Shopping with a Sister

The other day I had a chance to some shopping with my sister, Melanie. I love her. I'm the youngest of 7, she's the oldest. We are both the shortest in the family (she's got about an 1 1/2 inch on me...) we have similiar hair, coloring and taste in clothes. (I probably find several things I'd like to wear in her closet....) This was a really special experience for me because sometimes the only time I get one on one time with my siblings is when they take me home after babysitting!) And that's OK, it just made this experience that much more meaningful :)

But.... before we went shopping she gave me a makeover, to get practice for being a mary kay consultant. See the before and after pictures here. She did a great job and I loved having someone else put my make-up on :)

Then we went shopping, at Ross. One of my favorite stores. Except for the fact that the last two times I went I could only find a few shoes in size 5. Grrrr.... Usually I find at least a couple pairs that I like. And I didn't find what i really did need, a new pair of sneakers. But I look at it as God's way of helping me save my money, right? But I did get a 5.00 gray shirt

and had fun helping look for clothes for Melanie. Shopping with myself is fine, shopping with someone I know and love..... even better!!!!

Well, that was awkard....

Tonight I was making calls for visiting teaching appts (yes, it is the end of the month but in my defense I have no car and have had no solid companion for months. Anyway....)

This is how a conversation tonight went down...
After we got through the introductions, hi-how are you's....
ME: So, how is school going?
HER: (Awkard pause) Um, how did you know I was in school?
ME: Oh, I just remembered you talking about it before. I promise I'm not a stalker (yes, that phrase was a BRILLIANT choice) I just remembered.
HER: Ok
ME; So can I visit teach you on Sunday?
HER: Actually, no offense to you but I talked to the bishop months ago about being taken off the visiting teacing list. I'm surprised you didn't get the memo.
ME: Ok, thanks. Bye

I hung up the phone, trying to figure how I could have had a conversation with this girl on Sunday, about school, and now she doesn't want me to visit her? Weird. Then it hit me, I had an older number for a girl by the same name. THAT's who I called. Oops! I thought about texting her back to explain the mistake but then decided against it, as it meant having to explain that although I hadn't seen her at church in months and had never visit taught her before, yet her number was still in my phone.....

Funny thing is, this has happened before. Last summer I accidently called my boss (again same name) and tried to convince her that I was her visiting teacher and needed to visit her. We had a good laugh-thank goodness! And, no her voice didn't sound funny, it was just the wrong voice!

One situation that I thought be awkward today was attending a viewing on my own. The father of a very good childhood friend, family lives in my parent's stake, uncle's ward, etc. Haven't seen my friend for 12 years but I really didnt' want to regret passing up supporting the family. Leading up to it, I had butterflies! Would anyone know who i was? What would I say? It ended up being fine and I was glad I went. Extra thanks to my awesome roommmate Kelsey for picking me up and dropping me off!

Now to reflect on my visiting teaching trauma with the aid of some ice cream..... And to edit my list of cell phone contacts....

Much to Be Grateful For-Tuesday 10/26

Gratitude is something that has been on my mind a lot lately- especially as the father of one of my dear childhood friends just passed away it has really made me not want to take things for granted so...... here's a rundown of today



-My students behavior was OFF and subsequently my patience. It was one of those when I wonder if they go home and tell their mom's and dad's- "my teacher was just ornery the whole time......"

-But we did an activity that they loved- the letter this week is "e" and "E" so I hid several eE's on cardstock around the room and they could look for them. Most of them forgot the instructions (just leave them there and come tell a teacher-there's two of us- that you found one) and not all of them knew what letter they had found but.... hey! They were engaged and having fun! I'm going to try hiding "1'"s on Thursday......

-They also liked the "rhyming basket" I made for today. block/clock, car/star, bell/shell, you know. Again, the concept has not yet sunk in but I will take engagement any day!



-Tuesday I babysit for a friend, she has five kids including one with severe autism so I babysit for her while she's at choir and dad's at bishopric meetings. Dad happened to be driving home as I was walking from the bus so I got a short ride which was nice.

-I eat dinner with them. Tonight was fettucine with chicken- yum!!!!

-The kids all went to be easily at 8:00. They usually do-thank goodness!!!



-I left my bus/trax pass at home but thankfully had just enough cash on me to pay for a ticket on the way there. Had no ticket for the way home but dodged trax cops. Twice. Once as I one getting on a cop was getting on, and when I was getting off, a cop was just getting on. Very grateful for that one!

-Got to the trax station with just a minute or so to wait for the next train, and my ipod lasted for serveral minutes before it died......

-I'm not sick.

-Had a fresh banana with my school lunch today. I love bananas......

Nice Things that Happened to Me Today-Sunday 10/24

Nice things that happened to me today:



-Got to wear my new shirt and stilettos to church. Don't worry, I wore a skirt, too!

-Recieved a birthday gift from my friend Melina- a goody bag filled with some of my favorites: yogurt nutri grain bars, m&m's, choco peanut butter granola bars. Thanks, friend!

-Had a cereal bar for the "friendship dinner" at church today. If you have been out to eat with me before than you probably know that I am rarely limit my toppings. I go all out. Seriuosly. So if one kind of cereal is good, 3 is even better, right? I probably would have added another-making it 4 kinds, but I ran out of room in my bowl and was too lazy to go back for another one....


-Got a comment of my brain injury blog that something about my story had positively influenced. Gosh, there's just no words for how that kind of feedback feels..... Feel free to read and comment on it yourself!

-Found the missing tv remote (not for the tv but for the cable) found it after multiple couch searches. My rommmate found it alongside her missing sock......

-Watched an episode of extreme makeover home edition with my roommate. LOVE that show- I find it so inspiring because those who have so little, who need help with their home are arleady givign so much to family and community.

Fun Stuff I've Done Recently

Here's a sampling of activities from this past weekend- birthday post to follow soon......

-Recieved birthday/shoe shopping money from the folks and went shopping with Kerri. Got some shoes I needed, some that I didn't necessarily need..... But really, doesn't EVERY girl need a pair of periwinkle stilettos with a peeptoe???? And a pair of basic red flats in NOT the same as red patent leather heels, right????

-At any rate, we had a great time and then headed to Thai Siam for dinner. I love THAI food but am a wimp when it comes to spice,thankfully there were several non-spicy items on the menu, and I'm huge fan of their rice noodles. They look kind of elastic bands but taste ever so much better! It took us a few tries (and a few cruises down State St) to find it but we did, the service was fantastic and we got to the theatre (with just a small adventure in parking) just in time to join other friends in a showing of "Oliver." Our friend Adrien was starring as Nancy, and she and her fellow cast members were phenomenal! The ability to pull off a British accent so clearly and consistently amazes me......

-Saturday- Rainy Day and Game Day! Tickets were a bit of adventure, between my immdediate and extended family there was a handful of extra tickets so Kerri and I ended up sitting with my cousin Marchelle in her parents seats, and my sister Jenn and her family were able to use mine and my mom's and marchelle's seats. I was glad my sister and so many of her family members got to go to the game!

It was pouring until the game started (but we had trash bags to sit on so at least our bums stayed dry) but then miraculously the rain let up until the game was over. Hallelujah!!!! It was a close game (closer than it should have been) up until the final minute or so when BYU knocked down all of Wyoming attempted receptions. Then.....breathe! And sing the fight song! I don't like to leave the stadium until I sing the fight song after they win. (For real. I ask people to wait for me so I can sing it in the stadium)

One of the most fun parts of the game was having my nephew Jake, age 7, sit next to me. And keep me warm when I couldn't stop shaking.... I LOVE that kid. He is so inquisitive and perceptive. He took note of everything from Cosmo to the tv cameraman, and asked questions like if Cosmo could play in the game, and were the ropes that raised and lowered the field goal nets mechanical???? I taught him cheers such as "Go Defense! and Push 'Em Back!" And of course he joined in on the "ra ra ra ra ra Goooooooo Cougars!" Not a flawless victory but a gutsy one!

After the game, what is becoming tradition for me and my friends on any trip down south..... a stop at the pita pit! And they had whole wheat pitas this time! Yay! I decided to big this time and order the added avocado and hummus. I'm a fan of hummus :)

Then home, DI shopping for halloween with my friend Emily, e-mailed my mom and sister who are in Spain right now, and to bed with a big smile :)

What a good life I have! How blessed I am!

It was the Jalapeno's!!!!!

Yet another food-related blog post. Shocker, I know.

So this was my dream from last night. A local crime (murder?) has been committed. I don't think I knew the accussed, or the victim but I have a gut feeling that he's innocent. The story goes that he was making chili at the time the crime was committed and one day my immediate supervisor finds a new recipe for chili that involved jalapenos, the recipe that she beleives he used. Apparently once you peel, chop and saute jalapenos it takes up so much time that there's no time left to commit a crime.

So I set up a meeting with the school principal to plead my case (ask me about that in person sometime) because dreams have a mind of their own and WHY would you go to the police when you could go to the principals office????

There was some kind of food fair going on and I saw friends from my singles ward offering me lots of food samples. I dressed in my finest with my parents and we went to the office, I was clutching the wrinkled, written on recipe in my hand. And somehow in the middle of this my cousin Adam appeared next to me, replacing my Dad, talking about how his daughter Lizzie did have her live in animals in the school parking lot but they WERE supervised.

Then I begged/demanded that he let me talk for five minutes without interrupting. He agreed but I don't think I made it very far through the five minutes before he told me our meeting was over. Hence as I was being dragged from the office, crying, I yelled, "IT WAS THE JALAPENOS!!!!"

My dreams have a way of coming back the next night and finishing, I'm hoping this was one of the those.......

I'm sensing a theme here,,,,,,

I'm sensing a theme here, with the exception of "trapped in a bed" (you should read it-it's great for a laugh!) all the past 4-5 blog posts (going back to General Conference weekend) are about one thing. FOOD. And why not????

Happy Eating! (And reading :)

THIS is why I don't make Jello

I don't often make jello, (OK, so I've made it twice in the past 10 years. For real). I even called my sister to ask for directions yesterday. But our ward was asked to help make jello salads for an area zone conference. So I signed up.



All went well, until about 30 seconds into the 2 minute boil period when the pot started to boil over (note to self: IF there's a next time, use a bigger pan.) It splashed onto the stovetop and burner causing the smoke alarm to go off. The first time. Yes, the first.



I got into the dripper pan fairly well, but managed to spill more strawberry liquid on my white countertops. Then I was lulled into thinking all was well. Not so. The smoke alarm started to go off for the 2nd time. Yes, the 2nd. I had failed to turn off the burner so all the jello that had settled through the slats of the burner and onto the bottom of the stove...... was now giving off 2-3 inch flames. That would be the point at which I grabbed the box of baking soda and started pouring. And opened the front door, the sliding door, turned on two fans, you get the idea.



I did cut off a spoonful before sending it for missionary consumption and it tasted pretty good, but still...... Given the past events, THIS my friends, is why I don't make Jello.

It's my Birthday Breakfast and I'll be late if I want to......

So, on October 30th I bid farewell to my 20's and embraced the world of 30's. To help me celebrate, my awesome friends threw me a birthday breakfast the morning of my birthday. To show my gratitude I showed up late. Ummmmm...... 15 minutes late.



However, my lateness aside, the breakfast was fantastic. Breakfast casserole with ham,potatoes and cheese, punch/juice, canteloupe and honeydew, fresh cinnmamon rolls. Mmmmmmmm......



Then it was on to gifts which I am mentioning here for documentation sake- a camping/water backpack (you know the kind, right?) for any and all hikes intended for next summer. 2 original photos of pink flowers, framed and 2 kitchen dishtowels that were sorely needed.



Lots of talk, lots of laughter and lots of photo opps which I will post when I will get them off my friend's camera.



As a sidenote, I think some of the best moments were centered on the 2 1/2 inch stiletto, pointy toe brown boots I was wearing. As I was posing for pics wearing my new backpack I asked, "What about this pose says 'hiker'? Someone quipped, "I think it's the 3 inch heels!" OK , so maybe you had to be there but it was still very funny.



Bottom line- thanks, friends. You are the bestest and I totally felt the love!!!!!

Chocolate from Kind People

Last week for my employment my co-workers and I did home visits for 3 days. Here is how I sum up the first day. Chocolate. Mmmmmm...... At the first home we went to Mom gave us fresh brownies from the oven (2 very large brownies) 3 scoops of chocolate ice cream AND caramel apples. (OK, so not exactly chocolate but close enough :)



Ironically, the day also finished with chocolate. A parent works at a candy factory and gave us each a baggie full of choclates- my favorites were the cookie dough variety-doughy, chocolately and crunchy.



Thanks to all the nice people who feed me chocolate :)

What? French Toast is made from Bread????

Here is an interesting insight into a brain injury and..... french toast. You can read about it on my other blog: braininjurystory.blogspot.com



Good for a laugh AND a learning experience!



PS-how do I attach links to other sites within blog post? I would surely like to know!

Trapped in a Bed

Funny Story from this past weeks Relief Society Retreat- held at a ward member's family cabin, WAY up in Heber, not too far from the girls camp that resides there. Anyway..... because since when has geography been my strong point?????

I shared a downstairs bedroom with two of my friends, Michelle and Kerri. We were in one of those bunkbeds with a twin bed on top and a double bed on the bottom. The top bunk was "fenced in" with white metal railings on all four sides.

All was well until the next morning about 6:30 am when I really needed a restroom. Problem was, it was dark, I was in an umfamiliar place and the bed had rails all around. Long story short, I couldn't find my way off the bed/side where the was the ladder going down! I wasn't even sure if I was crosswise or lengthwise..... I started crawling around until I hit my head and a loud whispered "OW." At that point Kerri, who had awakened before me shined the light of her ipod towards me so I could find the ladder. And I escaped off the bed, all ended well.

So..... enjoy a good laugh at my expense, I don't mind.......!

Forgot One!

I forgot a culinary event from the past weekend: Friday afternoon. Lunch at the Pi. My first time there and I'm pretty darn sure I want to go back......

Scroll down the next post to read more about my culinary pleasures :)

Food. And Lots of It!!!!

I could probably sum up this past weekend in one word: Food. Lots of food. Here is the culinary recap.....
Thursday: Dinner at the folks. My mom's 5th cousin and spouse were in town for Conference from Norway. Delightful accents, lovely people. Treated our Scandinavian guests to Hawaiian haystacks and they were very well recieved! Coincidentally, that's also what I had for school lunch that day......

Friday Night: Saw Ramona and Beezus (LOVED that movie) and had dinner at Cafe Rio with a pork barbacoa tostada. I love pork barbacoa, the sweetness and softness of it :)

Saturday morning: Conference breakfast at a friends- she made Ableskivers, a danish puff pancake type treat. Reminded me of a cream puff-delicious!!! There was also loads of fruit, sausage and bacon. Can't remember the last time I ate sausage......

Saturday afternoon: Went out with some friends for a birthday to Kneaders- a place that is tasty for breakfast, lunch AND dinner. Enjoyed my turkey and avocado salad. Actually, I like avocado in any form...... I picked out the purple onions though......

Saturday evening: Had dinner with girlfriends and my mom joined us as well! We ate at Rumbi Island Grill- devoured my carribean chicken salad, a new meal selection for me.....

Saturday night: Ice cream with my Mom at Leatherby's. Had cherry chip ice cream. Haven't had ice cream with cherries in it in a long time. It was a happy reunion :)

Sunday afternoon: Dinner at my folks and we invited my sister and family, too. Was unsuccessful in trying to convince my niece that I was not too old to go to preschool with her.
Used up excess chicken and sauce from Hawiian haystacks to make chicken enchiladas.

Made SO many good memories assoicated with food and the people I shared it with :)

And I was spiritually fed as well from watching Conference. Especially touched by President Packer's "being not ashamed of the gospel of Christ" and Elder Scott's admonition to "develop character."