Leaves

I had a bunch of old plastic leaves left over from other crafts.

I modge podge the leafs and dipped them in a plate of glitter.  I also punched a hole in the bottoms of each leaf and made a hanger of floral wire.  

Gold Leaves and Pine Cones:

Expresso Bears:

Expresso Leaves:

Copper Leaves:

Red Leaves:

I made a garland of leaves with a hole puncher and floral wire and hung them on the railings inside our house.  

Books That Changed My Life

CNN released a list this week, called Young adult books that changed our lives. 

Here are the books that changed mine, that made me think twice about the world, developed my imagination, and let me discover new things:

• Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
• The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
• The Catcher in the Rye by John Salinger
• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
• Feed by M.T. Anderson
• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
• Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
• The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
• Speak by Laurie Halse Andersen
• Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
• Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• Uglies by Scott Westerfield
• Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle

California

On Sunday the 15th, we drove to Las Vegas.  We stayed at the South Point Hotel and Casino in room 1122.   We ate dinner at Dickey's BBQ and walked around the South Outlets.  We drove up and down the strip.  One car, in front of us, at every red light, would get out of the car and dance to the music of the hotels.  It was pretty funny.  

On Monday, we ate breakfast at IHOP at Whiskey Pete's in Prymm.  Inside the hotel, they had the Bonnie and Clyde car.  We drove to San Diego.  We stayed in Hotel Circle at The Comfort Inn and Suites in room 213.   I finished reading, "Tiger Eyes" by Judy Blume.  We ate dinner at El Torito in Mira Mesa and then went and got groceries at Walmart.  

On Tuesday,  Dad had to go to his tax convention. Mom and I went to North Park Produce to get some pears and grapes.  We went to the Farmer Outlet and got some white nectarines.  We walked around Target where I got some Pumpkin M & M's.  They tasted more like Cinnamon.  We went to the Fashion Valley Mall.  We got some clothes at Old Navy.  We went to See's Candies and got Sara a box as a present.  I got some pumpkin truffles and suckers.  Mom bought the new Frozen figurine set at the Disney Store.  We ate clam chowder in bread bowls and cookies at the Boudin SF Bakery.  We picked up Dad and went to the Gaslamp Quarter.  We ate dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory.

On Wednesday, Dad had to go to his tax convention.  Two old men at breakfast, were dressed exactly alike in striped white shirts, tan shorts, and suspenders.  Mom and I walked around Target, Kohl's, and Old Navy.  We got some dried coconut at Trader Joe's.  We went to the Hazard Center at ate lunch at Joe's Crab Shack.  We picked up Dad and went to the Seaport Village.  We ate dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.  I had the Pineapple Upside Down Cheesecake.  

On Thursday,   Dad had to go to his tax convention.  I finished reading, "The Summer I Turned Pretty" by Jenny Han.  We went to Target.  We went to the Fashion Valley Mall.  I went to the Apple store and bought a new charger for my ipod.  We ate lunch in the food court, where I ate Greek chicken and rice at the Cafe Socrates.  We picked up Dad and drove to Old Town.  We went and did the tour of the Mormon Battalion Historic Site.  Dad volunteered me to be the soldier.  I had to wear a bayonet, hold a rifle, hold a food ration bag, and wear a belt with the MB belt buckle.  We also panned for gold.  We looked up our ancestor, Moses Wade, on their database and learned some more stuff about him.  We drove to Ocean Beach and walked around the pier and the shops.  There were a lot of homeless people and hippie stores.  We went to Chili's for dinner.  

On Friday, We went to Belmont Park and walked around Mission Beach.  We drove up to Anaheim and ate lunch at Mrs. Knott's chicken.  We stayed at the Super 8 next to Disneyland.  We were in room 115 and it smelled weird.  We met Ryan and Sara at El Torito for dinner.  We walked around Downtown Disney.  I bought some pins and I waited in line for like an hour for Caramel Kettle Corn for mom.  

On Saturday, we went to the OC Swap Meet in Costa Mesa.  We got strawberries and no kernel popcorn puffs.  We picked up Ryan and Sara and ate lunch at the Crab Cooker.  We went to the Hotel Montage in Laguna and walked around their cliffs.  We went to Dolce Gelato and I had the blueberry pomegranate with banana cream.  

On Sunday, I finished reading, "It's Not Summer Without You" by Jenny Han.   Sara and Ryan made us lunch at their house and we watched their wedding video.  We drove up to Long Beach to find the cruise ship terminal, next to the Queen Mary.  We went to McDonald's for dinner and watched the Emmy Awards.   

On Monday, we checked out of our hotel we drove to Las Vegas.  I finished reading, "We'll Always Have Summer" by Jenny Han.  We stayed at Circus Circus in 25840. We ate dinner at Metro Pizza and walked around The Boulevard Mall.  

Starfish

Mickey and Minnie

I worked on a Mickey and Minnie Collage for my mom.  I found a picture on google images and blew it up.   I outlined the faces and hands with marker.  I left off the buttons on Mickey's pants and the polka dots on Minnie's skirt.   

Landscape

Hyrum State Park

On Tuesday the 27th , we took the RV up to Hyrum Lake State Park in Cache County, Utah.   We were in spot 31.  We ate dinner at the Bluebird Cafe in Logan.  I had the monterrey chicken and mashed potatoes.  It was an excellent meal.  We tried to watch the movie, Scary Movie 5, but it was too stupid.  

On Wednesday,  We went and walked around the Cache Valley Mall.  A lot of the stores were extinct.  We went and got a raspberry shake at A & W.  Dad made dutch oven potatoes and blueberry cobbler for dinner.  I read the book, What Happened to Goodbye? by Sarah Dessen.  

On Thursday,  Dad caught a fish, so Mom ate that for dinner!  We went to lunch at the Olive Garden.  As the waitress was taking the breadstick basket, one fell out and landed in Mom's water glass.  Pretty funny!  We went and got another raspberry shake at A & W.  I went into Walmart and looked around.  I read the book, We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver.  

Today, we came home.  Mom had to go have her MRI.  She has a spot that is bigger on her right temple.  

Sans

Bear Lake

On Monday August 5th, we drove up through Logan Canyon and went camping at Birch campground at Bear Lake State Park Rendezvous Beach.  We were in spot 6.  We ate dinner and got a raspberry shake at Bear Lake Pizza Company.  We walked through the Chocolate Bear shop attached to the restaurant.  We drove around the cabins in Bear Lake West.  I read the book, Weird Sisters.

On Tuesday, We drove up to Paris, Idaho.  We went through Paris Tabernacle.  I had previously gone there with my Young Women's group in 1994.  We walked through the shops at Garden City and got a raspberry shake at La Beau's.  After dinner, I walked on the Rendezvous Beach and collected some white seashells.  I read the books, Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan and Wedding Letters by Jason F. Wright.

Mom had a birthday on Wednesday the 7th.  She turned 57.  I made her a card and got her a gift card to Old Navy.  We drove through Laketown and saw the cemetery, where the pioneers are buried.  We ate dinner at the Bear Trapper.  I had a roll with butter and raspberry jam, raspberry sorbet, chicken fingers, and fries.  After dinner, we walked on the boardwalk to the beach in Garden City Park.  The boardwalk is surrounded by willows and has plaques about the bear lake monster and bugs.  I read the book, Is Everybody Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling.

We came home on Thursday.  When we drove through Logan Canyon, we kept having to stop for cows in the road.  I have never seen so many cows all together in my entire life.  I read the book, A Stolen Life by Jaycie Dugard.