Happy Endings

(Ed. note: The regular font is everyone on the planet who loves Harry Potter. The italicized text is me.)

Have you read these Potter books?
They will get you on a hook.
The entire world loves to read
About Harry, Ron, Hermione.
You will like them if you do.
Everyone seems to like them but you.

I do not like this Pottery guy
No matter how hard I try.
Do not take it personally,
Harry Potter is not for me.

Will you read it in a book?
Will you try to take a look?
Can you try One, Two, or Three?
Four, Five, Six, or Seven Please?

I tried with One and didn't get through
Then felt obliged to try with Two.
I waited few years and tried again,
With the same result my friend.

I do not like this Potter stuff
I tell you I have tried enough
I am happy as can be
To live my life Potter free.

Will you watch it on a screen?
At the movies or dvd?
Can you watch it in the dark?
At a drive-in movie park?

I tried to watch Movie One
Before it ended I was done.
Just not my thing, I've done my best.
Can we please put this to rest?

Can you listen on cd?
While traveling cross the country?
Will you listen in a car?
If the road trip's very far?

I will try it in on cd,
After this you must leave me be.
I will listen to the story,
No doubt it will bore me.
Here I go, one last try
for this Harry Potter guy.

Say!
I like this Potter stuff
I just can't seem to get enough!
CD One is almost through,
I've got to get my hands on Two.
Jim Dale is quite the man
He turned me into a Potter fan.

the end.

The Blind Side Movie

Upon a recommendation of a friend, I read this book: The Blind Side, even though it was about sports. I loved the book. We even read it for book club.

Well, now I am certain I will love the movie. (Thanks Steph for the heads up!)



Am I more excited to see than New Moon? The answer is Yes.

Back to School Shoes, for boys

Thankfully shoes are about the only Back to School shopping we have to do since we wear summer clothes until nearly October here. (Then all the fall stuff is marked down and I score some great deals.)

My shoe buying tips, for boys:

I have learned that spending the money for really quality shoes saves you money in the long run. Cheap shoes just don't last. If I buy a good brand they will last all school year with little to no wear or tear.

Also, I believe that it is best to get your boys at least two pairs of tennis shoes for school. It is handy to have a back up when one pair was used for mud puddles, left overnight by the trampoline, or cannot-be-found-for-the-life-of-me-even-though-we-turned-the-house-upside-down.

My favorite quality shoe brands are Geox and Merrell.

Geox are pricey - $60-$70 dollars. Merrel shoes are more in the $50 range. Nordstroms will normally have them both marked down for their Anniversary Sale (which just ended, sorry.) Marshalls is a great place to look. They have really quality children's shoes for great prices.

The brown Merrell shoes in the above picture are the Moab Ventilator. I have bought these every year for the last 4 years and are my favorite shoes hands down. Not even H can thrash these shoes after a year of wearing them nearly every day.

This year he has decided he wants them in charcoal.

I have had my eye on these shoes ever since I saw them in the crewcuts catalog.

Absolutely the best looking best shoe on the market. Please note how I refrain from calling them cute or adorable since they are for my son. My oldest son (soccer player extraordinaire) loves them, as do I. I just got these from Nordstroms (at the Anniversary sale, they were 30% off.)

This weekend, I found these great back-up shoes for H on clearance at Target.

I also found these on sale for my little one, but girls shoes are a whole other post.

Deal of the Day

I spent this week searching for a swimsuit for my oldest. Not surprisingly, everything in the stores is already Back to School and Halloween. Nary a swimsuit in sight.

I really liked these from Garnet Hill, but just can't seem to cough up the $52 for a swimsuit for a child.

My oldest is especially hard to shop for since she is nearly 13 but still in children's sizes. We are looking for something grown-up but modest. Something adorable but teenager-y.

Enter TJMaxx. We found the perfect suit. The blue matches her eyes. Please note the original store tag: $97.

I suppose there are those who will pay $97 for a children's Juicy Couture swimsuit. I was happy to pay $20.

I think she's pretty happy too.

Live and in Person

Super cute, no? (the shirt, I mean.)

Let's Get it Started

Today I began my 12 week training for my half-marathon in October. I ran 4 miles of intervals in my brand spanking new Mizuno Waveriders.

Cleaning the House

Tuesdays we clean the main level, spotless. Vacuum, Scrub, Shine, Dust, Organize.

I love my house clean. It gives me peace. It makes me happy.

Then, I went upstairs which was clean yesterday. This is what I saw:







I was reading my scriptures today and came across this. It is exactly how I feel about trying to keep my house clean. In parenthesis I added the words to liken the scriptures unto myself:

Alma 56:16-17 "Yea, and (I was) depressed in body as well as in spirit, for (I) had fought valiantly by day and toiled by night to maintain (my home); and thus (I) had suffered great afflictions of every kind. And now (I am ) determined to conquer this place or die."

Family Stuff

Utah finale. www.carie-list.blogspot.com

Gift Idea

A dear friend gave me this years ago - at least 5 or 6. It is a large cosmetics travel bag made from terry cloth from Pottery Barn. She had my name stitched on it in hot pink. I have loved it and used it with every time we've travelled.

Family Stuff

www.carie-list.blogspot.com

Two Shirts

These two lovely tops on are on their way to me:


(I got the blue one in white/red.)

Downeast has some particularly cute stuff as of late.

Huge Problem, Need Help

I am getting tiny holes in our cotton t-shirts. Random holes, in all sorts of place. In the front, in the back, on a sleeve, near a seam. Sometimes one single hole, sometimes a small group of holes. In my kid's clothes and in my clothes.

It is driving me crazy! The only commonality is the holes tend to stick to the expensive shirts: abercrombie, hollister, jcrew, gap etc. (of course.)

So far, I have ruled out:

My washer and dryer. There is nothing for the clothes to snag on in the washer or dryer. They have been thoroughly examined by a professional and he is as baffled as I am.

No sign of moths.

Beyond that . . . I have no idea. Bad detergent? Some other sort of bug?

I am just beside myself and burning through t-shirts left and right. ANY suggestions?

Family Stuff

www.carie-list.blogspot.com

Peace, Love, Happiness

My oldest has decided she is into the hippie look. I thought these tops from Heritage 1981 would be cute for her. (I highly doubt we will buy them since she always opts for the trusty t-shirt instead of anything woven. Still cute none the less.)

I was quite pleased for find this shirt for her while in Provo.