Tuesday, October 28, 2008

DON'T LET GO OF THE PAST!

The other day i went out to eat dinner with some friends and when I withstood the confused look of the waitress when i asked to order from the kids menu, I realized that there are a few things in my life that I'm not ready to let go of. Maybe ever. My theory is that when you've found a good thing you have to embrace it....no matter what the age. Let me just share a few of these with you:

#1: KIDS MEALS
I don't think Americans have considered the advantage that is the kids meal. Consider Panda Express. You get your rice, you get your main meal, you get your soda, AND you get a cookie. It's delightful. The regular meals give you so much food you end up not being able to finish it but the kids meal gives you just enough to fill you up but give you variety. Next time you're in Subway look at all that you get there. A sandwich, a drink, chips, AND a dessert. The list goes on and on. It's mind boggling. Bless you, kids meals!

#2: CHILDREN'S TOOTHPASTE

I feel that children's toothpaste is one of least taken advantage of items by adults. Let's look at this logically. It tastes like bubble gum, which is BAD for your teeth, so it's like getting the best of both worlds. It is made specifically for children who have little, tiny, sensitive growing teeth that need extra TLC. It comes in aesthetically pleasing containers that make you look forward to pulling it out of the medicine cabinet. Last, but not least, it contains all of the important elements required for strong, healthy teeth. I think everyone should at least try it, but don't take my word for it. 9 out of 10 dentists would also say the same!

#3: COOKIE DOUGH
A timeless classic. Every child should have had the experience of sitting up at that counter, just waiting for the cookies to be baked and done with so that they could lick out the bowl. The lucky ones were allowed a spoonful without enduring the false accusations of "cookie dough will make you sick." Needless to say, when I make cookies at this stage of my life, I don't usually even eat the cookies. I just eat the cookie dough - and it hasn't made me sick!

Monday, October 20, 2008

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN....

TIME FOR A FALL FESTIVUS - DINNER IN A PUMPKIN

This years event was sponsored by the apartment of Megann - Karli (sort of) - and Brooke
Dinner always tastes better when it's served out of a pumpkin


There is nothing better than a fall festivus to kick start your holidays! If any of you are interested in the recipe, here it is:

* 1 Pumpkin (4-5 pounds)
* 2 TBSP melted butter
* Salad oil

1. Cut a 3 inch circle around stem of pumpkin, remove seeds and pulp, and brush inside of pumpkin with butter
2. Brush outside of pumpkin with salad oil
3. Bake at 375 for 35 minutes

* 1 lb lean ground beef
* 1/2 C. chopped celery
* 1/2 C. chopped onions
* 1/4 C. diced green peppers
* 3/4 tsp. salt
* 2-3 C. cooked white rice

1. Cook beef in large skillet until brown and drain
2. Stir in vegetables and salt and simmer over low flame for 10 minutes
3. Remove from flame and add rice

* 2 cans of Cream of Chicken soup (10.5 oz)
* 1/4 C. soy sauce
* 2 TBSP packed brown sugar

1. Add ingredients together and add to skillet
2. Spoon mixture into pumpkin and place in center of greased baking sheet - replace pumpkin top
3. Bake pumpkin at 375 for 1 hour or until pumpkin is tender
4. When serving scrape pumpkin off of inside of pumpkin and serve with casserole
5. Top with cheese and enjoy!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

ANYONE UP FOR A RIDE?


So i go through these phases where i get really excited about a particular hobby or interest, and that's all that i want to focus on. I'm finding that riding my bike has become that hobby for me right now. The other day i was bored so i put on my IPOD, jumped onto my bike, and rode around the lakes where we live. It was fantastic! There was a slight breeze, i was listening to good music, and it felt great to be outside and moving. And (no eye rolling needed for this one) i have a basket so on those days when i want to hang out with Jack, i just strap him in and off we go. It's a win-win situation, and I LOVE win-win situations :) Thank you, Cannondale!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

TUESDAYS


The best thing about Tuesday Nights right now? Two words: Bob Harper

Monday, October 13, 2008

SO, SO CLOSE


Today as I was driving i had my stereo set on a mix of everything that's on my ipod. One minute i'm listening to Coldplay and the next minute it's Alma, Chapter 7. I love the rotating capabilities! Meanwhile, i'm cruising along, wishing the wind would stop and that it would warm back up to a manageable temperature, and all of a sudden Josh Groban's Christmas song "Believe" came up. I was hit with this overwhelming feeling of nostalgia and for a moment it really felt like I was back home, getting excited for Christmas and hanging with the family. It only lasted a split second and then it hit me that i was really just sitting at the stoplight, not wanting to go back to work after my lunch break. Bless you, Josh Groban for taking me to that place for just a moment. It was short lived but it's effects resulted in me buying hot chocolate at dinner! Can't wait for the holidays.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

JUST A LITTLE REMINDER

i sometimes feel like i spend so much time sorting things out in my own personal life, that i forget the comfort that comes in knowing that there is a greater force at work than my own will. this weekend was our stake conference and i felt like the majority of what was spoken was directed towards me - although i'm sure most people would say the same :-) there were words of encouragement, words of reassurance, but more importantly words reminding me of what is most important in my life. our stake president gave a talk on how satan is leading away the hearts of people to justify the areas of gray in our lives. it has been true in the past and it is even truer now that some gospel truths are black or white. you can either choose to follow or you can choose not to. it's as simple as that. we all are given our free agency and the ability to choose how we want to live our lives, but the reality of it is that certain choices lead in certain directions. i can only imagine the heartaches i would encounter and the trials i would unnecessarily go through if i had to do things on my own, and without the guidance of my Heavenly Father. the gospel provides the tools and resources that allow me to see where my choices will lead, and for that i am grateful.

OH, JACK!

i know, i know. another blog about the dog! i realize he has consumed the majority of my time and attention, but the little guy is totally dependent on me for his survival and there are days when it's vice versa! he has become my buddy and for that i am truly grateful. so today when we came home from Stake Conference he was so excited to be let out of his kennel that it wasn't just his tail that was wagging - it was his entire butt. the whole thing was just swinging back and forth and every once in a while he would lose his balance. love it!

Friday, October 3, 2008

REASONAL, SEASONAL, ETERNAL


Today i had that day. The day where you just want to go to bed and not have to wake up and deal with what you're feeling ever again. They don't happen very often but when they do, they're rough. So when I came home from a very long day at work I got a text message from Karissa (girl in white) giving some words of encouragement. As I was responding to her text I received a phone call from Wayne (guy in black on right) just to see what was going on. After talking for a bit and becoming somewhat emotional he had a friend show up that he needed to talk with, so we said goodbye. Not even a minute had passed and Shane (guy in black on left) called, saying that Wayne had called him and let him know that he had to end our conversation, but that I could still use someone to talk to. Thank you for the thoughtful gesture, Wayne! I needed nothing more at that moment than to be able to talk to someone that I know cares about me and wants me to be happy. Shane put it best when he ended the conversation by saying that there are different kinds of friends - reasonal, seasonal, and eternal, and that all of us would always be eternal friends. I feel lucky to have those kind of people surrounding me. Not only the ones in the picture, but the ones who are constantly there as my advocate and support system (I'd like to put a shout out for Larcha). They say that everything is better in the morning, but sometimes everything is better that same day when the right people are in your life!