how wonderful is this?

well i’ll tell you. it’s really, really wonderful!

edit:: for some reason the link is no longer working for me… but a company is going to re-start making instant film. They’ve acquired Polaroid’s old equipment and factory. It’s called The Impossible Project.

Sooo awesome!

My long-anticipated Polaroid SLR 680! I got it used and have been waiting for it foreeeeever. Literally. Anything longer than a few weeks is forever.

I love it! I’m so happy I don’t know what to do with myself. Now I just have to snatch up some film since Polaroid is no longer making instant film. Darn them. But Polaroids take such lovely, dreamy pictures.

My camera obession is taking hold… next on my list is a Diana F +. This could get out of hand.

I had to take a picture right away but I just bought the film and I’m at work and there aren’t so many pretty things around… so I took I picture of my giraffe mug that I was given from the SB Zoo. It looks like there’s a whitish blob. on the right corner but it must be a reflection from the light. There is no blob.

Waiting for the photo to develop… so fun!

The photo and the camera. It’s much prettier in person but you get the idea.

My long-anticipated Polaroid SLR 680! I got it used and have been waiting for it foreeeeever. Literally. Anything longer than a few weeks is forever.

I love it! I’m so happy I don’t know what to do with myself. Now I just have to snatch up some film since Polaroid is no longer making instant film. Darn them. But Polaroids take such lovely, dreamy pictures.

My camera obession is taking hold… next on my list is a Diana F +. This could get out of hand.

I had to take a picture right away but I just bought the film and I’m at work and there aren’t so many pretty things around… so I took I picture of my giraffe mug that I was given from the SB Zoo. It looks like there’s a whitish blob. on the right corner but it must be a reflection from the light. There is no blob.

Waiting for the photo to develop… so fun!

The photo and the camera. It’s much prettier in person but you get the idea.

I got all my papers together to file my taxes but I kept feeling like there was something else I was waiting for so I haven’t yet. (Yes, I like to do them early)

Then I realized this is the first year in um… 10 years?… that I’ve only had to file one state return. I’ve been in Cali for more than a year! Yippee! Yippee?

I had a surprise dentist appt. this morning. It was a surprise because I totally forgot about it until they called yesterday afternoon. Rats! My dentist is about 45 minutes away so it took a big chunk out of the day that I wasn’t planning on. There are several hygeneists in there and only one that I do not like. Her name is Daphne. When I asked who I was scheduled with they said Daphne. Double rats! I swear she hates teeth and wants to see them die. I asked as nicely as I could if I could please, please, PLEASE have someone else… ANYONE else. So they gave me Chris. He was great and I left without dried blood all along my gum line. But by the time I got home my teeth were sore so I took some Aleve. I think I just have really sensitive gums.

Last night I made beef stew. This was pretty ambitious for me but I think it turned out really well! This is the recipe:

Just sprinkle beef with salt and pepper, roll in some flour and brown in
a skillet on the stove.
Put beef in crock pot with some onions and carrots, thyme, a bay leaf,
two whole cloves pushed into one of the onion pieces, and several
garlic cloves. Pour in some port – not sure how much – maybe 1/2 cup?
and about 1/2 cup water.
Cook in crock pot for 5-6 hours on high or longer on low.
When it’s done, pour crock pot contents into an oven proof baking
dish, make some biscuit dough (I just used the instant kind), drop it
over the top and bake for as long the biscuit recipe indicates.
It’s actually more of a beef pot pie – and it was sooo good!

I’m not sure of exact measurements. I used maybe a little more than 2 lbs of beef. And 2 large carrots. Oh and halfway through the cooking I added two big stalks of celery chopped up because I thought it needed some more veg. Just easy on the garlic… 2 cloves is probably plenty.

One of my favorite things about this stew is that it DOESN’T have potatoes. Blech. And the alcohol cooks right out if anyone was wondering. Buying it however was fun. I spent 20 minutes in the liquer section too embarrassed to ask for help until some nice guy took pity on me.

Oh and I totally blew my no-shopping-this-month goal. I found out last week my car needed new brakes. So after I shelled out the money for that I was mad at being forced to spend my money on something I DIDN’T want and so I needed to rebel and spend my money on something I DID want. I understand that this isn’t exactly logical but there you go. I returned a couple tops to Old Navy that I didn’t end up giving for Christmas and got 2 tops for myself. So really I only spent $6.99 but still.

Now that I’m on a cooking roll I am looking through my cookbooks to find something else yummy!

Now is probably not a good time for me to be blogging.

I just got back from Stephanie’s funeral, I’m a little sad, and have a little bit of a stomach ache. And I spent most of the day with my contacts in the wrong eyes. Whoops that was my fault.

First let me say that the funeral was nice. There were a lot of people at the chapel for the memorial service and even more people at Pepper Tree Ranch afterwards. Stephanie was beloved and it was wonderful to spend the afternoon reminiscing and being with friends and looking at her beautiful photography. It was really beautiful but sad. Very sad. Cammy spoke about her “Mommy Honey” and friends shared stories and memories. Allen’s band played Can’t You See (by Marshall Tucker Band) because when he was learning it she told him it was her favorite song. And the end of the service we were all standing around a grassy area at the ranch and we were told to turn to the person on your right and your left and give them a hug while the song What a Wonderful World played. I love that song and it really is a wonderful world… it’s just sad Stephanie is no longer a part of it.

The other thing is that I’ve been looking back over my blog entries and have realized that maybe many of you are thinking to yourselves, “Doesn’t Vanessa have a life? All she blogs about is puppies and primary and super long random lists.” And I’d want to respond, “Of course I have a life.” But the honest to goodness truth is that over the last year I think I’ve slowly turned into a hermit. I ran into so many old friends this weekend that still live around here that I just don’t see hardly ever. Why don’t I see them? Cause I’m a hermit. Maybe it’s because I have a super long commute every day, maybe it’s because of all of the drama going on in my family, maybe it’s because the singles ward/institute is too far away … I don’t know. But I hate the feeling that I’m drifting away from friends. Especially the ones that are right here.
I don’t mean for this to sound super whiney.. but when the only thing you can think of to blog about is a fish lips planter… you have to wonder.

edited 01/18/09… because my blog can be boring. i like it.

I’m on a posting spree or something.

I don’t think I’ve ever bought a calendar before the first of the year. I always wait till February or so and then they are on sale. But I the other day I ordered this calender from Etsy.com… It’s so pretty I can’t wait to get it!!

And then I bought this fish lips planter because it was so cute and only $4!

I’m on a posting spree or something.

I don’t think I’ve ever bought a calendar before the first of the year. I always wait till February or so and then they are on sale. But I the other day I ordered this calender from Etsy.com… It’s so pretty I can’t wait to get it!!

And then I bought this fish lips planter because it was so cute and only $4!

I missed church last week because I was sick with the flu/bronchitis/plague/whatever. So I go this week and surprise, surprise they have combined my class with the Sunbeams class and now I have 14 little children in my class. That’s right 14. There is still only one of me. We were in singing time and there was Maggie with her class of 5 of the older kids and me with mine. Just as we were starting Maggie asked, “Is that all one class?” Yes. Yes it is. Keller (he’s 8) said, “It’s like Jesus with all the children gather around him.” Ha! What I’ve got here is the exact opposite of that. And opposite is opposite.

But… in spite of the fact that I’m somewhat terrified I love them! My last post about them you heard all about their wild ways but they really are so sweet. Tessa and Camryn are sweet and always want to hold my hands. Bryson will always say, “Excuse me. Can I ask a question?” before asking a question. Isaac sings the loudest and always has a sneaky little grin on his face that I love and always makes me laugh because his scriptures are mysteriously missing half of the New Testament. (He didn’t rip them out they are just gone.) Miranda always wants to help me and loves to say prayers. Mason is so sweet and quiet it’s easy to forget he’s there. Tessa told her mom I’m her best friend in Primary. Mclain almost always knows the answer and if I don’t call on her right away she gets this look on her face like she’s in serious pain. Camryn likes it when I call her Fred. Kiana always helps me clean up. Tyler is always eager to participate. And the rest of them are just as sweet.

But I really hope they call someone to co-teach.

PS – I hate the movie Dances With Wolves. A lot.

PPS – I am bidding on a Polaroid camera on eBay so please cross your fingers that no one outbids me today, because it’s Sunday and I won’t check again till tomorrow.

Rather than making New Year’s resolutions I’m re-doing my list of 101 in 1,001.

Triplux 101 in 1,001 challenge:

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past – frequently simple goals such as new year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

My end date for task: Saturday, October 1, 2011 – I found that date using this.

And finally, my list of tasks is located here. I plan to repost this link on the first of every month with an update of how things are coming along. (I will update the site otherwise, but just remind you all of it’s existence on the first of the month.)