Wednesday, December 3, 2008

new jewelry items!

Check out my new jewelry items I just posted on
my Etsy page! (http://randahg.etsy.com)


More fun stuff on my page...

Monday, December 1, 2008

thankful

So Thanksgiving has come and gone--here are the
highlights of a great weekend in Idaho, in no particular order:


Meeting my beautiful new niece--Baby Whitney.


Seeing Twilight with a bunch of my aunts, cousins, mom, and sister-in-law. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. We had a great time--there were 16 of us!


Playing with my adorable nieces! We read books for hours on end. I loved it!

Thanksgiving dinner with the family. Yeah, my mom is a little Martha-Stewart-esque.
She loves to set a pretty table!

Spending some quality time with my spunky Grams.

Seeing my cousin, Denae, get married in the Rexburg Temple.
She was the happiest woman in the world! That was awesome to see.

Helping my mom in the kitchen.

Shopping on Black Friday with my mom and sister-in-law. I hadn't done that in years, but we actually had a good time, despite the 5:00 AM start!


It was a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend! I am grateful for my wonderful family!

Friday, November 21, 2008

be grateful

So, as completely cheesy as this message is, it made me cry. My grandma sent me this email forward the other day, and I wanted to share it. Somehow she must have felt inspired to send it to me.


BE GRATEFUL

MAYBE GOD WANTS US TO MEET A
FEW WRONG PEOPLE BEFORE MEETING
THE RIGHT ONE SO THAT WHEN WE FINALLY
MEET THE RIGHT PERSON, WE WILL KNOW
HOW TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT GIFT.

WHEN THE DOOR OF HAPPINESS CLOSES,
ANOTHER OPENS, BUT OFTEN TIMES WE LOOK
SO LONG AT THE CLOSED DOOR THAT WE DON’T
SEE THE ONE WHICH HAS BEEN OPENED FOR US.

THE BEST KIND OF FRIEND IS THE KIND YOU
CAN SIT ON A PORCH AND SWING WITH,
NEVER SAY A WORD, AND THEN WALK AWAY
FEELING LIKE IT WAS THE BEST
CONVERSATION YOU’VE EVER HAD.

IT’S TRUE THAT WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’VE
GOT UNTIL WE LOSE IT, BUT IT’S ALSO TRUE
THAT WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’VE BEEN
MISSING UNTIL IT ARRIVES.

DON’T GO FOR LOOKS; THEY CAN DECEIVE.
DON’T GO FOR WEALTH; EVEN THAT FADES AWAY.
GO FOR SOMEONE WHO MAKES YOU SMILE
BECAUSE IT TAKES ONLY A SMILE TO MAKE A
DARK DAY SEEM BRIGHT.
FIND THE ONE THAT MAKES YOUR HEART SMILE.

MAY YOU HAVE ENOUGH HAPPINESS TO MAKE YOU
SWEET, ENOUGH TRIALS TO MAKE YOU STRONG,
ENOUGH SORROW TO KEEP YOU HUMAN, ENOUGH
HOPE TO BRING YOU JOY.

ALWAYS PUT YOURSELF IN ANOTHER’S SHOES.
IF YOU FEEL THAT IT HURTS YOU,
IT PROBABLY HURTS THE OTHER PERSON, TOO.

THE HAPPIEST OF PEOPLE DON’T NECESSARILY
HAVE THE BEST OF EVERYTHING; THEY JUST MAKE THE MOST
OF EVERYTHING THAT COMES ALONG THEIR WAY.

THE BRIGHTEST FUTURE WILL ALWAYS BE BASED
ON A FORGOTTEN PAST, YOU CAN’T GET ON WELL IN
LIFE UNTIL YOU LET GO OF PAST FAILURES AND HEARTACHES.

WHEN YOU WERE BORN, YOU WERE CRYING AND
EVERYONE AROUND YOU WAS SMILING.
LIVE YOUR LIFE SO THAT WHEN YOU DIE, YOU’RE
THE ONE WHO IS SMILING AND EVERYONE AROUND YOU IS CRYING.

This is me with my cute Grandma last Christmas. Thanks for the poem, Grams!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

still alive!

Oops. I forgot to post again to let you all know that yes, I AM still alive and have not yet died from carbon monoxide inhalation!

I have just been really super busy doing free-lance work for my old job.

I promise to blog more later. Have a great day, everyone!!!

Monday, November 17, 2008

one long day...with a surprise ending...

So, I left my house at 7:15 this morning. After THE longest day ever, I was finally pulling onto my street to go home around 10 PM. And, much to my surprise, there was a fire engine right in front of my house! My three roommates were standing in the driveway with 5 HOT, HOT firemen!!! What a nice welcome home greeting!

As I was quickly debriefed on the night's events by my roommates, I learned that our carbon monoxide detectors had gone off. So, my roommates called the sheriff's department--who sent the firemen.

I guess my roommates did the wrong thing by opening all the windows and doors when the alarms went off. FYI, you're just supposed to evacuate your house immediately in such an event--leaving the air un-diluted so it can be properly tested. So, at any rate, the hot firemen were anable to determine if we truly have a carbon monoxide leak, or if our batteries just died.

We put new batteries in and are sleeping in our house tonight anyway--with all our windows open (even though it's going to be a really cold night).

The scary thing is that two of my roommates have been sick the past few days with symptoms similar to carbon monoxide poisoning...

So, I will blog again tomorrow, just so you all know that I didn't die in my sleep tonight while inhaling toxic chemicals!

Sadly, we did not get photos of the hot firemen, so you'll just have to take my word for it, but they were yummy!

re-focus

As we live life each day, doing the thousands of things we have to do, the thousands of things we want to do, and the all the little things in between, somehow, it is easy to become complacent, forgetting what really matters.

I am guilty of this. I think over the past few months, I have become somewhat apathetic spiritually. Sure, I am active. I go to church every week. I do my callings. I go to church activities. I mostly do the things I should be doing. But sometimes I wonder if I just do it because it's all habit. I know there should be more to it than that.

Today was a great day. It made me truly reflect on what this life really is all about. I haven't had a self-reflection day like this in quite a while. And while I do continue to do the things I know are right, I realized today that I needed to re-focus a little and remember WHY it is that I do the things I do.

Why do I go to church? Why do I fulfill my callings? Why do I pray? Why do I support church leaders? Why do I read my scriptures? Why do I go to the temple?

Not just because I live in Utah and that's what everyone else is doing. Not just because I don't know how to live my life contrary to those practices. Not just because I would feel guilty if I didn't. Not just because I don't want to disappoint my parents.

But because deep within my core, I know that's what I am supposed to be doing. And I know I wouldn't be truly happy otherwise. The bottom line is this--I do know who I am. I do know why I am here. I do know what life is all about. I just needed a little reminder I guess.

As I attended a fireside tonight by Elder Ballard, I was touched by his sweet words:

"My friends, be strong. You know what is right and you know what is wrong. Make a stand for right, even if you have to stand alone. There is no friendship more valuable than a clear conscience."

So true, M. Russell!!! Thanks for that. I needed it.

So, strong I will be, remembering that spirituality is not something I can afford to be apathetic about. To have spiritual apathy is to be unexcited or dispassionate about spiritual matters--and that is not okay with me. I am glad I re-focused today and reminded myself that I need to have a little more zeal, zest, and even a zanier attitude towards maintaining my spirituality.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

i got tagged (i HATE doing stuff like this...thanks Tricia!)

I got tagged by my friend Tricia..........
The rules are:
* Link to the person who tagged you (Tricia Buck http://triciamerlin.blogspot.com/)
*Post the rules on your blog
*Write six random things/unspectacular quirks about yourself
* Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them
* Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog* Let the tagger know when your entry is posted
Okay, here goes:

1. I ONLY drink Soy milk. I used to love real milk until sometime on my mission. I had a companion who had heard great things about the health benefits of soy milk (don't ask me what they are, because I have absolutely NO clue). So we decided to start drinking soy. And now, I absolutely am repulsed by the thought of real milk. It is nasty to me. So for probably the past five years I have drank only soy milk. I usually have two cartons in my fridge---one of Very Vanilla and one of Chocolate. Mmmm...I heart soy milk!

2. I count things. Now, this is somewhat embarrassing to admit and not too many people know this about me, but I count things all the time. For example, I am driving down the road and I see a billboard that says, "Nate Wade Subaru..." What do I subconsciously do? I oftentimes will count the letters in the words. And then maybe the syllables. And then maybe the different colors used in the billboard. I know, I know...this makes me sound totally crazy. I oftentimes will count pictures hanging on a wall or stairs or window panes, or people in a room, etc, etc, etc. I mostly just count on down time--driving, watching TV, sitting in boring meetings, etc. Now, this actually is something that kind of runs in my family, believe it or not. I have come to find out that my mother and my younger brother are also counters. Last year one of my co-workers found out about my counting fetish and made me walk with her to our office psychologist's office to confess to him my craziness. I explained to him that I count a lot, but not obsessively. He told me that it just means I have an active mind that doesn't like idleness. Now that sounds to me like a positive thing. Haha. Yeah, I am pretty much a freak, but at least my mind is always thinking.

3. Shopping is therapeutic to me. If shopping were a sport, I seriously think I could be a gold medalist. I grew up with a shopaholic mother. This just wore off on me. Even when I'm feeling poor and don't buy anything at all, shopping just lifts my spirits and de-stresses me. In college when I was working full-time and taking tons of credits and had a million other things going on, I would spend maybe an hour shopping, and all the sudden the world seemed bearable again and I was able to get everything done.

4. I am a clutz. I fall and trip and bump into things ALL the time. I am definitely not graceful by any means. My family can attest to this. I have infinite stories of me falling in front of large groups, in very public places, and in front of hot guys. Yep, that's me. One of my all time favorite falling stories was when I was in second grade. Tricia loves this story! I used to walk to school with the neighbor girls, but they were almost always running late. My mom always said I could go knock on their door, but if they weren't ready, I just needed to leave and walk to school alone. They always said they were almost ready though, and sometimes I'd go in and wait for them. Well one day, I waited and waited for them. By the time we finally left their house to head to school, we were going to be really late. My mom was watching from her bedroom window and she yelled out to me that I better RUN to school! While running, with my backpack furiously swinging up and down, I stumbled over a large chunk of broken cinder block that was haphazardly placed by the curb. I flew through the air, hitting my head on the cement. I totally blacked out and was unconscious for a while. I woke up in some lady's car. She took me home while my friends continued on to school. I chipped my tooth on the curb. And, after such a tramatic morning, my mom took me to the dentist to get my tooth repaired, and then she made me go to school. I totally deserved a sick day after that! But there was one bonus out of the situation. I got a huge gaping hole in the knee of my pants! I hated those light blue corduroy pants with the built-on suspenders! Luckily, I never had to wear them again! Long story, but the moral is that I fall a lot.

5. I am a thrill seeker. I went sky diving a couple of years ago and I have been on this thrill-seeking hunt ever since. I love any crazy, scary ride there is. I will try anything! I used to be pretty afraid of heights, but I got over that when I had to climb latters a lot while working retail a few years back. I can't get enough of roller coasters, sky diving, high-speed, twisty, crazy rides! I love them! I definitely want to go sky diving again very soon!

6. I am crazy about flossing my teeth. I cannot go to bed without flossing! I carry dental floss in my purse always. I am obsessive about it! But, luckily, I think it is paying off. When I went to the dentist a few months ago (after not going for about two years), I didn't have a single cavity! Yay for flossing!

Now you all know a little too much about me! Haha. I guess we're all kind of crazy in our own ways though!

I now tag my roommate Susan, my cousins Christin and Emily, and my friends Tina, Mindy, and Risa. Sorry girls! :o)

Saturday, November 1, 2008

more HALLOWEEN pics!






yay for halloween birthdays!

So, as sad as it is to admit, I turned the big 27 yesterday! Ahh. How did this happen? haha. Getting older is definitely no fun, but at least it was a f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s birthday!!! It was truly one of my very favorite birthdays ever.

At work, we just kind of had a party all day and ate non-stop. We had a bug pot-luck cook-off and I had a blast with my new co-workers.

Then...my roommates and I had a massive Halloween costume party! There were people wall-to-wall! We estimate that we had between 80-90 people at our house! It was a blast!

I dressed up like Minnie Mouse--thanks to the cute skirt my mom made me and the accessories I purchased at Disneyland when I went with my family in September .

All in all, it was a truly fantastic day! I LOVE that my birthday is on Halloween. I hated it as a kid, but now I think it's pretty much the coolest thing ever. I feel so lucky to have such great friends and roommates!

Thanks to all of you who helped make my birthday so awesome!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

new job...here i come!

Tomorrow morning I start my new job. I'm nervous, but excited. I needed a change, and I am hoping that this new job will be something great for me! I have a lot to learn. I know virtually NOTHING about insurance! And in this new position, I actually have to become a licensed insurance agent! I never thought in a million years that I'd work in the insurance field. But hey, life always seems to be throwing me curve balls as of late. I guess that's how things stay interesting.

the luckiest


Wow. Listen to "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds. It is a beautiful song! It made me cry.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

run fatboy run

Have any of you seen the movie Run Fatboy Run? I though it would be a little strange--I mean British films are typically not my favorite. But wow. I loved it! It was funny, sad, cute, happy, and an all around great film. You should see it. Seriously.

Monday, October 13, 2008

new job!!!

So, I have been looking for a new job for the past two weeks. And...today I got my second job offer--but this is the one I really wanted! Yay!!! I'm going to be working for the Buckner Company (which is an insurance broker). I will be an account manager in the marketing department. I start October 27th.

Now the tough part...telling my boss tomorrow morning that I'm giving my two-week notice. Eek. Wish me luck!

Sunday, October 12, 2008

one full & fabulous day


Today was a fantastic Saturday! I slept in really late, then cleaned like a crazy woman for hours. I got all my winter clothes out, organized, did 5 loads of laundry (and actually put everything away--which is my least favorite thing to do ever!), went grocery shopping, hung out with my friend Tricia all night (We had "pumpkin night." We ate pumpkin shakes and carved pumpkins with her friend, Mark), and baked a birthday cake for my roommate. Whew. I feel like a got tons done though; and nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment.

Friday, October 10, 2008

my so-called life


Ha. Does anyone remember the TV show from the early 90's called My So-Called Life? I loved that show--mostly because I had a huge crush on Jordan Capilano (Jared Leto). Anyway, while I was searching on ABC.com for the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy (which isn't up yet--and was supposed to be recorded on my DVR, but somehow got all messed up), I happened upon some random old-school episodes of My So-Called Life. Random, but fun.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

desperate housewives


Haha. I thought this was so funny. I don't know if you can read the words or not, but here is what it says:

Belle: "My husband is such an animal."
Cinderella: "Mine still drives a pumpkin."
Snow White: "My husband leaves me at home with 7 little ones."
Ariel: "Mine wants me to wear fish net stockings."
Sleeping Beauty: "I just pretend I'm asleep."

Disney's Desperate Housewives.

:o)

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

maria mena

For the past few months I have listened to tons of Maria Mena's music. Her songs are kind of sad in some ways, but I have related so much to them lately. This Norwegian singer speaks to me somehow. You should listen to some of her stuff.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

revived


I went home to Idaho for the weekend. My family and I stayed at our cabin in Victor, ID. It was the best weekend I've had in a really long time because I just relaxed and got away from all my stresses for a little bit. I needed it.

Probably the reason it was such a great weekend was because of General Conference. It's funny how something that was so boring to me as a kid means the world to me now. Words cannot express how deeply my soul was touched by the words of living prophets. Watching eight hours of conference sailed by in what seemed like moments as I soaked in the counsel and teachings. I came away knowing that I have much to work on, but also much to be thankful for. My spirit feels revived.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Disneyland Trip!!! :o)

So, I'm a terrible, terrible blogger! I still don't know what I'm doing on here--but I thought I'd play around with adding photos. Man, do they teach a blogging class somewhere? haha. I need to take it if so!

So, my family and I recently went to Disneyland. The whole family wetnt. It was such a fun getaway. I needed it. We played all day for four days at Disneyland and California Adventure. My nieces, who are 4 and 6, had such a blast! Disneyland with little kids is the best!

Saturday, July 12, 2008

reflecting...

Today I had a family reunion for all the extended family on my dad's side. Wow. It was actually a tribute to my Grandpa, who is the oldest living Griffiths descendent. It was pretty awesome to hear stories about my Gramps. He's an amazing little man. He's about my height--which is only 5'4" (he keeps shrinking!). How amazing that from him and my Grandma, there is now a fmaily of 94 people (their kids, in-laws, grandkids, and great-grandkids). Wow! I am lucky to have such an amazing family!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

hola!

Hey. So I'm brand new to the blogging world. I really have no idea what I'm doing yet. So many people I know are bloggers, so I decided to give this a try. Is it really as cool as facebook? Hmm...I'll have to find out.