I've Been Tagged!! (By Kimberly!!)

I've been tagged to write six things that most people don't know about me and that I haven't blogged about before. Here we go:

1. My dad is from Lebanon (most people already know that..) But!! Once, when I was pretty young) he was given a can of chick peas (the label was in Arabic) and told my sister Kira and I that they were goat eyes, and that everyone in Lebanon eats them....well, he "forgot" to tell us he was kidding, and we took that can everywhere to show how cool a can of goat eyes looked!! Ya, we even took it for show-and-tell. It wasn't until about 2 or 3 years ago when Kira and I were reminiscing about that can, that my dad was like, "You believed me? I thought you knew I was kidding!!"

2. I have para-sailed in the Bahamas.

3. I was in competitive drumlines since 8th grade! And was drum line captain my junior and senior years.

4. I lived in Japan for a little while as part of a sister-city/exchange program.

5. I had a pet flying squirrel, ROXY, all during high school. She was nocturnal, so sometimes I would even take her to school with me. She would just sleep in the front pocket of my back pack. However, they do make a barking sound - and the only time she ever made a peep was during my calc final my senior year and she was "barking" like crazy...how do you explain that!?!?!?

6. I can only wink with my left eye!!!!!! **wink, wink**


Now I tag six people: Heather B, Dez, Drea, Adria, and Hillary W., Kayla W.

1. The player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves - try to find 6 you haven't already posted about.2. At the end of the post, the player tags 6 people and posts their names, and then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment, letting them know they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog for the rules.

Thanksgiving

Things I am THANKFUL for: I could go on, and on, but here are a few:

1) Religion - everything I am, believe, and want to become all stems from that beautiful knowledge.

2) My wonderful husband. He is a constant reminder to me of how great my life truly is. He takes such good care of me, and is the best example to me. We're going on 14 years of being friends, a little over 2 years being married, and I look forward to the future we have together!!

3) My family. I can't even say enough. I have the best families. I married into a great one, and can't be torn apart from my own! They are so fun. There is never a dull moment in the Rushdi household! That is for sure!

4) My Job. As you know, the housing market isn't doing as well as it has been. I am SO thankful that I have a wonderful job, and wonderful co-workers.

5) Our cute little apartment. Okay, not the greatest place to live, but it has brought us so many blessings. We are in a ward that is 2nd to NONE! We've met great people, the location is great, and it is very close to Mark's job and school. (Which I am sure he is very greatful for also!)

6) My Friends!!! I am sitting here trying to think of something profound to say, but I can't! I am speechless. I have the greatest friends that anyone could ask for!! Thank you for all that you do for me and keeping in touch! You guys are the best!

Phoenix Zoo Lights

Mark and I went to the Phoenix Zoo lights last Saturday for a Phi Theda Kappa event. We had never been, and we had a great time! I think my favorite part of the whole night is when we just sad at one of the tables by the carousel and just sat and talked. It seems like we have little together time these

days. We had kettle corn and ice cream and watched all the families anxiously await to get on the ride! We had a great time!!!

P.S. PTK had a raffle while we were at the zoo. There were portable DVD players, hunting equipment, and several wrapped objects - and Mark won a candle!!!!!!! Yeah for me! It was cinnimon!!!

If I only had a brain!!!

This is a picture of the cards I made for Thanksgiving. I don't know if you've ever seen those clear plastic envelopes that you can mail cards in, but they are my new favorite thing! I placed all of my Thanksgiving cards into these see-through sleeves and stuck them in my card box. (I made them a few weeks ago). Well, earlier this week I realized that I needed to send them out soon in order for them to make it to our family in Idaho. I got them all out, addressed them, and placed them on the table. I was so proud of myself that I had them made early, and would be mailing them with just enough time for them to receive them the day before Thanksgiving.

I am driving down the highway today thinking about my Thanksgiving plans (or lack of) and it hit me with a ton of bricks!! I mailed all of my cards....BLANK! I didn't write a single flipping thing in them. 10 beautiful, handmade, pieces of work - with not a word inside!! I was so worried about getting them mailed that I didn't write in them!! I honestly laughed (out loud) for about 5 minutes while I am driving down the freeway! What on earth do I do now? Do I call and tell them? Or wait for them to call me asking why I sent them a blank card?? If I only had a brain!!!!

Weekend Trip To Vegas!

Mark and I had the oppurtunity to go to Vegas this weekend to visit some of our closest friends who just recently moved there! Shannon and I were "the girls" in the Construction Management Major at BYUI and actually lived together for a little while right before she got married. Then after I got married we lived in the same 4-plex for a few months while I finished my last semester of school in 2005 so we hadn't seen each other for about 2 years!! They showed us their adorable home, the sites that they work at, (Brian's company is doing all the landscaping for the Wynn!)some great places in Vegas, and you can't go to Vegas without seeing the water shows at the Ballagio! It was a great weekend!!!!

New Jeans - My 20 pound prize!

Close your eyes and imagine this:

You are walking down the street - it is a beautiful day, birds are chirping, there is a slight breeze, you smell freshly baked cookies coming from the bakery across the street....and you just can't help but think that it is a perfect day! You look around and see beautiful trees, kids playing, fast cars, and then....out of the corner of your eye you see it!! Boy Howdy!! It is the nastiest pair of pants you've ever seen! Drooping butt, baggy thighs, gaping denim?? Oh, who is that poor soul wearing those disgusting things?? She turns around (she smells the wonderful cookies, but decides she is too good for them and heads to the gym!) You think to yourself, "Oh! But of course! It is Kristen Starr."

I have seriously felt like that! No joke! I have lost over 20 pounds now, but had decided I wasn't buying new clothes until I had hit 20-25 pounds. (enough to make a noticeable difference) I really was supposed to buy khakis for work, but I found these jeans at Layne Bryant and couldn't pass them up. I used to call LB the "Chub" store (Now with that said - "Chub" was just my joke name for it and has no negative connotation - LB has been my favorite clothing store since I knew it existed!)- but I think it has now earned the title of " Where-have-you-been-all-my-life, sexy, wonderful, jeans of my dream" store!! :) They have a new line called "Right Fit" jeans made for different body shapes - and they hit it right on for me! I love them!

I know this is really dumb - but I was so excited that they had to go on my blog!! Only 20 more pounds and I get another pair!!

My Little Emma Grace

This is my niece Emma. Isn't she just so adorable?? ( I think she kind of looks like Boo from Monsters, Inc.) We have been away from our families for so long! I feel like I am missing out on all the little ones growing up! But I am going home for Christmas!! I can't wait!!

(You can click on it to make it bigger!)

Mark's Induction into Phi Theta Kappa

On Friday night, Mark and I attended his induction into the Phi Theta Kappa! (International Honors Society) It was such a great program - I could tell that the officers really put a lot of time into it!


When we first got there they were serving dinner. We didn't know
anyone there, so we sat next to another young couple, Heather and Tyler. Come to find out he is the nephew of one of my college professors!!! Small world.

Heather and I sat by each other as
Mark and Tyler were being inducted.

They were given a rose to symbolize "purity" and a candle for "unity".


I am so proud of Mark. He is really excelling in school and really has a passion for what he is studying.
He is going to be a great doctor some day!!!