I Think I Figured it Out!

I think I figured out how to motivate myself to try and lose weight, again.

Work out with friends? No

Realize that you don't fit anything in your closet? Nope

Have 2 different doctors tell me I need to lose 20 pounds? Sure did NOT work

Try going different support groups? No, try again

Having Rick lose 40ish pounds so that he now weighs less than me? No again

Having someone tell me that I probably wouldn't be hired at a job because I am not a looker? haha No

Look at photos of yourself over the past 9 years seeing that you have gained and lost over 130 pounds?

Yep - I think that might finally be the ticket!

It isn't that I don't know how to lose weight, I just haven't felt the need to really do what I need to do to accomplish it. But now, I think I might have found it.

Spiritual Overload

This post is something that really is a bit new to me. I have been hesitant to post it but decided I would.

I felt today like I was having a Spiritual Overload. I have had some incredible experiences since Rick started working for the Church. I feel that I have become more sensitive and intune to the Spirit. As I mentioned in a previous post, I was on anti-depressants for a very long time. During that time I was so numb to so many things that now I feel like I cry over the simplest things. Today when President Monson stood up in morning conference to name the new apostle, I started crying.
I busied myself the rest of morning conference while having it on in the background. I did sit back down to listen to President Eyring. Again, the tears came.
I remember going to different singles wards. People would get up and talk the week before conference, so usually a fast Sunday, about how excited they were about upcoming conference. Honestly, I would just ignore those people. I used to think...whatever! It is a good chance to stay home from church and all that. Only the last few years have I begun to think differently.
In 2000 I was in England over spring conference. We were only able to see one session live and one session that was previously taped. The internet was around but the connection wasn't what it is now. I remember coming home thinking how blessed we are to have it on tv.
So this weekend, as I sit back on my couch (yes Rick had tickets but we decided since he had to work Saturday morning that Sunday we would stay home rather than deal with the crowds) we will be enjoying the Spiritual Overload which we are so blessed to have.

The top photo is what Temple Square used to look like. The thatched roof area on the right is what was known as the Bowery where conference was first held and the building prior to the Tabernacle.

Twilight

Rick bought me the Blue Ray of Twilight for my birthday. I have watched it twice this week. Not only that, but Rick watched it the second time with me and he liked it! That's right, my husband likes Twilight. He was relieved to know though that the Volvo in the movie is not the one he has to have as his next car as we both agree that it is ugly!

No Joke

None of my posts today are April Fools. I do not believe in doing them so you need never worry that I am trying to pull one over on you.

Another New Temple

I love that we live in Utah where there are so many Temples. I can't believe that in just a few more months we will have another one in the Salt Lake Valley open for us to use. Last weekend Rick and I were near the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple and I was able to take a few photos. I wish I could get one from the side to show the neat shape of the Temple but until then, these will have to do for my friends who don't live close enough to drive by.

Cup Muffins

I made some cup muffins.
They tasted really good!

I don't remember when it was exactly but I think it was just before my nephew, Little Jimmy turned 3 that he was here and he wanted to "eat those Cup Muffins" aka
Cup Cakes! Ever since we no longer have cuppy cakes or cup cakes, we have
Cup Muffins

Baby Dolls

Before there was American Girl, there was Madame Alexander. I used to receive a new baby doll every year for Christmas. A few weeks ago I stopped by my mom's house to pick up some of my dolls. I wasn't able to find clothing for the babies but I did for some of the others.
I brought them home and cleaned them. On the M.A. website they say to use ivory soap and a soft cloth. I used comet! I can't believe how dirty they were! I would never let a child play with them being as dirty as they were. It was gross. My babies sat on the footstool in our hall for about a week, naked. Rick told me that I needed to do something with them because their beady little eyes were staring him down.

April Fool's

I am not an April Fool's person. I just don't like the holiday all the way around. Granted, I like a good joke and do laugh at them, but there is a part of me that really doesn't like it when people joke about serious things in life. I am probably too serious and take life to seriously but at the same time, I think there are some things people just shouldn't joke about.

25 Things about US

This is kind of like the 25 things - except there are pre-decided questions and it's about you and your spouse, not just you. Then tag whoever you want to do this! Come on, play along - inquiring minds want to know! ;-) (Actually, I'm just nosey and want to know.)

♥ What are your middle names?
Rick's is Arnold, Mine is Anastasia

♥ How long have you been together?
4 years this past January, just over 2 years being married

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?
A year

♥ Who asked who out?
Rick asked me out

♥ How old are each of you?
I am 33 as of today. Rick is 49

♥ Whose siblings do/ did you see the most?
Rick's

♥ Do you have any children together?
Nope

♥ What about pets?
No!!!!!

♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
uh...nothing yet

♥ Did you go to the same school?
nope...I went to Skyline he went to Cottonwood

♥ Are you from the same home town?
Yes

♥ Who is smarter?
Me, duh!

♥ Who is more sensitive?
Depends on the day

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Wherever I want!

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Cancun

♥ Who has the craziest exes?
RICK!

♥ Who has the worse temper?
We don't have tempers

♥ Who does the cooking?
Me

♥ Who is more social?
Me

♥ Who is the neat-freak?
RICK!

♥ Who is more stubborn?
neither of us is really stubborn...probably why we never have any issues.

♥ Who hogs the bed?
Neither and we don't ever touch!

♥ Who wakes up earlier?
Usually Rick

♥ Where was your first date?
Chili's for lunch

♥ Who has the bigger family?
Rick, they have been around longer hahaha

♥ Do you get flowers often?
Not really

♥ How do you spend the holidays?
Watching tv and eating

♥ How long did it take to get serious?
Ya know, neither of us went out with another person once we finally went to lunch together

♥ Who eats more?
Usually me

♥ Who does/ did the laundry?
Rick

♥ Who’s better with the computer?
ME!

♥ Who drives when you are together?
Usually Rick

Believing and KNOWING

I thought about writing a big ol' long blog but I can sum it all up....

What I once believed, I now KNOW!

Welcome Spring!

Today is the first day of spring and the first day I was able to lay out this year. I didn't exactly lay out but I spent the afternoon sitting on my porch with my lap top working on ancestry rather than hidden away in the Jeff Gordon bedroom. By the time I took these photos the sun was at an angle that made it very difficult to see so I pulled the shade down. You can tell though what a great little extension of the house we have in spite of being and apartment. As you can see, I ended up in my swimsuit top but still had shorts on the bottom hehehe

Seattle Sounders Season - Team Opener

There is a new expansion team in the MLS this year...the Seattle Sounders. Now don't get me wrong ReAl is still my team but my youngest brother is a season ticket holder for the Sounders and last night was their first match. Of course I had to watch. The Sounders shut out the New York Red Bulls (who were in last year's final) and the keeper for the Sounders is none other than Leicester City's Kasey Keller. (For those of you that don't know my best friend lives in Leicester England)
So not only was Kenzie at the match, photos of him have already been made public. He said that there will probably more to come out as a ton of photos were being taken when the players came to the side so I might add to this at a later time. Kenize is the one with the goofy looking smile on his face just over the left shoulder of Toux.
Bet you didn't know I was such a football/soccer fan did ya? ;-)

Job Interview

I have a job interview this Wednesday. You would think that by now I wouldn't get overly nervous. Ok maybe I am not overly nervous, but just right nervous. For some strange reason I feel a bit overwhelmed and that I won't be able to really get across what I am capable of doing. Because of this, I am in the process of creating a portfolio of sorts to provide to the VP I am interviewing with. I ask this of my friends, please pray for me. I don't know if this is the right job or not but know that I could use your prayers for confidence in myself and the way I express myself without saying anything stupid.
Oh wait, maybe I just need to change how I dress... Yeah don't even get me started about that one!

The Gangs All Here

Last night we had a reunion tour. We were able to learn that all of our instruments are interchangeable between Rock Band and Guitar Hero. The drums were having some issues with the opposite game but the guitars did well. Here are a few highlights. Katie is the ultimate groupie. She was all over dancing with all the songs. Then she had some issues with the manager, Little Jimmy, and she had to have a duel with him to put him in his place. We have a fun Sunday night!

Yummy in My Tummy Taco Salad

There is no exact recipe for this but I will give you the basics cause it is SO good!Cook chicken in the crock pot. I cooked mine on high for about 3 hours. This was totally frozen chicken. Add about 1/4 of a package of cream cheese, some water, (about half to 3/4 cup) and some taco seasoning. I know the cream cheese sounds odd but trust me.
Check on it periodically and as soon as the chicken is cooked all the way through, take a couple of forks and start ripping it up into bite-size pieces. Then let it all simmer. Obviously the longer it can do this the more flavor.
I the put broken tortilla chips on a plate. I recommend making a lot less than what you think you can eat cause it gets big fast. Put the chicken on top of the chips. Then add shredded cheese so it will melt over the chicken.
Cover in lettuce and whatever other salad ingredients you want such as green onions. The top with your favorite salad dressing. Since avocados were on sale at Wally World I was able to make some guacamole from scratch too.
Eat Up!
(The one with the devil's fruit is mine. And I was only able to eat half of it!)