Wordless Wednesday: Someone needs a Speak & Spell

Breaker box in the basement

Breaker box upstairs

Wordless Wednesday: Will work for massage

Come one, come all!

Whenever we visit my parents' home, my second oldest immediately sets up shop in one of the bedrooms and offers massages to the family complete with sign on the door and sign-up sheet outside. We all take advantage of it not only to humor her but also because they're so dang cheap. I'm talking 25 cents for a good 15 minutes. And if you're one of the lucky few, she'll even give you a coupon for a free massage. (Megan, you better give me back my coupon!)

This Christmas she enlisted the help of her younger brother. A couple questions:

1. How did she come up with the name Buggerts? It wouldn't be my first choice for a spa's name.
   
2. How did she convince her little brother to advertise for her via a homemade sandwich board sign?
3. Why was he so dang happy to help Lauren when he's usually happier pushing her buttons?
   

The answer to number one is still a mystery, but I'm thinking the answer to two and three is simply this: the perks rock. I'd walk around my parents' house advertising massages if it meant I scored one for free. (Honey, don't get any ideas...)

What kind of "shops" or businesses do your kids set up at home? Do they love the typical lemonade stand or do they do something a bit more creative?

Wordless Wednesday: Like father, like son

{sigh}

Two of my three most favorite men in the world!
(Yes, Dad, you're the other one!)

Wordless Wednesday: Pretty, pretty princess

Someday I will find a handsome prince who will love me just the way I am...

Wordless Wednesday: Did the Griswolds move in?

Hear that? That's the sound of the power meter spinning like it's never spun before!

This home is just a few blocks away and we love driving by it whenever we're out and about. Nothing like a gazillion colorful lights and animated decorations to put you in the holiday spirit! --Emily

Wordless Wednesday: Biting the hand that feeds you

"I know he followed you home but the answer is still no. In fact, it's 'snowball's chance' no!"

My girls had the chance to visit the Utah Museum of Natural History as part of a SassyScoops.com family review day. Can you tell they had a wonderful time? You can read more about what they had to say--I can guarantee you'll smile if not emit a chuckle--over on SassyScoops.com. You'll find the Preview here and the Sassies' (and my family's) take on it here.

The group also visited the Utah Museum of Fine Arts and had lunch catered by Red Butte Cafe so check out those reviews on SassyScoops.com over the next couple weeks! --Emily

Wordless Wednesday: The "Grammy"

Anyone else have a grandmother who goes in once a week to get her hair styled? That is what my latest "do" reminds me of...and this picture doesn't even do it justice. You can't tell just how flat it is smashed against my head and the true spikiness of it all. It's almost poetic. No, I am not suing my stylist--I adore her. This anomaly is due to my not feeling well and being in bed for about three days straight. Think I'll start a new trend? Yeah, didn't think so. --Emily

Wordless Wednesday: Thinking inside the box

Who needs Disneyland when you have a box and some super cool battery-operated light thingies from Walmart?

Wordless Wednesday: Do I need to pencil you in?

Do you think my two-year-old is trying to tell me something? Perhaps asking where she fits in my schedule?

Note my super gourmet meals of chicken fingers and pasta with alfredo sauce--hey, at least I planned something! Oh, and did you catch The Pioneer Woman Cooks book signing scheduled on the 4th; now THAT was a good time! You can read my post along with a handful of other recaps here. If you're curious about my fabulous planner (it really is fabulous when not covered in chocolate) it's from momAgenda. Their desktop planners rock!

By the way, the next page in my planner is covered in blue ballpoint pen. Yes, the "artist" struck again...

Wordless Wednesday: Looking for a sign

Today's Wordless Wednesday post is basically our recent vacation in signs. Enjoy!

This was the sign we noticed while waiting for our luggage at the San Juano airport. Who knew clipart could be so graphic?

And this was a store we discovered along Condado Street. Unfortunately it was closed. (If you can't make out the bottom, it reads "lingerie & booty parlor.")

A popular store in Old San Juan. No explanation needed.

Like I always tell my kids, write it in pencil first to make sure you have enough room!

We snapped this one while driving to the famous drive-in volcano on St. Lucia. Good to know I have a friend in my time of need...

I truly love this one. A humble confession booth for a very humble people. This was taken inside a very old, very beautiful church in St. Kitts.

What crazy signs have you seen while on vacation? Do share! --Emily

Wordless Wednesday: Gettin' saucy

"You'd tell me if I had sauce on my face, right?"

This is what happens when Mom and Dad go on vacation and Grandma and Grandpa are in charge! Good times! --Emily

Wordless Wednesday: Stress management

Nothing like a win-win situation and a budget-friendly way to manage your stress!

And just in case you can't read the sign:

GOT STRESS
YELL AT ME FOR
JUST $1.00
(or best offer)

and in the bottom right-hand corner:

HAHA Ain't a laugh worth something?

Yes, yes it is. --Emily

And the winner is...

A little while back I held a contest trying to find the best caption for this photo:

"No, like this, you bend, and SNAP!"

The prize was a freshly baked batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Apparently no one's tasted these cookies because only four of you entered. Had you had one of my famous homemade cookies hundreds of you would be clamoring for the win. (Okay, maybe not hundreds but at least tens of you!)

Though I loved all four entries the one that made me laugh out loud was from Azúcar and you'll find it included just below the photo above. And yes, it helped that Legally Blonde is one of my favorite movies.

Congratulations, Azúcar! You can expect a batch of my homemade cookies very, very soon! (And by very soon I mean as soon as I can bake in the kitchen without "help" from my toddlers.) But I'll make good on the win, don't you worry!

Thanks to those of you who took the time to comment. And for those who didn't (Mom, you so had a chance!), you're missing out on some dang good cookies! --Emily

Wordless Wednesday: "Pop!" goes the soda can

Is 9 a.m. too early to hit the caffeine?

This is what happens when your fridge's temp tends to run on the cold side. What you don't see is it running down the sides and back of the fridge, not to mention the splatter all over the door. Good thing I had just cleaned the fridge a couple weeks earlier when we moved into our new home--nothing like a clean canvas... --Emily

Wordless Wednesday: Are we having fun yet?

Can you tell who isn't enjoying the family hike?

Wordless Wednesday: The best caption wins!

{enter caption here}

I dare you to give me your best caption for this photo. It is one of many "fun" memories created during our move. I don't have anything super nifty to give away but I'm more than happy to send the winner a batch of freshly baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (as long as the winner is okay with homemade cookies from a non-commercial kitchen).

I'll be enlisting Nathan's help to choose a winner; he has a great sense of humor so the funnier the better! Okay, readers, quote away! --Emily

Wordless Wednesday: The fine art of sharing

If you didn't want to share, you'd tell me, right?

Wordless Wednesday: Livi loves her Papa

Whenever I say the word "Grandma," Livi immediately pipes in with "Papa!" or "Papa house!" She ADORES her Papa!

Wordless Wednesday: A super "sweet" smile

An evening walk around the neighborhood, a visit with friends, a juicy popsicle and the words, "Say cheese!"