Embarassing...

Confession: I love Monday nights. LOVE them. Why? Because I get to watch 2 hours of uninspiring but highly entertaining romance via The Bachelor. I know it's lame, but I can't help it. I LOVE hearing the girl drama, listening to how many stupid things all the girls say, the fun dates, the way Brad kisses every girl on the show (how in the world could you NOT get mad? Can we say playa?!?). But the truth is - I like Brad. Strangely, I don't think he's a player even though he smooches multiple girls in the space of my 2 hour period (maybe a week in real life). Still - if a boy did that here - he'd get the boot. But for some reason, it's ok on a tv show. It's almost like an alternative reality. And I like it.

Tonight is the season finale where Brad finally chooses between the final two girls. I'm beyond excited. Here is who I want to win tonight....

It Never Pays to be a Lemming

Here is me, 5 days ago...

Some of you may be wondering what this thing is....he's almost even kind of adorable. Wrong. Definitely not a good thing to be. Nothing I need to aspire to. But here I was...being a lemming!! Perhaps an explanation is in order. Every time I go to the gym I lift weights (I have my usual routine...arms one day, legs the next, repeat.) and then run a few miles on the treadmill when my knees are putting up a fight. 5 years ago, yes 5, I was in the Golds Gym off 9th in Provo and saw this girl lifting a 10 lb weight doing some ab exercises. You know, the ones where you hold the weight, stand on the little contraption on your side, then hang over the edge with the weight and pull yourself up. (I feel like I'm not making any sense). ANYWAYS, I thought...genius! What a smart and easy way to work on those obliques. I tried it - and I was sore. Which I've always thought is a good thing, meaning you're actually DOING something. So I kept it. Notice I've probably done it everyday minus Sundays for the last 5 years. No joke. And then, I learned what a lemming I was.

5 days ago, after doing my ab/oblique routine I headed over to the treadmills. I'm dripping sweat, running like a madman with my music bursting out of my ear buds, when the trainer comes over and starts to talk to me. "You're making your hips wide.." - Hold on. What? Who is this guy?? (I automatically don't like trainers since I did one of those free first sign-up deals with the trainer and they told me - "you're hot, but your body is FAT. I can make boys want you. I can make you tiny...I think I weighed 115 then? Yeah..wasn't buying it.) So he explained...those ab things with the weights are actually widening your hips. They make your obliques toned but the weights are making everything else bigger. The best thing to do is just use your OWN body weight and do the exercises. Huh. All I can think of is - 5 years. 5 YEARS I've wasted on this. How small are my hips actually supposed to be?

Like I said, it never pays to be a lemming...

And I thought I'd Never do this....

So, remember how I said I never share recipes? I guess I lied because I found this Pumpkin Spice Pancake recipe and HAD to share. It is SO SO good. Also, I'll most likely be blogging a lot in the next few days because I have a lot of catching up to do...Enjoy!

Pumpkin Spice Pancakes

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. In a bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and salt in a separate bowl. Stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

I. Am. Me.

I am...an american. texan. wife. sister. daughter. latter-day saint. me. I think...too much. I always want to explore every option and then usually can't make a decision. Thank goodness I have Anson. I know...Anson and I were meant to be together. I want...to travel all the time - but it's expensive. I have....way too many books and not enough bookshelves. I wish....to go back to London. Then Italy and Spain. And do service projects in other countries. And to go back to school. I hate...gossip. And caring too much about what other people think. I miss....my sister. Like crazy. Good thing she's only on a mission and back in August. I fear....cockroaches to no end. Being alone in a big house. Not doing all I want to accomplish in life. I feel...optimistic about the future. We're both finally doing things we like! I hear...Christmas music. I really love this time of year. And yes, I put up my tree in November. I smell....a creamy nutmeg wallflower from Bath and Body Works. I search....lately for the perfect Christmas stockings...but can't ever find them. I wonder...when I'll finally feel like a grown-up? I regret....not getting certified for teaching when I was actually IN school. Probably would have been a lot easier. I love....so many things. MY #1 of course - Anson. family. gospel. warm weather. reading. singing. traveling. running. and newest love - zumba. I care...deeply for others and want them to succeed. I always...wish I was more crafty. I'm learning but it's a slow process. I am not....a seamstress. Probably the only girl from UT that isn't. But I don't like it and it doesn't like me. I believe... in Jesus Christ, that He loves me and watches over me. I dance...when I wash the dishes. And in the car. I sing...and play the piano. Usually only for my husband now. He loves it and it makes me happy. I don't....like to sit very often. I am usually cleaning, trying to find something to do or am bored out of my mind. I write...many books that I still haven't published mostly because I won't settle on an ending. I win....every battle with my husband. HA! Yeah right. I lose...everything in my enormouse purse. In fact, I had to put my purse in a locker at an art gallery the other day because they thought it was luggage. I never....want to be a hypocrite. I listen....to a vast array of music. My tastes are quite eclectic. I can usually be found...snuggled my lovesac reading a book. With Anson. At school. The gym. I am scared of....being alone when I'm old. I read...constantly. Total geek. Suggestions for new books, anyone? I am happy about...my life right now. I am happily in love, in a cute house, with a wonderful family and great job.

Strange Things are Happening...

A couple days ago Anson and I decided to take a quick trip to Austin. The trip was full of all the usual goodness - Rascal Flatts, toaster strudel breakfasts, traffic - you know, the usge. OH and a nice stop to Chick-Fil-A for lunch. Right before we leave I decide to go to the bathroom since we're still driving for awhile. I walk into a stall and before I know it, other people have come in. But there are only two stalls and they're both full so these people will have to wait. Quickly I hear whining and restlessness. It's 2 kids and a mommy. One starts running around and I can already hear the stress in mom's voice. The other is mysteriously quiet. So quiet in fact that I didn't notice the head slowly poking underneath my stall. All of a sudden I realize, with perfect clearness, that yes, indeed, this child is a peeker! Umm...what to do?! Can't hide. Can't leave. Stuck. The kid actually smiles and waves. Funny, but oh so AWKWARD. After what seems like forever, the mom finally realizes and forces her child to stand up. But the damage has already been done. Little sister follows monkey see/monkey do style and it's repeat all over again. Also awkward. Finally, I'm ready to go and open the door to see a mom smiling like it's natural that kids do these things all the time. Which maybe they do? I walk out thinking - weird. I'm so surprised by all of this that I gush to Anson my unbelieveable tale. He just looks at me and says - "so?" SO?!? Umm..gross. "Some kids did that to me last weekend in the church bathroom." Whoa -what? This is a trend?! Strange. Strange things are happening folks...

Post of Thanks

Wow! So I really shouldn't have left that complainy post up for so long. Sorry! As an apology, I wanted to show a couple things I am thankful for. Actually, this is something that has been on my mind a lot as of late (surprise!) and I just feel like I/we are so blessed - I would most definitely be remiss if I didn't say anything. So...enjoy!


My Savior - The One who has blessed my life in numerous ways and been there for me through every hard time I can imagine.

My cute husband - loves me no matter what I do or how crazy I act. I am so in love with him.

My amazing family. The more that I see my friends raise their kids I realize how lucky I was to have such a great family who always looks out for each other.

My favorite place to live....EVER! Sorry Mom...but you really can't beat warm weather, Southern charm, a nearby beach and no snow! God bless Texas.



What would I do without London? Someday I'll go back.







Reunions with best friends. And just having great friends for that matter.




The Salt Lake Temple - where we were married and the place that let us be together forever.







Now this one may seem a little strange - but trust me, if you're trying to be healthy and drink lots of water...normal water gets old. Thank goodness for the great flavor of Propel (and hardly any calories!)













So glad that I am mostly healthy enough to run and exercise everyday.

Also strange, but one of my absolute favorite movies that I am glad I can watch over and over when I'm sick (which I've been lately...lame colds!).

A Real Downer...

So sometimes I feel like daylight savings time is a real downer....I mean sure, it's nice to actually see the sun when I'm getting up SO EARLY to teach, and yes, it does make me feel like I should be more awake...but really?!? Is it worth feeling like 7:30 is bedtime? Because that's what it makes me do. I got home at 6:30 from teaching piano today and felt exhausted. While it was a pretty successful day - do I really need to be exhausted? Not quite. I can't even try to fudge that one and make my day seem THAT productive. Yet here I am, at 7:30 contemplating a trip to bed with lights out...sounds about right for November.