Pizza My Heart

Moon Boots for My Moon Base

2012-01-29T19:11:00.001-07:00

Last week, a certain presidential candidate (Newt G. nowait, that’s too obvious. N. Gingrich) made quite the campaign promise. If elected,he promised that by the end of his second term in office he would make sure wehave a permanent moon base and manned missions Mars. Really? A moon base?Americans are fighting to find jobs and keep their homes and you are concernedabout a moon base?

Call me crazy, but last time I checked, a shiny new moonbase is last on voter’s priority list…right after increasing the deficit and raisingpolitician’s salaries. Dear Presidential Candidate—do you have any idea whatthat would cost? And did anyone on your staff tell you that moon bases don’tgrow on trees? My husband reminded me that this candidate is not the firstperson to consider building a moon base (click here to see video clip of a previous moon base attempt). I’ve already decided that space travel is not forme, and I’m pretty sure my fellow Americans would agree that perhaps we should focusour efforts here before we shoot for the moon.

Best in Snow

2012-01-24T22:41:00.000-07:00

Because I am now officially old I decided I needed a veryrelaxing and calm birthday weekend. We headed up to Show Low, Arizona with some friends andspent the long weekend in a beautiful cabin in the mountains. It was wonderful!We watched movies, ate tons of good food, went on a hike, and had a giantsnowball fight (the girls ruled, p.s.). This is what I love about Arizona—we liveon the surface of the sun, but all we have to do is drive a few hours and we're inthe trees, mountains, and snow. Gotta love it! It was a perfect getaway for a perfect birthdayweekend.

More Schools in the Tri-County Area

2012-01-18T09:39:00.003-07:00

Jimmy Kimmel interviews kids about politics. So funny! Apparently going to the gym makes you a great candidate for president...something we should all consider this November.

National Pizza Week

2012-01-09T18:41:00.001-07:00

Today was a great day! I learned that the second week ofJanuary is National Pizza Week!! First, I was shocked that a pizza-lover suchas myself did not know this, second, I was overjoyed to hear that this amazingholiday coincides with my birthday week. It’s like a dream come true! The starsand pepperoni must be aligned! This is just another reason for me to eat pizzaevery day this week—an idea I had already proposed. Happy Pizza Week to one andall!

Christmas Craft Crazy

2011-12-24T00:14:00.001-07:00

This year I found the inner-crafter in me. It’s true—I’ve never been abig arts and crafts person, but this holiday season I started, and now I can’tstop!! I thought I would share a couple of the Christmas decorations I’ve madethis year.

These Christmas trees are so cute and so easy to make! I purchased thepaper trees at Michael’s, used a spray adhesive, and then went crazy with theglitter.

This simple plaque brings lots of JOY to my front entry way. Ipurchased the wooden plaque and letters at Hobby Lobby. After painting theedges, and glittering the letters, I used Mod Podge to cover the plaque withscrapbooking paper. Voila!

I wanted to add some holiday pillows to my décor this year so purchasedthese red pillow covers from Ikea. I created the designs, printed them oniron-on transfer paper, and then ironed them onto the pillows. I love how theyturned out, and love the splash of Christmas color they add to the house.

Oh Christmas, how I love you so!

Homemade Mac and Cheese

2011-12-18T17:48:00.000-07:00

Tis the season…theseason to eat lots and lots of yummy food! Perhaps it’s the chill in the air orall this Christmas music I’ve been listening to, but lately all I’ve beencraving is comfort food. And nothing says comfort food like homemade Mac andCheese. Yum! I found this recipe on a blog I follow (The Small Things Blog) andit’s totally fabulous! It’s incredibly delicious and amazingly easy. And I mean supereasy! So if you want some warm, gooey, yummy homemade Mac and Cheese I highlyrecommend this recipe. Enjoy!

Homemade Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

1 lb (1 box) al dente elbow noodles

1 lb cheddar cheese

4 tablespoons butter

salt & pepper

1/2 cup milk

*cook your noodles to al dente asper the package instructions

**set oven to 375 degrees

Instructions:

1. Pam/greaseyour baking dish.

2. Place cooked noodles inthe bottom of the dish (enough to cover the bottom).

3. Salt and peppergenerously.

4. Add two large handfulsof cheese.

5. Start second layer.Repeat exactly what you did in the first layer until you fill your dish.

6. Place 4-5 tablespoonslices of butter on top of the mac and cheese and pour 1/2 cup milk over thetop.

7. Bake for 35-45 minutes uncovered.

(Recipe and photo taken from The Small Things Blog)

O Christmas Tree

2011-12-12T22:12:00.000-07:00

O Christmastree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are thy branches! I could literally stare atmy Christmas tree all day. It makes me so happy! I’m just sad that the holidayseason is flying by--I don’t want it to end. Can it be Christmas all year long?

Unbroken

2011-12-07T12:04:00.001-07:00

“December 7, 1941--a date which will live in infamy--the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." Seventy years ago today started a course of events that certainly changed the world forever. I’ve always had an enormous amount of respect and gratitude for the armed forces—especially those who served during WWI and WWII—but I recently read a book that has made me appreciate those men and women more than I can say. The book is titled, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, by Laura Hillenbrand.

I was incredibly moved and inspired by this true story of a World War II POW, Louie Zamperini, and the men he served and survived with. His journey and experiences are breathtaking, heartbreaking, and inspirational. I literally couldn’t stop thinking about and talking about this book for several weeks after I finished it. I've been thinking about it a lot today, on this anniversary, and it is a story that will always stick with me and inspire me. It is such a powerful book and I think everyone should read it. I am so grateful for this country, our freedom, and for those who have suffered and given everything so that we can enjoy those freedoms and opportunities we have today. God bless those who sacrificed their lives seventy years ago today, and God bless those who volunteered to serve our country in the days, months, and years that followed. Promise me you will read this book—it’s a must!

Spread Christmas Cheer

2011-12-02T10:03:00.001-07:00

My second favorite Christmas movie is Elf. I watch it every year and every year it makes me feel joyful and triumphant. It’s hilarious. I still laugh out load even though I’ve seen it a million times. Well, imagine my Christmas cheer when I found the following printable on Pinterest. I immediately printed this out, framed it, and added it to my Christmas décor. Ta-da!!

Just glancing at it makes me so happy! Here is the link to the printout for all you other Elf fanatics. And don't forget to stick to Buddy's recommended four main food groups this holiday season: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup. Cheers!

Christmas is Coming

2011-11-15T20:23:00.001-07:00

If it takes me a while to answer my phone, it’s because I’m singing/dancing to the “All I Want for Christmas Is You” ringtone I just put on my phone today. Too early? Perhaps, but I don't care because according to me the holiday season is officially here! Let the games, glitter, and jingle bells begin! Yahoo!!

Scream for Ice Cream

2011-11-08T10:51:00.000-07:00

72 days

2011-11-04T08:36:00.000-07:00

I was not so happy when I heard that people were calling Kim Kardashian’s wedding the “American Royal Wedding.” Really? I’m sorry, but reality T.V. trash should never be compared to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Now that Kim’s so called “fairytale” has come to a sudden end, a mere 72 days after it started, I feel slightly vindicated. I’ve seen these lists floating around, so I just had to share. Here’s a list of five things that lasted longer than Kim Kardashian’s marriage:

I know…I probably shouldn’t judge her, but maybe next time she should spend more time getting to know her fiancé and less time on the television production.

A Shore Thing

2011-10-31T21:56:00.000-07:00

It’s Halloween! And that means another chance to dress upand make a fool of myself (see last year). As I mentioned last year, Halloweenis a big deal at my work and pretty much everyone dresses up. This year me anda few friends decided to take a page from pop culture and dress up like America’sworst role models…that’s right…the cast of the Jersey Shore!

Being the midget of the group, I was lucky enough to be theone and only Snooki!

Here I am with my bestie JWOWW…

And here we are with DJ Pauly D, fist pumping at the club…Imean our cubicle.

I had a blast playing dress up for the day. I don’t think I’llwear that much leopard print anytime soon, but I must admit that the spray tan, heavymake-up, and fake eyelashes are quite addicting. I’ll see you at the Shore!

Birthday Surprise

2011-10-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was my Dad’s 60th birthday! We decided to surprise him with a little family get together. We arranged with my Mom to pull off the surprise. We decided to meet at the Tonto Natural Bridge just north of Payson, AZ. We arrived a few minutes before the birthday guest and then SURPRISE! It was so fun to surprise my Dad and be able to spend the day with Dad and Mom.

I had never been to the Tonto Natural Bridge before, and it was beautiful. We went hiking and took in the gorgeous surroundings. Apparently, it the “largest natural travertine bridge in the world.” It is 183 feet high over a 400-foot long tunnel that measures 150 feet at its widest point. It really is something else. I’ve driven past the turnoff to the park a thousand times and all this time I never even knew it was there. I was super fun! If you’ve never been and are in the area—I highly recommend it. After the hike we went to Payson for dinner and gave my Dad a memory book we’ve been working on for the past few months. (A special thanks to everyone who contributed!) Happy Birthday Dad! Here are a few pictures of the fun day!

A Bit of Glitter

2011-10-14T08:46:00.002-07:00

I have a slight obsession with glitter. And when I say slight, I mean huge. I just can’t help it--I heart things with glitter on them. My motto is, “Everything is a little better with a bit of glitter.” I am especially obsessed with holiday decorations with glitter. If it’s for the holidays and it has glitter, I must have it—much to my husband’s chagrin. It’s become a bit of problem actually. I’m starting to notice that all my holiday decorations have glitter. My house is pretty much covered with glitter from October through December. But it makes me so happy! However, if glitter caused chronic migraine disease, I’d have a crazy amount of migraines. Oh wait. I do have chronic migraines. Hmmm…could too much glitter be the culprit? I don’t know—I’ll have to do some research on that. In the meantime, I’m going to pretend that glitter is the cure and I’m going self-medicate with glitter decorations.

Imagine my joy when our women’s group at church had a craft night that included making Halloween decorations with lots and lots of glitter. I have never been incredibly “crafty” individual, but I was able to muster up enough creative juices to make this lovely decoration. Glitter haters be damned--I am so proud of it and it makes me incredibly happy. May glitter never go out of style.

Red Carpet Red Velvet

2011-09-28T10:01:00.001-07:00

If you love ice cream and if you love red velvet cake, then boy do I have a treat for you! Blue Bunny has teamed up with celebrity chef, Duff Goldman (from Ace of Cakes), to create the most magical ice cream concoction I have ever tasted. It’s called Red Carpet Red Velvet Cake Ice Cream. And yes—the ice cream is as fabulous as the name. It’s got yummy red velvet cake flavored ice cream mixed with cream cheese frosting flavored ice cream and red velvet cake pieces. A-MAZ-ING! It’s kind of like dying and going to heaven…on a red carpet! So if you scream for ice cream, you will be squealing with delight for this red velvet deliciousness. Try it!!

When Life Gives You Lemons

2011-09-22T21:42:00.000-07:00

In honor of the last day of summer I thought I’d post the recipe for myfavorite summer dessert—lemon bundt cake! I love all things lemon—lemon chicken,lemon pie, lemonade (delish!!!)—and I’m now officially obsessed with thissuper easy, super yummy lemon bundt cake. I say when life gives you lemons,make lemon cake!

Lemon Bundt Cake

Ingredients

· 1 pkg. Lemon Cake Mix

· 1 (3.4 oz.) instant lemon pudding and piefilling

· 4 large eggs

· 1 cup water

· 1/3 cup vegetable oil

· One container of lemon frosting

Baking Instructions

1. Preheatoven to 350 degrees. Grease bundt pan and coat with sugar.

2. Combinecake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water and oil in large bowl. Beat at medium speedwith electric mixer for 2 minutes. Pour into pan.

3. Bakeat 350 for 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes outclean. Cool in pan 25 minutes. Invert onto heat resistant serving plate. Coolcompletely.

4. Forglaze, place frosting in microwave and heat for 10 to 15 seconds. Stir untilsmooth and drizzle over cake.

9/11

2011-09-11T20:10:00.000-07:00

2,977 flags. One for each victim of the 9/11 attacks. Each year on9/11, Tempe Town Lake turns into a beautiful memorial--a place to remember andpay tribute. Each flag has a marker with a victim’s name, age, and a little bitabout them. It was humbling to walk through them today and know that each onerepresents a spouse, parent, child, or friend. We will never forget whathappened that day. God bless America.

Death by Chocolate

2011-09-08T20:56:00.000-07:00

Some of you may know this, and some of you may not, but I think it’stime for me to say (a.k.a. blog) it out loud…I have chronic migraines. To be officially diagnosed withchronic migraines, you have to have more than 14 migraines a month, andunfortunately I fall in that category. I’ve basically had a constant headachefor over 18 months, with 3-5 migraines a week. Anyone who can do the math cansee that 18 + 5 + constant + severe + pain = a not so fun time.

I’ve been seeking treatment for a little over a year now. I’ve seen numerousneurologists, and tried countless medications, supplements, etc., but to noavail. The most interesting thing so far has been all the remedies that peoplesuggest. It seems that all of the sudden, everyone I know either has/hadmigraines or knows someone who has/had migraines. I have been told about enoughremedies (medicinal and naturopathic) to write a book…and someday I justmight--working title is 1001 Ways to Stop Feeling Like You’ve Been Kicked in the Head.

I’ve gotten to the point that I’ll try just about anything. I’ve becomeso desperate that I even gave up chocolate. Yes, I know—I must really be going crazy,but see I’ve read that sometimes chocolate can be a trigger to migraines. Itwas my husband’s idea, of course, because only a man would dare tell a woman togive up chocolate—women know this suggestion should never be uttered to anotherwoman. But I thought, why not? I had to find out if chocolate was my migraine nemesis.The minute I gave it up, I was craving all things chocolate—chocolate cake,Snickers, chocolate ice cream, brownies, etc. I guess it’s the old adage, youdon’t know what you have until it’s gone. I didn’t realize how much I LOVEchocolate. I desperately missed it. If only I could be one of those people thatHATE chocolate…but well, then I guess that would just make me a guy.

A few days into my no-chocolate challenge I thought, wait a minute, doI really want to know the results of this experiment? Would I be willing tolive a chocolate-less life? I wasn’t sure that I was. Perhaps it was my lack offaith, or my prayers that chocolate wouldn’t be a trigger, but after two weeksof no chocolate I luckily (and unluckily) still had my migraines. I neverthought I’d be so relieved to have a migraine.

So crisis was averted. I don’t have a give up chocolate, but I do haveto keep searching for my migraine cure. I’m sure I’ll find it someday, and inthe meantime with a sigh of relief I’ll say, TGINC…thank goodness it’s notchocolate.

Rising

2011-08-29T15:30:00.000-07:00

Image from http://www.wtc.com/media/images/s/the-vision-world-trade-center

It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years. This weekend I started watching a documentary produced by Steven Spielberg titled, Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero. It’s a six-part series that began airing last week on The Discovery Channel. I’ve only had a chance to watch the first hour so far, but already I am amazed with this documentary. It’s absolutely incredible to see the massive undertaking of rebuilding the World Trade Center. The stories of the workers and architects, the symbolism in the design, and the beautiful memorial they are creating make for an inspiring and moving documentary. The remaining three episodes will air this Thursday, September 1^st on Discovery Channel, so be sure to tune in. Seriously—you have to watch this. Warning, you may want to keep a box of Kleenex next to you while you watch, but I’ll say one thing, it sure makes you proud to be an American. God bless America!

Baby It's Cold Inside

2011-08-26T11:04:00.000-07:00

Imagine the following: A large office building sits in the middle of the desert. It’s summertime. The weather outside is a blistering 114 degrees. However, the temperature inside the building is literally freezing. Inside this building, a short blond woman sits at her desk. The woman is wearing dress pants, close-toed shoes, and a cardigan sweater. She also has a throw blanket over her lap and has turned on her space heater in an attempt to warm up her frozen fingers so she can type.

What’s wrong with this picture? Everything! I am freezing to death and I live in Phoenix! And yes, you heard right…I actually have a space heater at my desk during the summer. Did I mention that I live on the surface of the sun? Dear Company, why must you turn the office into a walk-in freezer?

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), there are no specific regulations for office temperature. However, it does mandate that the workplace must be free from hazard. Last time I checked, turning your employees into popsicles is hazardous. I also read a study that found a direct correlation between temperature and productivity. A study by Cornell University found that the optimum temperature for productivity is 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Well, I guess we all have a new excuse for decreased productivity. “Sure thing boss, as soon as that temperature gets to 77 I’ll get right back to work.”

Sweet Dreams

2011-08-16T16:57:00.000-07:00

I am a dreamer. I mean literally—I always have vivid dreams. I also have several different recurring dreams. I had another “episode” of a particular recurring dream the other night, so I thought it was time for me to do some investigating. In this dream, I am back in high school as a cheerleader. It’s always one hour before game time and I don’t know which uniform to wear! Gasp! Okay, that might not sound like a big deal to most of you, but to a cheerleader, this is literally a nightmare! I mean, what outfit we wear is practically our biggest decision for the game. To show up and not match the squad would be humiliating. In my cheer squad we took turns deciding which uniform to wear for the game. Each uniform had a name like, “Bulldogs,” “Unity,” “Paws,” or something like that. In my dream I realize that I don’t know which uniform to wear, and I COMPLETELY panic. (Give me a P, give me an A, give me an N, give me an I, give me a C…what does it spell? PANIC!) I run around, frantically trying to find out which uniform to wear that night. Is it Unity? Is it Paws? I don’t know! I call my teammates and no one answers. What will I do? What if I wear the wrong uniform? Aaahhh!! And then I wake up.

So I decided to do some research, and here’s what I found. According to the “world wide web,” here are some possible interpretations/things my dream is telling me:

• “You like things to be in order, predictable, in alignment” (No surprise there—I mean, I color coordinate my closet for goodness sake)

• “You feel ‘uniform’-- the same, like a cookie cutter version of a human being” (You mean, I feel like a gingerbread woman?)

• The uniform is a “symbol of liking to put on a fake persona, a cloak to hide the inner truth of who one truly is” (That's weird, I always thought my true self was a cheerleader.)

• “The dream might be a metaphor to ‘cheer up’” (I know, I’ll do the perfect cheer!)

• “To dream that you are a cheerleader signifies your self-confidence and self-esteem. You need to be more active and more positive in some waking situation in your life.” (Should I do a few cheers at the office?)

• “It may point to a conflict, situation or matter in your waking life that remains unresolved or unsettled.” (Should I initiate a cheer squad reunion?)

Hmmm…not much help there. I don’t feel like a cookie cutter human, but perhaps I do need to be a bit more “cheery” in my life. I’ll give that a shot. If you have any other interpretations for me, I’d love to hear them. Oh, and if someone knows which uniform we’re wearing to the big game this weekend, please let me know ASAP!

Winner, Winner

2011-08-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

Winner, winner! Monday night was the end of another season of the Bachelorette, which also means the end to our Bachelorette office pool. And you’re looking at the second time winner! That’s right folks—I am getting scary good at this. Last season I predicted Emily would be the winner, and this season I predicted JP. Conundrum: Is this a sign I’ve seen too many seasons of the Bachelor/Bachelorette, or merely a sign I should go to Vegas and put money down next season? Well, either way, thanks to the Bachelorette for picking my pick. I guess they don’t call me Paige the Sage for nothing.

Slice of Heaven

2011-07-25T18:13:00.001-07:00

My dad has always said that you can’t get in to heaven unless you know how to make a really good pie. Well the past few weeks I have been craving lemon meringue pie, which happens to be my dad’s favorite. I think it has something to do with the summertime heat—doesn’t a cool lemon meringue pie sound delish? So I got to thinking, I can already make a mean apple pie, but to increase my chances for heaven I decided that I had better learn to make a tasty lemon meringue pie.

I’ve heard meringues can be tricky, so I did my homework, searched for recipes, and even watched a how-to video online. I am happy to report that, to my great surprise, the pie was a success! It was fun to make and a treat to eat! I thought I’d go ahead and share the recipe here in case anyone wants to increase their chances for heaven…or if they just want a heavenly summer dessert. Enjoy!

Lemon Meringue Pie (adapted from Grandma's Lemon Meringue Pie)

Ingredients

Meringue

6 egg whites
1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon white sugar
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
Dash of vanilla

Lemon Filling

1 ½ cups white sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup and 1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 ¼ cups milk
4 lemons, juiced
3 tablespoons butter
6 egg yolks, beaten

1-1/2 (9 inch) pie crust, baked

Directions

To make meringue: In a large glass bowl, whip egg whites until foamy. Add sugar, cream of tartar, and vanilla gradually, and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
To make lemon filling: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1 ½ cups sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in milk, lemon juice. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in butter. Place egg yolks in a small bowl and gradually whisk in 1/2 cup of hot sugar mixture. Whisk egg yolk mixture back into remaining sugar mixture. Bring to a boil and continue to cook while stirring constantly until thick. Remove from heat. Pour filling into baked pastry shell.
Spread meringue over pie, sealing the edges at the crust.
Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until meringue is golden brown.
Let pie cool to room temperature for one hour.
Refrigerate pie for four hours and it’s ready to serve.

From Hate to Love

2011-07-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

There are very few things I love more in this world than movie theater popcorn and a fantastic movie. This weekend I enjoyed both as I went to see the final Harry Potter movie. You may not know this, but I am now a bona fide Harry Potter fan. It’s funny, I actually used to make fun of Harry Potter lovers. It’s true…as the books soared to popularity while I was in college, I hated all the hype. I’d get annoyed at everyone carrying around their Harry Potter books and I’d think, “There’s no way that a book about a boy wizard can be that good!”

Luckily, my friend Amy, from my book club, came to my rescue…and just in time! A few months ago we were talking and it came up that I had never read the Harry Potter series. She told me that I had to give them a try, so she lent me the first few books and made me promise to at least read the first one. She guaranteed me that if I read one, I’d be hooked. And she was so right! I immediately fell in love with the characters and wizarding world of Harry Potter. The writing and storytelling is phenomenal, and I couldn’t get through the books fast enough. I finished the books and caught up with all the movies just in time to watch the latest HP installment in the theater. The movie was AMAZING. I laughed, and cheered, and even got a little teary eyed. I didn’t wear a cape or bring a wand to the movie, but I am not ashamed to say that I heart Harry Potter.

So, if you’re like me and you’ve been resisting the Harry Potter phenomenon all these years, take it from me…get on the bandwagon! It’s too fantastic to miss. You still have time to watch the first seven movies and join in on the last hurrah! Coming from a former HP hater who is now a HP lover, I promise you won’t be disappointed. Thank you Amy for getting me hooked, and thank you Harry Potter.

I heart the Caribbean.

2011-07-11T17:33:00.001-07:00

It’s been a crazy year, so Sean and I agreed that we were in need of a serious vacation this summer. Luckily, our friends, Kyle and Ashley, felt the same way, so we all set off for a seven day Caribbean cruise. We had an amazing time! It was so nice to be detached from phones, emails, work, and just spend an entire week relaxing. It was our first cruise and our first time in the Caribbean. The beaches were incredible. I now officially heart the Caribbean.

Our first stop was Costa Maya. Great food, gorgeous beaches, and a cool Caribbean breeze—what more could a girl ask for?

Our next port was the beautiful island of Roatan. This small island just off the coast of Honduras is covered in green! We couldn’t resist taking a zipline tour of the rain forest. It was so much fun! I am now slightly addicted to the zipline—especially hanging upside down. What a rush!

After the zipline we relaxed at the amazing West Bay Beach.

Our next port was Belize. This was definitely one of my favorite stops. We went snorkeling on the amazing barrier reef just off the coast, and then settled in for some relaxation on this incredible island with white sand beaches and turquoise water. I didn’t want to leave this picturesque setting. The whole day was, yes, you guessed it, “unbelizeable.”

Our final destination was Cozumel, Mexico. It was the perfect end to our amazing week. We spent the day relaxing on the beach and the boys went for a scuba dive. We also had the most amazing tacos I’ve ever tasted. I was this close to missing the boat so I could just stay on this beach forever.

Caribbean, how did you get to be so wonderful? You have certainly won my heart. Thanks for the best week ever! (To view more photos click here)

Dusting Nightmare

2011-07-06T11:43:00.000-07:00

Holy cow! Check out this dust storm we had last night in Phoenix. We don't get storms down here too often, but when we do, we don't mess around!

The Phoenix Haboob of July 5th, 2011 from Mike Olbinski on Vimeo.

It's so hard to say goodbye.

2011-06-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

I’ve been slightly absent from the blogging world the past few weeks. It’s because I’ve have been trying to spend every spare minute with my sister, Leah, and her family. Her husband Ben just graduated from medical school (congratulations Ben!!) and they moved to Ohio for his residency.

We are so proud of Ben, and we are excited for this new chapter in their life, but I can’t tell you how much we’ll miss them and their girls. I’ve been a lucky Auntie to live close to them for so long. I’ve been trying to fill up my tank with lots of hugs and kisses from my adorable nieces.

This is me and my niece Eden—were pretty much best friends. Isn’t she adorable?

Sister picture! Me and my three beautiful sisters. I’m so lucky! This was right before we all started crying. A very tearful goodbye. I mean with four girls, just imagine the waterworks!

We miss you already Coleman family! See you soon!

Take one and call me in the morning

2011-06-08T14:52:00.001-07:00

This past weekend my sister and her adorable girls, Eden, Grace, and Clarie spent the weekend at our house. We had a great time playing, reading stories, and swimming. I absolutely love my nieces to death, and they just say the funniest things.

We were in the kitchen fixing a snack with Grace and Eden. Eden accidentally bit her tongue and was understandably upset. To comfort her I told her that I would be the doctor and I would help fix her up. I gave her five jelly beans as medicine and told her to take those to make her feel better. Eden thought that wasn’t a bad deal, but Grace wasn’t falling for it. She confidently said, “You can’t be a doctor—only boys can be doctors.” It was hilarious! See, her dad just graduated from medical school last Friday, so I kind of understand her logic. But I smiled and told her the good news--girls actually can be doctors! In fact, I told her that girls can do everything! So to all of my smart, beautiful nieces don’t ever forget that you can be anything you want to be…even a doctor!

Survivor vs. Bachelor

2011-05-23T15:40:00.000-07:00

Last week I was watching the Survivor finale with some friends and we were talking about Survivor couples. There have been quite a few relationships that have formed out of the Survivor franchise, and one of my friends said, “It sounds like Survivor has a better track record than The Bachelor.” We all laughed, but then I thought, “Hmm…I think she’s right!”

So in honor of tonight’s premiere of The Bachelorette, I conducted a little research. And I was shocked to find the following results:

The Bachelor/Bachelorette

Score: 2 marriages, 1.5 couples that are still engaged (Brad & Emily are only hanging on by a thread!)

Survivor

Score: 3 marriages, 1 couple currently engaged, and 3 couples that have been dating for three years or more

Wow!! Apparently, you can find love on a reality show…just not on The Bachelor. But don’t worry Bachelor, even with that dismal track record, I’ll still watch you. In the meantime, I might email Jeff Probst and tell them to change the Survivor theme song to “On the Wings of Love.”

Zion

2011-05-18T17:00:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we went to Zion National Park with some friends. I had never been before, and I must say that it definitely surpassed my expectations. It’s absolutely beautiful! The views are just breathtaking, and I loved it. We did several hikes in the park and ate a picnic lunch. It was a perfect day! It felt so good to be out of the city, away from work, away from traffic and just spend the day appreciating nature. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend it. It’s definitely worth a trip. Here are some of my favorite photos…

Perfect

2011-05-11T14:25:00.000-07:00

My obsession with the royal wedding has been no secret; so of course, everyone’s been asking me what I thought about the big day. I thought it appropriate to write one more blog about the happy couple. Then I promise not to blog about them again…well, until they have an adorable royal baby, or course.

To sum up my thoughts about the royal wedding I can only use one word: PERFECT. Yes, I watched the entire wedding, and yes I thought the whole thing was magical! The dress, the flowers, the carriage, the kiss—it was all perfect. A day fit for a prince and princess.

I also just heard that Will and Kate headed off to a honeymoon in the Seychelles islands. Wow! The pictures of that place are amazing. As a true royal-fanatic, I have officially added this place to my list of places I MUST visit.

And they lived happily ever after…

The Real Will and Kate

2011-05-05T10:55:00.000-07:00

You all know about my obsession with the royal wedding, but what many of you don’t know is that I actually attended Kate and Will’s wedding. That’s right, my dear friend Katie, married her very own Prince William, a few weeks ago in Salt Lake City. Their names really are Kate and William—I mean how much better does it get?

We threw a regal Bachelorette Party for the bride-to-be a few days before the wedding. I had a blast catching up with the girls over dinner, games, and chocolate fondue.

The weekend was full of fabulous reunions, catching up with dear friends, and celebrating the union of a truly happy/perfect couple.

To Will and Kate…both the Salt Lake-based and the royal…may you live happily ever after.

To Infinity and Beyond

2011-04-27T11:22:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up I wanted to be an astronaut. I even wrote my “What I Want to be When I Grow Up” paper in 7th grade on becoming an astronaut. Last month for Book Club we read Packing for Mars, by Mary Roach (same author as Stiff). It’s a funny and informative book about astronauts, zero gravity, exploration, and all things space. It had some great insight into the everyday life of an astronaut. Here are a few interesting things I learned.

On average, an astronaut gains 2.5 inches in height after just one week in space. Our spines are all squished together down here, but up there in zero gravity your spine column can chill out and relax. Wow, 2.5 inches! That would make me a whopping 5’ 3”. Well, if I ever get that call from America’s Next Top Model, I’ll just tell Tyra I need a few weeks in space first.
Even astronauts get motion sickness sometimes. This made me feel somewhat better about myself, as I have always hated the fact that I am prone to motion sickness. But alas, even the pros get sick at times.
Being an astronaut is not as glamorous as it seems. Things like showering, using the bathroom, and changing your clothes are not so easy in zero gravity. In fact, it’s kind of gross up there. As I was reading, I thought to myself, “Wait a second…the whole thing sounds a lot like camping.” And as you all know, I love NOT camping.

This book shed a whole new light on space travel, and made me quite glad that I took another path in life. Don’t get me wrong—astronauts still get to do amazingly cool things, but it’s not all glitz and glamour. After reading this book, I am even more glad that my 7th grade teacher wrote, “I always thought you’d make a great teacher” on the top of my paper. It saved me from a life of camping…in space.

Will and Kate

2011-04-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

This makes me very happy.

A friend of mine at work just came back from London with her very own copy of this paper doll book. I saw it and almost died! They are the cutest thing and I must buy them. Once again, why don’t we have royalty in America? And how old is too old to want paper dolls?

Bob

2011-04-11T10:32:00.000-07:00

We live near a mountain preserve, so consequently, we have lots of desert critters that come down and visit our yard/neighborhood. So far we’ve had visits from bunny rabbits, snakes, roadrunners, javelinas, and bobcats. The bobcat is by far the coolest and scariest! They are beautiful cats, but they can also jump over walls and climb like crazy. I’ve seen a few walking around our neighborhood, just hanging out, but I had no idea they could do this…

That is one tall cactus, and that is one brave bobcat! Apparently he was being chased by a mountain lion and climbed the cactus to get away. Pretty impressive! I didn’t take these shots, but I thought they were fantastic, so I had to share. You can read the news story and link to the slideshow here. That’s Bobcat: 1 Mountain Lion: 0

April Fool

2011-04-01T14:35:00.000-07:00

All week long the weatherman kept telling me that we were going to have record breaking heat today, April 1st. They said it would be 97 degrees—possibly even reaching 100. Which is crazy (and makes Al Gore very happy) because it’s typically 75 or 80 this time of year. I woke up today hoping that it was a great big April Fool’s joke, but alas, it’s crazy hot outside. Nearing surface of the sun temperatures.

Not funny Mr. Sun. Okay, ha ha, we get your joke, now just say, “April Fools!” and turn the temperature back down to 75. Thank you very much.

Bear Down Arizona

2011-03-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

Thank you Arizona Wildcats! Not only did you make my night by absolutely DESTROYING Duke, (I mean, what a game?!? Amazing! I am so proud of you red and blue!), but you also put me in the leader position in all of my March Madness brackets! Yes! It’s a March Madness miracle! Keep up the good work boys.

March Gladness

2011-03-17T11:02:00.000-07:00

It’s been a great week! On Monday I watched the Bachelor finale and almost cried tears of joy as Bachelor Brad proposed to Emily--the sweetest, most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life. She was my top pick from the first show, and they make the most perfect couple I have ever seen. The proposal was magic and I have never wanted a Bachelor couple to get married, more than Brad and Emily, in my whole life. They will make the most beautiful babies, and I seriously wish them nothing but the best.

As if that wasn’t enough gladness to get me through the week, it’s also the start of March Madness today! Hooray! Yes, this Bachelor fanatic is also a March Madness fanatic. Here’s a photo from my desk at work—two brackets hanging side by side. No one can ever say I don’t have a balanced life. I run two pools here at the office—the March Madness pool and the Bachelor pool. I guessed correctly about Emily, now if only I have as much luck with my college basketball picks!

Weekends

2011-03-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

I love that hints of springtime starts to arrive in Phoenix in February. That means that my cold-weather-living-friends come to visit early! There’s nothing like outdoor brunch in February. Cheers to weekends with good friends, good food, and manicures and pedicures.

Must Listen

2011-02-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

You know when you find a really great CD and you just can’t stop listening to it?!? Well, I found one that I love that I just have to share! Last week my friend Amie sent me a secret link to a sneak peek at Adele’s new album, 21. It just came out in the U.S. yesterday and I downloaded it on iTunes immediately. As soon as I heard it I fell in love. It’s heartbreaking, sultry, and absolutely fantastic.

The best part is that you can listen to the whole thing right here on NPR…for free. Listen to it and try not to like it. I dare you. My favorites are Rolling in the Deep, Take It All, and my new favorite love song, One And Only. The whole album is to die for. Take a listen, and enjoy.

Tickled Pink

2011-02-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

There are very few things in life that I love more than sprinkles and objects in miniature sizes. Imagine my joy when I got to combine these two favorites into one fun weekend activity. I volunteered to bring a treat to a friend’s Valentine’s Day party so I could 1) buy more Valentine’s Day sprinkles (I’m a closet sprinkles hoarder. I LOVE sprinkles. Whenever I see cute sprinkles I must buy them!), and 2) so I could try out my new miniature cupcake pan. Here is the fruit of my labors…

I'm in love with them! I almost died when these miniature red velvet cupcakes popped out of the open. My heart was singing as I frosted them with hot pink frosting and miniature hearts. I was tickled pink with these lovely treats, so I just had to share. I hope you all have a very happy and sprinkle-filled Valentine’s Day!

So, Like, Amazing

2011-02-09T13:36:00.000-07:00

Jimmy Kimmel is so, like, amazing!

Log, Log, Log

2011-02-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to my family, who will get a kick out of this more than anyone else!

The other day I was in my favorite furniture/home décor store. I turned the corner and I saw this beauty…

Notice how it says "Fully assembled." Really? Because some logs aren't fully assembled?

Yes—this is exactly what it looks like—a very expensive piece of wood. I thought, wait a minute. I’ve seen this before. And then I thought, it's Log! Finally! Someone has taken an idea from Ren and Stimpy and turned it into a reality. At last! We can all have our very own Log. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of seeing the hilarious and irreverent cartoon show, Ren and Stimpy, I present to you, Log. It’s big, it’s heavy, it’s wood.

Wonder Women

2011-01-28T15:29:00.000-07:00

A friend at work shared this interesting TED talk with me. Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg, talks about women in the workplace and offers some insightful advice. Very thought-provoking and inspirational. If you are a woman, work with women, or are raising a young woman, and have ten minutes--it’s definitely worth the watch. Sit at the table women!

An Offer He Can't Refuse

2011-01-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

Some people may find this surprising, but The Godfather is one of my favorite movies. It’s definitely on my list of top five movies of all time. The acting, the music, the story—it’s all brilliant. I found out this week that the Corleone house used in the Godfather movies is up for sale. It’s located on Staten Island and could be mine for a cool 2.9 million.

Okay, how cool would it be to live in the Godfather house?!? If I lived there, I would have huge Italian feasts everyday and make everyone talk in a thick New York-Italian accent. I’d also serve cannolis to everyone who came to visit, and I’d say “Leave the gun. Take the cannoli,” at least once a day. I’d love to make that listing agent “An offer he can’t refuse.”

Dream Job

2011-01-18T14:41:00.000-07:00

Why is it so hard to go back to work after a vacation? Shouldn’t a few days off make going to work a little more bearable? You would think so, but for some reason the past few weeks I’ve been experiencing a major case of “returning-to-work-after-the-holiday-blues.” It’s probably a combination of stressful projects at work and experiencing holiday music withdrawals.

To medicate my work blues, I like to think about possible dream jobs that I’d rather be doing. I think of my favorite things in like and figure out a way to make it my new career. Here are my top three dream jobs right now…

Travel Writer – I would give anything to travel the world and write about my adventures. I’d go to Bora Bora, cruise the Mediterranean and Caribbean, become an expert in all things Hawaii, and even share my tips for the perfect Disneyland vacation. My bucket list of places to visit is getting very long, so this job would just be perfect! Rick Steves or Lonely Planet if you need a new writer, you know where to find me!
Reality T.V. Blogger – Oh be still my heart! This job truly would be a dream come true! I can’t even imagine the joy of getting paid to watch the top reality shows and write my thoughts and share episode recaps. I have SO much to say about Survivor, The Bachelor, America’s Next Top Model, etc. Entertainment Weekly, if you are reading this post—I am talking to you! PLEASE let me be your new entertainment blogger!
Book Reviewer – If books were drugs, I’d have to go to rehab. I just can’t get enough of reading. I love to read and I love thinking about and discussing what I have read. Talk about a dream come true! I’d read all day long and tell people about all the books they should read…and the ones they should skip.

Ah, a girl can dream…

Bachelor Bites

2011-01-06T16:14:00.000-07:00

That’s it! I’m so done with this whole vampire craze. I’ve tried to keep quiet about my hatred for a certain poorly written vampire series that has taken over the world, but this week I saw something that just pushed me over the top.

A new season of the Bachelor started on Monday, and as my official guilty pleasure show, of course I was tuning in. One of the contestants has a “thing” for vampires…and she has fangs. Yes—I said fangs. She wears veneer fangs on her canine teeth, and she had them on to meet the Bachelor. I think that’s taking the whole vampire craze just a little bit too far, don’t you think?

But that’s not the worst part. The worst part is that the Bachelor actually gave her a rose! What?!? He had to kick off ten girls this week. Hot Topic girl flashed her fang-smile and got to stay, while normal girls got sent packing. Yikes. I’d hate to be one of the girls that lost to a vampire. Seriously, if you don’t have a better personality than a vampire girl with fangs, then I feel really bad for you. I just hope the Bachelor brings some garlic or a stake to the next rose ceremony. I can already tell…it’s going to be a great season!

Happy Holidays

2010-12-31T16:31:00.000-07:00

No holiday season would be complete without an ugly Christmas sweater or two. Luckily for us, we have the Butler’s Annual Christmas Party to look forward to each year. This year did not disappoint! I did not win the ugly sweater contest, but I did retain my title of “Queen of Christmas Trivia.” I won the trivia game last year, but this year I just killed it. Apparently listening to Christmas music for six weeks straight each year is truly paying off.

Here are some pictures of everyone in their “beautiful” sweaters. (Click to enlarge.)

However, my favorite photo of the night goes to Sean and Curtis, who just happened to show up in the exact same ugly turtleneck. Fate? I think so! The Bobbsey Twins made a beautiful couple that night. It’s like they were reading each other’s ugly sweater minds. A perfect holiday treat!

Disneyland + Christmas = Magic

2010-12-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

It’s the most wonderful time of year, and the best place to spend that time is in the happiest place on earth. We decided to hit the road again and visit Disneyland with our dear friends, the Jacobs. We went to Disneyland with the Jacobs two years ago and each trip just gets better and better! We had an absolute blast. The parks were crowded, but since we are Fast Pass and planning experts, we were able to pack in all our favorites and more.

The holiday decorations were delightful!

Vanessa and I drank mint juleps by the gallon. More refills please!!!!

The fireworks and “snow” on Main St. were magical.

New Orleans Square is my favorite place to be. Can I live there?

Thank you Disneyland and Jacobs for an unforgettable time.

All I Want For Christmas Is You

2010-12-18T16:24:00.000-07:00

This week I heard some very disturbing news. Apparently Bulgaria has voted two of my favorite Christmas songs as the two most annoying Christmas songs of all time. Rude! Wham’s Last Christmas and Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You topped the list of Bulgaria’s hated tunes. My jaw dropped in horror as I read these disgusting results.

First of all, nothing says happy holidays quite like a synthesizer and George Michael. Second, I can’t be friends with anyone who doesn’t absolutely love Mariah’s cheerful song. All I Want for Christmas is You is my most favorite Christmas song EVER. It makes me happy. It makes me pretend to sing like Mariah, and it makes me want to dance. I blast it in the car, on my iPod, I may have even downloaded it as a ringtone on my phone. Bulgaria, the moral of the story is that you and me, we are through. I’m taking you off of my travel list and we are over.

In the meantime…I’m going to get back to my Christmas list…

I don't want a lot for Christmas.

There is just one thing I need.

I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree.

I just want you for my own…more than you could ever know.

Make my wish come true…all I want for Christmas is you.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2010-11-29T12:20:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered where to find America’s tallest Christmas tree? Well…look no further! Could it be the tree at Rockefeller Center? The White House? No…it’s at an outlet mall in Anthem, Arizona! Who knew, right?

We went to the Christmas tree lighting last weekend to enjoy the festivities. There’s nothing like a 110-foot tall fresh-cut white fir to get you in the Christmas spirit. Take that Rockefeller!

Someday My Prince Will Come

2010-11-17T13:44:00.000-07:00

Okay…I admit it…I have royalty fever! I can’t get enough of Will and Kate! I was so excited to hear about their engagement. They are just darling and she will make a most perfect princess. I just love it! Apparently their engagement has conjured up all of these childhood obsessions of mine of princesses, Cinderella, and crown jewels. Who knew?

Unfortunately, I learned that not everyone shares my love for royalty. Last night I excitedly announced to my husband, “Did you hear that Prince William gave Kate Princess Diana’s 18 karat blue sapphire and diamond engagement ring?”

As I said this, I was thinking things like…

Isn’t that adorable?
He’s so romantic!
Why don’t we have royalty in America? Remind me again?
I wish I was a princess!

But my husband said things like…

If I was a taxpayer in Great Britain I’d be furious!
Those royalty are such a waste.
They should earn their own money.

Not the response I had anticipated. I guess it’s safe to say I will NOT be receiving a sapphire ring for Christmas this year. Oh well. Cheers to Will and Kate!

How to get to Sesame Street

2010-11-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

Halloween is a big deal in my department at work. Everyone dresses up and gets in the holiday spirit. I didn't dress up last year, and I felt like a bad sport, so this year I made sure I participated. I got together with my friend Ashley and we decided to revisit a childhood classic…

Sunny day

Sweepin' the clouds away

On my way to where the air is sweet

The costumes ended up being pretty funny, if I do say so myself. We may not be as cute and cuddly as the original Elmo and Big Bird, but we had lots of fun. Our costumes were a big hit with our coworkers. Sadly, we lost the costume contest by only one vote (sad face). I guess we'll just have to try again next year.

Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street...

Murder on the Grill

2010-10-31T18:49:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you combine hilarious friends, delicious food, fabulous costumes, a limbo contest, and a murder? Only the best murder mystery dinner ever!

Last weekend we participated in a 1950s style murder mystery dinner. It was tons and tons of fun. We each dressed up and acted the part of a funny character such as a beauty queen, a hula hoop champ, a greaser, or a Russian scientist. We had lots of laughs trying to speak with funny accents and stay in character throughout the night. I actually ended up being the murderer of the evening (a beauty queen who would stop at nothing to win!), but luckily I redeemed myself by winning the limbo contest. A pretty impressive accomplishment, considering I was wearing a floor length evening gown.

It was our first murder mystery dinner, and I’m sure it won’t be our last. It was just too much fun! Thanks to our friends for a fantastic evening. Happy Halloween!

Click collage to enlarge.

Octopus Oracle

2010-10-27T11:21:00.000-07:00

I hate it when my psychic octopus dies. Now who will we get to predict the winnner of the World Series? Rest in peace Paul, and go Giants!

Your destination you have reached.

2010-09-30T11:58:00.000-07:00

I am so getting this for our TomTom.

To Infinity and Beyond

2010-09-22T15:13:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I went to the gym and they had upgraded their entry process. Instead of showing my membership card, now they just scan for my fingerprint. Whoa! Talk about high tech! I felt like I was going into the CIA headquarters for my top secret job…but no, I was just going to my Turbo Kick class. Still very important, but not a matter of national security.

I think it’s pretty fabulous that all of those high tech and futuristic things we saw in movies growing up are now a reality. I love it! Next thing you know, Tom Cruise will be arresting criminals before they commit crimes and we’ll all be wearing matching futuristic clothing. I just want to know, when I can start riding a Hoverboard to work? Here’s to the future!

Rachel Getting Married

2010-09-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

This post is incredibly tardy, but I would be remiss if I failed to post a few pictures of Rachel’s wedding. As I mentioned before, I headed up to Salt Lake this summer for Rachel’s wedding. It was a beautiful wedding, and a fabulous weekend with the girls.

I was so happy to be able to be there for the wedding. Rachel was a beautiful bride, and I am so happy for her and Ryan. We attended all of the fun wedding events, and Kristan and I stayed up every night catching up on our girl talk. It was so much fun--I can’t wait for another White House lady wedding!

Rehearsal Dinner—looking sooooo good ladies!

Waiting outside the Draper Temple for the bride and groom.

The Fab Four!

Reception at Snowbird. Can you say beautiful view?!? The scenery and the girls, of course.

Thanks for the spectacular weekend girls! I miss your guts and can’t wait to see you again soon!

Baconomic Indicator

2010-08-20T13:13:00.000-07:00

I’m currently designing an educational video about key economic indicators—for work that is, because heaven knows I certainly wouldn’t do that just for fun. Anyway, as a result I’ve been doing a lot of research on economic indicators. My husband found this article about bacon as an economic indicator and it pretty much made my day.

Did you know we are currently in peak-bacon consumption season? Well, we are—with all of those ripe tomatoes, we need some major amounts of bacon to make the deliciousness that is the BLT. As a devoted BLT lover, I can totally wrap my head around the current pork belly shortage we are experiencing.

So the moral of the story is we are loving our bacon right now, and as a result, the price of bacon is on the rise. Economists tell us that this is a great sign for our economy! Score one point for bacon! According to this article, bacon is one “luxury” item that we American’s just aren’t willing to give up. And I say good for us. Bacon lovers of the world unite! Bring us out of the depths of recession and start making our economy sizzle. Bacon—be our beacon!

Sweet Baby James

2010-08-10T10:39:00.000-07:00

Last month I headed up to Salt Lake for my dear friend’s wedding. Rachel had a most wonderful wedding, and consequently, I had a fabulous wedding weekend with the girls. I came up a few days before the wedding, so we decided that we needed a Bachelorette-ish night. What better way to celebrate love and marriage than with a serenade from the love of our lives, James Taylor? We went to the James Taylor and Carol King reunion concert and it was spectacular! We may have been the youngest people in the crowd, but we were singing and jamming with the best of them. Good music knows no age boundaries.

It couldn’t have been a better evening. We’ve all been obsessed with James for many years now, but the concert solidified our love and convinced me that I must name my first child James so I can sing him a lullaby of Sweet Baby James.

Thank you JT and Carol! It was the perfect start to a perfect weekend!

Priorities

2010-08-02T15:21:00.000-07:00

I’ve decided that moving the worst thing in the world. There are approximately a million and five things to take care of when you move. There are so many things to do, it’s important to prioritize. And prioritize I did!

I took care of the most important thing first…and that would be updating the address on my Us Weekly subscription. My house may still be full of boxes, I haven’t updated my driver’s license, or found some of my shoes yet, but I will definitely be able to keep up on Brangelina and the secrets behind the Bachelorette finale. Celebrity gossip stops for no one! Good thing I have my priorities straight!

You Can Learn a Lot of Things from the Flowers

2010-07-20T21:28:00.000-07:00

Sean and I always seem to visit San Francisco during the winter, and I always seem to freeze to death. It’s too cold for my Arizona blood. This year we decided to take a trip in the summer and enjoy some fun outdoor activities. Unfortunately…I was still freezing to death. Mark Twain’s quote, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco,” has new meaning to me. Despite the cold weather, we still had a great time!

I really enjoyed our visit to a historic country estate called Filoli. It was beautiful! The house was gorgeous, but the gardens were especially impressive. I have a small obsession with flower gardens, possibly stemming from my love of the movie, Alice in Wonderland as a child, so I was in heaven! I could have stayed there all day taking pictures. Here are a few of my favorites.

A Pirate's Life For Me

2010-06-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Aren’t dreams fascinating? I’ve always been captivated by them. I like to think they are our mind’s way of passing us secret notes. The other day I had a very vivid dream about Disneyland. In this dream, the Pirates of the Caribbean ride played a very significant role. It was a great dream and I woke up wishing it was true!

I couldn’t stop thinking about this dream for days, but then, as I was smelling candles in Bath and Body Works, it hit me!

Number one, I’m pretty sure this dream should come true, so therefore I need to go to Disneyland ASAP. Number two, why isn’t there a candle that smells like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride? It’s pretty much the best smell on earth. Hmmm…I might need to devote my time and efforts to capturing the smell of the ride – a combination of water, fog, pirates, and childhood wonderment.

I’m almost positive my dream was telling me to quit my job, go to Disneyland, and make all my dreams come true. What do you think?

Low Pressure to the Rescue!

2010-06-10T14:53:00.000-07:00

You know you live on the surface of the sun when…

95 degrees is a break from the heat.

Thank you low pressure system. You are my hero.

Ode to the Donut

2010-06-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

Did you know that today is National Donut Day? National Donut Day was started in 1938, as a tribute to the women who served donuts to soldiers during World War I. As a history buff, I love this…and as a donut lover, I love it even more!

The donut really is a national treasure, so I think it’s perfectly fitting to honor it with its own special day. I love donuts big and small, chocolate covered and glazed, and especially donuts with sprinkles.

In honor of donut day, I have written the following haiku:

Fried goodness of dough

Oh donut I love you dear

Donut Day hooray!

You can celebrate today with a free donut at the following stores:

Krispy Kreme: All customers receive a free doughnut. No purchase necessary.
Dunkin’ Donuts: Free doughnut with the purchase of a beverage.
LaMar's: All customers receive a free Ray's Original Glazed doughnut. No purchase necessary.

Happy Donut Day!

It's a Mineral Miracle!

2010-06-03T06:30:00.000-07:00

Does your eye shadow seem to disappear by the end of the day? Are you tired of those pesky eye shadow creases? Are you searching for a product that will keep your eye shadow vibrant and bright all day long? Well, if you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, then I have just the thing for you!

bareMinerals Prime Time Eyelid Primer

Many of you know that I love all things bareMinerals, but this product takes the cake. It works like a charm! Take my word for it, you need this! I’ve tried it, loved it, and now I can’t live without it. It’s a make-up miracle I just had to share!

Lost Without You

2010-05-24T08:03:00.000-07:00

Thank you Lost. You were perfectly perfect in every way. And Jack, you will always be my hero.

Ain’t Nothing Gonna Hold Me Down

2010-05-14T17:04:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had Lasik surgery performed on my eyes. It was a very scary, weird, and fascinating procedure, but everything went swimmingly. I am happy to report that I am now seeing 20/20 without the assistance of glasses or contact. Amazing! Goodbye glasses and contacts. I don’t need you anymore. You can’t hold me back now!

I have always said that I couldn’t be on Survivor until I had Lasik done. For some reason, the thought of trying to put contacts on in the middle of the jungle did not sit well with me. Check. Lasik is done. Now the only other thing I have to fix before I can be on Survivor is the whole, “I love NOT camping thing.”

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

2010-04-23T16:54:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago I headed up to Salt Lake for a girls weekend with my college roommates. We squealed with joy as we reunited as White House Ladies. We had the time of our lives, and our 2010 reunion was definitely one to remember.

This year we stayed in a fabulous town home at the Zermatt Resort in Midway, Utah. Can you say fun?!? We had such a blast! We went shopping, watched movies, went to the spa, stayed up till 3 a.m. talking, and ate tons and tons of junk food. It was heaven, and totally the break I needed.

Here are a few pictures from our trip.

We took a stroll around our old stomping grounds on BYU campus. We also had to make a stop at our former home, the White House. Oh, the memories we had here!

Getting ready for a night on the town.

Game night!

Slumber party in the loft. This adorable loft had four beds, perfectly in a row. It’s almost like this room was made for a White House Reunion! We lovingly called it the orphanage and asked Kristan to sing the Ms. Hannigan song from Annie. It was a hard knock life…

At the resort!

I sure do love these girls, and I can’t wait for our next reunion!

Spring has Sprung

2010-04-12T17:32:00.000-07:00

I love spring! The weather has been absolutely perfect the past few weeks, and as a result I’ve tried to spend as much time outside as possible. Sean and I have gone on several hikes to enjoy this fabulous springtime weather. My favorite hike so far has been at the Lost Dutchman State Park. The wildflowers were in bloom, and the desert was just beautiful. Here are a few pics from our hike. Who says the desert is boring? I love it! Happy Spring!

Happiness is...

2010-04-01T09:24:00.000-07:00

Happiness is a good book. And when I find an amazingly good book, I just have to share it. As many of you know, I am a lover of books, but especially nonfiction books. A few months ago our Book Club read a book titled, The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World. I immediately fell in love with this nonfiction book. It is one of the best books I have read in quite sometime!

The author, Eric Weiner, who is also a former NPR foreign correspondent, scoured the globe to find the world’s happy places. When I first read the premise of the book I assumed that the happiest places on earth must be places like Bora Bora, Aruba, St. Lucia, etc., but much to my surprise, these countries were not on the list of the “happiest countries.” Instead, Weiner traveled to Iceland, Bhutan, Qatar, Holland, Switzerland, Thailand and India to find out why, statistically speaking, these places are some of the happiest in the world. The book is fascinating, and the writing is superb. It is filled with fun facts, a dash of sociology, and a large helping of psychology. I laughed out loud and loved every minute of this book. You may not currently live in the happiest place on earth, but reading this book is sure to bring you a dose of happiness. Enjoy and be happy!

I Dreamed A Dream

2010-03-12T12:50:00.000-07:00

I’ve already confessed my obsession with Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies, but now I’m even starting to dream about the delicious morsels. They are infiltrating my subconscious! Hmmm…I wonder what Freud would say about that? Anyway, back to the dream…

In this dream I was driving around Phoenix for hours, searching for those elusive Girl Scout Cookie stands. I finally found one off in the distance—like a sugary oasis of goodness. I pull up to the cookie stand and promptly ordered 20 boxes of Thin Mint Cookies. The short, brown-haired Girl Scout takes my money and assists me with my giant order. As she is handing me box after box she says with a look of disgust,

“Why are you buying so many cookies?”

So I thought up a lie and I thought it up quick. I say in the most tender voice I can muster,

“Oh these aren’t for me, little girl. I am giving these cookies away as gifts.”

As I mentioned, this is a big fat lie. I didn’t plan to give away any of my cookies and in my head I’m yelling the words, “DON’T JUDGE ME!”

End of dream.

This weekend I plan to go on my annual Girl Scout Cookie pilgrimage. I’ll let you know if the girl tries to give me any flack.

If you live in AZ and want to find your own sugary oasis, check out this Cookie Locator

This day in history...Barbie!

2010-03-09T10:53:00.000-07:00

On this day in 1959, Barbie made her grand debut at the American Toy Fair in NYC. This is certainly a day to celebrate as Barbie brought me (and I’m sure many of you) hours and hours of childhood joy. I LOVED playing Barbies growing up. My dad built me my very own Barbie “Dream House” and it is because of Barbie that I am obsessed with high heeled shoes and clothes. If only I could have Barbie’s wardrobe…and corvette. I even have my very own “Teacher Barbie” that I proudly display in my office…chalkboard and all.

In honor of Barbie’s debut, here are a fun few facts about the blonde we all know and love.

The full name of Barbie is "Barbie Millicent Roberts." She is from Willows, Wisconsin and went to Willows High School.
Barbie has had over 80 careers—including airline stewardess, doctor, pilot, astronaut, Olympic athlete, and even U.S. presidential candidate.
Barbie and Ken started dating in 1961.
Barbie has had more than a billion pair of shoes and over one hundred new additions to her wardrobe annually. (Every girl’s dream!!)
More than 105 million yards of fabric have gone into making Barbie doll and her friends' fashions, making Mattel one the largest apparel manufacturers in the world.
Placed head to toe, Barbie dolls and family members sold since 1959 would circle the earth more than seven times.
Every second, two Barbie dolls are sold somewhere in the world.

We love you Barbie, oh yes we do!

*These fun facts are courtesy of Mattel, Inc via http://collectdolls.about.com/library/blbarbiefacts.htm

Will you accept this rose?

2010-03-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hi. My name is Paige and I’m addicted to The Bachelor.

I watched the Bachelor religiously in college. I’d get together with a group of girls and we had hours and hours of fun swooning over cute bachelors and making fun of crazy contestants. The Bachelor franchise and I had a good thing going…until Bachelorette, Jen Schefft, ruined it for me. She decided that she didn’t feel like getting engaged or dating any of the bachelors! How dare you? That’s the whole point…fall in love in less than five minutes, get engaged to a person you hardly know, and then break-up a few months later. That’s what you are supposed to do. Well, needless to say, after Jen’s season, I vowed to never watch The Bachelor again.

Two years ago I was flipping though the channels and the premiere of a new season of The Bachelor just happened to be on. As you might guess, I fell off the wagon. I just couldn’t resist. I watched one episode and I was hooked. I’ve been watching it regularly, again, ever since. I love the drama, I love the crazy people, and I love the hilarity that ensues when 25 individuals go nuts for someone they just met. I can’t get enough of it!!!

This week I learned that I am not alone in my addiction. Even Jimmy Kimmel watches the show. I share Jimmy’s sentiment about tonight’s finale. Rumor has it that (spoiler alert!) Jake picks cross-eyed Vienna. Here’s what Jimmy had to say about pilot Jake possibly giving Vienna the final rose:

"If he thinks that's a good decision, I don't want him flying my plane. That's not Sully Sullenberger-type decision making."

I couldn’t agree more Jimmy. If Jake does pick Vienna he’s on the wings of insanity…not love. Regardless of Jake’s pick, I know I’ll still be tuning in next season. I'm just not ready to kick the habit. So I say to The Bachelor TV show, “Will you accept this rose?”

Outwit, Outplay, Outlast

2010-02-11T16:20:00.001-07:00

Happy 20th Birthday Survivor!

Wow, can you believe that you turn 20 seasons old tonight? It’s like you’ve grown up right before my very eyes. It feels like only yesterday you were in your first season—just learning about immunity idols and alliances. Everyone watched you grow and said, “You know, this show might just change TV. as we know it.” And you have Survivor, you have. I love you more today than ever before. Even after all these years, you’ve still got it. Happy Birthday to you! Here’s to many happy returns of the day.

Do Blondes Have More Fun?

2010-02-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

It’s the age old question…do blondes really have more fun? Now that I have been both a blonde and a brunette, I’m ready to make my vote. Growing up I was a blonde, and I’ve always been a blonde until one day four years ago. I was in need of a change and I had been thinking about dying my hair brown. I watched the movie, Walk the Line, and I thought that Reese Witherspoon totally rocked her brown locks. I thought, hey, if Resse can do it, maybe I can do! The next day I made an appointment to get my hair colored.

Luckily I think I was able to pull off the brown haired Paige. It’s been a good four years, but the last few months I have just been feeling like something is off. Something was just not right. I decided it might be time to go back to my roots…literally. So I did it! I’m going back to the blonde…and I’m loving it! I have to admit, I think it is just what the doctor ordered. I feel like me again. No offense to any of my brown haired beauties out there—I think you are all gorgeous, but for me I’m going to have to vote that I have more fun as a blonde. It's great to be back!

Team Conan

2010-01-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

I just want to say that I am totally on Team Conan. I’ve always been a Letterman girl myself, but the past few weeks have really solidified my hatred for Leno and my love for Conan. I give NBC two thumbs down. I give Conan and Letterman two thumbs up for their jokes the past few weeks. I just LOVE how they are sticking it to NBC. Shame on you NBC. It’s not nice to give people shows and then just take them away again!

Just so you know Jay Leno and NBC, I will never watch the Tonight Show ever again. Never! You and me, we’re through.

He's Barack Obama

2010-01-15T20:03:00.001-07:00

In honor of Barack’s first year in office…

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Do You Snuggie?

2010-01-10T20:52:00.000-07:00

For the past two weeks I have been incredibly ill. I’ve had a sinus infection and an ear infection that have put me down for the count. I’ve been to the doctor’s twice, the E.R. once, and I couldn’t get out of bed for 6 days. Yikes! It hasn’t been pretty, but there is one great thing that has come out of all of this…my best friend, Vanessa, bought me my very own Snuggie to help me feel better. It’s even in my favorite color, pink!

I just have to say that I am in LOVE. It’s so comfortable. I know I look ridiculous, but I feel snug as a bug in a rug. Laugh all you want, but I’m pretty sure my new Snuggie was the only thing that kept me alive these past few weeks. Thanks Vanessa!

If you ever start feeling sick, run out and grab yourself a Snuggie. It’s just what the doctor ordered.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Round 2

2009-12-20T18:08:00.001-07:00

It’s the week before Christmas, and that means it’s time for The Butler’s annual Ugly Sweater Party! Last year’s party was tough to beat, but I think the Butlers did it once again! We had a blast celebrating the holiday season with our friends. We had great food, hideous sweaters, and an always hilarious white elephant gift exchange. I even won the Christmas Trivia Challenge (cha ching!), and Sean won the prize for the ugliest sweater. Here are some photos of the sweater parade (and yes that is a giant red glittery bird on Sean’s shoulder):

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Everyone got some great treasures during the gift exchange:

View Full Album

Happy Holidays!

The Holiday Season

2009-12-13T21:23:00.001-07:00

It’s the holiday season, and that means it’s time for holiday parties. I just love holiday parties. This weekend we attended the Apollo corporate Christmas party. Can you say fun? Last year’s corporate party was a blast and a half, and this year’s was even better. We had amazing food and great entertainment. I had so much fun laughing and partying all night long with my coworkers. This year’s entertainment was comedian, Rob Schneider. He was hilarious! After dinner and entertainment we headed to the dance floor. We danced the night away with Rob Schneider and CEO, Chas Edelstein. Okay, so maybe we weren’t dancing “with” them, but we were dancing right next to them. Same diff. Anyway, it was a great night and a great holiday party. Here are a few pictures from the evening’s festivities.

These are my favorite work girlfriends, Ashley B., Karina, and Ashley H. I couldn't live without you, girls!

Proof that we actually did dance the night away with Rob Schneider.

See you next year Apollo!

The...The...The Grinch!

2009-12-03T15:14:00.000-07:00

My favorite Christmas movie is How the Grinch Stole Christmas…the one with Jim Carrey. The original cartoon is also fabulous, but the one with Jim Carrey takes the cake. It’s hilarious! It’s actually on my list of top ten favorite movies ever! I can’t get enough of it. I watch it at least once each year around the holidays, sometimes more.

There’s this funny scene where the Grinch sneaks into the Post Office. He switches everyone’s mail around and hands out jury duty notices, chain letters, etc. It goes a little something like this…

Well, I went to get the mail yesterday and my mailbox has been Grinched! I got summoned for jury duty…AGAIN. Not only did I just get summoned two years ago, but I actually had to serve on a case that lasted a whole week! Sean has never been summoned, and now I get my second summons in just over two years?!? Not fair. Geez Mr. Grinch, I thought your heart grew three sizes that day? If I give you a slice of roast beast will you get me out jury duty?

"A" for Effort

2009-11-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

If I had ever graded a test that looked like this, I'm pretty sure I would have had to give it an A+ for creativity. Hilarious! Whether you have been a teacher, a TA, or a sarcastic student, you can definitely appreciate this creative history test.

Queen of Clean

2009-11-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

I was listening to the radio on the way to work this morning and the radio show had a visiting guest, the Queen of Clean. As I was listening to her tips about cleaning toilets, which were fascinating by the way, I thought to myself…I wish people called me the Queen of Clean.

As many of your know, I LOVE to clean. Love it. I am always cleaning. I clean to relieve stress, I clean for fun, I clean when I’m angry, and I clean when I’m happy. I’m pretty sure my clean freak nature has been a blessing and curse to my roommates, family, and husband.

So I figured, maybe I’ll just start calling myself the Queen of Clean and see if it catches on. For my first order of business as the self-proclaimed Queen of Clean, I’d like to introduce to you my new best friend…The Swiffer Duster.

OMG…I seriously love this thing. It is the best duster in the whole world. It doesn’t just move the dust around like other lame dusters, it picks it right up! It’s fast, easy, and fantastic. I honestly can’t imagine life without it. I may or may not still get excited each time I get to use my duster. So, if you’d like to give the dust in your house a one-two punch, I highly recommend the Swiffer Duster.

Murder, Magic, and Madness

2009-11-14T10:22:00.000-07:00

Do you love non-fiction books?

Do you heart history?

Are you looking for a new book to add to your Amazon Wish List?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then I have the book for you! I just finished reading Devil in the White City, By Erik Larson, and I’m obsessed. This book was absolutely fascinating. It was seriously one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

The book provides all of the history and details surrounding the legendary Chicago’s World Fair of 1893. The author intertwines the lives and stories of two men—the gifted architect behind the fair, and the menacing serial killer who used the fair to lure victims. The book is bursting with interesting and amazing historical facts. It really was America’s chance to shine, and it’s absolutely remarkable what they accomplished. Did I mention that I completely love this book?!?

Read it. I know you will love it!

Who Let the Dogs Out?

2009-11-03T19:59:00.000-07:00

This year the girls got to pick out the Halloween costumes…much to the boys’ chagrin. Luckily, they were good sports and they agreed to be our puppy dogs. We had a great time at the church trunk or treat party. Here are a few pictures from the evening. Meow!

From Collages

All That Glitters

2009-10-26T17:07:00.001-07:00

In college I once said, “Not all that glitters is gold…sometimes its platinum.” I’d like to add that, “Not all that glitters is gold…sometimes its fabulous!” Last weekend was Glitter Fest 2009 with my girls Vanessa and Ashley. We channeled Martha Stewart and made these to-die-for glitter pumpkins. They make the perfect centerpiece for the fall season.

Not only are these pumpkins adorable, but they are also fun and easy to make. All you need is white glue, Martha’s glitter, and a pumpkin and you are in business. Martha suggests using real pumpkins, but we picked up some decorative pumpkins at Michael’s instead. This way they will last for Thanksgiving too!

We are now all officially obsessed with this Martha Stewart glitter. As we were glittering away we kept looking around the house trying to find something else to glitter. Candles? Trash cans? Vanessa’s baby? We refrained from glittering everything in the house; however, we are already planning our attack for Christmas. Go glitter!

Start Spreading the News

2009-10-13T20:27:00.000-07:00

Start spreading the news…I’m leaving today. Well, actually, I left last weekend for a fantastic trip to New York City. Sean and I hit the Big Apple for some great site seeing and quality time with my best friend, Holly.

It was the beginning of fall in NYC, so the weather was perfect. There is just something magical about that city. This was Sean’s first time to New York, so we saw all the good sites; Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, Top of the Rock, and Central Park. We even had time to take in a Broadway show.

The best part of the trip was spending time with Holly. It had been way too long since we had seen each other, so it was a fabulous reunion. I love Holly to death and I just can’t imagine life without her. I only wish that we didn’t live so far apart. It was so good to see you Holly. I miss you tons! Thanks for being our tour guide and showing us a great time. Hope to see you again soon!

Here are a few of my favorite pics. You can also scroll down below to check out a slide show of the rest of our pictures.

Link to Slideshow.

Jack and Squat

2009-10-05T06:30:00.000-07:00

I'm always in need of a good laugh to help me kick start my Monday morning. Thought you might like one too...

Looks like the video is experiencing a few technical difficulties. Here is a link to it in case it's not working:

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/clips/obama-address/1163263/

Oh Mexico!

2009-09-24T15:32:00.000-07:00

A wise man once said…

Way down here you need a reason to move.
Feel a fool running your stateside games.
Lose your load, leave your mind behind, baby James.
Oh, Mexico! It sounds so sweet with the sun sinking low.
Moon so bright like to light up the night.
Make everything all right.

James Taylor took the words right out of my mouth. Sometimes a trip to Mexico really does make everything all right! Last weekend it did just that. We headed down south to Rocky Point with our good friends the Butlers, for some fun in the sun. We had an amazing time. Three full days of sun, sand, surf, and tacos.

We slept in, ate great food, talked, laughed, and spent all day at the beach or in the pool. It was so relaxing, and just what the doctor ordered. Here are a few pics from our weekend getaway. Como se dice…I want to go back ASAP?!?

Mona Lisa

2009-09-14T17:43:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the big day. I am giddy with anticipation. Dan Brown’s new novel, The Lost Symbol, is finally being released. I’ve been waiting with bated breath for the past six years, anticipating the next adventure of Mr. Robert Langdon. Oh how I’ve missed you Robert.

My only sadness is that I can’t find a midnight release party. Don’t even get me started that Twilight and Harry Potter lovers get a thousand midnight release parties across the country and I can’t even find one midnight release for Dan Brown. If there was a release party I may or may not have totally gone to it. And I may or may not have dressed up as Mona Lisa. Oh well, I’ll just have to wait till tomorrow...and save my Mona Lisa costume for another day.

You have been sorely missed Mr. Brown. I can’t wait to see you again!

Monkey See, Monkey Do

2009-09-09T06:30:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of monkey business going on around Phoenix. There are tons of photo radar cameras on the freeways here in the valley. Many people are outraged about the cameras, but one “primate” has started to take things into his own monkey hands.

I present to you…the Monkey-Masked Speedster!

This is just one of the photo radar shots of him in action. Apparently, this idiot has acquired over 35 speeding tickets wearing this ridiculous mask while driving on the Valley’s freeways. This guy must honestly have the brains of a monkey. Thanks for putting all of us at risk as you don your monkey mask while driving at an incredibly fast speed!

I would like Mr. Monkey to take the following quiz:

Which is more dangerous and stupid?
a. Talking on your cell phone while driving
b. Eating a banana while driving
c. Speeding
d. Wearing a monkey mask while speeding

Ding, ding, ding! If you answered D, you are correct! Do us all a favor ape-man—ditch the monkey mask and stop speeding…and don’t forget to keep your hands at ten and two.

Allergies and Bora Bora

2009-08-27T14:00:00.001-07:00

I always get terrible allergies this time of year. And I mean TERRIBLE! I am dying here people. Every year, without fail, I want to die during August, September, and October because my allergies are so awful. I know what you are saying, in fact; I think we’ve had this conversation before, “Paige, you live in the desert. There are no trees or green things where you live. How could you have allergies?”

I know. It doesn’t seem possible, but let me share a few facts with you:

Fact: Phoenix, AZ is in the desert.

Fact: I’ve never had allergies until I moved to Phoenix, AZ.

Fact: My allergies are so bad right now I want to get hooked up to a Benadryl IV and sleep until November.

Conclusion: I am allergic to the desert.

Solution: Move somewhere that is the opposite of the desert.

I’ll pick here:

Are you with me?

I'm a Model...You Know What I Mean

2009-08-19T13:45:00.000-07:00

The other day I was flipping though the channels and I came across some silly model reality show. I must have been fate, because for the five seconds I was on that channel this model said the funniest thing ever. I present to you the quote of the week:

“I’m a very well-read model. I’ve read all seven Harry Potter books.”

Now that is a quotable quote! I was dying laughing. Yeah, and as soon as you finish the Twilight series you will be a literary genius. Someone get this girl a library card!

Chocolate + Mint = Match Made In Heaven

2009-08-11T06:30:00.000-07:00

I’ve always thought that chocolate and mint make a perfect pair. They probably saw each other across the room one day and couldn’t keep their eyes off of each other. They've been attracted to each other ever since! I guess it’s kind of like Newton’s theory of universal gravitation…sometimes two objects are just attracted to one another. They just can’t help it.

So naturally when I found a fun new recipe for mint chocolate chip cookies on this blog called Baked Perfection, I had to try it. And now that I’ve tried it and LOVED it, I just had to share it. It really is a match made in heaven.

Polka Dot Cookies

recipe from Guittard

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

3 large eggs

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups Guittard Green Mint Chips (can also be substituted with Andes mints)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In the microwave, heat semisweet chips and butter in a small bowl on medium power (50%) for 2-3 minutes, stirring well after each minute until smooth. Set aside to cool.

In small bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. In large bowl, beat eggs, sugar, and vanilla until light. Blend in melted chocolate then dry ingredients. Stir in green mint chips and chill for 10-15 minutes or until stiff. Drop by well-rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes; cookies will be soft in the centers but will firm up as they cool. Yields approximately 4 dozen cookies.

P.S. You can find Guittard Green Mint Chips at Cost Plus World Market.

Happy Rain Clouds

2009-08-03T06:30:00.000-07:00

It's official: July was the hottest month EVER in Phoenix. Well, maybe not ever, but it was the hottest month since weather record-keeping started in 1880, so that's pretty much ever. The AVERAGE high for the month of July was 109.5 degree. That’s the average, people! Holy wah!

Every year about this time I ask myself the following question:

Why do you live on the surface of the sun?

It’s so hot. And I forget every year. It must be kind of like child birth—after it's over, you forget how bad it actually is. During the winters I find myself frolicking in and bragging about the perfect weather and I always say things like, “The summers aren’t so bad.” or “I don’t mind the heat.” Well, it IS that bad and I DO mind the heat. I’m melting down here!

To make matters worse, the news stations have been a bit insensitive. A few weeks ago I was watching the news and they were showing the seven day forecast. The week had triple digit temperatures and red flames all across the screen. Really? There were no smiling sun icons or happy little rain clouds in our future. Nope, instead the news team selected flames to illustrate the forecast. Thanks a lot channel 12. Why don’t you just write “Hotter Than Hell” in big bold red letters across the screen and rub it in just a little bit more?

So, if anyone would like to kidnap me from this desert and whisk me away to a cooler climate, be my guest. And if anyone has any happy (or angry) little rain clouds, please send them my way.

Read My Lips

2009-07-27T06:30:00.000-07:00

You can’t read the news these days without seeing something about Obama’s big health care reform ideas. I watched his health care speech/cheer last week and I admit I’m a bit concerned. I don’t know if anyone’s told him yet, but money doesn’t grow on trees and socialized health care will cost a pretty penny. So who will pay the bills? Of course there is talk of raising taxes…tax the wealthy, tax alcohol, and there is even talk about taxing junk food and fast food. What?!?

Let me just send this message to Washington loud and clear…if you so much as put a 1% tax on pizza, In-N-Out burgers, or Baskin Robbins Mint Chip ice cream, so help me I will drive to Washington D.C. myself and give you a piece of my mind. If America becomes a place where hardworking, gym-attending individuals can’t get a delicious, moderately priced cheeseburger, then I’m not sure I’d want to live there.

Read my lips: Don’t even think about it Barack.

God Bless America

2009-07-21T13:36:00.000-07:00

This year we spent the Fourth of July “standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona.” Okay, well we didn’t really stand on the corner, but it was such a fine sight to see. The weather was absolutely fabulous and we had a blast catching up with family and friends.

We took part in all of the great Hancock family traditions…pancake breakfast, freedom piñata, big family barbeque, and of course the fireworks. The best part of the trip was being with all of my nieces and nephews. I just love them to pieces! Here are a few pics from the day…

The best part of Fourth of July is the fireworks. Winslow actually has an amazing fireworks display. The whole town donates to the fireworks fund and they put on a great show. The best part about it is that you can sit right underneath the fireworks as they go off…one of the perks of small town life.

My 2 ½ year old niece, Eden, sat with me during the fireworks. She was so scared! Poor thing. She was holding her hands over her mouth trying to be brave.

It was so cute. She was so scared at first, but after a while we started talking about all of the pretty colors and we would ooh and aah together. By the end of it she was loving it!! A few days later my mom asked Eden how she liked the fireworks, to which she replied, “They were wonderful! Pagie saved me!” It was such a special treat! God bless America, small towns, and family.

This Day in History

2009-07-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

I love history. I can’t get enough of it. So, to keep up on my historical facts I have a History Channel “This Day in History” feed on my iGoogle page. I love it! I look forward to it every morning. I come in and see what happened on this day in ___ (fill in the blank) and then read a short summary of the important event.

Today’s event is an extra special anniversary! On this day in 1955, Disneyland opened its doors for the very first time! This is a happy day indeed. I honestly can’t imagine a world without the Happiest Place on Earth.

I know Disneyland is one of your (and my) favorite places in the whole world, so I’ll meet you at Pirates of the Caribbean in two hours. Ready…go!

Happy Birthday Disneyland!!!