Saturday, July 28, 2007

Porn for Women...I feel so scandalous!

Oooh. It's hot in here ladies! My friend Toni sent these to me and I have not been able to stop looking at them since! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.



Friday, July 27, 2007

bracelets for all....


After yesterday's controversial post, I decided that we need to put our differences behind us and join together in friendship. So, I made you all a cyber friendship bracelet to wear in remebrance of all the commonalities that we do share. Love you all, Ali.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Judge Ali Weighs in....

This season of So You Think You Can Dance has taken some warming up to. Troy and I have been struggling to find a "favorite". After last night's show, I have come up with a few opinions/critiques that I would like to share:

JAMIE
I think Jamie is an incredible dancer, but she bugs the heck out of me! Her squeeky voice is like nails on a chalkboard for me. She is the type of person I could see 10 years from now living in an apartment, single, with 15 cats and unicorn posters adorning her walls. Does she have my vote? NO.



LACEY
Now Lacey...this is a tough one. There is no arguing that the girl can stinkin' tear it up on the dance floor. Plus, she shares my same religious affiliation. But does that mean she should get my vote? Hummm. I am bugged by a couple of things. First, couldn't you represent the Mormon religion a little better? I mean, do you have to do so many hip thrusts, crotch grabs, and seductive dances. How hard would it be to ask the choreographer for something a little less provocative. But part of me thinks she LOVES the attention. Second, have you ever noticed how much the girl tries to get camera time? sheesh. does she have my vote? probably not. (Sorry Patience....don't hate me)



LAUREN
Lauren has been kind of a wild card for me. I really like her and her personality, but until last night I was not convinced about her skills. I think her performance last night was awesome! I totally dig this girl. Would she have my vote? Yes. Do I think she will win the competition...NO.



SABRA
...and now this brings me to Sabra! I LOVE this girl! Talk about friendly, funny, sweet, humble, and bubbly. Plus, the girl can dance. But the clencher for me is the fact that she started dancing at 16! What? People train their entire life for talent like hers. I would love to see her go all the way. Does she have my vote? You bet your bottom dollar! Go Sabra!


By the way, I am undecided on all the guys. They all have something I like, and something I don't. Maybe after tonight I can finalize my male critiques.

So, who are you pulling for, and why?

Monday, July 23, 2007

I've been tagged...

Jobs I've held-

1.Toppins Take-n-bake Pizza
2. U.S. Congressional Page (if, by chance, you ever watch C-span, you can see the pages dressed in suits and ties sitting on the House floor...he-he)
3. Nu Skin Receptionist
4. Aerating lawns with Troy

Movies I Can Watch Over & Over-

1.Sound of Music
2. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
3. Annie
4. Swiss Family Robinson

My Guilty Pleasures-

1.Blogging
2. US Weekly
3. Talking on the phone
4. Making cookies

Places I Have Lived-

1. Sacramento, CA
2. Rexburg, ID
3. Dana Point, CA
4. Washington, DC

Shows I Enjoy

1. The Office
2. So You Think You Can Dance
3. The Bachelor
4. Survivor

What were most likely the first things you thought of when you saw your significant other for the first time?

1. He's hot!
2. I bet he has a girlfriend...and he did.
3. He's so tan and athletic...and I'm SO not!
4. Please come talk to me. (Gosh, this sounds desperate!)

Places I have Been on Vacation

1. Hawaii
2. Costa Rica
3. Carribean
4. Mexico

Favorite Foods-

1. Cafe Rio's pork salad
2. Sour dough bread with lots of butter
3. Warm chocolate chip cookies
4. Most things that contain cream, butter, cream cheese, sour cream...you get the idea

Websites I visit daily

1. Blogs
2. Hotmail
3. Shutterfly
4. Photography Sites

Body Parts I have injured

I have been called "Safety Sally" for a reason...

1. I used to get these funky face rashes where my face would swell up three times it's size. I think I have a sun allergy.
2. I, like Sheena, am also short a few toe nails from running.
3. The entire week after giving birth....oh shisters!
4. One time I was sleeping on a public bus from NYC to DC. I was right by the bathrooms and a man when into the little stall and somehow smashed my pinky finger in the bathroom door. It was so painful that all i could pull out was a silent cry. Then the whole bus pulled over on my behalf. embarassing!

Awards I have won

1. Most likely to be on a Mentos commercial (highschool yearbook...they were really scraping the bottom of the barrel for that one)
2. Top 2000 Women - Saddleback 1/2 Marathon (hee, hee)
3. Best Teacher Award -presented by a 6 year old


Nicknames you’ve been called

1. Big Al
2. Ali Oop (my dad)
3. Ali Bel Grande (don't ask)
4. Moo. Short for Mohamed Ali

Now I get to pick 4 other blog buddies to do this!

1. Amy Cannon
2. Shannon S.
3. Adrienne
4. Shelly G.

today's tallies...

number of times i've barfed: 1.5
number of meals i've eaten: 58
number of hours i've napped: 2
number of things i've accomplised: 2 (blow drying my hair & going to the dry cleaners)
number of trips to the potty: 9
number of times i've called hubby to complain: 4
number of times i've wondered how people do this over and over again: 25

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

I am going to eat healthy this pregnancy....

YA RIGHT! I started off with really good intentions. Yesterday I began my day with a vigorous walk around the lake. Then came home, made myself a protein smoothie only to discover that the yogurt was rotten. So, I tried again with unexpired yogurt and again the smell of something sour. How could this be? Is my sense of smell already magnified by a thousand? Well, to heck with the smoothie. I will have some whole grain toast with peanut butter. Not bad, right? This was at 7:30 am. By 10:00 am I was FAMISHED! I perused the fridge for another "healthy choice", but to no avail. I settled for two cheese quesadillas broiled in the oven. mmmm. Then I went out to wash the car and by 12:00 I was STARVING! For a moment I thought, "Well, I should just go home and make something healthy to eat"....when what appeared before my eyes? drumroll please....WENDYS! 2 minutes later I was driving away shoving salty fries into my mouth. sigh. but it doesn't stop there. I was not giving up on this whole idea of a healthy pregnancy. For dinner I plucked some veggies out of our garden and whipped up some grilled chicken with sauteed corn, onions, and squash. Then prepared a salad with fresh garden tomatoes. I was a.) proud to be making dinner and b.) proud to be making a healthy dinner. Troy and I polished that off in no time and were feeling good about our healthy choice. Then, that yucky after dinner pregnancy taste invaded my mouth and I needed something sweet to offset it. So I nibbled on a few starbursts. Finally about 2 hours later what happened? You guessed it...I WAS STARVING AGAIN! So I topped off the night with a buttery bag of popcorn. which by the way, sounds pretty good right now at 9:00 a.m....

I'm DOOOOOMED!

Monday, July 16, 2007

Bun in the Oven...

Yup. We recently found out that #2 is on the way! We are so thrilled!

I am officially 6 weeks along with an early March due date! As usual, I cannot keep a secret for long. I figure...why fight it?



So hats off to nausea, insatiable appetites, midnight bathroom runs, sleeping on my side, bulging belly...butt...and jowls, cankles the size of tree trunks, and my veins doubling in size! Oh, the fun ahead!

Family Reunion


I have taken a short hiatus away from blogging because I have spent the last week with my family in Newport Beach. We are going on our second year of staying in the Newport Beach Marriot Villas for our annual family reunion. You see, each year one person in my family calls and gets the promotional deal to stay for 4 nights and three days in the 2 bedroom villa for 398 bucks under the condition that you sit through their 1 hour sales presentation. Great deal right? sounds luxurious, and it would be if you weren't trying to cram 9 adults and one baby into a single villa. Nevertheless, it is still a blast and soooooo cheap. You can barely stay at a motel 6 for that price anymore! My dad likes to say, "we're scammin' the scammers."



Upon request of my mom, we took some family pictures at the beach. I was so excited to do this seeing as how I LOVE any opportunity to improve at the art of photography....UNTIL I remembered that my family is the most uncooperative, unenthusiastic group of photo subjects known to man! My dad was lacing up his shoes after 3, yes 3, group shots were taken. Everyone was grumbling between each pose. My brother and his wife somehow missed the memo on the dress code. My mom was taking her own shots off to the side, not realizing the value of daylight. My other brother was listening to his iPod. and Jack...well, he was a timebomb waiting to erupt in protest of missing his bedtime for family photos.

In my opinion, none of the pics turned out. They are either too yellow, too shady, or out of focus. Oh well. Next year we will hire someone!






The better part of our stay was spent surfing at the beach. It was really a blast, but watching a baby for 3 days in the sand got kind of old toward the end. It was fun to see Troy and my brothers playing hard all day long. It was a much needed break for them all! We enjoyed morning walks, eating out, and staying up late watching old slide shows from our childhood. It was really fun. Thanks mom and dad!

Thursday, July 5, 2007

4 Little Monkeys


Jack has four friends from church all within a month of his age, so we decided to have a monkey birthday party for all of them. They had a blast with each other, and us moms had fun preparing for it. Here are some of the decorations (that didn't blow away)







Then there was the highlight of the night...cake eating! It was so fun to see how all the boys reacted. Jack did just about what I thought he would do! Here is my cheesy poem:

4 Little Monkeys ready to eat some cake.


The first one says, "Rubbed frosting in my eyes & made a mistake"


3 Little Monkeys ready to eat some cake.
The second one says, "You scared me with your cameras, for Pete's Sake!"


2 Little Monkeys ready to eat some cake.
The third one says, "Just you and me Jack...use your fingers like a rake!"


1 Little Monkey ready to eat some cake.
He says, "I think I'll stay here til I get a tummy ache!"


What a spectacular day! I can't believe this little guy is almost a year old! Being a parent is the BEST!

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Happy 4th of July



I am so grateful for all the men and women brave enough to fight for our freedoms. My thoughts will be with them and their families today. I am also so grateful to be living in a free country where I can raise my kids and teach them values and beliefs freely. I love AMERICA!

Monday, July 2, 2007


PRESENTING....brady & ashlin sessions

My brother Brady got married this weekend in Sacramento. It was a beautiful day! He and his bride Ashlin chose to be married in the new Sacramento temple only 15 minutes from our house. It was a beautiful ceremony. Lots of smiles and tears, especially from Brady's twin brother. It was sweet. We enjoyed a luncheon afterward, then the reception at night. The reception was held in Ashlin's backyard complete with a pool, lake, stream, and sprawling grassy hills. Gorgeous, to say the least! My favorite part of the reception was the candy bar where you could fill up your own container of candy to take home! Very Martha!


Brady's new wifey, Ashlin.


The new couple coming out of the temple.


The three brothers...Tallon, Brady, and Garrett.