"Classic"!

Oh BYU and UTAH...can we ever get along? Nevertheless, it always makes for a great ball game, gossip for the next week, and hilarious pictures to laugh at! Yet, I am glad BYU won! Go COUGARS!!!

Black Friday 2009

My new toy! I decided to buy a GPS on Black Friday to help me maneuver around SLC and for future road trips! I went shopping with Karlie, a friend of Bryce's he dated before he left on his mission. She braved the madness with me last year and so we continued the tradition for a second time this year. She brought her sister this year, which was her first time, and I hope she wasn't too shocked by it all. We went to Target, which opened at 5am this year instead of 6am. An hour earlier is just too much! We got inside a little after 5 and I mentioned to Karlie that "not having a cart was the smarter way to go because then you can maneuver through those who do". A lady next to me heard me say that and said, "true that", and began to move her cart to the side of the aisle and in the process smacked Karlie's sister in the bum. She turned around, I believe she hadn't been paying attention to our conversation or to what the lady was trying to do, and said, "are you kidding me?" We laughed pretty hard, poor girl, I hope she comes again! But we had a great time, I got this Tom Tom XL340S GPS and Disney Scene It 2nd edition. We joined up with my parents at IHOP for breakfast at 7:30am and then headed home for much needed naps! Until next year Black Friday, it was a good one!

My baby got rear ended!

Yes, it's true! Most of you didn't know, and its not that I didn't want to tell you, but I found it hard to tell people! It happened on October 30th, on the way to work. I was in front of the hospital, ready to turn into the hospital entrance, and the traffic was stop-and-go! It usually is, I mean who's the genius that put 4 or more major hospitals, a University, and other businesses all on one road! Stupid! Well so traffic was slow, and then it picked up again and then suddenly came to a complete halt! I slammed on my breaks and was able to stop in time, but the girl driving behind me was not so lucky (and consequently, neither was I)! Luckily I didn't hit the car in front of me!

I luckily pulled a little to the right in order to let the driver behind me know I had to stop quickly, because she hit my back left corner and if I hadn't, I think she would've hit my entire back end. I just sat in the car for about 15-20 sec. thinking, "this did not just happen, this did not just happen." I got out and surveyed the damage. The left corner bumper was hit and in the shifting movement of that hit, it caused a few dents in the side upper panel (as seen above). The poor girl was a nursing student on her way to clinicals. I called the police, reported it, exchanged info, and I eventually made it to work 45min. late. My charge nurse was great and had gotten report from the nurse for me and my manager waved my tardy. I love my co-workers and managers! Yet, it was pretty much a busy, hard day. It's a given when you start the the day the way I had! All in all, it took me two and a half weeks of calling two insurance companies and the driver before I got any answers or help in fixing my baby! Last Tuesday, November 17th, the collision place started repairs and on Friday, November 20th, I got my baby back (3 weeks from the accident). It was a nightmare and one that I wish not to repeat ever again!

This was the rental car, paid for by the insurance co. (yeah!). It's a Corolla S 2009, like mine, but the newer model!

And here's my baby now! Notice the new bumper and repaired side upper panel. They said they put the car on the frame machine (I wish I could've seen this) and pulled those dents out. They replaced the bumper and the bottom spoiler, which was broken off in the accident. They had to paint the bumper and the area where those dents had been (which was also blended into the drivers side passenger door). The color matches well to the rest of the car! I can't even tell!

I'm so grateful I was able to get it taken care of! Persistence is the key! It's fixed! Yeah! I love my car! This picture was taken today!

I am thankful for...

...the mess to clean up after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

...the taxes I pay because it means that I'm employed.

...the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.

...all the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.

...the lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means I can hear.

...my shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine.

...the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.

...the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.

...weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive.

...a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means that I have a home.

...my huge heating bill because it means I am warm.

...the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I'm alive!

At this time of Thanksgiving, I wanted to share this thought with you. I am thankful for my family, the gospel, my health, my job, my food and shelter, friends, and for being alive!

The Twilight saga - New Moon!

I liked it! I originally wanted to go opening night at midnight, but I was unable to find anyone willing to go. So I went the next morning to the Early Bird show (the first matinee of the day). I arrived an hour and a half before start time, which was way too early! They didn't let anyone into the theatre until 9:25am. The showtime was 10am! When I arrived, the guy said they weren't seating yet, so I asked if I could wait in a line or something. He put me in a line, and I was the only one! When the theatre opened, I...again...was the first one into the theatre. You might think, what.. it's Twilight? Well, if it had been 10pm, it would've been another story, but at 10am I had a great seat and enjoyed the movie! They did a much better job with the special effects and acting! I mean who can say they were the first person in line and into the theatre for a Twilight saga movie? I can!

Super Saturday with the RS & Mom!

On November 7, 2009, I spent the night before with my mom and in the morning, attended her Relief Societies Super Saturday event! It was great to spend time and learn these great tips with my mom. I learned how to make one hour bread and what to do with it, decorate cupcakes, and how to use coupons to save money at the grocery stores! Here's my favorite tips!

One Hour Bread

Mix together completely:
5 1/4 cups bread flour, white or wheat
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 Tbs. salt
1 1/2 Tbs Saf instant yeast

Add:
1 1/2 Tbs. liquid lecithin
2 cups

Mix 1 minute; check consistency. If dough is too dry, add more water. If too moist, add flour. Mix 5 minutes in mixer or knead 10 minutes. Do not add more water or flour to dough after mixing is complete!

Spray counter and pans with Pam spray. Shape loaves and cover with towel. Raise 25 minutes. Bake 25 minutes at 350.

Make speciality breads!

Cheese bread - add cheese to bread while mixing
Cinnamon sweet bread - add cinnamon sugar to dough while mixing
Italian bread - add italian seasoning or parmesan cheese to dough (good for pizza)
Surprise rolls - wrap dough around a piece of fruit, or chocolate, seal and bake
Cinnamon rolls - flatten dough and cover with butter. Sprinkle on cinnamon sugar. Roll up and slice (dental floss works great) and bake
Bread sticks - Roll out, cover with melted butter, cut into strips and mold into shapes if desired (letters of the alphabet is great for kids) and bake

It's also great for braided bread, pizza, and calzones!

Decorating cupcakes!

Larry the Turkey cupcakes! Honestly, that's what the book called them! :) We frosted the chocolate bottom cupcake with chocolate frosting and rolled the edge in brown sprinkles. Frost the smaller cupcake again with chocolate frosting, dip one corner in brown sprinkles for the hair, and place on its side on top of the other cupcake. Add a Sandies cookie behind it with some frosting to allow the candy corn feathers to stick. Add a candy corn for the beak, a small strip of watermelon airhead or red swedish fish for the caruncle (red fleshy part). Use white frosting to dab on the white of the eye and then add chocolate chips for the pupils! They turn out cute!

The rear of the turkey, I used a marshmallow to add support, but mom didn't and it was just fine! You can see the Sandies cookie for the feathers or candy corn!

Couponing 101

Why?
Save money...food storage preparation...help others (donate to food banks)
Where?
Newspapers, internet, blogs (shoppingwithcents.com or pinchingyourpennies.com)
Hip2save.blogspot.com (I'm not sure if these are just for Utah stores, but its worth the look!

Be organized, have a binder, keep all your receipts for rebates that may come later, and don't take your kids!

I also learned 26 ways to Spend Less and Save More, a few of them are...

- Pay tithes and offerings first!
- Pay down debt!
- Budget
- Enroll in 401K at work
- Save for emergency needs, infrequent expenses, and Christmas
- Dealnews.com
- Shop garage sales, DI
- Buy quality
- Need vs. Want
- Repair things
- Maintain your car
- Take lunch to work
- Insurance - have it!
- Turn down your thermostat
- Plant a garden, fruit trees!

A few obsessions as of lately! CSI:NY & The Holiday

CSI:NY...yes, I LOVE IT! My favorite character is Detective Don Flack, the hottie to the right of Stella in the pink/red shirt. I love to pick out the sites I saw while I was in NY and its fun to hear their NY accents. Plus, I'm just weird and I love the suspense and mystery behind finding the killer and all the medical terminology they use. I really like this picture, one because its a reinactment of the worker picture taken years ago and second, it overlooks beautiful Central Park!

Oh...The Holiday! It's so cute! I laugh at myself that I had never seen it before just a month ago! I don't know what took me so long! I love this show. Honestly, I like the story between Jack Black and Kate Winslet better, but oh Jude Law is just so cute in this movie! Anyways, I've found myself watching it over and over again, but I don't care, I like it and that's all that matters!

We're all tied up!

Twister...let the game begin!

A night of games! Annie, Amanda, Jason, Kirk, and I got together to relive our childhood memories of Twister! Oh man, it was great! We all forgot how much fun it was and we had a great time laughing!

Cheese! At one point I had both hands and feet down so my hood got flipped up and thus stayed on my head! It got really hot, fast!

Kirk and Amanda, oh it was just so fun to watch the positions everyone got put in!

Annie and I crossed! :)

Amanda and Annie! Jason is in the green shirt giving out the calls and Kirk is watching on! It was a great game and we can't wait to pull it out again!

Birthdays...spider webs...and Darth Vader too, stir them in my witches' brew! I got magic, Alakazamakazoo!

Friday night, October 30, 2009, I got together with my good friends Annie and Kirk and carved some pretty awesome pumpkins! We even baked the seeds while we finished carving and had an amazing treat! It was my first time doing that and I'm a fan! Annie and I dressed up in our "Where's Waldo" costumes for the event! I am Waldo and she's Wanda! They're pretty awesome!

Annie carved a pumpkin with "Happy Birthday" on it for her grandma's birthday, which is on Halloween. They have a tradition, they go to her grave all dressed up in costumes and sing Happy Birthday! What fun family memories! I carved a creepy spider! And Kirk found an awesome pattern to do Darth Vader! They all turned out pretty cool!

I'm in the process of carving the spider! By the way, Waldo and Wanda's hats were made by Annie, the shirts are from The Gap, and our glasses (not seen in picture) were from Claire's. We each had striped socks and tights bought at halloween stores! We looked like the real deals!

Kirk and his masterpiece! Oh and he wanted to make the disclaimer that its not slobber on his shirt, it's water from washing his pumpkin...right ;)!

Annie and her creation! Happy Birthday Grandma!