Windy City

Are we sure Chicago deserves to be called 'The Windy City?'

If you live in Vegas, you totally know what I'm talking about.

Today is going to be a 'good' hair day. (sarcasm abounds)

A Swift Kick in the Pants

I'm a major WORRIER. I need someone to tell me to 'quit it!' every once in a while :)

"Why Constant Worry is Useless"

http://www.dumblittleman.com/2008/12/why-worry.html

Do You Skip Breakfast?

(not the actual muffins, but you get the jist)


http://www.recipezaar.com/Low-Fat-Oatmeal-Muffins-63501

Low-Fat Oatmeal Muffins

Ingredients
1 cup rolled oat (old fashioned oatmeal)
1 cup skim milk
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
1Soak oats in milk for 1 hour.
2Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
3Spoon into a muffin pan that has been lightly greased or sprayed with nonstick spray.
4Bake at 400 F for 20-25 minutes.
5Variations: To make Oatmeal Raisin Muffins, Oatmeal Apple Muffins, or Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins, add raisins/chopped apples/chocolate chips to the batter.


MY NOTES: I also added 1/4 cup of honey and 1/4 cup of flax seed.
They are VERY sticky. Don't put them in cupcake cups unless you are prepared to peel the paper away very slowly and painstakingly. Directly into the muffin pan works. They freeze well and they are so easy to grab in the morning.

***So maybe 'less is more' with the flax seed. My tummy doesn't know what hit it. :)

Proud to be a Nevadan

Jackie Glass, THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU!

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h2Sgb_Q-6wFs5g1vcSPRuLGK2rDAD94S2PB82

Most recently famous for putting OJ behind bars, this lady is awesome!

'Judge Jackie Glass is known for giving severe sentences and tongue-lashings to high-profile defendants, and she has blasted Simpson before.'

I just really appreciate it when the laws are enforced. :)

I like Black Shirts and I Cannot Lie

I know it's very Simon Cowell-esqe of me, but I LOVE BLACK SHIRTS
and I'm not hiding it anymore!

Libertarian Ideals

Ayn Rand

Influential and Contraversial

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayn_Rand

This is why she is cool:

1. 'Rand considered the initiation of force or fraud to be immoral, and held that government action should consist only in protecting citizens from criminal aggression (via the police), foreign aggression (via the military), and in maintaining a system of courts to decide guilt or innocence for objectively defined crimes and to resolve disputes. Her politics are generally described as minarchist and libertarian, though she did not use the first term and disavowed any connection to the second.

2. She wrote 'Atlas Shrugged' which I want to read very soon.

Bedroom

(Neither picture is of my actual bedroom)

I told my chiropractor the other day that as long as I keep my room clean (which is as rare as rare can be), I feel great and am very productive and happy.

He said that visual clutter causes anxiety. (Not a news flash, I know) But it set me on a new path to make my room as clean and clutter free as possible.

Dumb Little Man

http://www.dumblittleman.com/

I just discovered this website! It's great!

It's best if you 'subcribe' to it on a blog viewer so you can get the full effect.

Thoughts on 'Australia'

1. Overall I liked it, though some parts were annoying and/or slow.

2. Hugh Jackman is certainly the sexiest man alive.

3. Nicole Kidman was inconsistent to me. At times she rocked it, at times I rolled my eyes at her.

4. I don't think the title 'Australia' fits the movie. If they were to change it the 'The Drover' or 'Faraway Downs' they would need to adjust the script a little but it would have been more fitting. It just wasn't comprehensive enough to me to deserve the title.

5. I will probably like it more and more with each viewing.

He's Just Not That Into You

He's Just Not That Into You trailer

I loved the book.

I love all of the actors.

It better be good.

I'm not a morning person.

Just when I was considering joining my dad for some early Black Friday shopping....I remembered that I am a lot like Maxine in this cartoon.

I just added a playlist to the bottom of my blog with my favorite holiday music.

I love the old stuff! :)

My List

Have you ever......? Black is YES Gray is NO

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the changing of the guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Visited the Grand Canyon

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

1. ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): Jessie Altima

2. GANGSTA NAME (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): Moose Track Madden

3. NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Red Horse

4. SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Ann Preston

5. STAR WARS NAME (the first three letters of your last name, first two of your first name): Harbr

6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Green Water

7. NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers): Marcus Orval

8. HUSSY NAME ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy): Cool Water Cookie

9. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your fifth grade teacher's last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Israelson Inglewood

10. SPY NAME (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Fall Calla Lilly

11. CARTOON NAME (favorite fruit, article of clothing you're wearing right now): Cantelope Shorts

12. HIPPIE NAME (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Zero Willow

I found this article from MSN very interesting.

http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-life/family-parenting/articlerb.aspx?cp-documentid=9136391

Some things I liked...

"For young children, mealtime at home is a stronger predictor of academic achievement and psychological adjustment than time spent in school, studying, sports, church/religious activities, or art activities," says William J. Doherty, Ph.D., a professor of family social science at the University of Minnesota and author of The Intentional Family.

America's Next Top Model?

My sister Shannon is on the RIGHT.

Doesn't she look FIERCE?

8....the short version.

8 Favorite TV Shows
1. The Office
2. Brothers and Sisters
3. Desperate Housewives
4. Friends
5. Dr 90210
6. Battlestar Galactica
7. Lost
8. Jon and Kate Plus 8

8 Favorite 'Restaurants' I'm going to cheat.

1. Carl's Jr-Burgers

2. Pollo Loco-Flan

3. Taco Bell-Nachos Bell Grande

4. Burger King-French Fries
5. Sonic-Cheese Sticks
6. Arctic Circle-Shakes and Fry Sauce(not mixed together)
7. Pei Wei-Noodles
8. Caspers-Ice Cream

8 Things that Happened Yesterday
1. Went to work.
2. Defended my stance on Prop 8...Vote YES California!

3. Emailed a bunch of people from my ward.

4. Waxed my eyebrows

5. Went to dinner at the Ballards (1st Couns. in Bishopric)

6. Played Taboo

7. Laughed until I cried
8. Watched The Office

8 Things to look forward to
1. Getting rid of the headache that came 5 mintues ago.
2. Chiropractor tomorrow for my back.

3. Fall/Winter/Spring weather in Vegas.
4. Accomplishing Goals/Making good choices.
5. Shampooing my car interior tomorrow

6. New Ward Member Dinner tomorrow night.
7. Babysitting tomorrow night.
8. Cleaning my room

Some of those were lame I know but strange things bring me satisfaction what can I say?

8 Things I love about Fall

1. Cold Air

2. Walks

3. Cold Air
4. It's calmer than Summer.
5. Cold Air
6. Cold Air

7. Cold Air

8. If I lived somewhere with a lot of trees I would like the colors changing.

Just Friends

The topic of being 'just friends' comes up in conversation a lot in the world where I live.

This article is pretty comprehensive so I thought I'd share.

http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Just-Friends-With-a-Member-of-the-Opposite-Sex

Sarah Palin Sighting

I skipped out on work and went to see Sarah Palin yesterday.

I had to post this picture because I kept looking at these two blonde ladies up on the stand and wondering who they represented. I laughed when I saw this picture. Nice bra strap lady.

10 Reasons to Stop Drinking Soda

I didn't stop cold turkey but it's been over a week since I had a soda.
This post is more for my own encouragement than to recruit others to the cause :)

10 Reasons to Stop Drinking Soda

Trying to lose weight, save money, or help the environment? Putting a stop to the pop can help with all of these goals and more.

QualityHealth News

Whether you call it soda, pop, Coke, or a soft drink, one thing is standard: it's not good for you. Even so, Americans, on average, drink more than 43 gallons of the stuff each year. That's over 5,500 empty calories a year. No wonder that drinking soda is connected with weight gain. And that's just the beginning. Here, 10 reasons to stop drinking soda.

1. It packs on the pounds. According to a 2005 study conducted by the University of Texas Health Science Center, drinking one to two cans of soda a day increases a person's risk of being overweight or obese by 32.8 percent. And if you think diet soda is a better option, think again: The researchers found that those who drank one to two cans of diet soda per day were at an even higher risk (54.5 percent) of being overweight or obese.

2. It puts you at risk for diabetes and heart disease. A 2007 study published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation found that people who drink soda every day, whether regular or diet, were 44 percent more likely to develop metabolic syndrome-a condition that greatly increases your risk for heart disease and diabetes.

3. It doesn't contain any nutrients. A 20-ounce bottle of cola contains nearly 250 calories, but take a look at the label, and you'll see that it has virtually no vitamins or minerals. In fact, the only things soda is packed with are sugar and caffeine-two ingredients for which FDA has no recommended daily allowance.

4. You'll still feel thirsty. When it comes to quenching your thirst, water is the gold standard, but herbal tea and fruit juice are also good options. Soda, on the other hand, is likely to make you thirstier because caffeine is a diuretic and sugar interferes with the body's absorption of fluids.

5. It may cause digestion difficulties. Soda's effects on digestion are a source of ongoing debate, but some experts believe the phosphoric acid these beverages contain may disturb the acid-alkaline balance of the stomach. As a result, they believe, soda drinkers may develop digestional distress, acid reflux, stomach inflammation, and intestinal erosion.

6. It's addictive. A 2000 study published in the Archives of Family Medicine revealed that soft-drink manufacturers add caffeine to soda for one reason only: to get consumers hooked. Although this type of addiction may seem benign, experts are quick to point out that caffeine is a stimulant, and once you're addicted, going cold turkey can create withdrawal symptoms, including fatigue, depression, irritability, tremors, sleep deprivation, and headaches.

7. It's bad for the environment. Believe it or not, many people still don't recycle their bottles and cans. In fact, it's estimated that some 50 billion aluminum cans and plastic bottles from soft drinks get thrown into landfills every year. Even if you recycle, the containers are still energy-intensive to mine, produce, and recycle.

8. It's harmful to your teeth and bones. According to a recent Tufts University study, women who drank three 12-ounce colas a day had 5 percent less bone density than women who drink less than a serving a day. As the researchers explained, the phosphoric acid in cola prevents calcium from being absorbed by the body. Not surprisingly, soda is also damaging for teeth: A 2006 study, published in General Dentistry, reported that the citric and/or phosphoric acid in soft drinks can be harmful and corrosive to a healthy smile.

9. It might increase your risk of cancer. Although still controversial, some scientists believe that soda can increase your cancer risk. A 2006 study from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet supports the theory: Study subjects who drank high quantities of fizzy or syrup-based soft drinks twice a day or more ran a 90 percent higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer than those who never drank them.

10. It's expensive. Compared to fruit juice or milk, soft drinks may seem cheap, but when you consider the lack of nutritional value, soda seems like a rip-off. And keep in mind that the costs of soda can quickly add up. The average 12-ounce can of soda costs about $1 from the vending machine, so if you drank two a day for a year, you'd spend a whopping $730 on pop every year.

Relief Society Broadcast

I couldn't sleep last night so I watched the recent RS Broadcast.

Here is a quote from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf:

'In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance.'

Dinner in a Pumpkin

This is on the menu for Sunday!

INGREDIENTS

1 medium pumpkin

1 lb ground beef (may be sauted with onions, celery and pepper)

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tablespoons brown sugar

4 ounces mushrooms (fresh or canned, sliced and drained)

1 (10 1/2ounce)can cream of chicken soup

2 cups hot cooked rice

DIRECTIONSPreheat oven to 375°F Lightly grease a 10" circle in center of a baking sheet; set aside. Place pumpkin on a firm surface. Using a sharp knife, cut out stem end and about 3 inches around stem. Cut on a diagonal by slanting knife from outer edge of pumpkin in toward center. Reserve top. Remove seeds and pulp; discard. In a medium bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients. Spoon mixture into pumpkin. Replace top. Place pumpkin on greased baking sheet. Bake about 1 hour in preheated oven until pumpkin is tender. Serve cooked pumpkin along with meat filling.

Talented Ladies

Sofia Coppola

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_Coppola

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001068/



Nancy Meyers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Meyers

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0583600/



These ladies write, direct, AND produce their own movies. I have been loving their movies of late and just wanted to share. I also really like Sofia's hair.

The best lotion ever!

http://miraclesoap.net/

This lotion is AMAZING! I'm seriously serious.

I'm not going to comment on the story behind the lotion and other Miracle II products.

You can check them out for yourself. You are in for a treat. Trust me.

Oh AND just in case you were wondering.......

the lotion has been anointed and blessed for your moisturizing pleasure

Cherry Coke

Today I was told that I always smell like cherry coke, sweet & spicy. Could be worse I guess :)

Thank you Abby!

http://abbycheatham.blogspot.com/2008/08/speaking-of-speaking-in-church.html

Check out the link above for an amazing tid bit on being a single girl in the LDS church.

My favorite paragraph is #5 about keeping our hearts soft and tender.

Just Saying...

Why does a sandwich taste TWICE as good when you cut it down the middle?

But this is my favorite.

Kate Winslet's character had all of the best lines for sure. Here is just one:

Iris: I understand feeling as small and as insignificant as humanly possible. And how it can actually ache in places you didn't know you had inside you. And it doesn't matter how many new haircuts you get, or gyms you join, or how many glasses of chardonnay you drink with your girlfriends... you still go to bed every night going over every detail and wonder what you did wrong or how you could have misunderstood. And how in the hell for that brief moment you could think that you were that happy. And sometimes you can even convince yourself that he'll see the light and show up at your door. And after all that, however long all that may be, you'll go somewhere new. And you'll meet people who make you feel worthwhile again. And little pieces of your soul will finally come back. And all that fuzzy stuff, those years of your life that you wasted, that will eventually begin to fade.

The Holiday

Every time I watch The Holiday I fall in love with Jude Law for a few months.

Here is my favorite bit of dialogue:

Graham: Well, I cry all the time.

Amanda: You do not.

Graham: Yeah I do. More than any woman you've ever met.

Amanda: You don't have to be this nice.

Graham: It happens to be the truth.

Amanda: Really?

Graham: A good book, a great film, a birthday card, I weep.

Amanda: Shut up.

Graham: I'm a major weeper.

But with this british accent its so funny! 'I'm a majuh weepuh!'

My mom will get a kick out of this.

yearbookyourself.com

LOL

This 'Thought of the Day' from Forbes.com is pretty depressing but it made me laugh out loud when I read it.

Sarah Palin

I'm happy with his choice. Click here for an article written about her back in March 2008.

In God We Trust

Let the folks at MSNBC know how you feel.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103521/

I need GREEN.

This is what August in Vegas feels like to me. It's actually cooling down a bit but I definitely lost it this month as I do every year I've been in Vegas. I just lose patience with everything in life and I blame it 100% on the 100+ temps all summer.

Now THIS is what I need.

I can only stand a few more Vegas summers.

Next stop...somewhere GREEN.

The best conversation in the whole world!

I just had to post the following conversation between my sister and her husband. If you want more details see 'Shelley' under my family links.

To set the scene: Shelley called her husband Jeff on his cell phone. He was distracted while talking to her and this is what went down....

"Jeff: Honey, I can't find my cell phone anywhere

Shelley: Jeff I called you on your phone it is in your hand.(he wasn't listening and repeated)

Jeff: I think that I may have left it in my car? (I am now frustrated that he wasn't listening to me and elevated my voice)

Shelley: Jeff, I am talking to you on your cell phone it is by your head!!!!!"



I will laugh about this until my dying day. Love ya Jeffy! :)

The New Bachelor-Jason Mesnik

That's right! Jason from Bachelorette 3 is the next Bachelor! I am so excited!

Favorite Gossip Topic

Click here for an article on plastic surgery.

I would rate the article at a PG-13 so don't read it if you are easily offended.



I'm not saying I agree or disagree with him. Just an interesting article to me.

Here's the best quote, it's the last paragraph:

"This is the part I think women don’t understand. When a guy falls in love, his lover’s body parts become bewitching. I’m not going to tell you that our heads don’t turn when we see a stacked blond walking down the street. But when we fall for you—really, really fall for you—you hijack our sense of beautiful. What’s sexy to us? You—in the "before" picture."

Fresca is a Diet Soda?

While the word 'diet' is no where to be seen on a fresca can, it contains 0 calories and aspartame is one of the ingredients. Why'd it take me so long to discover this?

Anxiety

Take Anxiety Test Here

I'm always surprised how much these tests help me gain perspective.

The questions seem to be just for me. It's a little creepy.

Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who struggles to overcome anxiety.

Here are some questions that really pricked me. I'm willing admit I struggle with these, others I'm not so willing to admit on my blog. :)

14. I anticipate the worst-case scenario.

15. I worry about doing certain things days before I actually do them.

23. I take things very personally.

26. I can be cynical or critical of others and myself.

28. I worry about irrational things happening to others or myself.

30. I fear losing control in different areas of my life.

33. I don’t feel comfortable in high places or places where I can’t come and go as I please.

36. I feel anxious and panicky when there is really nothing to be afraid of.

38. I make excuses for not doing things or going places because of my anxiety.

39. I have repetitive, worrisome thoughts that I can't seem to turn off.

43. I have a hard time sleeping, i.e. falling asleep, and staying asleep.

44. I have a tendency to put myself down.

47. I anticipate bad things happening to others or myself.

52. I get mad at myself easily.

71. I feel guilty easily.

Favorite Moment from the Weekend

Here's how bedtime went down Saturday night while I was babysitting:

To set the stage...5 year old sister crying in the bottom bunk because 6 year old brother in the top bunk is being rude because he can't find his webkin Dixie.

Brooke sings in her MOST dramatic voice: "Old McDonald had a farm e yi e Yi oooooo and on that farm he had a....."

Girl: Cow! (smiling)

Brooke finishes the verse and was onto the next verse: "Old McDonald had a farm e yi e hi oooooo and on that farm he had a..........."

Boy, still angry as a hornet: I DON'T WANT TO PLAY!!!!!!! (in a small voice I hear him whisper 'chicken')

VICTORY!

Just singing or acting like an idiot gets kids every time. The more dramatic you are the better :)

Who's this pretty girl?

Isn't my sister pretty?

Proof

I told my mom the other day that I play all the time. Best part of being single. Here's proof of me playing....Watching a play at Lake Las Vegas.

Celebrating milestones with roommates.

At the Hot Springs

At Sarah's Birthday Party

At Elvis Shows on the Strip



At pizza parties at Jeff's.