Awwww.... cutest present under the tree.

I just LOVE the expression on her face!!

"EXCUSE me? Why you put this curly stuff on my head???"

or


"I am NOT a ribbon stand!"


so many possibilities..... hehehe

Do NOT mess with me.

Tis the season for scammers to do what they can to bilk trusting consumers. I learned a lesson this week in TRUSTING MY GUT INSTINCTS no matter what. David found a "too good to be true" deal on a camera. The seller pretended to be from amazon but wasn't. All I had for ordering was an email. I inquired about the camera and they placed an order (I never told them to order it for me) and then they start demanding money via MoneyGram. The seller location was in Italy.

I didn't want to send a moneygram. At least through a credit card you have some kind of recourse if you don't receive the goods. But noooo... this person didn't accept credit card. Just MoneyGram or Western Union. And they sent me a "order" that looked like it was from Amazon, but the spelling errors were obvious that this person "no speak english" and everything about it just made me think it was a scam. They did not want me to tell the MoneyGram people it was a business transaction. They kept saying, "Tell them the money is for a family friend." Yeah RIGHT! I think NOT.

I contacted MoneyGram and Amazon.com and both of them agreed with me that this was a fraud and not to send a dime. So I tried to cancel the "order" (that I never even placed) and have been sent multiple harassing emails. I finally got PISSSSSSED off at them and sent them a nasty email back.

I asked them to give me their Seller name on Amazon. (Their so-called amazon order email contained NO seller listing... only an email address) I asked for them to give me the Amazon order number (there was no order number). I told them I did not believe they were legit. I told them I would not buy from them. I told them anybody who asks me to LIE to the Moneygram people about a transaction is dishonest. I told them they should be ashamed for posing like a Amazon seller when they had created that whole email to LOOK like it was legit but it was not (I sent it to Amazon and they told me it was a fake).

The biggest thing that bothers me.... is these people do have my name and address. That is the only private info they have.... but what if they get mad and open a bunch of credit card accounts using my name and address? I used to have identity theft protection insurance but it expired and I have no money to renew it.

They had also given me a "fax" number that was supposedly from amazon's international seller division that I could send my confirmation of payment to....(If I didn't want to send it directly to the seller) and I traced that number and it is not an amazon number. At least it is not on their website as one of their faxes. It showed up as a number in Florida.

I know what would have happened if I had done what they said. David would be out $600. I would never receive a camera. And if I complained about it, the MoneyGram order would have showed I sent money to a "family friend" not any business transaction where I should receive goods.

How stupid do they think I am?????

Well, I know what NOT to do with a money.....

Back in the day.... making a homemade cookbook was a cheap gift. Not anymore! So far it has cost me $260 to make TEN cookbooks. We're talking cardstock and paper here folks... and that price does NOT including binding them. Since I have a binder at work... I am going to do that myself. I thought I was so cool putting full color photos on every page.... HA! I had to copy them in black in white because to color copy them would have been almost $1000 !!! (for 30 cookbooks).

I seriously can't believe how expensive this Christmas is turning out considering I was not going to do any spending. Geeeeeeeezzzzzzzz. I'll be paying for this for months.

Oh well. I am not going to complain. I'm not. Things work out. They always do.

Sweeeeeeeet.

David did a nice job on this photo.

My blog for next year will start out by following my diet adventure. A whole bunch of us at work are doing the Hcg diet. (starting Jan. 2) My doctor will be THRILLED because she told me to lose weight. I have to go see her in Feb. Would be nice to have a substantial amount off me by then.

I absolutely have to do this.

Peruvian Alfajores

I made these cookies for a Relief Society Cookie Exchange. OOOOH man they are sooo good. They are an almond shortbread biscuit type cookie with a rich caramel filling. Dusted with powdered sugar. I brought a couple to work to share and my friend Brianne, who served a mission in Ecuador, went NUTS over these and told me they were "the best alfajores" she had ever eaten, and she had eaten a LOT of them.

They are a lot of work, but they are worth it. If Fernando still comes to Salt Lake for Christmas, I will make some for him. He may not come because of the weather and road conditions.

I cannot wait for Friday. My neck is so bad..... I just want to cry. I hope this epidural works as well as the last one did.

Grabby family aren't we???

Trying to take photos for our Christmas cards.... we got a bit silly....

My life could have ended.....

First major snowstorm of the season hit Utah today. My commute to work was a commute from H-E-L-L.

But I count my blessings. I made it. Alive. JUST BARELY.

Heading down Redwood road (going north) and a big truck pulled out into the South bound lane going waaaaay too fast for conditions. He slid across all three lanes and headed straight for me. Fishtailing all over the place. It was like slow motion.... I remember thinking "Oh my gosh, he is going to hit me. I'm going to die." and then seconds before impact.... he managed to get control of the truck so he missed me by a hair.

I almost got sick. I think all the color drained from my face. I was shaking, and felt like I was going to pass out. But I was soooooooooo thankful that I was okay.

Talk about having your life flash before your eyes in seconds! I remember thinking about the family photos we took last night... and that they would be our last.... and that nobody would know to tell Fernando that I had died and he would still be coming here to meet me! Thoughts just flash through in an instant... I also thought "I'll never see my grandchildren!"

{{{{shudder}}}}} I don't want to think about that. I am so grateful I am ok. If this storm does not let up though... I am leaving work early. This is nuts.