Happy States

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My friend Jenny said once that coming to visit my family was like “falling into a box of puppies.”  That has made me smile ever since she said it. Seriously, I wonder if I’ve never been paid a higher compliment.

Well, as it turns out–my sweet little family isn’t alone in our puppy-like behavior. It seems that, according to MSNBC’s Live Science writer, Jeanna Bryner, our whole state is scoring like one gigantic canine kennel. In an article on the happiest states in America–Utah is ranked #1. Get that.

* Utah: 69.2
* Hawaii: 68.2
* Wyoming: 68
* Colorado: 67.3
* Minnesota: 67.3
* Maryland: 67.1
* Washington: 67.1
* Massachusetts: 67
* California: 67
* Arizona: 66.8

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Apparently, we are also much less neurotic that some of our sister states. THAT I wouldn’t have guessed. Ha ha.

Here is an excerpt:

“Of the personality factors, neuroticism took a toll on a state’s cheery count, suggesting people living in the happiest states are more relaxed than their gloomy counterparts. For instance, West Virginia, Mississippi and Kentucky were ranked as highly neurotic and showed lower well-being scores. Utah, on the other hand, had a significantly lower level of neuroticism than other states.”

If you’d like to read the entire article or to see where your state ranks click on the link below. You might just be surprised to find that you and your neighbors are more content than you thought.

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In the meantime, I need to go feed my puppies.

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The “Christmas Look”

Hey guys! Check out my new Christmas header! What do you think?

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The first frame is the huge Christmas tree inside the Conference Center foyer in Salt Lake City. It is enormous and beautiful. We wandered around in the snowy cold enjoying the Christmas lights on Temple Square when we spied this lovely tree through the window. Even though it was in a large building–the picture makes it easy to imagine that we’re looking in the window of the neighborhood rich folks. Except that you can go to jail for that sort of thing. This is much better.

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The second frame is our famous “Milk Chocolate Fudge.” It’s the same fudge that we have made for the past 25 years in this family. We make it in a huge double batch and often end up making a second dose. We finish that just in time for Valentine’s Day–when of course, you need more fudge! Ha ha.  You know what they say–“A day without fudge is like a day without sunshine.” Or maybe that was orange juice. I can’t remember…must be the sugar buzz. Ha!

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The third frame is our equally popular “Peppermint Bark.” Now you can pay a zillion bucks for 3 ozs of fancy-schmancy bark from some really snooty candy shop or you can be a “take charge” sort of person and just plain make your own. It is the easiest Christmas treat you could possibly make–and it’s really quite pretty too. We sent some to my far away cute boy in Lithuania and they went berserk over it. Of course they did. Sheesh.

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The forth frame is our cute little crocheted “Button Tree.” So fun and easy to make that one Christmas, I made 9 of them in a couple of days–each with different buttons to suite the personalities of different family members. Mine is loaded with pink and purple sparkly ones–for instance. I’ll post the pattern in a few days–and if you know how to crochet-AT ALL- you’ll love this one.

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Lastly, the fifth frame is our beautiful Christmas lights on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. It’s one of those sights that you don’t want to miss and will remember all your life. Millions of lights and millions of happy people just walking around feeling Christmas-y. It’s really incredible.

I hope you love our new December look. April worked hard on it and as always–has given Gracious Rain the cozy warm look we love. She always finds a way to make the site feel so like us.

 

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Happy Holidays Everyone!

New Moon Treasures

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There is the teeniest,

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tiniest…

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chance…

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that while anticipating…

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and preparing…

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for the “New Moon” opening night…

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we could…

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possibly…

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have gone…

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just a tad…

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berserk.

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You decide.

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Either way…

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We sure did have a dang…

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good…

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time!

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But since 4am is really an interesting time to crawl into bed–when you read this, I’ll probably still be snuggled up somewhere…sleeping.

Carry on without me.

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ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz……… 

A New Moon!!

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Oh, we’ve been waiting alright.

Perhaps you’ve even noticed the countdown calendar to the right of this page.

And now…our waiting is just about over…

One year ago we gathered the crew and went to the midnight opening of  “Twilight.” Of course, we had a wonderful time–being the silly,  yellow personality people that some of us are.

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Now–tonight, in fact–we’ll be doing it again for the second installment in the series–“New Moon.”  To say that we are WILD with excitement is putting it mildly…

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We–the Gracious Rain group have an entire row reserved in the theater so that we can just be our ridiculous selves. There will be giveaways, drawings and random prizes in the theater–not to mention the amazing loot bags that we’ve been putting together for the last month now. I’ll have to show you that in a couple of days–or it will spoil the surprise for the group.

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I wish you all were coming with us.

Just think of the fun we’d have with the whole theater to ourselves!

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Good goal for the next movie…

Good Stuff…

So for the past two days I’ve been far away from home–in Salt Lake City–ok, not terribly far away, I’m just saying…

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Anyway, April and I are at the Art Weekend taking “Nicole’s Classes” on computers, blogging and becoming magnamonious in every possible way. Yes, I made up that word. You will not believe how brilliant we are becoming!

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I took a class yesterday on starting an Etsy shop. The good news is that while only about a third of the class already had an Etsy shop, I was one of them. See, the reason this is such good news is because I was BY FAR the oldest person in the classroom–and that includes the janitor that popped in the back of the room to grab trash a couple of times. So I must say that it felt good to raise my hand when the instructor asked if any of us already kinda knew what we were doing. Not to imply that I do know what I’m doing–but it felt good to be on that side of the roster.

Ha! Take THAT all you pretty little youngsters!

I did learn a great deal about how to make my silly little shop into a cute little shop, that people will be captivated by–which of course, is the reason for the class. So prepare to be dazzled in the very near future!

Oh, one funny moment that I must tell you about…

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The gal sitting next to me raised her hand and asked, “What are the demographics of the people who actually purchase handmade items from Etsy? I mean…” and here’s the good part, “…I can’t really picture old people, like, you know, fifty-year-old ladies clicking around buying stuff.”

About the time she said, “old people” I sat up straight and turned my head towards her. But when the word, “fifty” came out of her mouth, I grinned at her and mumbled, “Waaaatch it…” She paused and slowly looked at me as everyone started laughing. Hoping she felt a bit–silly.

I suppose I shouldn’t have teased her. After all…I’m not 50 anyway…

I’m 51.

Ha! again my lovelies.

Oh, and the other good stuff—since I seem to have swallowed a big dose of truth serum–is that April and I have been doing wonderfully on our “lifestyle modifications.” She has lost 15 pounds and I have lost 28.6. She–will be perfect and gorgeous any second now–goal wise, while I still have a ways to go. But I’m wearing clothes that haven’t seen daylight since Laura Ingalls loaned them to me and close friends are noticing, “something.”

I’m liking THAT a lot.

Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!

Oh, and it’s “Hug a Bear Day” so…

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get on that.