Creative Tag

{ my age }


{ a place I'd like to visit }


{ my favorite place }

{ favorite object }


{ favorite food }


{ town where I was born }


( town where I live now }

{ a pet I have had }


{ past love }


{ nickname of my best friend }


{ my first name }


{ middle name }


{ last name }


{ bad habit of mine }


{ first job }


{ one of my grandmother's names }


{ my college degree }


{ what I'm doing right now )

The 11th Commandment

WHAT iS THiS... a new commandment?! 

I'm Losing My Mind

- TOO CHEESY!  After having just read the recipe, I doubled the amount of cheese in my homemade mac and cheese the other night.  I didn't realize it until after dinner was over.  Glad it still tasted good. 

- JELLY BELLY!  Too bad I can't blame my big baby belly to the whole bag of jelly beans I ate in less than 24 hours ;) 

- STiLL in NeSTiNG mode.  There are so many projects that I want to get done before the baby comes.  Lately it seems like I always have a few projects going at once.  Like right now, I'm finishing up making my last 4 months worth of homemade greeting cards for Card Club, have people working on our backyard fence, decorating the nursery, putting away winter clothes and getting out the spring/summer clothes, etc.

I think I could use some...

i AM PuRPLe!!!

I took a color quiz to see what color describes me.  If you want to see what color describes you, click HERE to take the quiz.

Spontaneity is the key to your existence. Quick-witted with a flair for originality, you enjoy situations that allow you to explore your creativity. Comparatively conservative, you appreciate beautiful surroundings, especially if they’re found in nature. Your relaxed and self-assured personality allows you to work well with others. Surprisingly enough, your unique and unusual tastes don’t prevent you from being comfortable among your more conservative peers.

i WON (kiNDA)

Thanks to ALL who VOTED for ME! I did not get the most votes, but I was in the TOP TEN! I have been invited to an informal Q&A at Brooke Snow's house in a couple weeks. I'm SO EXCiTED!!!

***VOTE FOR ME!!!

***VOTE FOR ME to win the "For the Love of Photography" mentoring giveaway!!! Only one vote per computer and voting ends this Sunday, Feb. 28th at 11:59 p.m. Just click HERE, scroll down on the poll and click on Lisa Ward. Brooke Snow is one of my favorite photographers and I REALLY REALLY want to WiN!!! Thanks in advance ;)

Grocery Grumblings

I don't like grocery shopping.  Does anyone out there actually enjoy it?  I sure wish I enjoyed it since I go grocery shopping once a week.  Plus, I go shopping at night without any kids with me, so it should be a nice "break." 

A couple years ago, I remember waiting in the check out line.  The line was long and I knew I'd be awhile until it was my turn.  The middle aged lady in front of me turned around.  She blurted out, "I hate grocery shopping."  I nodded my head in agreement and said, "Me too."  Then we just started chatting.  In my mind, I started really analyzing the grocery shopping process and verbalized my thoughts.  "Let's see, how many times do we have to touch our groceries before we get it home and get it put away?! 

1.  You take the grocery items off the shelf and place them in your cart. 

2.  Put the groceries on the conveyor belt at the check out. 

3.  Place the bagged groceries back in the cart and wheel them out to your car. 

4.  Lift the bagged groceries out of the cart and neatly arrange them in the back of your car. 

5.  Drive home and drag those groceries into your house.

6.  Place each grocery item in their designated spot."

The middle aged lady just laughed at me and said.  "That sounds about right.  Hey, but just be grateful that you don't have to grow the food, package the food, drive the food to the grocery store, and stock the shelves too."  'Nuff said.

Yes, that lady's comments made me realize that gathering food for my family at the store down the shouldn't be viewed as annoying as I had described. 

I guess I should consider myself lucky.

Naaaaah.  I'd still rather hire a personal shopper, order my groceries online, and have it all delivered to me.  I think I could handle touching my grocery items once to put them away at my house.

Check out this New Blog

My youngest sister, Laura told me about this brand new blog her friend started. I just checked out the blog and it looks like it will be a fun blog to follow. Head on over to this blog and read the first post to find out more. Oh, and I must mention that my sister, Laura was the model in the pictures posted on the blog so far. Isn't she pretty?!

i WiSH...

- I wish there weren't so many houses in Utah (including mine) that are the boring tan color. I
- I wish it was Spring.

- I wish my house was a self cleaning house.

- I wish I'd always feel well rested when I wake up.

- I wish I had a photography tutor who could teach me all the tricks with my new camera and how to start my photography business.

- I wish somebody else would do my weekly grocery shopping.

- I wish I had the 520+ posts on this blog printed in books from blurb.com

- I wish I could feel comfortable playing the piano in front of an audience. (I haven't taken lessons in almost 10 years and I'd have alot of catching up to do. Oh, and I'd need a piano to make this happen.)

- I wish my family lived closer to me.

- I wish I had my own set of wheels (a double stroller for my kids doesn't cut it in the cold).

- I wish I didn't have thousands of pictures stored on my computer and that I had a more efficient way to store them.

2000-2009

I've been thinking about the last decade. I've had many changes in my life and have grown in all areas of life. Those years were exciting. Let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we?!

2000- Graduated high school in June. Moved out of my parents' house. In July, I started my first semester as an art student at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. I had a fun summer, taking 3 college classes and learning how to succeed as a college student. I made many new friends and had fun on a day trip to Yellowstone National Park. I also started working out frequently at the gym. That fall, Ricks College became a four year university, BYU-Idaho. I spent Christmas with my family in New York.

2001- Completed two more semesters at BYU-Idaho. I had great roommates, neighbors, and friends and enjoyed school and my social life. I really enjoyed being a member of the University Choir along with a roommate and three neighbors. (All of us sang alto). I worked for a couple months cleaning the campus library from 4-7AM. In the winter, I worked at Western Wats where I conducted phone surveys. During the summer, I had four jobs: house sitting, Summer Cohesion counselor (a day camp for kids), waitress at Friendly's Restaurant, and Camp Star counselor (a week long camp for handicapped kids).

2002- Met Sam Ward in April. Worked in Arizona for the summer in the gift shop at Jacob Lake Inn (near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon). Sam began calling me soon after I began working there and continued to call me as often as he could for the rest of the summer (about once a week). We also wrote letters back and forth that summer. Sam picked me up in Provo, Utah at the end of the summer, took me back up to school, and we've been together ever since. I changed my college major to Photography. That fall, Sam and I took a religion class together at BYU-Idaho. Sam and I were engaged to be married by the end of the year.

2003- Married Sam Ward in the Palmyra New York Temple on May 10, 2003. Honeymooned in Niagra Falls. Moved into our first apartment in Rexburg, Idaho for the summer. Worked several jobs that summer (Wendy's, The Galley, other odd jobs) to earn money for college tuition. In August, we moved to another apartment in Ogden, Utah and we both started school at Weber State University. I worked at Cash Advance in Layton, Utah to help pay the bills. We spent that Christmas in Illinois with Sam's family.

2004- In June, we were thrilled to find out that we were pregnant with our first child. In July, I had the opportunity fly to New York and be the wedding photographer for my friend's wedding. It was a great experience which boosted my confidence as a photographer. While in New York, I informed my family that I was pregnant with their first grandchild. Sam and I both worked at Chick-Fil-A and at Mervyn's at the Newgate Mall that summer. We also helped a friend paint his dentist office. In December, we moved to a 2 bedroom apartment and prepared for our baby boy. We spent Christmas with my family in New York.

2005- Brian Samuel Ward joined our family on February 24, 2005 (my dad's birthday). I slowly adjusted to the life of a stay-at-home mother. Sam and I were called to write the monthly newsletter for our ward.

2006- I was the wedding photographer for my sister, Jenny in May. That same month, Sam graduated from Weber State University. In July, he accepted a position with Micron in Lehi, Utah. So we moved to a nice apartment in Pleasant Grove, Utah. In August, Sam left for job training for 4 months, leaving me a "single mom" with 18 month old, Brian. I was called to be the Wolf Den Leader in Cub Scouts. It was a very time consuming calling, but I had fun with it.

2007- Sam was asked to go work in Fishkill, NY for 6 weeks. It was a fun time because Brian and I were able to go with him and spend alot of time with my family (who live 3 hours West of Fishkill). In April, we found out that we were pregnant with baby #2. Soon after that, I was called to serve as the First Counselor in the Primary Presidency. I became very good friends with the women I served with in Primary (Beth Reese, Bethany Deveraux, and Lindsay Strickland). In July, Sam and I went on a trip to Arizona. We stayed a couple nights in a cabin at Jacob Lake Inn and visited the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park. The highlight of the year was when Tyler Jacob Ward joined our family on December 30, 2007.

2008- In late April, Sam accepted a job offer in Logan, Utah. The company wanted him to begin working 2 weeks later. While in Logan for a day, Sam picked out a lovely 3 bedroom apartment for us to live in. We packed up our apartment, said good-bye to our friends, and moved to a new town. We really enjoyed that apartment. My Grandma Hallstrom lived on the other side of town. The apartment was only 1.5 miles from Sam's work, we had a playground right outside our door, and we had a great mountain view (with a nice view of the Logan Temple).

2009- In February, we began looking to buy our first house. I spent many late nights on the computer searching for the perfect house for us. On our second trip out with our realtor, we found "the house." After a rollercoaster of events, we got the house and moved in just days before my 27th birthday. In July, our family of four flew to New York and spent 2 weeks with my family. All 8 Hallstrom kids were home and we enjoyed some quality family time. In October, we were thrilled to find out that we're pregnant with baby #3. Our baby is due to arrive in June 2010.

*** After writing this up, I realized how much my Heavenly Father has blessed me. I strive to stay close to my Heavenly Father and counsel with him in making big decisions in my life. I know that if I am in tune with the Spirit, I will make the correct decisions in my life. Life is full of surprises. I can't wait to see what the next ten years have in store for me and my family!

Contact Lenses VS. Glasses

Recently, I got a new pair of glasses. I like them, I really, REALLY do, but I don't want to have to wear them every day. (I feel less sleepy and prettier when I wear my contact lenses). For the past couple months, after I wear my contacts, my left eye would turn red and become extremely irritated. I tried Pataday eye drops for allergies. I tried a special contact lens cleaning kit called Clear Care. Nope, neither of them solved the problem. Yesterday morning, I woke up earlier than usual. My left eye felt like it was burning and like there was something stuck in my eye! Not cool. I called up my favorite optometrist, my dad, and asked for his advice. He told me to take a shower and rinse out my eye real good and see if that would solve the problem. That didn't work. So, I called him up again for more advice. My dad told me to wait until noon and see if my eyes got better on their own and if they didn't, I should go see an opthamologist or an optometrist. Let me tell you, it was a LONG morning. Bright light made my eyes worse. I had an extremely annoying headache too. I spent alot of time suffering in my dark bedroom. I tried to keep my eyes shut. I cried in pain. Anyway, to wrap up this story, I went to see an optometrist in town (not my dad), and found out that I have an infection, some form of keratitis. So I got a prescription for some Maxitrol eye drops. I get to go back to the optometrist this afternoon to see if the eye drops are working properly. My sister, Emily called me yesterday and told me that she's had keratitis for the past year and that she's had to wear glasses. Maybe I have a different type of keratitis than Emily has?! I hope that the type of keratitis that I have isn't contagious and that it will clear up quickly. But for now, feel free to call me "four eyes."

A Wedding Gift - a framed piece of paper that says:

SAMUEL

Local origin of name: English

From the Hebrew root name "Samuel"

Meaning

(Shmuel) 'His name is God' or "God has heard' 1 Samuel 1:20

~ Emotional Spectrum ~

Sadness is soon overcome by joy with Samuel.

~ Personal Integrity ~

You would never make a mistake placing your faith in Samuel.

~ Personality ~

Always happy, never bad, full of pep, and never sad.

~ Relationships ~

Many people will find him their best friend.

~ Travel & Leisure ~

Born to travel!

~ Career & Money ~

If money is not wasted in youth, he will handle it well as an adult.

~ Life's Opprotunities ~

A mentor in the early years will help him achieve success.

LISA

Local origin of name: English

From the Hebrew root name "Elizabeth"

Meaning

(Elisheva), 'Oath of God' or "God is my oath' Exodus 6:23

~ Emotional Spectrum ~

If you are looking for laughter, Lisa is your person!

~ Personal Integrity ~

No one would doubt her word.

~ Personality ~

Pep doesn't always come in pills.

~ Relationships ~

Doesn't need much out of life but to be loved.

~ Travel & Leisure ~

Born to shop!

~ Career & Money ~

The right job is within her grasp.

~ Life's Opprotunities ~

A combination of education and planning will server her well.

Married for Time & All Eternity

in the Palmyra New York

Temple May 10, 2003

WhAT BuGs YoU?

Sam was being very helpful in killing a few of these:

Yes, this is an actual beehive that he destroyed. I don't know what it is with guys and their obsession with bugs... but I think what bugged me most this particular day is when my boy came in looking like this:

Poor Brian got is first two bee stings! He got stung right above his right eye and also got stung on his wrist.

GuESS WHo?!?!

Are you guessing?!Did you get it right? (Tyler's head was the one the left and Brian's head was the one the right). Thanks for playing.

The Price of a Child

(I found this on my friend, Renee's blog)

ThE PRiCE oF A CHiLD

I have repeatedly seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice.

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 to be $160,140 for a middle income family.

Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down.

It translates into:

*$8,896.66 a year, or

* $741.38 a month, or

* $171.08 a week.*

That's a mere $24.24 a day!

* Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is "if you want to be 'rich', don't have children. Actually, it is just the opposite.

What do you get for your $160,140?

* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!

* Glimpses of God every day.

* Giggles under the covers every night.

* More love than your heart can hold.

* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.

* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.

* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.

* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites

* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up.

You get to:

* finger-paint,

* carve pumpkins,

* play hide-and-seek,

* catch lightning bugs, and

* never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:

* keep reading "The Adventures of Piglet and Pooh" ,

* watch Saturday morning cartoons,

* go to Disney movies, and

* wish upon a star. You also get to:

* frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets,

and collect:

* spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas,

* hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and

* cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no bigger bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:

* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,

* taking the training wheels off a bike,

* removing a splinter,

* filling a wading pool,

* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and

* coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to witness history:

* her first step,

* his first word,

* her first bra,

* his first date, and

* their first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs called grandchildren and great grandchildren in your obituary.

You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God.

You have the power to:

* heal a boo-boo,

* scare away the monsters under the bed,

* patch a broken heart,

* police a slumber party,

* ground them forever, and

* love them without limits... so that one day they, like you, will love without counting the cost.

That is quite a deal for the price!

Love & enjoy your children, grandchildren & great grandchildren

RaNDoM, YeT tRuE StORieS

Here are some RaNDoM tHiNgS that happened on our trip to New York:

- I am a fool! While at Newtown Battlefield, I began jogging and yelled, "Race ya!" to my brother, Mike. (Of course, I was already ahead of Mike when I asked him to race). Running at full speed, I looked back to see how close Mike was to me, and I totally tripped on the uneven ground, fell hard on my side, and bounced. Laughing and crying at the same time, Mike came over and tickled me. I learned 3 things from this:

1) Do NOT challenge your bigger (yet younger) brother to a race.

2) Even with a head start, you WiLL LoSE.

3) Crashing into the grassy ground will earn you well deserved grass stains on your favorite jeans (not to mention total public humiliation).

P.S. My shoulder still hurts from this foolishness.

- Pit Stop?! On our drive up to Palmyra for the Hill Cumorah Pageant, we stopped to get gas. Brian really needed to tinkle, so I took him inside the convenient store to find the potty. Can you believe that there wasn't a public potty at a place called, PiT SToP!!! They totally need to change their name 'cuz it's very misleading!

- HoLY Special Effects! So we were sitting back enjoying the Hill Cumorah Pageant (Sam and my boys' first time to the show). My boys were loving the experience; staying up past bedtime, being outside at night, seeing all the actors dressed up, etc. Suddenly, Samuel the Lamantite declared, "There will be thunder and lightning..." whereupon we immediately received thunder, lightning, and huge droplets of precipitation. All I can say 'bout that is HoLY SPeCiAL eFFeCTS! And one more thing: Our ride home was an uncomfortably wet one.

Decisions, Decisions

I've been trying to decide what color I want to paint my big TV room downstairs. This article was kind of helpful. I think I'm going to go with an earthy shade of green, but then for some reason, I keep thinking blue might be nice. Any suggestions?

Color Psychology
Do different colors affect your mood?

by: David Johnson

Like death and taxes, there is no escaping color. It is ubiquitous. Yet what does it all mean? Why are people more relaxed in green rooms? Why do weightlifters do their best in blue gyms?
Colors often have different meanings in various cultures. And even in Western societies, the meanings of various colors have changed over the years. But today in the U.S., researchers have generally found the following to be accurate.

Black
Black is the color of authority and power. It is popular in fashion because it makes people appear thinner. It is also stylish and timeless. Black also implies submission. Priests wear black to signify submission to God. Some fashion experts say a woman wearing black implies submission to men. Black outfits can also be overpowering, or make the wearer seem aloof or evil. Villains, such as Dracula, often wear black.

White
Brides wear white to symbolize innocence and purity. White reflects light and is considered a summer color. White is popular in decorating and in fashion because it is light, neutral, and goes with everything. However, white shows dirt and is therefore more difficult to keep clean than other colors. Doctors and nurses wear white to imply sterility.

Red
The most emotionally intense color, red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. It is also the color of love. Red clothing gets noticed and makes the wearer appear heavier. Since it is an extreme color, red clothing might not help people in negotiations or confrontations. Red cars are popular targets for thieves. In decorating, red is usually used as an accent. Decorators say that red furniture should be perfect since it will attract attention.
The most romantic color, pink, is more tranquilizing. Sports teams sometimes paint the locker rooms used by opposing teams bright pink so their opponents will lose energy.

Blue
The color of the sky and the ocean, blue is one of the most popular colors. It causes the opposite reaction as red. Peaceful, tranquil blue causes the body to produce calming chemicals, so it is often used in bedrooms. Blue can also be cold and depressing. Fashion consultants recommend wearing blue to job interviews because it symbolizes loyalty. People are more productive in blue rooms. Studies show weightlifters are able to handle heavier weights in blue gyms.

Green
Currently the most popular decorating color, green symbolizes nature. It is the easiest color on the eye and can improve vision. It is a calming, refreshing color. People waiting to appear on TV sit in "green rooms" to relax. Hospitals often use green because it relaxes patients. Brides in the Middle Ages wore green to symbolize fertility. Dark green is masculine, conservative, and implies wealth. However, seamstresses often refuse to use green thread on the eve of a fashion show for fear it will bring bad luck.

Yellow
Cheerful sunny yellow is an attention getter. While it is considered an optimistic color, people lose their tempers more often in yellow rooms, and babies will cry more. It is the most difficult color for the eye to take in, so it can be overpowering if overused. Yellow enhances concentration, hence its use for legal pads. It also speeds metabolism.

Purple
The color of royalty, purple connotes luxury, wealth, and sophistication. It is also feminine and romantic. However, because it is rare in nature, purple can appear artificial.

Brown
Solid, reliable brown is the color of earth and is abundant in nature. Light brown implies genuineness while dark brown is similar to wood or leather. Brown can also be sad and wistful. Men are more apt to say brown is one of their favorite colors.

Colors of the Flag
In the U.S. flag, white stands for purity and innocence. Red represents valor and hardiness, while blue signifies justice, perseverance, and vigilance. The stars represent the heavens and all the good that people strive for, while the stripes emulate the sun's rays.
Food for Thought

While blue is one of the most popular colors it is one of the least appetizing. Blue food is rare in nature. Food researchers say that when humans searched for food, they learned to avoid toxic or spoiled objects, which were often blue, black, or purple. When food dyed blue is served to study subjects, they lose appetite.

Green, brown, and red are the most popular food colors. Red is often used in restaurant decorating schemes because it is an appetite stimulant.

DoN'T Be A LoSER

CLiCK PHoTo To ENLaRGE

How come a TiE is the most common Father's Day gift anyway? I have never understood that one. I hope to find a better alternative this year. Do any of you out there have any fun Father's Day gift ideas? How about any fun Father's Day traditions?

This Looks Fun

This FREE two-week class begins on July 6, 2009! Click HERE for more info.

CrAZY BiKER DuDE

This is a link to a man, Danny Macaskill, doing crazy stunts on his bike. I'm glad he wears a helmet! This one is definitely worth checking out.

http://www.itsagoodday.org/video/video/2739/Inspired-Bicycles--Danny-MacAskill-April2009