Mystery Solved.... Well sort of...

I hear a phone ringing.
It’s not the ring of any of the office phones I’m used to hearing, but I know it’s a phone.
It has a high muffled pitch.
I’m the only person in the office today, am I going crazy?
No... There’s DEFINITELY a phone ringing....
I get up walk around the offices, nobodies phones are lighting up.
I walk to the vacant receptionist’s desk, there’s not even a phone there...
The phone is still ringing..
Is this place haunted??
I listen again and follow the sound.....
There’s nothing there, not even a desk....
The phone continues to ring........
I look up to the ceiling… No it can’t be......
Ring, ring, ring
I grab a chair and start climbing.....
I slowly lift the ceiling piece.........
Yep, there’s the ringing phone......
WHY THE HELL IS THERE A RINING PHONE IN THE CEILING?!

The Giving Tree

Less than a block from my house there once stood an apple tree. A very large tree decorated with peace flags and a hand painted sign that read The Giving Tree. Every time I’d walk past this tree I’d see a pair of gently used shoes, blankets, or clothing sitting in its shade and warmth waiting to be picked up by someone less fortunate. Considering I live Downtown there are a lot of homeless people in the area who need these items more than I, so I decided that every time I clean out my closet I too will donate to this simple cause.

Last weekend I did some spring cleaning and had some good warm and wintery items. I put them in a bag with a small note and added some fruit. I put my jacket on and walked out my front door with a smile. I practically skipped down the street. I was approaching the stop where the grand tree should be standing, only to find a stump surrounded by wildish flowers with the sign leaning by its side. I was immediately taken back to my days of reading the story by Shel Silverstein. I can’t help to question, did everyone take everything that this tree had been able to offer OR is it merely a coincidence that this apple tree called The Giving Tree had to be cut down?

Either way the spirit of The Giving Tree is still there and I’m proud to be one of the givers.

Drip, Drip, Drop Little April Showers

Yesterday morning I looked out my window only to see a rainy day, I thought to myself: YAHOO, I can wear my rainboots! I skipped to my closet and pulled out my pokadot boots and put them on my size 10 feet (I know I have HUGE feet considering I’m only 5’2 ¼” ) I looked at my feet now warm and cozy with a big smile on my face.




I can think of a lot of reason why I love the rain including but not limited too:

1. It means I can wear a hoodie.
2. I love the sound of rain drops hitting my windows.
3. Watching scary movies is so much better when it’s cold and rainy out.
4. Jumping in puddles…. I should do that more often…..
5. Something about rain makes things a little more romantical.
6. The smell…. I just love the smell after it rains, so clean.
7. Rainbows, who doesn’t love a rainbow?!
8. I know the May flowers are coming (insert cheesy grin here)
9. You get to eat soup, yum!
10. Memories….

I remember my first dance performance when I was 3 years old. We danced to the song Little April Shower which was in the movie Bambi. My best friend Angela and I were late getting on stage to hide behind our umbrellas because one of us had to use the restroom (probably me but I don’t remember). We wore pink raincoats while we twirled and skipped around the stage with our umbrellas. We were so happy and proud of our awesome skills. Maybe that small memory is really why I love the rain…. Who knows, but it always makes me smile.

A Sweet Treat

Everyone has a favorite sweet treat, whether it be chocolate, cookies, pudding, ice cream, etc….. I too have a favorite….. cupcakes! I have such a weak spot for cupcakes. Every now and then I get the cupcake itch. I rarely take the time to bake them because then I might get the urge to eat WAY more than I should, so I hit the town and find a local bakery. Nine out of ten times I’m highly disappointed with the quality of cupcakes. Either the cake is dry or the frosting is gross…. I can never find an all around good cupcake!

This weekend I was out and about shopping with one of my lady friends when SHE got the cupcake itch… I of course couldn’t resist once she said “I really want a cupcake.” We were in Ft. Union and since I work in the area I mentioned a bakery that recently opened. So off we went to The Sweet Tooth Fairy. As we walked in I started preparing myself for another disappointing cupcake experience.

The second I opened the door into the bakery I was so happy. I felt like I had just stepped on set for an old Disney movie. This was not just a bakery but more of a parlor or old soda shop. The music, ambiance, décor, staff, everything was just right AND they happened to have the best bakery cupcake I’ve ever had. Therefore I must give my props to The Sweet Tooth Fairy, and if you haven’t been yet I say go the $3.00 cupcakes are well worth it! Enjoy!

If only we could be friends….

Last night I was rummaging through a lot of my old books when I got lost looking at all of my old architecture and interior design books. It reminded me of the “creative” life I once had planned for myself. I can’t help but to admire the work of so many amazing artists but one in particular has always stood out to me … The fantastic Frank Lloyd Wright, a man who created so many different building types: offices, churches, schools, skyscrapers, hotels and museums. Not only did he design the exteriors of many of his masterpieces but he also worked on “key” interior pieces.

If I could go back in time I wish I could have hung around Frank Lloyd Wright just to pick his artistic brain!

Photo Flashback :)

Today’s photo was taken back in 2007 while in Cancun. Candice, Steve and I had just finished snorkeling. I think this was my favorite day we had there. I got to be the boat captian and drive for a little bit, then everyone else HAD to copy me… We danced on the roof of the boat to a song I can never love… The YMCA…. We even got to ride in a real live yellow submarine where we saw sea turtles!!! Also during that trip I was almost killed in the ocean, and I’m not just kidding. It was super scary but hilarious at the same time. The hotel was fantastic with such great service and a sports bar that featured some of my favorite Yankees!! I could keep going on and on about this trip… But I won’t… Much love to Candice and Steve!!

Shuffle.... But not the Truffle Shuffle... Part 2!

Quick update on me: I’m doing well tomorrow is the last day of my cleanse, woo hoo! Then it’s on to the vegetarian / vegan / raw lifestyle. I’m actually really excited about it now! That’s all I’ve really been up to for the last 1 ½ week… Lame, I know!

On to the topic. I did this a few months ago out of boredom at work…. Here I am again, super bored. So I put my ipod on shuffle and am going to write a memory or feeling about the first 10 songs that play. I’m not going to control this at all these songs are completely chosen at random… Brent – if you’re reading this… Stop right now as I’m sure you’ll HATE every song on my ipod!


1. Jack Johnson: Better Together – This song reminds me of the great Amie Lee Wood Swensen and one of my favorite summers ever! This song was her ringtone, it’s so happy and friendly. Just like Amie!
2. The Pretenders: I’ll Stand By You – I LOVE this song! It makes me so happy and yet can bring a tear to my some days. I value friendship so much and this song is the epitome of what a friend should be! I hope I’m the type of friend that will stand by someone thru all the good, bad and ugly times that life brings!
3. Guns N’ Roses: Paradise City – My first thought is the movie Can’t Hardly Wait… How sad is that?! Anyhow I think it’s definitely one of the bands greatest songs and Slash is glorious!
4. Styx: Mr. Roboto – OOOOOOO is it sad that I can’t ever get enough of this song?! No really….. I probably listen to it at least 5 times a week… And there’s a good chance I do the robot every time regardless of where I am…. Last spring I saw Styx, Foreigner and Kansas in concert and I’m not going to lie, it was amazing! Domo arigato misuta Robotto!!!
5. The Temper Trap: Sweet Disposition – This song is another goodie that I can always listen too. I find it motivating and inspiring…. It makes me think of last summer and numerous drives with my friends belting this song at the top of our lungs! Good times and great memories!
6. Tina Turner: The Best – High School!!! This was the T-ville “theme song” one year and although I was raised to love Miss Tina this song always makes me think of high school… I hate thinking of high school so that kind of sucks, but it’s still a good song!
7. Katy Perry: Thinking Of you (Live) – I hate this song! But only because it makes me cry… I won’t go into details but it 187% relates to my life… So really it’s a love / hate relationship…. Anyhow the album version sucks but the live version is really good, mostly because you can actually feel the emotion in the song!
8. Rammstein: Du Haust – hahaha this song makes me remember the years when my girl friends and I became addicted to skateboarding and skate videos…. We thought we were super cool and would all be pros one day! This song played in our most favorite video… It’s a really creepy song though..
9. T.V. Caprio: I Want To Hold Your Hand – This version of the Beatles classic is actually my favorite version ever! I even MADE my best friend walk down the aisle at her wedding to it…. Plus I love the Beatles and the movie Across the Universe. I think this is the PERFECT love song!
10. Outkast: Hey Ya – Happiest song ever… Well maybe not ever, but it’s up there. I remember the first time I saw this music video.. I was at the bar with my “dude friends” and it started playing…. I’m not kidding when I tell you the entire bar stopped whatever they were doing to stare at the tv! Jaws were dropped and smiles were huge… It makes me laugh. I still love this song.

Bonus Track – you can’t have music without a bonus track right?!
11. Journey: Faithfully – okay really this is one of my all time favorites. One of the best memories I have of this song was at a Journey concert a few years back. I was there with my two of my great friends since elementary: Dawn Donaldson (1st grade) and Chandra Bowels (4th grade) plus Mary Farrer who I met at work about 7 years ago. I love these ladies with all of my heart. We’ve all been through so much together. We may have had a few drinks that night… Maybe… When they sang this song we found ourselves hugging having an “I love you man” moment! Looking back it was so cheesy, but it was the truth that we will faithfully be there for one another forever!

A new day, a new life!

Wull…. The results are in, yesterday afternoon I was officially diagnosed with Miniere’s Disease… I must say I’m happy to know what’s wrong with me and I look forward to fighting back!

I have a few medical problems which I’m not supposed to consume the following: red meat, poultry, carbohydrates, dairy or fatty foods. Now I get to add: caffeine, tobacco (not an issue), alcohol (again not really a problem) and sodium to my list….. In the past I haven’t been great at following all of the rules, but that’s about to change. What does this mean??? Basically it means that beginning today my lifestyle has officially changed to me being a vegan / vegetarian at least 90% of the time. I say 90% of the time because as long as I’m good the majority of the time I can let loose and splurge when I’m out with friends, dating, events, etc…

To kick it all off I’ve decided to do a cleanse. I know sooooo many people thing this is a horrible idea, however I used to do a couple every year and I always felt great. This way I can clear my body of all the stuff I’m not supposed to have and when I start to consume real live food again I’ll only crave fruits and veggies.

I’m totally going to kick this things ass…. TAKE THAT MINIERE’S!!!!

The Color Code

During my freshman year of college I was on Student Government at UVU (then UVSC) and in one of our leadership classes we were all given the book The Color Code. Basically it’s a series of questions that help you figure out your personality type, which is then classified into 4 colors:

Red – power, logic, determination, money oriented and visionaries
Blue – service, nurturing, loyal, ethical, dependable, thoughtful
White – peaceful, patient, content, the voice of reason
Yellow – fun, enthusiastic, carefree and optimistic

Most people have one dominant color with a small mix of the other colors on the side… That was me, can you guess what color I was?!

YELLOW!!!! Who would have thought?! I was about 80% yellow, 10% blue with a about 5% of both white and red.

Last night while doing a little spring cleaning I found my old book. I decided to re-take the test since it’s been a little over 10 years since my first color coding experience. I looked at the results and was surprised and a little relieved that even I Kristi Cartwright had grown up a bit…. I’m now about 60% blue, 20% yellow, 10% white and 5% red…

I’m not going to lie, it made me smile that I still had that much yellow in me, I thought I lost a lot of it!

Would you do it?

Although I don’t consider myself to be a fashionista by any means I still love shopping and fashion. Today while looking at some of my favorite fashion sites and blogs I came across these shoes that are not considered to be couture, just everyday fashion for this summer… Really?! I don’t get it, I might wear them to a theme party! I have to ask, would any of you actually wear these to a serious event?