), so i'm not complaining (too much, i think).

how did i fail to mention that i tried potty training tate a few weeks ago?  yes, it's true.  we gave it a valiant two-week effort... made some great progress the first week, then totally regressed.  he's a smart little cookie.  too smart.  he was manipulative about the whole thing (like saying "potty" a million times to try to get out of taking a nap).... so, i tossed in the towel and will try again later.  pull-ups and a few potty trips per day is where we're at now.  like i said earlier, glad to have turned the page on the calendar.  potty training just about did me in.

anyways... tate is talking like crazy these days.  i really need to record his darling voice and words (and his slight lisp is quite frankly the cutest thing ever).  he's a crack up.  he's our little sponge and soaks up everything we're teaching him (aren't kids amazing that way?).   he loves his friends/cousins, church, riding his bike, playing "sharks" on our bed, helping mom with chores, popsicles, asking what's "that" all day, books, and just being an independent two year old.  he's a lot of work, but boy do we love that boy.

so there you have it.  one big boring update.
until next time...

future producer?

I think Tate has a future in television...

This is what happens when he stops by KSL to say hi... they put him to work!

whirlwind weekend

temple date night with friends.
girl's night out at the nicole hill meet-n-greet at alice lane.
moving one brother to herriman, and the other home from montana.
sweet lula's baby blessing.
hosted family dinner.
all this and not a single picture to show for it!


onto this week...
playing with my nieces
long hours at ThomasArts for chase
a baby shower
my big relief society enrichment activity
nbc biggest loser casting call
more sterling scholar program planning
deep cleaning the house (is it spring yet?)
chase, homework?
and cheering on the cougars and aggies!

new direction

"When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better."-anonymous

This quote has brought me some comfort the last several weeks.  God truly does work in mysterious ways.  Just when I thought my life was going along smoothly and everything was in it's right place, the Lord stopped me in my tracks and simple asked, "Will you obey and follow me?"


It's an odd feeling knowing I won't be headed into work tomorrow.  It's officially my first week home, full-time.  It's been a bitter sweet journey making the decision to leave KSL.  A huge leap of faith.  But, a higher power has something different in store for me (and a new door will open new opportunities).  I have thoroughly enjoyed my time there and have learned an unsurmountable depth of knowledge in a field I love.  I have worked hard for my career over the last five years and I will take away many skills, memories, and friends.  But as hard as it is to leave, I get to be home with my sweet boy everyday.  And maybe it's the Lord's way of simply saying, there's a time and a season for all things... slow down and simplify your life.  I can't help but think of Elder Uchtdorf's General Conference talk in October:

Let’s be honest; it’s rather easy to be busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. They flood the open spaces in their time with lists of meetings and minutia—even during times of stress and fatigue. Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives.

(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Of Things That Matter Most", Oct. 2010 LDS General Conference) 

Or Elder Faust's sweet words to his Granddaughters:

But, my dear granddaughters, you cannot do everything well at the same time. You cannot be a 100 percent wife, a 100 percent mother, a 100 percent church worker, a 100 percent career person, and a 100 percent public-service person at the same time. How can all of these roles be coordinated?...“The only answer I come up with is that you can have it sequentially. At one stage you may emphasize career, and at another marriage and nurturing young children, and at any point you will be aware of what is missing. If you are lucky, you will be able to fit everything in.”

     UAdd a Note 

Doing things sequentially—filling roles one at a time at different times—is not always possible, as we know, but it gives a woman the opportunity to do each thing well in its time and to fill a variety of roles in her life.

(James E. Faust, "A Message to my Granddaughters: Becoming Great Women," Ensign, Sept. 1986, 16)

So as I embark on this new journey and new role, I take comfort in knowing that I obediently took a leap of faith when I didn't have all the answers, and now I wait to see what's in store...

our costumes on tv

tate made his big television debut on studio 5 yesterday...

introducing me: "snorkeler attacked by a jellyfish" and tate: "sock monkey"

Me and the Rockettes

One of the perks of my job is I occasionally work with "famous" people.  I was lucky to be the producer for several promo spots we're doing with the Radio City Rockettes and their upcoming Christmas Spectacular (coming to Utah for the first time in November).

What do you think... could I pull it off?

the girls took over our news set...

my partners in crime...

They were so delightful and fun.  Reminded me of my dance days.

Thanks ladies!

Parade Season...

... is OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope you had a Happy 4th and 24th! 

back to the grind-UPDATED

We just returned home from Lake Mead.  Such a fun trip (and many pictures to come).

It's always hard coming back to "life," especially with a TO DO like this:

-Produce 5-minute video for ClearChoice "Star Spangled Smiles" contest-DONE
-Produce promotional spots for Days of '47 Parade and Float Preview Party
-Produce all visual elements for the parade
-Write announcer script for the parade (last year's was over 120 pages!)
-Talent coordination for all summer events-DONE
-Produce two launch videos for Ken Garff KSL Road to Success
-Produce promotional spots for KSL's "Read Today" campaign-DONE
-Produce spots for Park City Arts Festival
-Maintain all other job responsibilities
-Run a household, be a mommy, be a wifey
-Oh yea, and shop for Father's Day-DONE

Did I mention this all has to be done within a month or sooner?
Did I also mention I work part-time now?

Sigh. Scream. Grab some chocolate. Cry.
Yes, cry. Not enough time in the day.

Wish I was back at the lake...

back to work

I'm putting on a brave face this morning.

I have mixed emotions upon returning to work.

Thankfully Tate is in good hands.

We have the best moms in the world!

Christmas Craziness

The last two weeks have been quite eventful.

We love this crazy holiday season!

 I took my Beehive's to see Temple Square's lights...

We celebrated Matt's 29th birthday at Boondock's...

We received "great" white elephant gifts at my work party...

Mingled and met new people at Chase's work party

(no pictures)

We celebrated Kallie's 29th birthday

and special temple day...

Enjoyed great food, games and grandkids with the Cook Family

My "better than sex cupcakes" here a hit!

Increased my waistline at my work Breakfast...

and now we're wrapping up the final to-do's before Christmas...

and trying to get some sleep!

KSL plug

Two of my favorite bloggers will be featured on KSL this week!

Ree Drummond "The Pioneer Woman" on Studio 5 tomorrow at 11am
Stephanie Nielsen from "Nie Nie Dialogues" Thursday at 10pm.

famous faces

Top: Chris Waddell (paralympian), Governor Herbert, Kurt Bestor (musician)

Bottom: Derek Parra (speedskater), Carmen Rasmusen (singer)

The reason for me looking absolutely exhausted in all these photos...

... I've been working around the clock on a literacy video for the Ken Garff "Road to Success" Reading Program.

Sure was fun bumping into many famous faces!

Yea, I went there

Guess you could say I have a lot of school pride! Way to go Darts!
(except for your loss to Viewmont last night)

And nothing says fall better than changing leaves, good food, warm clothes and davis high football! Love it.

More {here}

Mascot Madness

We had a fun shoot last week at work with the sports guys and all 5 University mascots. Let's just say things got a little crazy!

Gotta love my Big Blue!

I SURVIVED...

... another parade season at work. I keep telling myself, "What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger." I'm exhausted today.

Hello Pres. Monson

President Monson came into KSL today to record a special message for the upcoming Days of 47 Parade. I just so happened to bump into him when he arrived. I said, "President Monson, how are you?" He smiled, shook my hand and said, "Is this the way all the pretty girls go? I better go this way then." What a little flirt. Love that man:)

Telethon

Thank you to everyone who called-in and opened your wallets! The 2009 KSL Telethon was a huge success, raising over $2.5 million in two days! The hospital holds special meaning to our family and we were grateful to have been able to help this year.

Steve and Ruth Schow, Rebecca Delight and me

my parents and me

Cell Phone Shocker!

I was asked to participate in this KSL 5 News Investigation. They gave me a cell phone for 10 days and simply asked me to take it with me wherever I went and use it for a few phone calls and text messages. After I returned the phone, I had the shock of a lifetime!

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

{Full KSL Story}

KSL Plug

I can't resist posting about these upcoming promotions at KSL. They're too good to share (and the marketing inside of me can't resist the easy promotion):

Click {here} to register for Studio 5's "Do we have a deal?"

If you think you have what it takes to be the next sensation for the hit NBC show, America's Got Talent, then show us your stuff! We are hosting auditions at Knight's Mattress in Lehi on Saturday, March 28th. See {here} for more info.

KSL.com has also launched it's new {announcements} page. Share wedding, baby, birthday, anniversary announcements on KSL for FREE.

Lastly, March is "ratings/sweeps." Be sure to watch KSL 5 for upcoming investigations and reports you don't want to miss.

Ok, I'm done. No more KSL plugs for awhile.

PCMC Radiothon

I'm no longer on the phones taking donations (while picking my eyelashes), but other volunteers are waiting.
Please give whatever you can to this year's
Primary Children's Medical Center- KSL Radiothon!

{Info}