I think I just might...

Oh how I love being home during the day right now! The other day Zach and I had a conversation that went something like this:

Me: So, I added some movies and shows to our instant Que today.

Zach: Oh yeah?

Me: Yeah. I thought it would be nice to watch movies while I do laundry or crunches or whatever I'm doing during the day.

Zach: Cool. What did you add?

Me: Well I added some stuff for us and some stuff just for me. I added a new t.v. show called "Lie to Me," a movie called "The Cure," some seasons of "Boy Meets World"and some others I can't remember...Oh yeah and I added "Hannah Montana the Movie."

Zach (staring at me for some time to assess seriousness): DO NOT rate that movie!

Hahaha :) I laughed at myself and at him. I love that I love tween shows :) Mom once said, "I think I will walk into your house when you are forty and you will be watching a television show where people are talking in the hallway at school."

p.s. I am absolutely rating it! :)

Food Food Food!!!

1. If I could choose my last meal it would be?
Now that's a TOUGH question. If it was my last meal I would most likely want something of my mom's--although--I would probably have to have Chinese food (Mandarin chicken/fried rice) as a 2nd to the last meal :) I kind of just cheated. Anyway, I would probably want my mom's (Grandma Marty's) Chicken Casserole, probably some potatoes even though they are unnecessary in this case, and some cherries...it's my LAST meal I can have potatoes with a casserole all I want! :) I would have to finish with chocolate cake and ice cream for dessert--the chocolate cake I had at the Atlantis casino in Reno on our honeymoon!

2. My favorite person to share a meal with is?

Yet another tough question. Obviously it's usually Zach. We eat pizza on the couch together and we enjoy eating our other meals at the table together. I really enjoy spending time with him in general and I really love food so it's a win win. I also have to say, though, that I really enjoy eating with Misty. We're the same about food and Zach isn't the same about food as I am (that probably doesn't make any sense to anyone but Misty and that's okay:) I also enjoy eating with my mom, we have very similar tastes and we enjoy eating out together.

3. The best meal I've ever had was?
Oh my goodness...I honestly don't know. I don't have very sophisticated taste when it comes to food...I'm mostly like an 8 year old. (I'm slowly getting better). So I really am just a burger/fry or more so chicken strips/fries person. I am going to say it's more the situation then. Stopping by McDonald's about 20 minutes before getting married. Zach and I were in the parking lot of the temple--we were unable to take pictures because it was raining and I hadn't eaten and was starving. I hate McDonald's but we went through the drive thru (wedding dress and all) and ordered some nuggets. There was so much excitement and it's such a great memory. Zach still brings me home nuggets from time to time he reminds me that they are "sealed to us" :)

4. The one food that makes me feel instantly better when I'm having a bad day is?
A hot dog, honestly. Either at Maverick or at home on the Foreman :) I can also have a hot dog cut up into my Mac and Cheese and that's just about as good as it gets. Honestly, I didn't do the hot dog and mac n' cheese thing at all when I was younger. We do it a lot now that we're married and every time we eat it we tell each other that we are truly living the high life...sounds like we're joking but we're not.

5. My absolute specialty in the kitchen is?
My mom would tell you it's my lasagna.
Zach would tell you it's my sweet/sour chicken stuff...
I honestly have no idea. I haven't advanced too far yet. We make good burgers and hot dogs at our house, though :)

6. The city that has the best food is haven't traveled enough to answer that fairly...and my favorite restaurant there is ???

7. My favorite healthy snack is? Cherries...not sure they're all that healthy but I can eat those all day long.

8. If I could learn to cook anything in the world (and be really good at it!) I'd choose?

I would love to make incredible steak for Zach's sake. If I could surprise him at home with really good steak, I would be incredibly happy with myself.
For my own sake, I would love to marinate and grill an incredible chicken breast!

10. The most outrageous dessert I've ever had was?

Outrageous strange or outrageous good? I'll answer for both.

Strange--Chocolate Covered Potato Chips (LOVE THEM!)

Good-With my simple tastes...the best dessert ever can be found at Northern Lights Cinema Grill in Nampa. It's a movie theatre (cheap theatre at that) in the Karcher Mall. They serve food and dessert and bring it to you in the theatre--they'll bring it halfway through if you want : ) Anyway, they have a peanut butter mountain that is to die for. It consists of chewy brownie pieces, vanilla ice cream, topped with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and crumpled Reeses Peanut Butter Cups! YUMMY! It is truly truly the best dessert!



YOUR TURN!! Copy and paste this and answer your own... I'd love to read it!

"It's Temple Day!" Enough Said

Yesterday was our temple day. We really have been working so hard at trying to make this day go as smoothly as possible--as it has seemed since my first visit--it never does. We've made goals which include: I get ready like I'm going on a date (not rush home from work), I eat something (so I'm not so concentrated on my hunger that I don't remember what I'm doing and why I'm doing it), and just a few other things. Well...I tried and tried but I did not succeed yesterday. As I was getting ready to go I found a puddle that Mal had left in the carpet which he does not do anymore, I had a near emotional breakdown from feeling F.A.T. as I was getting ready (this was more like a tantrum than a breakdown), and lastly-as I was getting into our car it wouldn't start. This is because of some car trouble we are having. I have to get into our new (OLD) (GHETTO) truck (which I do not enjoy driving, I did when it was a novelty, being forced to drive the gas guzzler just IRKS me big time.) It was hot, I was annoyed, I was feeling fat, oh and I was feeling hungry and had forgotten to snack on something (this may sound like I'm insanely focused on food but really-when I get hungry I get MOODY, like BAD)...I was having a MOMENT, big time. I said a quick prayer because I really am trying to make some changes in my attitude, I'm trying to become just a tiny bit more laid back. I picked Zach up he also had a rough last part of the day. I held myself together better than ever and we drove to the temple. I was having guilt because sometimes I think I go, even though it's such a rough day almost always leading up to getting there, sometimes simply because I want the blessings in my life and in my marriage.

We went nonetheless, whatever our real motivation was and it was a great experience for me. I truly enjoyed myself and even if it's a rough day getting there, I still get to experience at least 2 hours of real peace...which is more than I truly get the rest of the work week. Sure, life is peaceful these days, but not quite the same kind of peace. I walked out feeling just a little bit refreshed. It was a different experience, I think for both of us, than we've ever had. As we walked out into the parking lot for a moment I had forgotten about our car trouble woes...and quite honestly didn't care quite as much as I did before getting there.

I am grateful for EVERY SINGLE THING I have been blessed with. I am so grateful for a happy home where I am able to enjoy my new ETERNAL marriage to one amazing guy. I am so blessed to have a job and to miss it when I'm not there. I am so grateful for a calling in church that has helped me realize a lot of things I think I had forgotten. I am grateful for the knowledge of the true gospel and the knowledge that I am indeed a child of God. I may worry (of course I'd rather take a trip with my husband this summer than pay to fix a car...who wouldn't...) but I am NOT COMPLAINING!

Cinnamon Toast

Last night Zach and I were playing Skip Bo and he starts singing some song off of You Tube (this happens frequently) about toast. We both decided that toast sounded good at 10:30 at night--plus I always have to munch when we watch t.v. and we were about to watch Burn Notice :) Cinnamon toast came up and we thought that sounded really good...and since Zach beat me he said winner would make loser a snack. He gets the toaster out and says, "But I actually don't know how to make cinnamon toast...do you just toast the bread and sprinkle it with cinnamon?" This made me laugh a little. I showed him how to mix cinnamon and sugar in a bowl and buttered my bread (basically I made the toast what it was so I demanded another snack at another time) and I explained to Zach that my grandma was the one who taught me how to make cinnamon toast. I got all nostalgic and told him some of the other fun treats she taught us how to make. I took a bite of my toast and I almost started crying...I don't think I realized that I actually haven't had cinnamon toast (to my recollection) since I was a kid at Grandma's house. The taste brought me back to the green couches at her house. I see a little me sitting there beside her gram, munching on some yummy toast, and watching the Today Show. I love my Gram so very very much...what a blessing it is for me to have so many of these memories. So much I think I didn't even realize or maybe I took for granted...something as simple as making cinnamon toast. After all, not everyone knows how, not even my husband! :)

Sharing Sweet Thoughts today

I've come back from Youth Camp on something of a spiritual high...I thought I would share this video that I first found on nie nie first..but it touched me so I thought I would pass it on. Watch this and enjoy! Have a wonderful Monday!

4 Days

4 days at Girls' Camp this week (actually Youth Camp--boys too). I will be out! I'm sure I'll be missed. I will luckily have 4 days of blogs to read when I get home and 1 episode of Army Wives to catch up on :) I head out Tuesday, pray for me. I want it to go well and I'm hoping to really connect with the girls. Preparing for camp spiritually has been a big blessing for me and I have to say that after the experience I had today--I know exactly why I was given this calling. I am so grateful even if I am incredibly nervous. I am also a little sad to spend 3 nights away from Zach :( But I am looking forward to coming home to him! :) :)

See you in a few!

HELP!!! Calling All Moms!!!!

I'm having a dilemma...
Okay. Those of you who know me, know that I have ALWAYS wanted children. I always thought that I had a gift with children. (I don't feel that way as much anymore as there are some days when I loose all patience with my students, but I used to believe I had a gift). Now that I'm married, the possibility of becoming a mother is more real than ever and I am absolutely TERRIFIED. Between reading blogs of moms (almost everyone except for Heather's blog--Heather always posts good things about her kids and family) and going to Relief Society I am freaked out about becoming a mother. I like kids. I want to be a good mom...no...A GREAT mom. I really do and I honestly had always arrogantly thought that I would be the BEST. But now I'm having total and complete doubts. I don't want to stay in my pajamas all day without doing my hair. I don't want to "need to get out of the house." I don't want my relationship with Zach to struggle--not saying it will but we are having a lot of fun right now and I'm selfish.

I have to explain that I want to be like my own mother. I never once remember my mom saying anything like, "Oh, if you thinks she's cute you can HAVE her!" "With how crazy I've been with my kids this week, I am looking forward to a week without them at Girls Camp." "Sometimes by Monday, I'm happy to drop him/her off at daycare!" And you get the picture...she never said that. I know this because 1. I hear/heard EVERYTHING and hold onto that FOREVER 2. I am extremely sensitive and something like that would have hurt my feelings so badly.

I want to be like my mom but I am SO SO SO incredibly far from that right now and I don't have time to become her or I will surely be past the baby making ages. So what do I do? Can someone please give me some advice? What are some things that help you ? (Please do not respond with "mommy time-outs" or "anti-depressants.") Is there something I can do now to prepare me. Are there words of advice that you can offer me or something POSITIVE to go on. I know it will be a joyous experience but I don't want to be a mom that is pissy all day about my kids and my situation and then feels guilty at the end of the day when I put my child to bed and s/he looks sweet and innocent then. (I will admit sometimes I do that with our dog...) I will tell you that I am a person that needs a clean home and things to be in order and I know that will be difficult but it's not impossible. Please help...comment or something!!

Summer Goals

Summer Goals
1. To fit into these jeans again. I haven't worn them in 5 years. I love them. I felt so good at the time in my life that they fit--they are only one size smaller than what I wear now but I'm not feeling all that great lately. SO...I either fit into these jeans by the end of August or they (GULP!) go to the DI where some other more disciplined lady can have these beauties! I feel like if I post this goal then perhaps it will become more likely that I will do it. It also makes me sad that my husband has never known me as confident about my body as I was at that time...and trying to EXPLAIN it doesn't quite come across the same way...

2. Attend the temple weekly by myself...monthly with my husband
3. Organize the pantry
4. Organize the garage
5. Paint dresser I bought at garage sale
6. Finally hang wedding pictures (after deciding where they go)
7. READ!! A few new books, my scriptures, and conference talks
8. I need to do some work for school...not feeling up to it yet, though
9. Have at least ONE Scentsy party!
10. Enjoy myself, my house, my dog, and my husband...I can't go wrong there, right?!

I will check back in on July 8 to let ya'll know how I'm doing

The "Love Bed"

This is the 'love bed"

Where did the love bed get it's name?
My father-in-law gave it it's name, before he was officially my father-in-law.
Zach lived in a house directly across the driveway from his parents.
And we often..OFTEN spent our time cuddling and stuff in Zach's Love Sac in the living room.
Zach's dad teased us about this sometimes.
One day, Zach bought a blow up mattress.
For many reasons...one being he didn't sleep in his old bedroom anymore.
And in true bachelor fashion he put the mattress in the middle of the kitchen/office area.
Almost embarrassing if this bed didn't have such great memories for me.
Zach had a roommate who was either in the living room or in his room or on the computer at any time.
Zach's family literally lived next door and the door to that house was never locked.
So anyone could walk in at any time and the bed was well within first glance viewing.
So we justified cuddling on it from time to time.
Okay, maybe a lot.
And so we moved from cuddling on the Love Sac to cuddling on the blow up mattress.
One day, Zach's dad walked in and said something about us moving to a "Love Bed" and it just stuck.
We called it that all the time.
And even though it broke. Darn it, it was SO comfortable.
We bought a new one.
And we call it the love bed.
And we have sleepovers in the living room and watch movies on it.
Just a little something to remember.

That Kind of Love...

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT!

Last night I watched The Time Traveler's Wife. It was a book that I was not able to finish, I couldn't wrap my head around the idea but I wanted to watch the movie nontheless, partially simply because I love Rachel McAdams (and it actually angers me that my husband finds Scarlett Johansson more attractive than she). Anyway, I ended up bawling like a baby but I loved the movie!

When I met Zach, it was the easiest love story ever. We were both interested immediately. There were truly no games whatsoever. I remember having butterflies and thinking about him all day long. I waited for every text. The thing of it was, Zach was thinking about me all of the time, too. I didn't doubt his feelings for me, EVER! And I had never been in a situation where I felt like that.

Being with Zach, helped me to believe in the kind of love that I believed in with all of my heart in high school...and that I quickly stopped believing in with my first heartbreak.

At the end of the movie, where she runs to her husband through the field, I couldn't stop crying. I feel almost silly writing about this, but I was very moved. How grateful I am that I can relate to that. How grateful I am for that kind of love. Thank you Heavenly Father and Zach...I surely don't deserve it, but between the two of them, I'm still a believer!

Author Quote of the Week

I'm really going to try to get in the habit of posting quotes by some of my favorite authors every week.

"No one bruised as easily as a believer."
-From Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah