the world is my oyster...

According to a really hot Gucci salesman (my friend, Melissa's brother) with $2,000

the world is my oyster...

But I think I had my oyster well before I had the $2,000!

I have LOVED my friends and my family's excitement for me! It has been so fun to hear or read the stories! Thank you for your compliments and your excitement!

But thank you most for your friendship and your LOVE!!

I LOVE you guys!! Thanks for joining in on the 15 minutes! And for humoring me vanities!

Which is now closing...sigh....I thought we had a pretty good relationship!

dear ellen,

I thought you (and the rest of my fans) might want to know where your $2,000 went. While some upstanding women would've donated the money, I followed the lesser law. I decided to buy the things or the world! I decided that I would buy items that I would NEVER buy with a sane mind. When else am I EVER going to have $2,000 given to me?!? Ceasar's Forum Shops LOVED me! I had a pure, unadulterated splurge-fest! Here we go...

(Dad, you might not want to look any further...)

For those who are "dying to know". Yes! I got the Coach bag. She really is breathtaking!

And the wallet. (Honestly, how could I have pulled my target wallet out of a Coach bag. Splurge!)

And while waiting for the transactions I bought my ladies, who were genuinely excited for me some fun Coach rings, we like to call them memory rings to match our Ellen T-shirts...adorable! I LOVE the positive affirmations on them! To remind us just how fabulous we are! And how fabulous the weekend was!!

And to top it off, I got what I have dreamed about getting for YEARS now and I have never been able to do. I wanted to buy one when I got my Bachelors, but didn't. I wanted one when I got my Master's, but didn't. I wanted on the first time I went to NYC, but didn't. So, I had Ellen buy it for me....my very own Tiffany ring!! Yes, I am the proud owner of a little blue box with a little blue bag!!

P.S. Sorry about the face grab! I swear I wasn't trying to hit you! :) Your absolute ADORABLENESS overtook my hands and they just wanted to grab your face. Mid-grab I realized that I was about to squeeze a grown woman's face and REALLY wanted to stop myself!! I don't even grab the faces of my nephews and niece....I don't know what came over me! :)

You are amazing Ellen! Thank you again!!

Love,

Janelle--the High-Roller!!

for those who missed it...and because I am vain!

I made the "Video of the Day" on Ellen's web page all day yesterday! Here's the clips she had:

Have I said how much fun I had?!?!

and let me tell you...I have enjoyed EVERY single minute of my 15 minutes of fame!

{shocking, I know!}

sneak peak....

Here's a little promo Ellen did for me....

Told you I wasn't lying!!

And for my local fans (hehe)...I will be on Channel 8 in the morning on Tuesday, November 25.

tagged! (secretly I love this stuff!)

I got tagged by Liza Jane (I LOVE this lady!) She is always up for an adventure...ALWAYS. And she is the best bed and breakfast hostess EVER!! Oh, and she is one HOT mama that one!!

Go into my pictures. Open the 4th folder. Choose the 4th picture and post it....

Grove Park Girls 2007: Annie, Ashlee, Janelle, Kristin

As Activities Chair, I organized a Ward Trip up to Temple Square. We stopped at a fabulous Utah convenience store and found some AMAZING shirts! I felt it only appropriate to by my roommates their Christmas presents a little early.

Oh, how I love white-trash Utah.

(Not saying that all of Utah is white-trash. Or that in any way the word Utah denotes white trash. Just that Utah has some great examples of white trash. Don't worry, I know that Nevada and Arizona have white trash people..etc. etc.)

a week of gratitude...Day 5

Ellen Degeneres

I have many, many things to be thankful for....and I promise I will post them as intended. But this week of gratitude needs to be interupted for a few minor events that happened today. Let me review the events of the last 24 hours:

November 20, 2008

10:00PM--Met up with some friends for the midnight Twilight premiere....phenomenal! Loved it! I am grateful to Catherine Hardwicke for sticking close to the masterpiece! I loved it!!

November 21, 2008

3:00AM--Snuggled up into bed after Twilight premiere

5:00AM--Woke up to get ready to stand in line ALL day for The Ellen Degeneres Show at Cesears Palace today. She filmed a show in Vegas and I got 4 stand-by tickets. So my sister, Jill, and 2 of my friends gave it a try. We LOVE Ellen!!

6:45AM--Assumed our position in line...#s 86, 87, 88, and 89.

8:00AM--Still waiting.

10:00AM--Yep, still waiting.

10:45AM--A "greeter" from the Ellen Show approached our general vicinity. She asked us where we were from, of course everyone was answering. She turned away from us, I faded out, but my AMAZINGLY astute hearer of a sister Jill all of the sudden said, "I've never gambled". So of course, not to be out-done, I chimed in with the same response.

11:00AM--The greeter, Alissa, asked Jill and I to come with her. We met up with 4 other women who live in Vegas who have never gambled. Just for the record, that is 6 people out of 4,000!

11:00-12:00PM

• Alissa and Ellen (another greeter, not THE Ellen) proceeded to "survey" us. They asked us simple questions about ourselves and our favorite parts about The Ellen Degeneres Show.
  

(They then proceeded to talk to each other in another corner and on their blackberries)

• They informed us repetively, that while it is VERY slim, there is a VERY slim chance that possibly, but VERY slim (ly) Ellen would do a segment involving audience participation.
  
  

(They then proceeded to talk to each other in another corner and on their blackberries.)

• They asked us repeatedly if Ellen did ask us to do something, if we would be willing to do it? Would we be willing to do ANYTHING they asked?
  

(They then proceeded to talk to each other in another corner and on their blackberries)

• Next, they asked us that IF Ellen were to call our names, how would we respond. We literally had to show them how we would act as they yelled our names in a small corner of a casino. Entertaining, I am sure for MANY passer-bys.
  

(They then proceeded to talk to each other....you get the idea....)

• The came back and told us to follow them. We waited in a new corner of the casino while they got us guaranteed tickets....WE WERE IN! And our friends too!!

12:00-1:00PM

• We stealthy snuck back into line to retrieve our friends. We pulled them out and told them everything! We were SO excited!! We weren't for sure if we were going to be on stage, but man we were just excited to have guaranteed tickets!
  


• We let out a few shrills and hugs and then went shopping.
  
  


• I entered a Coach store for the first time. Adorable things. Too expensive for me. I told the staff at the store...."If I get on Ellen, I will come back and buy this purse".
  
  
  

2:00PM--DANCING the day away with Tony and Ellen. LOVING life!

2:15PM--Ellen does a "drawing" of all the 4,000 names there, and one lucky audience member is going to "win big".

Drum Roll-----and Roll------and Roll-------

JANELLE BAUGH!!!!

I got called, from 4,000 people to RUN, RUN, RUN up to stage to share a microphone with Ellen Degeneres.

She asked me some simple questions and then brought up the fact that I have never gambled.

She then gave me $1,000 CASH in my hand and told me to follow Andy and she would teach me how to play Blackjack.

And then I ran, ran, ran out giving high fives and praying not to trip on my heels.

We proceeded to run, run, run even when the camera wasn't on us...

We then got to our table with HUGE lights everywhere and TONS of people watching and taking pictures. The microphoned me and told me all sorts of instructions, but really all I heard was sweet Andy saying, "Just be yourself!"

And so I was.

You can watch the rest of the story on Monday....this Monday....

Ellen Degeneres Show

Monday, November 24th!

And I am going to be interviewed Monday morning on Channel 8 morning news!!

My, oh my!!

If you need to get a hold of me, my agent's number is....

It was SOOO SOOO SOOO much fun!! Here's a little sneak peek of the after-party. Let's just say Ellen is a great teacher....

a week of gratitude...Day 4

Tonight I am thankful for sleep.

And I am going to do just that.

I'll make up for it tomorrow.

a week of gratitude....Day 3

I just got back from the gym...and I am THANKFUL!

For my Health and Body!

I am thankful...

for my bones that are strong and support and protect my body.

for my muscles that carry me and allow me to move this body.

for my tendons and ligaments that allow my to run and, umm...DANCE!

that I am able to run on a treadmill, and enjoy it!

that I have been able to hike the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim, and want to do it again.

that I don't even have to think about walking, running, getting out of bed in the morning.

that I can run half-marathons and 5ks.

for the gift of my body.

that I am not afraid to try new exercises or activities.

for the knowledge and resources I have to take care of my body.

that I have never had to face the horrible addictions to smoking, alcohol, and drugs.

for the benefits of the Word of Wisdom and the blessings received when following it.

for a really fabulous work out partner that somehow makes waking up at 4:30AM or 4:45AM fun, and something I look forward to {weird}

for my body, yep my body--including but not limited to (this is going to be a little hard) my healthy skin, blue eyes that sparkle, my smile, my long, narrow feet, my shoulders, my neck, my hands and fingers, my hair, my teeth (thanks Mom and Dad), my ankles....and that is enough for now.

for the lack of illnesses up to this point.

for ZUMBA!

that all of my body functions properly.

that even though I might not fit into society's definition of beautiful, I have the gift of the Holy Ghost which radiates beauty and that I have had parents, siblings, and true friends who have never considered my anything less than beautiful.

that my brain and intellect are clear and that I choose to exercise them.

for medicine, while it has its imperfections, its advancements and technologies are available to us.

a week of gratitude...Day 2

For the Beauty of the Earth

Really no words can describe the way I feel about God's creations.

I am thankful that I have been able to travel.

I am thankful that I have felt the Spirit so strong as I look upon the amazing, mind-blowing creations God has created for us.

I am thankful for the equally beautiful people I have met.

I am humbled to know that if I live my life in accordance to His will, the things I have yet to see I cannot even contemplate.

I am thankful.

Thankful for the inspiring creations Heavenly Father has given to us to enjoy, to help us feel closer to Him.

a week of gratitude...Day 1

The Gospel

I am thankful...



For my belief and understanding of the Trinity. A testimony that I know, without any doubt or reservation, that God is my Heavenly Father and that He loves me as much, even more, than my earthly father does. And because of that love he provided a way for us to live with Him again. That Jesus Christ is his only begotten son, and my heavenly brother, has shown me how to live and serve. That because of Him and His sacrifice and His "one-ness" with God, I have a blueprint on how to live my life in accordance to His will. That He provided a perfect example for me. And that because He can't physically walk beside me all the time, he gave us the supernal gift of the Holy Ghost to help us. To comfort us, guide us, give us peace, assurance, direction and companionship. He rejoices when I am right, and reminds me when I am wrong.

That I know that Heavenly Father has His hand directly in my life. He knows my fears, my tears, my joys, my desires and my rejoicings.



For the restored Gospel on the earth. That we can follow the same gospel teachings, ordinances, covenants, and doctrines as Christ preached during his time here on earth.



That Heavenly Father loved His people enough to provide modern-day revelation--that we have a prophet, seer, and revelator to guide us during these times on the earth.



For my testimony that fear is not of God. Fear destroys that feeling of confidence God's child should feel in a loving Heavenly Father.



For the opportunities that I have had to truly, genuinely Come Unto Him, and He did give me rest.



And through those opportunities, I have come to KNOW Him.



That I have had opportunities to experience those character-building experiences necessary to be counted as God's "tried and proven people" to help build His kingdom and to follow His will for me, not my will for myself, or society's will for me.



That God is all-knowing and that He directs my life with immortal vision even when I get frustrated with my mortal vision.

That my Bishop knows my name, and even though we've never had a significant conversation I can feel his love and concern for me.

For men who act in God's name through the Priesthood. And consider that authority sacred through their actions.

For times when I can actually prove my faith in the Lord and His Gospel. Those times when faith is not just a word, but an action.

For the many, many believers of the Gospel who, like the Apostle Peter, lack in many mortal areas and have many mortal weaknesses. But they continue on in faith and overcome and build many splendid, eternal things.

For forgiveness. That it is given to me by so many and that I am able to give it to others.

But most importantly, for the forgiveness of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through their gift of the atonement. That my older brother, Jesus Christ, considers me His friend, and volunteered to be my Savior, to redeem me from inadequacies and wrong doings. To fulfill the law.

I am thankful that I know His cross was for me, and I can reflect and show gratitude every Sunday while partaking of the sacrament.

For the remissions of my sins...again, and again...

"The gospel of Jesus Christ encompasses much more than avoiding, overcoming, and being cleansed from sin and the bad influences in our lives; it also essentially entails doing good, being good, and becoming better. Repenting of our sins and seeking forgiveness are spiritually necessary, and we must always do so. But remission of sin is not the only or even the ultimate purpose of the gospel. To have our hearts changed by the Holy Spirit such that 'we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually' (Mosiah 5:2), as did King Benjamin's people, is the covenant responsibility we have accepted. This mighty change is not simply the result of working harder or developing greater individual discipline. Rather, it is the consequence of a fundamental change in our desires, our motives, and our natures made possible through the Atonement of Christ the Lord. Our spiritual purpose is to overcome both sin and the desire to sin, both the taint and the tyranny of sin."

David A. Bednar

For HOPE in all the Heavenly Father has promised me.

For the virtue of Patience, which I attempt to emulate in my life everyday. The Savior was 30 before He started His ministry. He spent that time learning the things necessary...line upon line, precept upon precept.

For Sacrifice. For people who are willing to sacrifice for the gospel's sake. Echoing their love and devotion by physically showing their love for their Heavenly Father.

That I am able to go to church every Sunday to be edified and buoyed up and to feel the Spirit to remind me why I do the things I do.

That I am peculiar. And that I have a wise, humble prophet to follow instead of the teachings of man.

That I feel His love even when I am not the most obedient.

For the overwhelming blessings received in the House of the Lord.

For the blessings and peace of obedience.

For the opportunities in the temples to do something for someone who cannot do it for themselves, just as Jesus Christ did something for us that we all could not do for ourselves.

For the spiritual strength I receive inside the Lord's House and my perception after I leave.

That my parents made individual decisions in their lives so that I could be born in the covenant. And continued in the faith to rear me in the gospel. And that we can be together in the eternities.

That I have been enabled to walk back in the presence of my Heavenly Father, and that one day I can fall to His feet in humility and utter sincere gratitude and rejoice with Him.

a week of gratitude....

“Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend … when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.”

Sarah Ban Breathnach, as quoted by President Thomas S. Monson

Every day this week I am going to post items that I am grateful for.

The inspiration for this came a few days after General Conference. I heard Elder Bednar's talk on prayer. In it he said,

"Let me recommend that periodically you and I offer a prayer in which we only give thanks and express gratitude. Ask for nothing; simply let our souls rejoice and strive to communicate appreciation with ALL the ENERY of our hearts."

I attempted this challenge but found myself having difficulties. Not because it is hard to find things I am thankful for, that is not it at all. I found myself asking for more, wanting to be better.

Example: "Thank you for my family. I love them so much...HELP ME serve them more and show my love"...right there! Already blew it.

The gratitude prayer kept getting interrupted by my desire to want more from Heavenly Father. I have so much to be thankful for and I am truly blessed, for that reason I want to write it out (so as to have some control over my desires to want more).

So here starts the week, anyone who knows me, knows this might be a hard thing for me to keep up...but here's to trying! :)

we are family

Let me here proclaim what an amazing friend I have!

Jennifer Suzanne Husk Garbett called me on a Thursday overwhelmed and frustrated and just doing everything and anything needed to be done so her family could leave for a weekend vacation.

Being the great friend that I am, I tell her that my family is going up to the same place she will be to do "amateur" family photos.

What was I thinking would happen when I tell a professional photographer this atrocity? (Obviously, I wasn't).

Sweet, amazing overwhelmed Jen volunteered to do our pictures first thing in the morning...

sacrificing her sleep-in day on vacation

sacrificing her relaxation time to WORK on vacation

I love her! I shouldn't have said anything, because in the 20 years we've been friends she has

ALWAYS made me feel like her first priority

she has ALWAYS made me feel like she would do anything for me

and she has ALWAYS had my admiration and complete love!!

I Love you girl! Thanks for the family pictures!!

I got TAGGED! 3 times in a week....

My first tag ever, from Val….aww, sweet!


Tagged...six random things about me

*Post the rules on your blog
*Write six random things about yourself
*Tag six-ish people at the end of your post
*Let each person know he/she has been tagged
*Let the tagger know when your entry is up

1) I think my feet are cute, dare I say…sexy! Even my webbed toes.

2) Sometimes when I have to go the bathroom REALLY bad, and there is no hope in site I daydream that Will Smith just walked in the room and is smiling at me. It is a great distraction, and usually works for a little while.

3) I like to buy hats, but seldom wear them.

4) I love the movie, Brian’s Song, and watch it at least once a year.

5) My all-time favorite meal is Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and Hot Dogs. (seriously). Oh, and I still eat bologna sandwiches. AND, I still smash my white bread tight together in a ball before eating it…much to my mother’s dismay!!

6) I’ve always wanted to be a professional dancer and a rockstar. Oh, and an artist. Well, I would just like to be good at art…if only I could create what I see in my head!

This one is from my most observant friend, Nelly

(she should’ve done this one for me…she would know).

Name 6 of your quirks

1. I really don’t like it when I can see any of the white part of a toenail. I like toenails nicely trimmed or painted so that you can’t see the white part. It kinda grosses me out, in a strange way. Same with fingernails on men. I can’t see any white part of the nail…eww!

2. I don’t like shopping for shoes. It stresses me out. Clothes you can try on, and if you like it you get it. Shoes involve way too much thinking. You have to think what outfit you can wear it with. Is it comfortable? do you want it a little big or a little small depending on a bunch of other conditions you have to think about. Will the colors match? Do I already have a shoe like this? Will it look good with my outfit? UGH! Too much!

3. I rarely laugh out loud. And I don’t know why. I’ll smile or chuckle or say, “That is funny!” But really, it is uncommon for me to laugh out loud. But there are a few people out there who can get me going.

4. I LOVE the “classy” trashy magazines like People and Us. I will exclude myself from a social setting to read them.

5. Sometimes, well more than I would like to admit, I think that if I could only meet my current celebrity crush he would fall head over heels for me and it would be a great story for the above mentioned magazines.

6. My feet are constantly moving (this is for your Alyson). I am either rubbing them or they are bouncing, or they are doing their own little dance routine. Watch them sometime.

This one’s from Andrea:

8 T.V. shows I love to watch:

I don’t watch much TV, so these are the ones I do watch:

1. So You Think You Can Dance
2. The Biggest Loser
3. American Idol
4. America’s Next Top Model

Ones I want to watch:

1. Project Runway
2. Sheer Genius
3. The Office
4. Prison Break
5. Amazing Race

8 Favorite Restaurants:

1. Firefly (Spanish Tapas)
2. Pin Kaow (Thai)
3. Los Compradres or Carlos O’Brien’s in Phoenix, AZ
4. Café Rio
5. Hofbrauhaus (German)
6. I Love Sushi
7. Spicy Pickle
8. Cheesecake Factory

8 Things that happened yesterday:

1. Went to the gym and while on the moving stairmaster at Level 3 it went completely psycho and went to AT LEAST Level 10 (although the machine still said 3). It was insanely fast. I kept up whilst trying to lower the speed, and then realized that it was psycho so I jumped off and prayed no one was watching! I then intelligently decided to give the same machine another try….it did the same thing! I considered myself done!

2. Cleaned the house (a little).

3. Talked to my sister and nephew and niece on the phone. Found out Quinn’s favorite candy is a kit kat and Ben’s is “all of it”.

4. I went to Super Saturday. I didn’t sign up for anything, but had a great time visiting.

5. I went on a “Girls Day” with my mom and sister. We did what we do best….shopping! First stop: Deseret Book, then Ulta, onto Nordstrom’s Rack (where I got some fabulous shoes, if I do say!), next door to Famous Footwear (where I got some more footwear), and then onto Target. We then went to get something to eat….after going to 2 places…which were both closed! (umm…this is Vegas! What closes at 7PM on a Saturday night?? The 2 places we wanted to go to!). So we ended up at Chipotle.

6. Spent entirely too much time on the internet, hence…Exhibit A

7. Set the clocks BACK one hour for Daylight Savings Time. Which I HATE, but if I have to say something positive it would be that I really enjoyed my extra hour of sleep last night!

8. Went to bed, and looked around my room and wondered why I didn’t find time to clean it today!

8 Things I look forward to:

1. Getting MARRIED, gosh dangit!
2. Going to Antartica one day.
3. Getting a job utilizing my masters.
4. Dinner tonight at Mom’s and Dad’s.
5. Reading other’s blogs.
6. Learning how to sew.
7. Getting a nice camera again and taking a photography class.
8. Seeing where Heavenly Father takes me in this life.

8 Things I love about fall:

1. Colors: seeing them and wearing them!
2. Long sleeves and a fun fall wardrobe full of layering potential!
3. Cool weather
4. Making pumpkin rolls
5. NBA starts its season.
6. The fun holidays!
7. PBR and NFR
8. Chili and Cornbread!

8 Things on My Wish list:

1. A new car….not sure which one yet.
2. A giraffe print Dooney and Bourke bag (I can’t believe I just wrote that, but it’s true!)
3. A housekeeper and a lawn man.
4. The housing market to pick back up.
5. The dollar to pick back up so traveling can be more affordable again.
6. My sister to move back to Henderson (sorry, Collette, but it’s still true)
7. To be as skinny as I think I am.
8. To obtain my fondest dreams.

Okay I tag (you can pick any of the above three, you don’t have to do all of them)…Collette, Quinne, Angela D., Liza, Brigham, Blake, Reuben (Ladies, make sure you tell your husbands! I am excited for their responses.)

Just a friendly reminder to VOTE on Tuesday!

We all know how much I like to dress up for "the occasion". Well, today I felt like a Senator's Wife! What better way to remind people to vote? I did my hair a little different today, I knew it was a bold move when on my drive to church I thought, "How does Hillary Rodham Clinton get her hair to stay?" I'll admit, I wanted to turn right around and drive back home, but instead a just put a smile on and thought, "Senator's Wife".

But, as hard as I try (and I do) to be classy, the comment I heard THREE times at church today? "You look like that sexy Miranda from Sex in the City"! I guess I'll just leave it to Jill to do classy! :) And I'll represent, "Sex in the City"...oh, how ironic!

and what did YOU do on your saturday night?

Create Fake Magazine Covers with your own picture at MagMyPic.com

pathetic, I know. But fun, lots of fun! :)

i thought this would be cool, but...

create your own visited country map

actually it is pretty discouraging! While I am grateful to have visited 30 countries in my 31 years...there is a whole lotta gray on that map! Only 12% of the world...

Looks like I have some traveling to do...