Have you ever seen 'The Take-Home Chef' with Curtis? Well you should :) It's a fun cooking show because he picks up someone in the grocery store, buys their groceries, goes home with them and cooks amazing food. And then you get to see the husband's reaction when he comes home to find his wife in the kitchen with a strange man. A pretty darn good looking strange man. With a hot accent. It's a great show.
Well, basically if I cook anything more complex than a box of Mac'n'Cheese I feel like a fancy T.V. chef. I love it. When I find yummy recipes on 'Pinterest' and have the time and motivation to try them I feel like a real cook. Here are the steps to feeling like a 'Curtis':
1. Cook something fancier than Mac'n'Cheese.
2.Sprinkle the seasonings instead of just measuring and dumping...this gives the illusion that you are making it up as you go :)
3.Drink something out of a glass bottle while you cook....like Mexican soda or that good root beer.
4. Speak with an accent. Preferably Australian. Or Italian.
5. Make it as fancy as possible...garnish!
6. Listen to music. Curtis doesn't do this but music makes any task more fun.
7.Use fresh things, like parsley or cilantro leaves.
8.Taste test! Try a bit, make that 'hmmm' face, and say something like "that basil really brings out the Mediterranean vibe of the chicken..." and then, "maybe just a dash more pepper..."
9. Wear an apron. And a hat, one of those crazy-awesome white ones, if you have one. Sadly I do not.
10.Use a seasoning you have never used before. Like Star Anise which looks like stars! and weirdly smells like black licorice...
11.Make something good. Everyone likes praise for their cooking :)
There you have it! Go to town my little prodigies!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
I {heart} Mom
I love you Mom. I know you only ever see this blog if someone tattles on one of my sad-day posts but I just needed to say it. I love you. I am so grateful that I have you. Thank you for being there for me always.
What brought this on? you may ask...well... Brooklyn. Brooklyn is 5 years old. She is beautiful and sweet and so completely full of love and faith. And she has spent the last year watching her mom lose a battle with cancer. Her mom passed away a few weeks ago. Brooklyn was at our house the other night for dinner. Dad asked me to say the blessing on the food. As I said "thank you for our many blessings.." that little motherless girl came into my mind. I choked up. But I finished the prayer and pulled myself together. Then later as we were eating, she answered a question about the picture on her necklace. She explained it was her mommy and that she died. I was sitting on the other side of her and again I just about lost it. I went upstairs to check the laundry. I sat down on Mom & Dad's bed and cried. It just rips my heart out.
My mom had cancer. I don't really remember much about it, I was in Elementary school. I didn't really understand how scary it was. I remember her wig and how sometimes she would be asleep on the couch in the daytime. They caught it early and she is fine now. I am so grateful that I have my mom. Here I go, bawling my eyes out again. I love her and I can't imagine growing up without her. Like Brooklyn.
I wish there was something I could do for her. But I can't bring back her mom. She has the perfect faith of a child though, so she knows. She knows that her mom is not gone forever. She knows that she will see her again. She knows that now her mom is better, she isn't sick anymore, she can walk again and talk and laugh and smile. She knows that everything is going to be okay. Just another example of why God would want us to 'become as little children'. She, her two older siblings, and her Dad have a rough time ahead of them. We all know that. But they have family that loves them and a Heavenly Father who knows what he is doing and will walk every step with them. And the perfect faith of a little girl.
I love you, Mom.
What brought this on? you may ask...well... Brooklyn. Brooklyn is 5 years old. She is beautiful and sweet and so completely full of love and faith. And she has spent the last year watching her mom lose a battle with cancer. Her mom passed away a few weeks ago. Brooklyn was at our house the other night for dinner. Dad asked me to say the blessing on the food. As I said "thank you for our many blessings.." that little motherless girl came into my mind. I choked up. But I finished the prayer and pulled myself together. Then later as we were eating, she answered a question about the picture on her necklace. She explained it was her mommy and that she died. I was sitting on the other side of her and again I just about lost it. I went upstairs to check the laundry. I sat down on Mom & Dad's bed and cried. It just rips my heart out.
My mom had cancer. I don't really remember much about it, I was in Elementary school. I didn't really understand how scary it was. I remember her wig and how sometimes she would be asleep on the couch in the daytime. They caught it early and she is fine now. I am so grateful that I have my mom. Here I go, bawling my eyes out again. I love her and I can't imagine growing up without her. Like Brooklyn.
I wish there was something I could do for her. But I can't bring back her mom. She has the perfect faith of a child though, so she knows. She knows that her mom is not gone forever. She knows that she will see her again. She knows that now her mom is better, she isn't sick anymore, she can walk again and talk and laugh and smile. She knows that everything is going to be okay. Just another example of why God would want us to 'become as little children'. She, her two older siblings, and her Dad have a rough time ahead of them. We all know that. But they have family that loves them and a Heavenly Father who knows what he is doing and will walk every step with them. And the perfect faith of a little girl.
I love you, Mom.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Hey! I'm good. :)
I have been in a really good mood lately :D I LOVE IT!!! It's been really awesome and so I have been trying to figure out why I have been so happy. Hmmm....is it because basically ALL of my friends that are younger than me are sprouting diamonds on a certain finger? Or because I have tons and tons of homework? Or because my room is a mess? Or because my diet went down the drain?
You guessed it! Nope ;)
It's because, right now, I am okay with me.
That's it! That is why I am happy. I am okay with where I am right now. Like: I am 6 weeks away from moving to Alaska. I am getting caught up in GIS class. I am SINGLE! I am going on an adventure. I have a dog that is ALWAYS happy to see me. I have a sister/best friend who is always there for me. (except when she has a headache and goes to bed early, which actually happens a lot lately) I have absolutely NO boy drama! :) Well unless you count the soldier guy who I chat with on facebook sometimes who happens to be engaged....but well he is halfway around the world so that doesn't count :) I have lots of fun girls at the Malt Shop I get to work with. I have Zumba class! I have an awesome, crazy family that loves me even when I try to play 'black sheep'. I have my cousin who knows me so well that she invited me over for waffles with strawberries and 'Hairspray!' but waited till 9:30 to text me because she knows I don't get up early :) I have a car that runs like a charm! --when it has gas in it-- I am alone but not lonely. I am good. :D
I love feeling like this! I love not caring about boys or 'singlehood', it makes it super easy to be super happy for all my engaged peeps!!! I love you guys and wish you the best! Carmina & Jaron, Kendra & Matt, Liz & Whats-his-face, K.D. & Jesse, Charlette & ________, Taylor & Lane(but they aren't "official" yet), Seth & 'Her', Amanda & Joel(they just got married but ya) Congrats!!! I'm happy you guys found your 'The One'! Sorry if I missed anyone, there are a lot of you :)
And for my other peeps: if you're not getting married (or having a baby) then you're going somewhere! Like Callie who is gonna blow the people of Honduras out of the water with her testimony, and the same with Ali in Bulgaria, and Shari wherever she goes. I'm excited for you too!
But, I am excited for me too. I am going to do something crazy and impractical, probably more than one something, and I am going to have fun and be me and do whatever I want. So yes you all are going places with your lives and for a while I was letting that get me down. Not anymore. I realized that I am too. I am going wherever I want. I am going to take some time off from school and have an adventure. Why? Because I can. Because it sounds fun. Because I am in no hurry to race towards who-knows-what. I'm good with where I'm at. And it makes me happy! So ya maybe I am being selfish not going on a mission right now, but you know what? It's all good! Everything is gonna work out how it should. I'm in no hurry. I've got time. You know why? Because this, this right now right here, is my life. And I am gonna live it.
You guessed it! Nope ;)
It's because, right now, I am okay with me.
That's it! That is why I am happy. I am okay with where I am right now. Like: I am 6 weeks away from moving to Alaska. I am getting caught up in GIS class. I am SINGLE! I am going on an adventure. I have a dog that is ALWAYS happy to see me. I have a sister/best friend who is always there for me. (except when she has a headache and goes to bed early, which actually happens a lot lately) I have absolutely NO boy drama! :) Well unless you count the soldier guy who I chat with on facebook sometimes who happens to be engaged....but well he is halfway around the world so that doesn't count :) I have lots of fun girls at the Malt Shop I get to work with. I have Zumba class! I have an awesome, crazy family that loves me even when I try to play 'black sheep'. I have my cousin who knows me so well that she invited me over for waffles with strawberries and 'Hairspray!' but waited till 9:30 to text me because she knows I don't get up early :) I have a car that runs like a charm! --when it has gas in it-- I am alone but not lonely. I am good. :D
I love feeling like this! I love not caring about boys or 'singlehood', it makes it super easy to be super happy for all my engaged peeps!!! I love you guys and wish you the best! Carmina & Jaron, Kendra & Matt, Liz & Whats-his-face, K.D. & Jesse, Charlette & ________, Taylor & Lane(but they aren't "official" yet), Seth & 'Her', Amanda & Joel(they just got married but ya) Congrats!!! I'm happy you guys found your 'The One'! Sorry if I missed anyone, there are a lot of you :)
And for my other peeps: if you're not getting married (or having a baby) then you're going somewhere! Like Callie who is gonna blow the people of Honduras out of the water with her testimony, and the same with Ali in Bulgaria, and Shari wherever she goes. I'm excited for you too!
But, I am excited for me too. I am going to do something crazy and impractical, probably more than one something, and I am going to have fun and be me and do whatever I want. So yes you all are going places with your lives and for a while I was letting that get me down. Not anymore. I realized that I am too. I am going wherever I want. I am going to take some time off from school and have an adventure. Why? Because I can. Because it sounds fun. Because I am in no hurry to race towards who-knows-what. I'm good with where I'm at. And it makes me happy! So ya maybe I am being selfish not going on a mission right now, but you know what? It's all good! Everything is gonna work out how it should. I'm in no hurry. I've got time. You know why? Because this, this right now right here, is my life. And I am gonna live it.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Favorite Song of the Moment :)
I cannot get enough of this song lately! I heard it for the first time on Shari's mix CD she made for the Malt Shop and I LOVE it! It is gorgeous and romantic and beautiful and it gives me goosebumps sometimes!
It's 'To Show You My Love' by Mike Schmid. Enjoy!
It's 'To Show You My Love' by Mike Schmid. Enjoy!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Women: Really?
So. . . why are we so pathetic? Or at least why are we always portrayed as so pathetic?
Example #1: The Princess Bride
Scenario: Buttercup's true love is attacked by a R.O.U.S. (rodent of unusual size).
What she does: Stands there. Watches with a scared look on her face. Screams her true love's name (Wesley) and pokes the giant rat on the nose with a stick when it comes after her.
..........................................uh huh.
Example #2: Phantom of the Opera
Scenario: Christine's love (Raul) is attacked by the Phantom.
What she does: Sings.
Okay...so I had a whole list of examples running in my head...but of course as soon as I start typing they dissolve...
So, moving on... :)
Don't get me wrong, those are 2 of my favorite movies...but really?
Alright now we will cut them some slack:
Buttercup: ...well...she did never stop loving Wesley. And I guess later she tied up Humperdink so I guess that's something.
Christine: Okay so eventually, after failing at singing Raul free, she kisses the Phantom. Oh ya, she's so brave and self-sacrificing. Whatever, Phantom is flippin' hot, that must have been terrifying.
Now personally, if my true love was getting eaten alive by a giant, nasty rodent I would do a bit more than poke it. Come on! Flippin' swing that thing like a club! And well, Raul is a pansy. So, actually I probably would've done the same thing. Kiss the Phantom that is :)
But come on girls! Put up a fight! It's a good thing we've got our Disney princesses to look up to.(And actually they could get a post all to themselves, maybe later.) But having said that...there is a line. Or maybe a few lines. We are women. Yep. And they are Men. We are different. Equal? Yes. But definitely different. So be different! Be tough and independent. If your man is in a bind don't be afraid to flippin' save the day. But, don't be crass and rude. There are enough men for that. Did you know that you can be both tough and kind? Independent and caring? You can be savable, the Damsel in Distress, when you are needed to be. Do you get what I'm saying? Let the guy open the door for you. Let him walk you home and worry. Let him be 'the big tough man' that he needs to be sometimes. But you can't depend on that. You can't depend on someone being there to save you. Be capable and savable. Know how to change a flat tire, but let him do it :) Let him be a gentleman. Be a lady. But not a wimp ok? Help him fight off the R.O.U.S.s! Being dainty is not worth losing a Wesley over.
Example #1: The Princess Bride
Scenario: Buttercup's true love is attacked by a R.O.U.S. (rodent of unusual size).
What she does: Stands there. Watches with a scared look on her face. Screams her true love's name (Wesley) and pokes the giant rat on the nose with a stick when it comes after her.
..........................................uh huh.
Example #2: Phantom of the Opera
Scenario: Christine's love (Raul) is attacked by the Phantom.
What she does: Sings.
Okay...so I had a whole list of examples running in my head...but of course as soon as I start typing they dissolve...
So, moving on... :)
Don't get me wrong, those are 2 of my favorite movies...but really?
Alright now we will cut them some slack:
Buttercup: ...well...she did never stop loving Wesley. And I guess later she tied up Humperdink so I guess that's something.
Christine: Okay so eventually, after failing at singing Raul free, she kisses the Phantom. Oh ya, she's so brave and self-sacrificing. Whatever, Phantom is flippin' hot, that must have been terrifying.
Now personally, if my true love was getting eaten alive by a giant, nasty rodent I would do a bit more than poke it. Come on! Flippin' swing that thing like a club! And well, Raul is a pansy. So, actually I probably would've done the same thing. Kiss the Phantom that is :)
But come on girls! Put up a fight! It's a good thing we've got our Disney princesses to look up to.(And actually they could get a post all to themselves, maybe later.) But having said that...there is a line. Or maybe a few lines. We are women. Yep. And they are Men. We are different. Equal? Yes. But definitely different. So be different! Be tough and independent. If your man is in a bind don't be afraid to flippin' save the day. But, don't be crass and rude. There are enough men for that. Did you know that you can be both tough and kind? Independent and caring? You can be savable, the Damsel in Distress, when you are needed to be. Do you get what I'm saying? Let the guy open the door for you. Let him walk you home and worry. Let him be 'the big tough man' that he needs to be sometimes. But you can't depend on that. You can't depend on someone being there to save you. Be capable and savable. Know how to change a flat tire, but let him do it :) Let him be a gentleman. Be a lady. But not a wimp ok? Help him fight off the R.O.U.S.s! Being dainty is not worth losing a Wesley over.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Right Now
Right now my face is burning up from a sunburn that I don't regret.
Right now I am listening to Kate Voegele.
Right now my nose is stuffy with allergies. (which you totally wanted to know)
Right now I feel like writing but I don't have anything to write about. Obviously.
Right now I just finished eating a whole bag of green apple flavored licorice. (don't worry it was the smaller size bag...)
Right now I am wearing lime green socks!
Right now my hair has a dent in it from the headband I wore to class.
Right now there is a little brown leaf stuck to my window.
Right now I should be doing Philosophy homework. Which, btw, is completely ridiculous.
Right now the wind is blowing hard. (but the leaf is stuck good!)
Right now I am sitting on my bed.
Right now I am pretty content. Well except it is really hot in here.
Right now I am turning on the fan.
Right now I can feel a breeze.
Right now I am content.
Right now Shari is calling me.
Right now I am trying to decide if I want to go to work tonight since 2 girls didn't show up.
Right now I am deciding Nope!
Right now I need to go get groceries and make dinner.
Right now I want to read The Titan's Curse. And The Hourglass Door. And The Rescue. And Aquatia.
Right now I want to stick my face in cold water.
Right now I am regretting the licorice.
Right now Kate is singing: 'Don't break my heart, I ain't ever done Nothing to deserve this, I'm torn apart, You've had your fun, Do you suppose I earned it? Do you not see I am begging on my knees. Don't speak, Don't breathe. You bring out the Devil in Me.'
Right now I am pushing 'PUBLISH POST' for no reason...
Right now I am listening to Kate Voegele.
Right now my nose is stuffy with allergies. (which you totally wanted to know)
Right now I feel like writing but I don't have anything to write about. Obviously.
Right now I just finished eating a whole bag of green apple flavored licorice. (don't worry it was the smaller size bag...)
Right now I am wearing lime green socks!
Right now my hair has a dent in it from the headband I wore to class.
Right now there is a little brown leaf stuck to my window.
Right now I should be doing Philosophy homework. Which, btw, is completely ridiculous.
Right now the wind is blowing hard. (but the leaf is stuck good!)
Right now I am sitting on my bed.
Right now I am pretty content. Well except it is really hot in here.
Right now I am turning on the fan.
Right now I can feel a breeze.
Right now I am content.
Right now Shari is calling me.
Right now I am trying to decide if I want to go to work tonight since 2 girls didn't show up.
Right now I am deciding Nope!
Right now I need to go get groceries and make dinner.
Right now I want to read The Titan's Curse. And The Hourglass Door. And The Rescue. And Aquatia.
Right now I want to stick my face in cold water.
Right now I am regretting the licorice.
Right now Kate is singing: 'Don't break my heart, I ain't ever done Nothing to deserve this, I'm torn apart, You've had your fun, Do you suppose I earned it? Do you not see I am begging on my knees. Don't speak, Don't breathe. You bring out the Devil in Me.'
Right now I am pushing 'PUBLISH POST' for no reason...
Monday, March 5, 2012
'Thirteen Reasons Why' -By Jay Asner
Yep this is a book review...so some of you are not going to read on... :) that's ok! haha not many read this anyway, but this book touched me and made me think and ponder and I just want to discuss it some.
'Thirteen Reasons Why' is about a high school girl who, through a series of events, decides to commit suicide. Now the rest of you who kept reading are saying this: "THAT'S AWFUL! Why would I want to read that?!?!" Well...let me explain...
Hannah Baker is the victim of some tough circumstances, ones that many go through in high school...being the new girl, betrayals of friends, crude jokes, rumors, awful boys, etc. Each 'little thing' piles on top of the previous until she just doesn't want to go on.
But the book is not just about that. It's so much more.
Clay Jensen. This boy loved her, but was too scared of what everyone thought to put himself out there.
Hannah makes a List. The List of people whose actions contributed to her decision. And she records cassette tapes explaining each person's role...which she leaves to the people on the list. All thirteen.
The book is a haunting narrative between Hannah's voice from the tapes and Clay as he listens to them. As she explains each detail you also get to hear Clay's thoughts and reactions.
Ya. It's impossible to put the book down. I read it in one night...just like Clay listened to all seven tapes in one night. You can't stop, you have to know.
>Can I just say I am incredibly grateful for my sheltered, small-town, Mormon community high school experience? I am so glad my high school was not like Hannah's. SO grateful.<
It's easy for us to look at someone and think 'why would they do that? that's so selfish. their life didn't seem that bad, they could have gotten through it. why didn't they just find a shrink?' And yes I don't believe suicide is ever the answer for anybody, and yes I do think it's completely, and utterly selfish, but...why are we so quick to judge?
What the tapes help Clay and all of us realize is that what we do affects others, whether we mean it to or not. We cannot control how much a seemingly small thing will affect someone... You cannot look at a person and now if they are ok or not. People do not have meters on their foreheads indicating how deep in trials they might be at the moment. Everyone has a story. Everybody hurts sometimes. What we must do is not take the "I'm fine"s and "nothing"s for granted. Be kind. If someone you interact with everyday tallied up the times you made them feel good about themselves/loved/accepted and weighed them against those moments when your selfishness or thoughtlessness made them feel worthless, how would it come out? Which side would be heavier? Are you contributing to the people around you's feelings of self-worth. . . or self-loathing?
What we must not fall into is the trap of "But I didn't know..." I didn't know they were going through a hard time/having a rough day/close to falling apart, or else I wouldn't of said that off-hand remark, I wouldn't have been mean that day, I would've smiled. Can we not be nice all the time? I know it's hard, it's hard for me. But people deserve better from us. I do not know what pain is hiding behind that smile. I can't see the background in a tear. I cannot know who, at any given moment, might be close to giving up. But I can try to remember that what I say and do matters. I make a difference in others' lives everyday. For good or bad. Big or small. I can start a snowball rolling on to destruction, or maybe I can breath a bit of warmth in their direction and melt that ball of snow and ice just a bit. Maybe it will be enough. There is always hope. But, Hope has no energy of its own. Hope is a parasite. . .waiting for a host to give it life.
Disclaimer: If you are thinking of reading this book, know that if it was a movie it would definitely be rated PG-13. For several reasons. And yes, I do still think it is worth reading.
'Thirteen Reasons Why' is about a high school girl who, through a series of events, decides to commit suicide. Now the rest of you who kept reading are saying this: "THAT'S AWFUL! Why would I want to read that?!?!" Well...let me explain...
Hannah Baker is the victim of some tough circumstances, ones that many go through in high school...being the new girl, betrayals of friends, crude jokes, rumors, awful boys, etc. Each 'little thing' piles on top of the previous until she just doesn't want to go on.
But the book is not just about that. It's so much more.
Clay Jensen. This boy loved her, but was too scared of what everyone thought to put himself out there.
Hannah makes a List. The List of people whose actions contributed to her decision. And she records cassette tapes explaining each person's role...which she leaves to the people on the list. All thirteen.
The book is a haunting narrative between Hannah's voice from the tapes and Clay as he listens to them. As she explains each detail you also get to hear Clay's thoughts and reactions.
Ya. It's impossible to put the book down. I read it in one night...just like Clay listened to all seven tapes in one night. You can't stop, you have to know.
>Can I just say I am incredibly grateful for my sheltered, small-town, Mormon community high school experience? I am so glad my high school was not like Hannah's. SO grateful.<
It's easy for us to look at someone and think 'why would they do that? that's so selfish. their life didn't seem that bad, they could have gotten through it. why didn't they just find a shrink?' And yes I don't believe suicide is ever the answer for anybody, and yes I do think it's completely, and utterly selfish, but...why are we so quick to judge?
What the tapes help Clay and all of us realize is that what we do affects others, whether we mean it to or not. We cannot control how much a seemingly small thing will affect someone... You cannot look at a person and now if they are ok or not. People do not have meters on their foreheads indicating how deep in trials they might be at the moment. Everyone has a story. Everybody hurts sometimes. What we must do is not take the "I'm fine"s and "nothing"s for granted. Be kind. If someone you interact with everyday tallied up the times you made them feel good about themselves/loved/accepted and weighed them against those moments when your selfishness or thoughtlessness made them feel worthless, how would it come out? Which side would be heavier? Are you contributing to the people around you's feelings of self-worth. . . or self-loathing?
What we must not fall into is the trap of "But I didn't know..." I didn't know they were going through a hard time/having a rough day/close to falling apart, or else I wouldn't of said that off-hand remark, I wouldn't have been mean that day, I would've smiled. Can we not be nice all the time? I know it's hard, it's hard for me. But people deserve better from us. I do not know what pain is hiding behind that smile. I can't see the background in a tear. I cannot know who, at any given moment, might be close to giving up. But I can try to remember that what I say and do matters. I make a difference in others' lives everyday. For good or bad. Big or small. I can start a snowball rolling on to destruction, or maybe I can breath a bit of warmth in their direction and melt that ball of snow and ice just a bit. Maybe it will be enough. There is always hope. But, Hope has no energy of its own. Hope is a parasite. . .waiting for a host to give it life.
Disclaimer: If you are thinking of reading this book, know that if it was a movie it would definitely be rated PG-13. For several reasons. And yes, I do still think it is worth reading.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Don't Wake Me
This song has been my favorite this week. Don't ask me to explain why specifically because I don't know...I like it. I listen to it over and over. It's not new or anything, it's nothing super incredible, it's just honest and sweet.
Snow Cover
I love how complete the silence is at 1:40 in the morning in a small town covered with new snow. I would miss this. Looking out the window and seeing nothing but soft white. The snow swallows up the sounds and lights from the few cars passing by on the highway. The house is sleeping. It's completely peaceful. I think this is what forever feels like...no cares or worries, no outside noises to disturb the thoughts slowly drifting around my mind. It's beautiful. Right now nothing is wrong. There is no death or crime or hate. There is only white, foggy windows, me, meandering thoughts, and God. It's moments like this that remind you that everything is taken care of. That He knows. Tomorrow holds trials, challenges, maybe even tragedy. But for now everything is fine. In this moment there is peace and contentment. It does not matter what may come in the morning. I will face it then. For now I will soak up the silence. Sink into the white peace like a bubble bath and let it lighten my load. For now I will just be me without any cares or problems. Tomorrow will come. But tonight is still the present, and God holds the future...so let the snow settle on the windows and let the peace leak through the panes...
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