I’m speaking in Stake Conference. The topic is how we nurture the light of Christ in our homes. Aack. I need some help. I want ideas from each and every one of you who is reading this. Ready…go.

You maybe familiar with the stereotype – the beer-guzzling husband, abandoning his family responsibilities on the weekend, to watch 15000 hours of college and professional football from every sports package available from satellite.  The tolerant wife, rolling her eyes, grumbling under her breath, “Honey, is it over yet…I need you to…,” (insert chore du jour here) “mow the lawn, rake the leaves, start the project I had planned for you last weekend.”  Husband, in between rants and raves over a blown call by an official says, “Sweetie, the ball is on the 15 yard line and they are almost ready to score – I’ll be there in a minute.  By the way, did you make any Queso?” (more…)

Soooo, project runway gets all “lifetime”-y on us and goes maternity.  I’m cool with that.  I love it, in fact.  I’ve been pregnant.  I know what I would want to wear. (more…)

1. The 2 brothers look and act alike.  I’m having a hard time telling them apart.  The battle of the siblings isn’t doing much for me, at this point.  Maybe it’ll get more interesting? But man, I wanted that guacamole macaroon thing.

2.  None of the women seem to be really awesome, with the exception of Jen.  She’ll be around for a while, but she might stand the lone woman with a bunch of men who like to jump in the pool.  It’s OK, she can handle it.

3. Adding a $15,000 incentive to the quickfire suddenly makes them much more crucial to the chefs, and worth more than immunity, possibly.  Good call, Bravo. (more…)

Yes, she is fat. And I’m here to tell you why.

We ordered Dominioes tonight, Tuesday two for one. Figured whatever we don’t finish tonight can be cold pizza lunches tomorrow. (And c’mon, who doesn’t love cold pizza for lunch? It pretty much rocks.)

(Yes, I just admitted to loving leftover pizza. That’s almost as scary as admitting I like eating at Chuck-A-Rama.)

(Well, only when I was a kid, and only because I could make my own ice-cream cone as big as I wanted and put carob chips on it. I thought carob chips were cool.)

(Yes, I have just talked about Chuck-A-Rama, carob chips, and canine obesity in less than half a page. If that’s not pure blogging gold, I don’t know what is.) (more…)

We had a huge yard sale on Saturday – sold tons of stuff that has been accumulating in our garage.  I’m constantly amazed at what people buy, and how Tracy M can find the best things EVER, when I’m only selling junk. (more…)

While perusing the tabloids while I loaded my groceries on the belt, I wondered if, when Britney Spears’ mother signed her up for that first record contract, she knew that one day the size of daughter’s backside would be the lead story of a magazine. (more…)

I hate having to teach a lesson where I am failing so miserably at the doctrine being taught.

Today it was making your home a Temple, from the May Conference talk by Elder Gary Stevenson, Sacred Homes, Sacred Temples. 

He asks us to take a “virtual tour” of our home to see if it compares to the Temple – let’s take a peek behind Melissa Mc’s door, shall we? (more…)

I realize I’ve been largely absent around here for a great long time, but I do pop in and lurk occasionally and couldn’t help but notice that several of the ladies at MMW had been having some hard times earlier this summer.  I couldn’t help but have the “AMEN, SISTAH!” light go off while reading some of the posts from the last months and wanted to state my solidarity in struggling.  I know our struggles are all different but there is a common tone to a woman struggling and it resonated with me in several posts.
With that… (more…)

And if you didn’t, it looks like the episode is available on lifetime’s website, so there you go. 

However, I am having a hard time navigating the website to get photos of the winning and losing looks, and it’s so much more fun to talk about if you can see what’s going on.  If any of you can help me out with this, I would be grateful.  I can get to one picture, of Althea’s dress, but I can’t seem to get beyond that. And Althea’s dress was solidly in the middle. Boring. Either I’m technically challenged or Lifetime is.  I’m going to go with….both. (more…)

The Wiz called, or, rather, I think I called her. I was bored, trying to figure out what to make for dessert tonight. She suggested Tracy’s BEST BROWNIES EVER. J was plunking out songs from “The Sound of Music” on the piano, and since he was trying to play the songs by ear, there was a lot of repetition, which means The Wiz got an earful of “Do Re Mi” played at doublespeed, over and over. (more…)

Top Chef and Project Runway all in one week!  It’s an embarrassment of riches - especially when they both have 2 fairly long episodes, one with all-stars and then the premiere of the season.  My little eyeballs are going to melt.  You know, in a good way.

So. I ask you - do you want to have multiple reviewers of PR like I did last time?  I’m guessing the audience will be bigger now that it’s on Lifetime, what with more people getting that channel and all. Do you want me to just shut up about the whole thing and continue to whine aimlessly about stuff?  

So, really quickly: (more…)

I have a large back yard.  Currently, it’s a big pile of desert, with the occasional lizard or spider thrown in for good measure.  Everyone looks at it, though, and says “oh, the potential!”

The potential.  It’s killing me. (more…)

…We’re doing another one over at Segullah. Here’s your second chance at Emily Watt’s new book, “I hate it when exercise is the answer”. So come on over and make a comment for your chance to win!

My kids start school on Wednesday (woo hoo!!) and I’d like to have a special after school treat and dinner prepared for them…does anyone have special recipes they’d like to share with a kitchen-challenged Mom??  When I asked my son what he wanted he said, “Mac-n-cheese, but not the baked stuff you make, Mom.”  So much for my homemade, whole wheat pasta, three kinds of cheese, mac-n-cheese. 

You may have noticed a distinct lack of posts around here.  I can only say…..nothing.  I have no excuses.  I mean, I was on vacation, but it’s not like there weren’t computers there. I could have blogged.  But I didn’t. 

However, I did have my sister lean over to me and say “You have a chin hair!” which she proceeded to grab and yank out of my face.

It was my first chin hair. I refuse to blame my age. I am totally calling the study and reporting it as a side effect. What do you think?  Encourage my denial, please.  When did you get a chin hair, if ever?  I’m sure you’re all far too young and pretty to have such a thing.

Sisters.  Whatever would we do without them?

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

69

Timestamp: 2009-08-17 15:54:23 UTC

Okay….that means….Natalie H!

Congratulations Natalie!!  Email me your mailing info and I will get this out to you.  And for those of you who did not win….I believe Segullah will be doing this same giveaway someday soon.  Keep your eyes peeled!

 Emily Watts has generously donated a copy of her new book- signed and everything! - to one lucky MMW reader. You know the drill, comment and hope!  Comments will be open until Monday, Aug.17 at midnight.

(P.S. This is not a “fitness” or “exercise” book.  It will not tell you to “feel the burn”, not even once! I know, because I’ve read it.)

How do you introduce yourself?  If you are like me, it’s, “Hi, I’m Annie/Joe/Max’s Mom,” “Hi, I’m Sis. Mc.,” “Hi, I’m M’s wife,” “Hi, I’m Mrs. Mc.”  When are you ever just YOU.  When do I ever say, “Hi – my name’s Melissa.”  I’ve forgotten what it’s like to be just Melissa.  I have so many other characters, that Melissa is often pushed to the back of the closet.  I was reminded this weekend that I AM MELISSA! (more…)

I loved this episode.  It was so fun to watch, and I seriously want to take a ‘Top Chef’ tour and go visit all the restaurants.  Do you hear me, Bravo?  Somebody there better start making up tour packages!  Top Chef tours New York, Chicago, LA, Miami!  Tasty. (more…)