Dear...

Famous Footwear Sales Associate: When I told you I was looking for the skechers that I could wear in the restaurant without slipping, what I meant was, "do you have the no-slip skechers that restaurant workers wear?". I'm sorry I wasn't clear. Please accept my used (only once) shoes for a full refund.

Eyeballs: Would you kindly stop burning. Contacts are necessary. Please deal with it. I promise to sleep more tonight.

Person in the car to whom I spoke this morning: You ruined my 10 days of not talking to people while I'm driving. Clearly, I'm not at fault. You're the one who promptly slammed on your breaks immediately after turning the corner. Thank you for the sixteen inches you left that prevented me from hitting your car. I appreciate not having BOTH sides of my bumber smashed. Also, When the man with the stop sign is at least 30 feet in front of you - it's okay to pull a little closer to him. Especially if you've just turned a corner and other cars are right behind you in the turn lane.

Parents Worldwide: If you bring your children on your date, please don't let them run around the restaurant. We carry big trays full of glass. We don't like it when the trays fall on us. Especially if it's because we had to stop suddenly to avoid being tripped by your child. I'll spare you the physics and just say this: it ends badly. Plus, we don't want you to sue us.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies in my desk: Could you please stop singing my name so sweetly? It's killing me not to eat you.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie I Just Ate: I warned you!

Catching the Vision

I've been serving on the Enrichment Committee in my ward for a few months now, and I've begun to get excited about some of our activities. I've found that I have a passion for the Enrichment program (aka Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment). Before, I've been happy to just cross my fingers that I remember to get work off so I can attend the meetings/activites, but after serving on this committee, I've felt a rushing confirmation that this is such an incredible program. It's not just the activities we've been planning, or I've attended that have inspired this testimony, but it's Relief Society as a whole.

I feel such a strong confirmation that this organization truly is one of the best organizations on the Earth, and it is because it was divinely inspired. I believe so strongly that we as women (or chicks...I don't feel like a "woman" - I'm not that old...) need each other. We need each other in so many ways and if we can understand that we are all trying to reach a common goal, then we are better off. If we can catch the vision, then become united, we can do anything.

I'm nervous to know that the Lord is trusting me with the sacred work of organizing and overseeing the "enriching" of the sisters in the ward, but I feel priveleged to do so. I'm very excited to work with the rest of the Relief Society presidency as I learn and grow in this new calling. I understand it won't always be easy, but I'm excited for the opportunity to serve the sisters in my ward in this capacity. I hope that every woman will understand the great blessing that Relief Society is. I hope all can catch the vision I had a glimpse of since yesterday. Come together sisters! We are in it together, and all here for each other!

Wish Me Luck!

My friend Nancy told me she was going to do a "101 things to do in 1001 Days" list, so I decided to join her. I've seen lists on other blogs, and am excited to take a stab at it. 1001 is 2.75 years, so I have a little more time to complete some bigger goals. The site this comes from is www.dayzeroproject.com. Check it out here, and add your link to the master list once you've set up your own 101.

You can check out my list on the sidebar over there. Check out #93. If you create a list because of what you see here, please let me know (leaving a comment is just fine) so I can update my list.

Happy 24th! Have a great weekend everyone!!

Peek-a-boo

So I unpacked a few boxes last weekend and found a shirt I haven't worn for a long time. I decided to wear it to church yesterday, but realized the buttons don't button up high enough, so I improvised. I got some packing tape and rolled it up to close part of the opening in my shirt. By the way, it is a silk shirt.

So, I sit through all of Church and when it is all over, I went up to a member of the Bishopric and chatted for a moment (after stopping to chat with a couple of other people on my way up front). It wasn't until I was walking out to my car that I notice the tape had pulled apart and there I was showing a significant amount of underwear to people. Bishopric people. All I can figure is, when I put my purse over my shoulder, it pulled the fabric in such a way that the tape was forced to give in.

SO EMBARRASSED!!! All I can do now is laugh about it. Oh, and buy a black undershirt. :)

Movie Night

We ventured out last night to celebrate Josh's birthday in a "low-key" way. He decided he was up for Harry Potter, so we went to see the new movie. We stopped for dinner before going up to the movie and by the time we got to our seats (2nd to last row) he was not feeling awesome. Walking that much gave him a headache. He said he was okay to stay though, so we did. I kept thinking he was going to lean over and tell me he needed to go, but he didn't.

I loved the movie! It was great. As I was watching it though, I thought, "hmm, I don't remember this happening in the book" or "What about ____? Wasn't that in the book??". Then I realized, I have no clue. I remember the general story, but the details have escaped my mind. As much as I loved the books, I was having a hard time figuring out why I wouldn't remember anything from them. Then I realized what my problem was. By the time I started reading the books, 4 were already out. (Maybe just 3??) When 5, 6, and 7 came out, I wanted to read them as fast as I could for 2 reasons.

1: I loved them and I was sucked into the story. I couldn't put the book down, and I lived in Harry Potter's world for a couple of days. This was less of a conscious choice.

2: I didn't want to hear or read anything at work, or on the internet, or on t.v., or in the grocery store, about any part of the book and have one single word spoiled for me. So I read as fast as I could.

Yes, I could have read them again, but really, have you seen the size of those books?? I don't have that much time. Although, I am considering reading them again... In fact, I see 5, 6, and 7 on my shelf right now...I'll just fold one load of laundry first...

Blog Hop!

Three Things You Didn't Know About Me...

1. I have been a packrat - until I bought my house. I think we threw out/gave away 10 trash bags full of crap. I'm best at throwing out meaningless crap when I'm upset. Example: Sunday I was upset about something, and ended up finding enough stuff to fill 3 trash bags. Yay for tempers!

2. I love to bake, but I rarely find time, and I'm actually not that great at it. Last year for the husband's birthday I made fondant! The fondant turned out all right, but the whole rest of the cake was a total disaster!!

3. My very first job was in a "Snowie" selling snow cones. My favorite flavor is still Margherita. Or maybe black cherry. Or blue raspberry. Or tiger's blood. Or bubblegum. Or pineapple orange. I make a mean Snow Cone.

Give Up the Ghost!

I was thinking that I want to change my blog address (blogger makes this VERY easy without changing anything else about your blog). I wanted to have thisside.blogspot.com, but when I typed in that site to see if it was available, I found the remains of a decaying blog.

The poor blog has been so neglected, there hasn't been a post since December of 2003! :( In the sticky remains, I found a link that said, "email me here" and I am feeling very tempted to email them and ask them if I can have that link. That's when I realized, I would be one of those creepy stalker people. Seriously though, 2003?? I graduated high school in 2003. Not one post since then.

I have since considered switching to thissideblog.blogspot, but I haven't decided on it just yet.

Any thoughts? pros? cons? Share!!

New Kitchen Toys

Yesterday my package arrived. I've been waiting (im)patiently for it and the anticipation just about killed me. I ordered a Food Steamer and Food Scale from Costco. When I came home from work yesterday, the two boxes were sitting in my living room waiting for me to come home and free them. I opened the food scale first. This is a bittersweet purchase. I wanted to be more accurate at measuring my portions-- until I cracked it open and realized just how small portion sizes really are. That Costco trail mix that's so delicious? 160 calories per serving. 1 serving=3 tablespoons. I guess I think of Tablespoons as 1/4 cups? I don't know. I weighed one serving-- 160 calories of trail mix--and wanted to die. That was when I began to hate my scale.

Do you have any idea how many blueberries are in just 3 oz? TONS! I'm trying really hard to like blueberries, so I'm forcing myself to eat them. 48 calories for 3 oz and I'm still trying to get them down. It's been 2 hours since I started. I'm probably only half way through.

How about that Tuna Fish Sandwich? One serving is 56 grams. That makes...oh...about a 1/2 sandwich. 50 calories. Plus the bread (upwards of 70 calories each slice), plus the sauce (MW or Mayo, whichever you prefer).

I still like my steamer though. It has 3 stackable compartments and even has a "bowl" that you can put rice or sauce in to steam it so it doesn't leak down. So, I spent 8 minutes steaming 7 oz (exactly--I know because I weighed it) of salmon. Then I whipped out my scale again to measure out 2 tablespoons of Mango-Peach Salsa to slather on my salmon. Bummed again...

No wonder I haven't been losing as much weight as I think I should have by now. I think I'm eating 160 calories, but really, I've already consumed 480. No WONDER I'm struggling. 1 serving of the trail mix isn't even 1 handful. Seriously. That was a hard pill to swallow.

Is anyone else out there trying to lose weight? If you're interested in swapping food diaries each day, let me know. I'll email you what I've eaten for the day, and you email me what you've eaten for the day. Accountability is pretty good motivation. What are some tips you have for making it through the "treat" cravings? What helps you limit yourself to just one serving?

Do-Over

It's July. That means half of the year is over. Gone. See ya! I find that I'm having a hard time remembering the goals I made for 2009. Yes, I realize I posted a link there on the right side of this blog. My point is, I don't even remember what my goals were, so chances are...they're still just "goals". So, I call a do-over for the second half of the year.

My goals for the second half of 2009:

1. Make dinner at least once a week.
2. Finish unpacking= 0 boxes left
3. Write in my journal at least once a week.
4. Finish arranging the "guest room".
5. Sew curtains for our bedroom windows.
6. Hang home-sewn curtains in our bedroom.
7. Lose at least 10 more pounds by exercising vigorously 5x/week.
8. Be a little nicer.
9. Aknowledge people who make a difference in my day/week/life etc.
10. Read at least 6 more books.

Anybody else need a do-over? What are your goals for the last half of 2009? Has anyone already accomplished one or more goals for 2009?