Black Friday...

The shopaholic/consumer in me says Black Friday is the best day of the year. Growing up in my house, Thanksgiving was spent with my mom pouring over ads while watching the Macy's Parade and mapping out the best game plan for the morning. We would determine who had the best doorbusters, who was giving away free stuff, where the on-demand ticket items were, and so on.

Early...and I mean EARLY... the next morning, we would get all bundled up and go stand in the lines. I would get sent to one department store and my mom would take over the other. Part of the game plan was to run into the store, grab the free item and doorbusters, pay, then run into the other store and meet up. We seriously have a shelf full of our JCPenney's snow globes! It was the perfect mother and daughter bonding experience.
This year, my mom wasn't able to go. I wasn't sure if I really even wanted to get up early, especially since I had work that day.

But then I saw this bracelet in a JCPenney ad...

2 CT. Diamond. Silver.
Door buster sale for $99, down from almost $700.

I'm not even really a fine jewelery kind of person, but I've wanted a diamond bracelet ever since our honeymoon in the Caribbean, where the diamond industry is huge. I saw them everywhere there... but we figured we should probably use our money at the time to eat shrimp every night instead.

For any other deal, I would have happily gone down myself to the store at 4 in the morning... but this is a romantic gift, so I figured Judd should be the one to buy it for me.

So being the romantic dude he is, Judd accompanied me to JC Penney before the crack of dawn. We found the one outside door with 5 people in front of it instead of 500, which was also conveniently located by the jewelery department. At 4 a.m. sharp, the doors opened and we flew in. We were the first ones in the jewelery department, and there it was!

Once the bracelet was purchased, Judd realized there are HUGE advantages to waking up this early on Black Friday. He couldn't believe the major sales and how cheap everything was, particularly a remote-control helicopter he'd been eyeing for awhile (Oh Judd and his toys...)! It really is a rush to see everything you've wanted for a quarter of the price...

Don't worry, we're not completely selfish. We got almost everyone covered that day as far as gifts go.

I know it's best to be frugal, but I honestly believe it's perfectly okay to spoil yourself every now and then. It doesn't have to be huge or extreme, but it's good to be good to yourself. And if you give to others in the process, the better! And what better way to do it when everything is cheaper anyway?

Rest in Peace, Little Cousin

When I was younger, I always wondered why I didn't have more cousins than I could count like a lot of my friends did. I was shocked that there were people out there who didn't even know all their cousins' names. For me, it was easy. I had 3 cousins total for most of my childhood, plus another that came along in my teens. We joked that we got a new cousin every decade and it was somewhat true.

The Alworth family couldn't have been more thrilled to find out several months ago that a new cousin was on the way. My uncle Cameron and his girlfriend Berit were expecting. November 11, Anderson Montgomery Alworth was born. He had our nose, our chubby cheeks, and our dark hair. He was one of us...

A few short days later... November 25... he left this world, all too shortly.

I'm sad I didn't get to meet the little cousin I have waited years for, as he lived across the country. I'm feel terrible that I couldn't go with the rest of my family to his service tomorrow. My brothers and I donated a floral arrangement, but I wish there was more I could do. I love my extended family and wish I could be there just for support.

I don't know what I would do if I didn't believe in a life after this. It's such a tragic and hopeless thought to think that little Anderson was here and gone without a purpose. His life has brought people together and strengthened family bonds. There is another baby out there who lives because they received Anderson's heart. I hope there is a day when we will all be with this little baby.

Robin's Baby Shower!

Robin's baby shower for our first little nephew Jett (it's still Jett, right?) was Saturday!

It was the first time I've had any involvement in planning a baby shower. I did games and made sure I didn't include the poopy chocolate diaper game. Judd's height was as always helpful for hanging stuff up. We got Jett a little baby bath/basket.

Robin looked fabulous in a non-maternity dress. I hope I look that awesome preggo someday!

Molly made this really good cheesy vegetable soup we ate with bread bowls. Recipe please, thank you! I have a ton of it in my fridge and have been eating it all day, it's so yummy!

I'm thinking maybe next time around, I could maybe possibly potentionally be preggo with my sisters-in-law. I think it would be fun to have a pregnant friend to go through it with. My mother in law asked me to promise it. No guarentees there, but after seeing how fun baby stuff can be, I'm open to it! Of course, after Judd graduates and I get my fill in as a producer!

Anyways, congrats to Robin and our nephew! We can't wait to meet him!

A "Wasted" Vote

Judd and I took advantage of early voting a few weeks ago. Why not hit two birds with one stone, shop at Galleria and do our duties as citizens?

While we both voted for who we individually felt would be good candidates, we were stumped on who to vote for as our Senator. We didn't like either any of the choices available. I refuse to vote straight Republican just because I am one, I truly believe in picking the best person for the job, and we both felt that none of the candidates were the "best".

Luckily in Nevada, there is a "none of these candidates" option, so that is what we chose for this question.

I've been told several times that I "wasted" this vote by picking that option. I "gave away" my vote to someone else.

Obviously someone will become our new (or current) senator tonight. I'm not thrilled about the choices I was given and I hope that whoever the new senator is will rise above expectations and help our state.

In 1844, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints were in a similar situation. They all really wanted to do their duty as citizens and vote, but unfortunately, none of the presidential candidates were sympathetic to their cause. They could not feel good about voting for any of those options. Prophet Joseph Smith stepped up and decided to run for president. He obviously wasn't going to win, but he ran so the Saints could have a peaceful conscience with their vote.

Voting is a right people, especially women and minorities, worked hard to make happen in this country. I feel it is important to honor their sacrifices by voting today. We shouldn't complain about our leaders if we didn't do anything to help or discourage their election.

In choosing "none of these candidates," we express our opinion that none of the candidates shared views that are consistent or close to our own, therefore we cannot select any of them. If the chosen candidate does terrible in office, we can have a peaceful conscience knowing we didn't help put them there. There's no such thing as a perfect candidate, and people do make mistakes, but there's no reason why we should have to vote for someone we obviously do not agree with.

This election is extremely tight today, and in Nevada, every vote really does count. So wherever you are, take a few moments to cast a ballot. If anything, you get a sticker that might give you a discount somewhere!

Hallow's Eve

This weekend was full of lots of fantastic Halloween fun, and while I was too busy to take a million pictures, I have these few for just a glimpse!


Sierra and Darren had a Halloween party, so we all carved the goofiest pumpkins we could come up with. Ours is the Cheshire Cat at the end, but I think my favorite had to be Casey and Andrea's pumpkin-eating-a-pumpkin at the other end!

Darren home-brewed some root beer (something I'm dying to figure out how to do!). Lexi and Tori look so entranced by this!

And of course I had to love on the babies! Sierra and Darren's dog Anonymous had puppies a few weeks back, and it is very tempting to not steal one every time we see them!
The one time a year I'm allowed to dress my dog up...at least she liked it!
And our happy little family! The police skirt was a bit shorter than I expected, but thank goodness for really opaque leggings! I know it looks like a cop, but really, it's Public Information Officer Kidman! And of course, Judd was nice enough to wear the prisoner shirt.

I wish I had my camera for work, Channel 8 sure celebrates Halloween in style! Plus it was great to finally be able to dress up for Halloween at work.