I will be unavailable for the next week due to a crazy schedule. Christmas Around the World is this weekend at BYU in the Marriott Center-if you're in the area come! :)
So here's the run down of last week.
Tuesday night
Babysat dance teachers adorable four children with boyfriend. SO FUN
No storm...
Wednesday
Hair appointment
Shopping with my mother :)
Putting up posters to advertise for this weekend
Baking pies
Family Fun
Thursday
Ate too much turkey with family and boy
Played the bells
Friends house for more food
Wii
Friday
Up at 6-drive to St George with boyfriend, his sister and friend
Arrive at noon.
Drive to Zions at 12:02 pm
Hike Angels Landing
Almost die
Ice on the trail.
Awesome
Dinner, hot tub and laughs
Saturday
Another Thanksgiving dinner
Game
Learned how to play the Organ (thank you Papa Andy)
Another dinner, hot tub and laughs
Sunday
Church
Best drive home of my life
7 and a half hours later...
Dinner at my house with my family
Decorating our 15 foot Christmas Tree and then crashed at home
Wow. I am so grateful for such a great weekend. For spending time with people I love. For learning and for growing. For smiling and turkey and my body. To live
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
nothing
I have nothing witty or cute or funny to say.
So you may as well stop reading now.
Okay kidding. This may or may not be a great post.
about nothing.
here's my post about nothing, or rather, my list about nothing. You may have noticed that I like lists...I think in lists.
I love seeing people light up when they read letters
I love seeing people in love
I love being in love
I love typing-I always have. In elementary school we had this little program thing that taught us how to type. I loved it. And I would consistently type 100wpm+. A couple of summers ago I interviewed for a secretarial position and they asked me "what do you think is better, typing fast or typing without mistakes?" I replied, "Typing fast, because then you can press the delete key just as fast!" Surprisingly, I didn't get the job. They didn't understand my humor.
For the record, (what record anyway?) I would like my aunt's emerald ring as my wedding ring.
I love mashed potatoes. I can not wait for Thursday to consume them.
I would drink wine if I could. But only to enhance the flavors of the meal I would be eating. I was talking about this all weekend with the cute blond I've referred to before. He would too. Perfect match.
My sister is quite possibly the funniest person ever. I love her.
Come see Christmas Around the World next weekend at BYU. It is truly a wonderful show-you will be sad if you miss it.
"We need to be more grateful. It's one of the marks of strong character, to have a feeling of thanksgiving and gratitude for blessings that are ours. We need more of that spirit in our homes, in our daily associations, in church, everywhere. It's so easy to cultivate the spirit of appreciation." Ezra Taft Benson
Thank you
So you may as well stop reading now.
Okay kidding. This may or may not be a great post.
about nothing.
here's my post about nothing, or rather, my list about nothing. You may have noticed that I like lists...I think in lists.
I love seeing people light up when they read letters
I love seeing people in love
I love being in love
I love typing-I always have. In elementary school we had this little program thing that taught us how to type. I loved it. And I would consistently type 100wpm+. A couple of summers ago I interviewed for a secretarial position and they asked me "what do you think is better, typing fast or typing without mistakes?" I replied, "Typing fast, because then you can press the delete key just as fast!" Surprisingly, I didn't get the job. They didn't understand my humor.
For the record, (what record anyway?) I would like my aunt's emerald ring as my wedding ring.
I love mashed potatoes. I can not wait for Thursday to consume them.
I would drink wine if I could. But only to enhance the flavors of the meal I would be eating. I was talking about this all weekend with the cute blond I've referred to before. He would too. Perfect match.
My sister is quite possibly the funniest person ever. I love her.
Come see Christmas Around the World next weekend at BYU. It is truly a wonderful show-you will be sad if you miss it.
"We need to be more grateful. It's one of the marks of strong character, to have a feeling of thanksgiving and gratitude for blessings that are ours. We need more of that spirit in our homes, in our daily associations, in church, everywhere. It's so easy to cultivate the spirit of appreciation." Ezra Taft Benson
Thank you
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Chicken and Cheese Enchilada Chowder
Another recipe. Get excited.
This soup was done in the crock pot and although I have not consumed it yet, the smell is intoxicating and has been ever since I walked in my door. Which was at 4:30. Which is strange for me because I am usually never home before six. Ahem...
Throw together (seriously, just throw it in the crock pot-it will be more fun)
1 can black beans, drained/rinsed
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
1 package frozen corn
1/2 c. onion
1/2 c. pepper, chopped
1 10 oz. can enchilada sauce
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups milk
Let it cook all day on low
Half an hour before serving add:
1 c. pepperjack cheese
1 c. cheddar cheese
chicken, cooked, cubed
top with avocado, maybe some sour cream?
I can not wait to eat this.
Other things I did today:
finished a shirt. yes, I am very proud. I'm going to wear it tonight to Harry Potter
drank a delicious dark chocolate and berry jamba (perfect for dark chocolate lovers, such as myself)
danced for the ambassador of Slovakia. nbd.
bought some Christmas gifts...plus "Santa's North Pole Cookbook"-on sale
oh-did I mention I'm going to Harry Potter tonight? I haven't missed one yet.
Yes, I know. I have the best life
This soup was done in the crock pot and although I have not consumed it yet, the smell is intoxicating and has been ever since I walked in my door. Which was at 4:30. Which is strange for me because I am usually never home before six. Ahem...
Throw together (seriously, just throw it in the crock pot-it will be more fun)
1 can black beans, drained/rinsed
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
1 package frozen corn
1/2 c. onion
1/2 c. pepper, chopped
1 10 oz. can enchilada sauce
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups milk
Let it cook all day on low
Half an hour before serving add:
1 c. pepperjack cheese
1 c. cheddar cheese
chicken, cooked, cubed
top with avocado, maybe some sour cream?
I can not wait to eat this.
Other things I did today:
finished a shirt. yes, I am very proud. I'm going to wear it tonight to Harry Potter
drank a delicious dark chocolate and berry jamba (perfect for dark chocolate lovers, such as myself)
danced for the ambassador of Slovakia. nbd.
bought some Christmas gifts...plus "Santa's North Pole Cookbook"-on sale
oh-did I mention I'm going to Harry Potter tonight? I haven't missed one yet.
Yes, I know. I have the best life
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Death
We talked a little bit about death today in my family processes class and I just had some thoughts I wanted to share.
First off, my uncle taught me an important lesson when his third sister died, he told me, "Funerals are just merely a way to mark time". It is true. We have birthday parties to celebrate a new year of living and New Years to bring in a new, exciting year. So truly, funerals just mark time. They show us that this person's mortal life has ended and that something new awaits them.
But funerals are also a way to give family and friends a sense of closure. We mourn with one another, we send gifts and cards of condolence. We celebrate the life that person lived. They are rituals. Rituals are events or chains of events full of emotion and symbols. They happen within your family and have significance to you. The things you do for Thanksgiving are rituals. It would be strange if you didn't do turkey or if your crazy uncle Tim and cousin Bob didn't pull the wish bone, you know weird stuff like that. But it has meaning to you and you would feel incomplete without them.
So funerals are rituals. That's my point. But thinking about it, and the way funerals are now has made me realize something about our culture and the way we have evolved. There used to be things called funeral parlors in every home. When a family member died, those who came to pay their respects would come to the home, where the viewing would take place. They wouldn't go to a funeral home, where the crazy curtains and strangely patterned rugs were. The family members would carefully dress the body themselves and it was a ritual. A way to grieve and to let that person go. Now we let the professionals do everything. We have turf at the cemetery and we hardly ever see the casket enter the ground. Why is this?
I commented in class (and I never comment in this class) that it is not only because we are afraid as human beings of death but that we are also afraid of emotion. We are afraid that if we are grieving or even if we aren't grieving the way others think we should, that we are strange. Emotion is a sign of weakness isn't it? If men cry, they're babies. If we think something in life is hard, and show it to others, we aren't superwoman and we can't handle things. WRONG. Emotion is human. It is beautiful and it is real. We experience emotions to taste life. The happy times and more importantly the bad times. "Men are that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25) but "there must needs be opposition in all things" (2 Nephi 2:11). We are given the ability to feel differing emotions to help us learn and I am grateful for it.
So back to funerals (this is kind of a strange topic, isn't it?). Why aren't we allowed to see the casket buried? Is it because it makes us feel something? We let the professionals take care of things because we're afraid that it will hurt too much. Rather than letting us have a cathartic experience, we "bury" our own emotions. Hiding away what we are really feeling. Isn't this the case with everything?
Let yourself be emotional. Experience joy and experience pain. Let yourself grieve in the way YOU need to grieve. Don't feel bad if you aren't crying over something, but don't feel bad if you are. And especially if you have recently lost someone or experienced change in life, let yourself feel things. Do not hide it. This doesn't mean that you should become ungrateful and blame others. Those are emotions that have evolved. They are not pure and they are not justified. But instead, realize that you are human and you have a great power when you acknowledge the growth that can occur when you feel things.
First off, my uncle taught me an important lesson when his third sister died, he told me, "Funerals are just merely a way to mark time". It is true. We have birthday parties to celebrate a new year of living and New Years to bring in a new, exciting year. So truly, funerals just mark time. They show us that this person's mortal life has ended and that something new awaits them.
But funerals are also a way to give family and friends a sense of closure. We mourn with one another, we send gifts and cards of condolence. We celebrate the life that person lived. They are rituals. Rituals are events or chains of events full of emotion and symbols. They happen within your family and have significance to you. The things you do for Thanksgiving are rituals. It would be strange if you didn't do turkey or if your crazy uncle Tim and cousin Bob didn't pull the wish bone, you know weird stuff like that. But it has meaning to you and you would feel incomplete without them.
So funerals are rituals. That's my point. But thinking about it, and the way funerals are now has made me realize something about our culture and the way we have evolved. There used to be things called funeral parlors in every home. When a family member died, those who came to pay their respects would come to the home, where the viewing would take place. They wouldn't go to a funeral home, where the crazy curtains and strangely patterned rugs were. The family members would carefully dress the body themselves and it was a ritual. A way to grieve and to let that person go. Now we let the professionals do everything. We have turf at the cemetery and we hardly ever see the casket enter the ground. Why is this?
I commented in class (and I never comment in this class) that it is not only because we are afraid as human beings of death but that we are also afraid of emotion. We are afraid that if we are grieving or even if we aren't grieving the way others think we should, that we are strange. Emotion is a sign of weakness isn't it? If men cry, they're babies. If we think something in life is hard, and show it to others, we aren't superwoman and we can't handle things. WRONG. Emotion is human. It is beautiful and it is real. We experience emotions to taste life. The happy times and more importantly the bad times. "Men are that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25) but "there must needs be opposition in all things" (2 Nephi 2:11). We are given the ability to feel differing emotions to help us learn and I am grateful for it.
So back to funerals (this is kind of a strange topic, isn't it?). Why aren't we allowed to see the casket buried? Is it because it makes us feel something? We let the professionals take care of things because we're afraid that it will hurt too much. Rather than letting us have a cathartic experience, we "bury" our own emotions. Hiding away what we are really feeling. Isn't this the case with everything?
Let yourself be emotional. Experience joy and experience pain. Let yourself grieve in the way YOU need to grieve. Don't feel bad if you aren't crying over something, but don't feel bad if you are. And especially if you have recently lost someone or experienced change in life, let yourself feel things. Do not hide it. This doesn't mean that you should become ungrateful and blame others. Those are emotions that have evolved. They are not pure and they are not justified. But instead, realize that you are human and you have a great power when you acknowledge the growth that can occur when you feel things.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Apple
Yesterday I ate the best apple I have ever had.
But it truly was the most amazing thing I've ever eaten. It was sweet, tangy, firm, and broke perfectly with each bite. I wanted to cry. In fact, as *we were driving down University Ave sharing an apple I was yelling...
"this is the best apple in the entire world! I love apples! GAHHHH I love my life"
I was so happy. And so was he. I like sharing.
Thank you apple, for making our night so wonderfully wonderful.
*we refers to the handsome blond boy I'm dating.
But it truly was the most amazing thing I've ever eaten. It was sweet, tangy, firm, and broke perfectly with each bite. I wanted to cry. In fact, as *we were driving down University Ave sharing an apple I was yelling...
"this is the best apple in the entire world! I love apples! GAHHHH I love my life"
I was so happy. And so was he. I like sharing.
Thank you apple, for making our night so wonderfully wonderful.
*we refers to the handsome blond boy I'm dating.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Christmas List
My mother always asks me to make a Christmas List for her early in the season...which I never do. This year, I made an exception.
Here are a couple things that I'm pining for...
Although it's way too expensive (even though it's on sale) I still really like it. Thank you, anthropologie for making me covet. The best part about this sweater? Those little pockets you are having a hard time seeing are little coin purses. Gah. I love it.
A rice cooker. I like eating rice. But I think I would like it even more if I could just throw it in the rice cooker.
A couple cookbooks-what's new
I'm also planning on make some hot pads and a couple aprons during Christmas break.
I'm excited...and I'll probably splurge and make some more strawberry jam. I've been eating way too many pb&j sandwiches lately. Good thing I love them.
And as a poor college student I have to be creative with my gifts to my family members. So what's something cheap and useful? I'm seriously considering making those little rice bags you can heat up in the microwave-personalized with different fabric of course. That's practical and hey! I told you I liked rice!
What are giving to those you love this year? And what's something on your Christmas Wish list?
Here are a couple things that I'm pining for...
Although it's way too expensive (even though it's on sale) I still really like it. Thank you, anthropologie for making me covet. The best part about this sweater? Those little pockets you are having a hard time seeing are little coin purses. Gah. I love it.
A rice cooker. I like eating rice. But I think I would like it even more if I could just throw it in the rice cooker.
A couple cookbooks-what's new
I'm also planning on make some hot pads and a couple aprons during Christmas break.
I'm excited...and I'll probably splurge and make some more strawberry jam. I've been eating way too many pb&j sandwiches lately. Good thing I love them.
And as a poor college student I have to be creative with my gifts to my family members. So what's something cheap and useful? I'm seriously considering making those little rice bags you can heat up in the microwave-personalized with different fabric of course. That's practical and hey! I told you I liked rice!
What are giving to those you love this year? And what's something on your Christmas Wish list?
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Christmas Music
I really don't care if you don't like Christmas music before the fourth Friday of November. I'm listening to it. Right now. And I love it. I used to be a stickler on not listening to it prematurely but then I thought, there are so many beautiful, beautiful Holiday songs that I only get to enjoy for one month. Out of twelve? Then I have to listen to the other stuff for ELEVEN MONTHS? That is ridiculous. If you know math at all, you know that this ratio is completely unfair. So this year, I will listen to it for two months.
I'm suddenly transported to a lovely winter-y day, snow falling and my family close by...not to mention a lot of food. (side note-listen to Jo Stafford's Happy Holidays CD this year if you can).Christmas music makes me feel happy, joy, peace and in love with life.
Music is powerful. It invokes deep emotion. It is art. It is a way to express human experiences, memories and testimonies and if I can listen to songs about my Savior Jesus Christ for one extra month, I'm going to.
Friday, November 5, 2010
You know that feeling when...
you wake up to that perfectly wonderful text?
you listen to Christmas music?
you are walking to school and the leaves are swirling around you?
you sit and sing songs with your family?
you take a bite of that wonderful apple pie you just made?
you see a rainbow?
you read an incredible quote-timed just right for your life?
you see a long lost friend and it feels like time hasn't past?
That's God.
you listen to Christmas music?
you are walking to school and the leaves are swirling around you?
you sit and sing songs with your family?
you take a bite of that wonderful apple pie you just made?
you see a rainbow?
you read an incredible quote-timed just right for your life?
you see a long lost friend and it feels like time hasn't past?
That's God.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Get a Clue
Remember that Disney Channel original movie? It had Lindsey Lohan, and Bug Hall (Alfalfa from little rascals) in it. Funny.
Okay, that's not the reason I'm writing this post.
CLUE-the board game-is by far the spookiest game to play by candle light. I loved it. I played twice with a cute boy-lost twice to this cute boy but still loved every minute of it. Professor Plum is extremely menacing in the candle light and Ms. Scarlet looks even more slinky in her red dress. It's quite the experience. Next year, put it on your list of things to do to celebrate Halloween.
Also, Despicable Me is such a funny, sweet movie. I loved it.
And my mom's mummified meatloaf, paired with bloody mashed potatoes is the best. (my dad thought adding drops of red food dye to the bowl would be funny-it was) My mother is really quite pretty when she's wearing black lipstick. And my family is just a lot of fun.
pumpkin cream cheese muffins (delicious!)
Bring on Thanksgiving and November-I'm so ready :)
Okay, that's not the reason I'm writing this post.
CLUE-the board game-is by far the spookiest game to play by candle light. I loved it. I played twice with a cute boy-lost twice to this cute boy but still loved every minute of it. Professor Plum is extremely menacing in the candle light and Ms. Scarlet looks even more slinky in her red dress. It's quite the experience. Next year, put it on your list of things to do to celebrate Halloween.
Also, Despicable Me is such a funny, sweet movie. I loved it.
And my mom's mummified meatloaf, paired with bloody mashed potatoes is the best. (my dad thought adding drops of red food dye to the bowl would be funny-it was) My mother is really quite pretty when she's wearing black lipstick. And my family is just a lot of fun.
pumpkin cream cheese muffins (delicious!)
Bring on Thanksgiving and November-I'm so ready :)
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