Jaylene's Like, Totally Awesome Birthday Party

January 29th was my sister Jaylene's 31st birthday. I still can't believe she's 31 already since I vividly remember the day she was born (ugh, I'm old.) Jaylene is a super fun girl who loves any excuse to have a party and this birthday was no different. She had an 80s Prom themed party last night with about 25 friends and family members. I didn't get a prom dress but did get a new 'do and some hot 80s makeup for the occasion (thanks to my sister Jana for the awesome makeover.) I was rocking the waterfall pony complete with scrunchy and amazing bangs...wouldn't you agree?

Here's a pic of my mom and the birthday girl. Jaylene looked hot in a royal blue ensemble. My mom had some nicely colored hair for the evening to go with her satin & lace gown.

My mom also won the moonwalk contest (yes, really) and she was crowned prom queen! Isn't that the greatest?


Jaylene's brother-in-law Brandon was prom king. Here he is looking a lot like Joe Dirt with his cute wife Sarah.

My sister Jenilee had a totally awesome side pony. Here she is with her date Keith (her BFF from high school & fill in for her deployed husband Matt.) Note the corsage & boutonniere -- Jaylene had them for all of the guests.

We played some awesome games: pin the glove on Michael Jackson, guess the 80s TV show theme song and 80s slang bingo. We also played the birthday girl's favorite game which is to have all of the guests close our eyes while she has us try a bite of some of her favorite foods and then we have to guess what it is, just by tasting. Jaylene's favorite foods included kettle corn, cornbread, peanut butter M&Ms, old fashioned donuts, cheddar & sour cream ruffles and Twix. You should try this at a party sometime. It's fun to watch everyone with their mouths open like birds and it's actually kind of challenging to guess what the foods are.

One of the coolest things Jaylene did was get these scratch tickets made -- mine was a winner! I won a Cold Stone Creamery gift card - yum.


The big finale was a surprise appearance by Aaron Neville and Linda Ronstadt singing their smash hit duet "Don't Know Much." Here's a pic of Aaron...check out the mole!

I video'd it but it was too dark in the room so it's a pitch black video. Keith recorded it too so if his is better, I'll link it for you. Seriously, they sounded just like them.

Anyway, it was a super fun party. Jaylene is a fantastic hostess and an even better sister. Love ya, Bethy!

Just call me Veruca

Why, you ask? At the risk of sounding whiny or being pitied, I'm feeling Veruca-ish lately because I want more than what I have right now. I'm not talking about "things" like Veruca. I have lots of things (and let's be real, way too many things.) What I want is bigger and better than a golden goose or an oompa loompa.

I want to feel hopeful that I'll marry someday.

I want to shake the little black rain cloud that's been permanently parked over my head the past month.

I want to come home to someone, not an empty house.

I want a nice guy to love me and I want to love him back.

I want to know why in the pre-existence I said "yes" to this life of singleness.

I want to again appreciate the wonderful things in my life instead of just focusing on what's missing.

I know I'm important.
I know I'm special.
I know I'm loved.

But I want more. And like Veruca, I want it now.

(Except I don't want any comments -- just throw a prayer or two my way when you think about it.)

Random questions -- Jake the Bachelor Recap

A half hearted list of questions this week...this episode didn't grab me and I actually fell asleep before it ended.

1. A road trip? Jake in a tent? Seriously? My friend Kevin wonders if they wanted to cut the budget a bit this time. Have I mentioned that one of my dream vacations is to take an RV and just drive somewhere? I would love it. I would not however love to be in an RV with any of these women.

2. Who else doesn't believe Jake drove from place to place on his motorcyle?

3. Can Vienna be more annoying? She is so obnoxious and it seemed like she was getting on Jake's last nerve even though he still gave her a rose. Hopefully she's out next week.

4. Can Tenley be any cuter? Even though part of me still thinks he's not going to choose a girl at the end, I can totally see him choosing her.

5. Was the one-on-one time between Ashleigh and Jake the most uncomfortable thing ever? I'm still feeling creeped out by that AND the yucky furniture they were sitting on in that inn.

6. How many yellow dresses does Ali have? Or is she wearing the same one over and over?

7. Do they ever talk about their lives, their families, their hopes and dreams during their one-on-one times? It seems like all they do is tattle about Vienna and kiss.

8. Is it just me or is this season flying by? I can't believe they are down to 5 already. I loved how hardcore Jake was this week. Cutting women out left and right! Roses in the fire! Calling for Chris Harrison! That's a man who takes charge, I tell ya.

The previews looked good for next week. Can't wait!

Blogs I Loved This Week + a TV Recommendation

First, tonight begins a new Masterpiece Classic version of Jane Austen's Emma (I think it's on the next 3 weeks.) I love these movies and can't wait to see this one!

Second, I'm not trying to make anyone feel bad because truly, I loved all of your blogs this week. Really! But there were three that I wanted to share with my friends who read this blog because 1. I thought they contained good information, 2. I thought the topic made for good discussion and 3. I just really liked reading them.

First, Elizabeth's blog entry "Dating Advice for Girls." Elizabeth is a real life friend and she's clever, smart and funny and she says a lot of things I agree with. I'd love to know what you think of some of her advice so go read and comment.

Next, Jill's blog entry, "5:24 PM." Read this and remember to do what Jill did the next time you're almost at the end of your rope (parenting or otherwise.)

Finally, Celia's blog entry, "Mi Pod." This is a list of podcasts Celia listens to. I never listen to podcasts and I'm not sure why. However, as soon as I read this, I searched in iTunes for the "Converations-A Mormon Channel Original" and downloaded some of them. General Conference is also on here (search podcasts LDS.) You can listen to them on your computer or you can save them on your iPod/iPhone to listen to when you're out and about. Excellent stuff and hello, totally free! The only podcasts I've ever listened to are American's Test Kitchen episodes and a couple of Jane Austen audiobooks. I'm going to get more.

Thanks to Elizabeth, Jill & Celia for giving me good stuff to read this week!!

What I did this week (Oh but my life is exciting)

1. Worked (Love my job but wish I could pick and choose when I go in. ha.)
2. Hurt my back (it's better now)
3. Took my car in to get the truck dent fixed (they gave me a Chevy Traverse to drive - 8 seatbelts, people! I was totally wishing I had a carpool shift to take over for someone.)
4. Mailed back to Netflix one of the "Mad Men" season 1 DVDs I've had since July. Yes, you read that right. JULY! (I am terrible at Netflix.)
5. Had lunch at Baja Fresh with visiting teaching friends (yum)
6. Hung out with Kim, Kara and Jonathan (Jonathan loves me now that his aunties are out of the picture!)
7. Lost weight at WW (9 members of my stake now go to our meeting - very fun. The mormons are taking over!)
8. Bought a cute new sweater, cami, black pants and jeans (I need to get better at tossing out old stuff when I buy new stuff. Anyone have that mastered?)

Today Kim and I are going to see Lost in Yonkers (no music - will I stay awake?) and Panera. Okay, and we'll make a stop at See's. We deserve a treat! Tonight, Krysta and I are going to dinner and then to see Leap Year. Hope it's good. Tomorrow I've got something fun planned for Primary. Fun weekend, right?

Bachelor Jake Recap - more letters

I know it's redundant but I have more to say to these Bachelor people...thus, more letters this week!

Dear Producers,
Is it really necessary to choose dates that cause the people who go on them such pain? Know what else? Watching them is not that fun for the viewer either. More cool airplane ride/classic car/70s rock band dates please.

Dear Michelle,
I'm glad you think you're so attractive and how that makes you the total opposite of Vienna. How about next reality show you're on, just say "I'm pretty, she's ugly" and I'll respect you a lot more. Oh and when you have to say "I'm not desperate?" It actually means you totally are. And finally, I may not date as much as you so I'm probably guessing here but I think it's probably not a good idea to tell guys you've known for two weeks "I really, really, really want a husband." Michelle, I know it's TV and there's editing involved but you sure came off like a psycho nutjob on this show. Like I said last week, please consider therapy. I'm hoping you get your crazy reined in before you start giving your mom some grandbabies. Just my two cents...

Dear Ella,
I'm totally jealous you got to go to Sea World but what were you wearing on that date? A tunic as a dress and slouchy boots? Not your cutest outfit. I know you're only 29 but seriously, you look and act 10 years older than Jake (and I know it has nothing to do with the fact that you're a mom.) I'd love to help with your makeover so call me!

Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Elizabeth...
Admit it. You ARE a tease. Sorry but you might need to talk to a counselor too...maybe someone will offer a bachelor reject group rate. I'd love to see you get that whole kiss me/don't kiss me thing figured out for next time, okay?

Dear Jake,
You really like Vienna that much?

Seriously? No really. SERIOUSLY???

Dear everyone else,
Lose the wenchy, whiny, pouty faces. And I know it's hard but just stop griping to Jake about the girls you don't like. It makes you look ugly and we don't like watching ugly people. We're all about the pretty here. Plus it made that horribly painful to watch stand up "comedy" date probably the worst segment of this show I've ever had to sit through.

Here's hoping next week is more fun to watch!

xoxo
Jeanelle

The real me!

Some of my favorite bloggers (Holly, Jessica, Lindsey, Stie and many more) recently did a "real" post and I decided to get brave and do the same thing.

I like smiling most of the time. I like giving off the impression that all is well in my world. I wear makeup every day. My hair is "done" every day. I try to dress nice most of the time. On my blog, I generally talk about the stuff running through my head, the stuff I love, the TV shows I'm obsessed with but truth be told, I don't spend a lot of time writing about the bad stuff. For example, I'm not going to write that I spent most of tonight crying about feeling alone because what good will it do? So yeah, my blog is a glossier version of me. Thanks for asking!

To give you some idea of who I really am, deep down, this is who I strive to be.

Ah, Mary. Practically perfect in every way, aren't you? How would it be to be you??

I will never know because this is who I really am:

Here I am with a freshly washed face, a gigantic smile to hide the double chin and still wearing this year's Christmas pajamas. If you look closely you can see the Bag Balm I have to put on the dry patches around my eyes (the ones I get every winter without fail and no beauty product will repair. Help...anyone?) Oh and please note the full drying rack behind me that is now holding completely dry clothes that should have been put away 3 days ago. Nice, huh?

And because I'm really keeping it real, I wanted to show you my "it hasn't even been three stinking months since my last color/foil" roots. Horrible, no? The flash does accentuate the gray a bit but that is one scary head of hair, folks.

Besides the hair and skin issues, I have some habits/traits that I'm not the least bit proud of and generally do not make the blog. They include:

1. I am habitually late. I frequently don't get to church until the 2nd verse of the Sacrament song. I'm nearly always late to work which means I work through my lunch or late most nights. I'm always in a hurry, always trying to accomplish too much in too little time, always wanting to sleep just a few minutes longer.

2. I'm a paper piler. It's bad, people.

3. I'm a sore loser when playing games. I have tried to improve in this area but I still have a long way to go. I've gotten better at just enjoying whatever game we're playing but sometimes (when I lose over and over mainly) I feel whiny and pouty about losing. What am I? Three???

4. I'm horribly impatient and sometimes snappish. It breaks my heart when I'm short with people I love (not so with people who don't mean as much to me but that's still not a good thing.) I know as soon as the snippy comment comes out of my mouth and hangs there in the air that I've been a jerk and I'm dying to grab it back before it hurts anyone. Ugh.

5. I'm vain. I hate it when I wear something new to work and nobody notices or comments and I think I love too much being told I'm pretty or that I look younger than I really am.

That's enough, right? I don't think I hide THAT much of myself on the blog but for various reasons, I generally don't go that deeply into who I really am. But every so often, when I'm not talking about reality TV, I will open up my heart and share the real Jeanelle. And when I do, I'm happy (like here and here.)