Home Teachers and Cereal Candy

My home teachers for the summer semester came today, Kade and Paul. They are very nice guys! Kade has been in the ward since fall semester, and Paul has been in since this semester hehe. Anyways, I'm very impressed with these young men. Kade has been the only one in the ward that recognizes that I am a member of that ward and that I just don't live in the apartments. Him and Paul told me today that they are going to work on letting me know more about the ward activities and help me become more of a part of the ward then I feel. I really appreciate that. What a nice kid! Paul is sweet too. I sat next to him in Sunday School today and he was very nice and talked to me for a little bit. It's so surprising to me what people in these wards actually make an effort to make me feel welcome and what people don't. I've always had my home teachers come and visit. But no visiting teachers. No one in Relief Society talks to me, not even the RS president. But I've always had the guys talk to me and make me feel welcome. Anyways, Kade and Paul talked about temples today and what a tool we are for the temples and how we are the power for them and we need to be able to make ourselves worthy and keep ourselves worthy to enter the temple and for the blessings of the temple. Also how to take advantage of the Atonement and understanding the Atonment and keep ourselves out of temptation. Kade shared a quote from Elder Richard G. Scott's conference talk "He Lives! All Glory to His Name!" that stood out to me. It says:

"I energetically encourage you to establish a personal study plan to better understand and appreciate the incomparable, eternal, infinite counsequences of Jesus Christ's perfect fulfillment of His divinely appointed calling as our Savior and Redeemer. Profound personal pondering of the scriptures accompanied by searching, heartfelt prayer will fortify your understanding of and appreciation for His priceless Atonement. Another powerful way to learn of Jesus Christ and His Atonement is through consistent temple attendance."

I really loved this quote. Is that not the most straight forward guidance? I love that. I want to be able to go to the temple more. Even though I'm not endowed, I still have the opportunity to do Baptism's for the Dead and I need to get a recommend to be able to go and do it often. Anyways, I'm very excited for my home teachers and I hope that I will benefit from them a great deal. :D

Mom and I made Cereal Candy for our Moab trip this weekend. It's super super easy and so yummy!

Here's the recipe if you'd like to try it:

1 package of Golden Graham cereal

1 package of Corn Chex cereal

1 package of coconut

1 package of slivered almonds

2 tsp of vanilla

2 cups karo syrup

2 cups sugar

2 cubes margarine

Mix karo syrup, margarine and sugar together in a pot over the stove. Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, add vanilla and pour over the cereal, almond and coconut mixture. Mix well and enjoy!

Workout Woes

Alright. So does everyone remember my weight loss goal that I made when Cody left? The whole, "I'm gonna work out every night or every other night until he comes home?" Hahahaha... it was kind of a joke. Until...NOW.

I've been slacking, unfortunately. Just with the exercising, not with my eating habits, just with the exercising. About a week before I quit Sam's Club, I bought some Jillian Michael's work out videos that were like $5 each. Anyways, I've always said if I could be on "The Biggest Loser" I would want to have Jillian as my trainer because she wouldn't give up on me but she would be tough on me and make me work hard. Tonight that was the truth and she wasn't even there in person. I decided, after a few weeks of not working out, that I was going to push myself and do this whole Metabolism Boost workout with no stopping.

So I put the DVD in, (this is what it looks like if you're interested in trying it out) stretched while it was warming up, pushed play and got ready to work it. I got through the warm up fine, got through the first 2 circuits (out of 6) well kinda slow but I did them, then the 3rd circuit it when it got bad.

I had pushed myself too hard. I got super sick. I felt like I was going to throw up. So I sat down for a few minutes. When I felt like I was going to be ok, I stood back up to try it again. The second I was standing, my stomach got yucky again. So I sat down for a few more minutes. I drank some water, hoping maybe I was just a little dehydrated (even though I've been drinking ALL day). I felt fine again. So I tried it again, but once I got standing I got sick to my stomach again. What the heck!


If you haven't figured it out yet, this work out is a cardio workout, a very very intense cardio workout if you don't work yourself up to it. Which is exactly what I DIDN'T do. I didn't take it slow. I didn't work myself up to it. I pushed myself too hard and I made myself sick doing it. Which is not good.

I got really discouraged. I was thinking the whole time I was sitting watching the rest of the workout (what an oxymoron! haha!) that I was not good enough for this workout. I figured that I was never cut out for it in the first place and that I was never going to reach my weight goal by the time Cody came home. But after sittin there for a few minutes feeling sorry and all mopey, I got super motivated. That's exactly what I need to do! I need to work myself up to that intense crazy workout (I know it's intense because Jillian, the most fit and amazing trainer, was huffing and puffing after it) and once I get stronger, and make my heart and my lungs stronger that I will be able to do the whole workout without stopping like Jillian and the other two girls on the video did. Then I will be able to speed up my metabolism, lose weight and have a really good cardio workout all at the same time!

Don't get discouraged if you try something hard and don't succeed the first time. Keep working at it and keep finding things to motivate you. I'm going to try this again tomorrow and see how far I get. I'm going to work myself up but push myself at the same time. I won't get results immediately, which is what I was thinking was going to happen haha but I know better. It will take time.

But hey! If anyone wants a workout buddy, please let me know! I would love to have one! I need someone to tell me not to quit and to keep going, and in turn I will do the same for you! Haha!

Also... I found a website to help me get my blog all cutsie some more! So here's the first change... my signature! It's not really the font that I want it to me, but once I figure out how to do it the other way then I will do that but for now... TA DA!

Parker's Graduation

Parker graduated today! I am so excited and so proud of him! One milestone down, and many more to go. Here are some pictures of the fun night:

Parker and his diploma after he walked.

Parker, Chelsey and Jaelynn. Parker was ducking so he looks almost he same height as them, even though he's about 10 times taller!

Lindsey and Nash

Me and Parker :D

Me, Lindsey and Nash. Don't mind my face... I'm not good at multitasking!

Me and "Favorite"...

...aka my best bud Sean Ian King...

...or Sean "The" King haha!

Then after the graduation, Me, Parker, Mom, Dad, Lindsey, Deb and Claude all went to dinner :D We went to Pizza Pie Cafe! So yummy! It was a blast... especially with "Parkey" and the "Spicy Sunshine" hahahaha! Oh my! I love my family.

I'm so proud of Parker! And I'm also very proud of all of my friends that graduated today! I hope the best for them in all of their endeavors! Love you guys!

Don't Know What to Call This Post... haha!

Well. Parker graduated from Seminary today! It was soo cool to see the spiritual accomplishments that he has made. It was so fun to see all my football buddies, like Shaun Johansen and Sean King... aka Mr. King hehe!... and many others graduate!

I also got to see my favorite seminary teacher ever... Brother Goss. I had Brother Goss my last semester of my senior year, and what a great experience it was! I really looked up to him and his advice, especially when I had my not-very-good-we-don't-talk-about-him boyfriend haha. He didn't know what was going on, but he knew I was having a hard time with something with him and he always made sure to let me know that he was there for me if I ever needed to talk.
I also think that during that semester, I started to gain my testimony for Christ. I always thought that I had had one, but I didn't. Brother Goss simply "planted the seed" (sorry that probably sounds cheesy) and it has grown now that I have the greatest influences and faith and help in my life. I thoroughly enjoyed Brother Goss' class, and hearing him speak again tonight at Parker's graduation filled me with the spirit and made me miss seminary.

I also got to see my favorite... Michelle Gren! haha! I love her! I really got to know her during YW camp my last year when I got to work with her while she was in the stake and while I was a YCL. She's grown to be a great friend of mine and I look up to her so much! I hadn't seen her for a while so it was good to get to talk to her for a few minutes. :D

Anyways... I have to work tomorrow so I'll have a 4 day week this week! But that's alright! hehe! I gotta get to bed, acutally I have to email Cody first and then start a letter to him and then I'll read scriptures and go to bed! Loves!

O Happy Day(s)!

I had a great day yesterday!

First off, I got to spend some time with my Dad while he went with me to go get my car inspected (because I just feel better having a guy there. Not that our mechanic isn't super nice and awesome... ) Then he bought me and Mom some lunch and we went back home and ate it. Then I took him back up to work.

Then... my Mom and I ended up at Walmart. I love spending time with my Mom! And she's so patient when she's with me, because I want to look at movies and cd's and shoes and scrubs and books and jewelry every single time I'm there. She ended up finding some stuff to splurge with, which she never does so it was good for her.

After that, Parker and I had a brother/sister "date"! We went to dinner at Pizza Pie Cafe. Then we went and got some YoZone dessert :D MMMM! Then we went and saw "Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief" in the dollar theaters. How was the movie? Eh. See, Parker and I have read all the books and we've been wanting to see it. Well... it's a great movie if you haven't read the books. And it's just ok if you have. They've twisted the whole plot from the book in the movie, so things happen differently in the movie then they do in the book, and they left out some key people in the book as well. But boy let me tell you, the kid... Logan Lerman... he plays Percy, was quite a looker! hehe! Anyways, I got to hang out with everyone in my family, so it was a pretty great day!

Anyways, today was quite relaxing. I'm not used to not working Saturday's. I didn't know what to do with myself haha! I did finish my book, "Burned". It's the 7th book in the House of Night series by P.C. and Kristen Cast. Let's just say I can't wait for the 8th book to come out. Didn't really do anything else. I need to get used to not working on Saturday's.

I've been so much happier since I've been away from Sam's Club! The only thing that would make everything perfect was if Cody was close to coming home... almost haha! But I'm glad he's out doing the work that he is doing so I can't complain! Like I said, the Lord needs him more then I do for the next 2 years. (Sorry, you probably get sick of hearing about it haha!)

How Sad For Him

There is a man named Shawn McCraney that really makes me mad.

He is a returned missionary.

He is an ex-member of the church.

He is a man who likes to bring down the church on his television show.

The only reason I know about him is because my Mom was flipping around on the tv one day and heard a smidgen of what he was saying about the church and it made her mad. She kept watching just to see what he would say. She kept telling my family about him and how made he made her. Well one night, we were flipping around looking for something to watch and she saw him and went, "OH! Shelb! This is the guy!" I watched him for two seconds and started crying.

How could someone like him, being a returned missionary and used to be so strong in the church and then decide that it wasn't doing anything for him so he left? And now for a living, he has a tv show where he twists mormonism and puts lies into people's heads. How could someone do that!? I never would! I've heard the reason why this guy left the church. And it's a stupid reason. Obviously, he didn't have faith in the Lord and obviously he didn't love the Lord as much as he said he did because then he would never be in this situation. It reminds me of Elder David A. Bednar's conference talk a few years ago called "And Nothing Shall Offend Them." In it he says that those who have been offended by something in the church have chosen to be offended. In this case, Shawn McCraney has chosen to be offended by the church and some of the things that they did to him when he was having problems, when really, they were trying to get him back on track.

I remember reading in Mosiah a few weeks ago about this same sort of situation. I don't remember exactly where it was (cause I can't find it haha) but it was talking about the people that know the teachings of God are true and those who live by those teachings, and then those that know they are true but yet they deny the teachings and they deny God, they will be cast down to hell, or something to that effect. (If you remember where that is, please tell me cause I would love to remember!) I can only imagine what will happen to this man when he meets God. And I feel sorry for him. I'm sad for him.

I love the church! I've grown to love it even more the past few years of my life and especially now that Cody is out preaching the gospel. I've been taught and I constantly "...stand as witnesses of God at all times, in all things and in all places..." (Mosiah 18:9) I've learned to love the gospel, even after some of the trials that I go through and that I know I will go through. I can't imagine having the gospel in my life during these times and I can't imagine denying God and denying his teachings.

I got a letter from Cody yesterday, and in it he said, "Being out here has humbled me a lot, also makes me think about a lot of the stupid decisions that I have made in my life. Seeing the people that we teach struggle through their trials makes me feel bad for them. I've seen all kinds of crap down here, and it makes me sad that these people reject our wonderful message that we have. If they would just listen they would have a much better off life!! But that's part of the reason we are given the gift of 'Albedrio' (Agency)." It's so true. We can't make people listen to our message and we can't make people feel the same way about the church that we do. But it's the same for him. He can't make people listen to his message and he can't make people turn away from the church. Seeing some of the comments that people have left of his YouTube pages, obviously people have left the church just for him, but again, like Cody said, that's why we are given the gift of agency.

It's sad. It's sad that people think that way about God and his wonderful church. I rejoice. I rejoice in the fact that I know I have a friend in the Lord all the time. I rejoice in the fact that every day I continue to grow closer to the Lord and that I am growing closer to the gospel and relying on it more. I rejoice in the fact that I know all the things about the gospel that I do know. I odon't know everything, and even when I die I won't, but I will continue to learn and grow in the gospel my entire life and I love that fact! I rejoice for missionaries who give up 2 years of their lives to go out there and try to bring people into the wonderful love of the Lord and into living the gospel. I am grateful for them and all that they do, and all that the leaders of the church do.

I love the Lord. I love this gospel. No one or nothing can change that.

I Luv My Job :D

Sorry I didn't blog last night! I was so tired from a full day at the office that I fell asleep super early!

Well, all went well yesterday. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I work with a dentist named James Ashman. And guess what? He's 77 years old and still in there doin dirty work! Haha! He is so adorable! And so funny, so patient and so helpful. He didn't mind that I wasn't used to working with him and he was very patient and helping giving me tips on stuff. The other assistant that helps Dr. Ashman, Renette, told me that he is like your grandpa. And it's true. She also warned me that he is very old school and that he will do things and ask for things that I've never even heard of. Haha and it's so true! But he was very patient and very helpful when both of us had no idea what he was asking for. (Example: Reverse Plugger? haha I had never seen one but now I know what one is!) My x-rays are looking... G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S! I was so worried that I wasn't going to be able to do my x-rays right because I had the hardest time with Dex in school. But! They are so much easier on real people, and everyone kept telling me that but for some reason I didn't believe them. Now I do haha! I love taking x-rays! To me it's so much fun!

I don't dread going to work anymore. I always wanted to call in sick to Sam's Club, but not at the dental office. I think it's because there is so much different stuff going on every day that it's not the same lame thing like at Sam's. I am so excited to get in there and get working on people and get better at my skills.

Yesterday, I did get to watch the hygienist, Laura, for a little bit. And... I was a little nervous at what I saw. I am so excited to get my hygienist, don't get me wrong, but I didn't realize that I would have to learn how to numb people for procedures... with a NEEDLE! AHHHHH! If you don't know me very well, then you don't know how scared I am of needles for myself and having to stick a needle in someone else. I can load the needle, hand the needle, watch it being administered, take it back and unload it. But I'm scared of doing it myself! I don't know how good at that I will do! AHHHHHHH! My hands are shaking just thinking about it! :(

Well, nothing else really going on. Tomorrow is my last day of work until Tuesday! I actually get weekends now. Who knew they existed!? Definately not me. :D Have a good night everyone!

My How Time Flies

How crazy is it that May is pretty much almost over? I can't believe how fast time is going! Parker graduates high school in a week and a half and Lindsey graduates in 2 weeks. I've been out of high school for 2 years. Cody's been gone for 3 months. Parker turns 19 in November and will be leaving on his mission this year. I'm almost 20. Oh my gosh I can't even think of all the things that are milestones that don't feel like they should be happening. I swear that times goes by faster when you graduate from high school. Honestly. Haha!

I found more pictures of Cody to scrapbook. I remembered that him and Elder Gormus (his companion) sent pictures of them and their apartment and one of the activities they had as a ward/branch. I had to figure out a way to copy them so that I could make copies of them at Walmart.com to have them print it off for me, just because they had copy and pasted them to a word document. It was quite difficult! But I got it figured out. They are smaller pictures but they worked out great for a different type of page! I like working with smaller pictures! Anyways, here they are.

I must say that these two have turned out to be my favorite pages so far! I have no idea if it's because I got to experiment with smaller pictures or what. But I am becoming more and more comfortable with being creative, although these pages are super simple.

Got an email today from Cody. He had this to say about their work, "We had an amazing week last week. 4 people with baptismal dates, 5 in church, wow, we are stoked to be able to be doing this work haha, we plan on putting 5 more baptismal dates just this week sweetie. But we are so pumped to be doing this work." When I was over at his house yesterday, his dad was telling me that when they got to talk to him on the phone that you could tell he was so so happy and that he sounded like he was having the time of his life. I love hearing that! I love knowing that he is enjoying every bit of what he is doing out there. I know that when it gets time to come back, he will be glad to be home but he will miss being out there and talking to people.

Well, I gotta go! I have to read my scriptures and stuff still before I go to bed! I have to be up early for my new job! :D

February Song

"FEBRUARY SONG"

Where is that old friend gone

Lost in a February song

Tell him it won't be long

Til he opens his eyes

Where is that simple day

Before colors broke into shades

And how did I ever fadeInto this life, into this life

And I never want to let you down

Forgive me if I slip away

When all that I've known is lost and found

I promise you I, I'll come back to you One day....

Morning is waking up

Sometimes it's more than just enough

And all that you need to love

Is in front of your eyes,It's in front of your eyes.

And I never want to let you down

Forgive me if I slip away

Sometimes it's hard to find my ground

Cause I keep on falling , as I try to getaway from this crazy world

And I never want to let you down

Forgive me if I slip away

When all that I've known is lost and found

I promise you I, I'll come back to you one day

Where is that old friend gone

Lost in a February song

Tell him it won't be long

Til he opens his eyes, opens his eyes.

I love this song. And lately whenever I hear this song all I do is cry. I feel like Josh Groban knew what I was going to be going through when he wrote this. Because I really do wonder where that old friend has gone. :(

Sid the Sloth

I know I know. Weird that I'm blogging BEFORE 9:00 pm haha but I have a busy day ahead of me and I have a few minutes so here I am.

Well... today was my last day at Sam's Club! I am officially done there and I am so excited but I will definately miss a ton of the people from there, not all of them, but definately a good deal of them. I have made many wonderful friendships there and I am so grateful for that. As much as I don't like working for the Wal-Mart Corporation, I do have to say that I am very grateful to it for keeping me on my feet for a while and for helping meet all of my great friends like, Kenz, Chris Crane, Cody (especially this one :D) Jarrah, Ashley M., Ashley N., Peggy-Lou, Bon Bons (Bonnie), Ann and many others! That is probably only the one good thing about working there.

Last night was my last night working with COS Ann... and so she had a little surprise for me hehe. Preface story for this story first though-

One day my fourth grade teacher and her husband and girls came through my line. She was asking me about dental assisting school and my getting my hygiene when all of a sudden her youngest daughter pipes up and says, "I've always wanted to be a dentist for sloths!" It was sooooo funny! So cute too! Anyways, I had to tell Ann this story after they left because she would greatly appreciate it hehe! So I'm telling her and while I'm telling her I'm thinking in my head, do sloths even have teeth? So I ask Ann. HAHAHA! She looks at me and starts laughing and says, "Well Sid does." And I'm thinking, who the heck is Sid? And I guess I had a stumped look on my face because she goes, "From Ice Age...?" And I start laughing! hahahahaha! Classic Shelby blonde moment right there! Didn't even think of Sid. So it's always been our inside joke about sloths dentists :D Anways, back to the other story...

So last night, I went and did a go back for Ann and when I got back up all the cashiers were standing around waiting for something to do. So I go up to Ann and I ask, "Do you need anything else done while it's slow?" She says, "How about you open up for a few minutes." I started laughing and she was like, "No seriously. How about opening up?"

"haha really? While it's this slow?"

"Yeah I think we may be coming to a rush here in a few minutes." haha ok. Logical enough reason. I didn't argue haha so I go and open my sign and while I'm bringing my arm down, clumsy me, I hit my elbow on the register and I hit it just right so that it hit my nerve in my elbow. I was having a fit and laughing with Ann. I walk around to the register because someone started to come into my line and I'm still standing there holding my arm turned around looking at Ann and laughing. Then I'm thinking, why is she standing right behind me? I already opened up. Then I don't think about it anymore. Took the people like 5 minutes to give me their membership card and I notice even after that that she's still standing there. hahaha... um ok? I turn around to start ringing them up and this is what I found on my register...

THAT'S WHY SHE WAS STANDING THERE! She was totally waiting for me to see it and it took me literally like 10 minutes to see that it was there! I busted a gut! She was busting a gut! It was so funny! I will miss Ann and all of our inside jokes! haha! I told her I was going to frame this and keep it on my wall and then everyday before I went to the dental office I would remember that sloths do in fact have teeth... now onto human teeth!

Oh, other funny story for the preface story... When Ann went home and told her husband our story (because he too would have appreciated it) he looked at her and said, "You thought of Ice Age and Sid before you even thought of animal planet or national geopgraphic?" HAHAHAHAHA! I wouldn't have known it any other way then Ice Age, Ann knew that haha! ;D Love it!

Here's the most recent page for Cody's scrapbook:

It's his farewell page. Now I'm at a crossroads. I have to wait to get more pictures of him now to scrapbook anymore hehe :D

Tomorrow!

My first day at my new job is tomorrow! Granted it's only half a day and more considered a training thing haha but I'm so excited! Then it's off to lunch with my Mom, Dad, Grandma Stringfellow, and my aunt Barbara and cousin Jenny who have come to visit from Arkansas! :D Then it's off to my second to last day at Sam's Club! HALLELUJAH!


Here's the fourth installment for Cody's mission scrapbook...

It's not exactly my favorite page but it was an experiment so I can't complain too much haha! Plus the buttons are SO not where I wanted them but I messed that side of the line up so I had to cover it up with something so that it didn't look RITARDED. haha! I'm so excited to get more and more pictures from him. Ones that have stories and ones that I can give titles to and write a little something about. This one is just two of his pre mission pics... so I couldn't really do much with them but I'm excited to get more and more from him! :D

Thinking 'Bout Cody

These are the next two pages in Cody's mission scrapbook. Again, simple, but I think they look great.

I got a letter from him today! I started crying while I was reading it. Partly because I definately felt the spirit during some of the things that he said, and partly because I miss everything about that kid. One of the things that I loved that he said where I felt the spirit was, "I know the Lord is a God of miracles and he is working miracles back home for me, you, and for our wonderful families." He also told me that his testimony has strengthened so much more since he's been out in the field, and at the time that he wrote the letter it was only his first week (April 26, 2010). He also said, "I love you so much sweetie, I hope you know that... everyday I'm out here I miss all the times we had together. I miss you're beautiful face more and more everyday. I am so grateful to have someone like you in my life. I love you more and more everyday. I know that me being out here is blessing me and you and my family." He also reminded me to stay close to the Lord. Gosh! haha only 648 more days! I know I'm retarded for having a count down, but guess what? He's been gone for almost 100 days! It's going quick... but still somedays it feels like it's going to be forever.

Anyways, it's still raining. I am grateful for the rain, don't get me wrong because right now Utah really really needs it, but at the same time I am so ready for summer and the sun and warm days to be here! haha!

Oh... Go Lakers! :D

Job Results and Cody Update

Cody update:
I got an email from him today! I love getting emails from him, even though they are forwarded to me by his dad because he can't directly email me anymore haha but I still love getting them. He's told me that while being in Canelones, he's learned the lessons of patience and obedience. He said, "...obedience is key on a mission i have discovered. Without it we are unable to do the work that the lord has put in front of us to do for him." Oh what a cute, inspirational missionary! :D I'm glad that he's learning a lot out there, and I'm grateful for his companion trainer, Elder Gormus, who has helped teach him a lot. Cody will be a great trainer companion one day, all with the help of Elder Gormus and also with the help of his other companions.

I decided that I am going to make Cody a mission scrapbook (hehe!) with all of his mission pictures that he sends me so that he can look at them later in life and remember lots of memories about his mission. I made the first page today.



It's really simple, but I figured it doesn't need to be too elaborate, at least right now. The pictures are pictures that his mission president in Montevideo sent to Shawn who sent them to me. The lettering in the top right hand corner is the letter that the Da Silva's emailed with the pictures. I still need to make farewell pages for it. That is the next project.

Job update:
I GOT THE ASSISTING JOB! YAY! Oh my goodness! I am so excited! I had butterflies swimming around in my stomach all weekend because I was so nervous about it. (hahaha! Swimming butterflies? Don't ask. :D) Anyways, I start training Friday morning before work, and then I will work Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with alternating Fridays. SOO EXCITED! Goodbye Sam's Club! But thanks for keeping my on my feet for a little while!

Happy Mother's Day!

I love my Mom sooo much! She's put up with a lot lately, and she's put up with some of my crap for a while too... which I really appreciate. I really love the relationship that I've had with her. Since everything that has happened to me the past few months she's been really great to sit there and listen to me when I'm bawlin my eyes out, or to let me go shopping with her for groceries, or just to sit and watch tv with. I love the nights when Dad and Parker go to Baer Bronze and it's just me and Mom at home. So what do we do? Usually put in a movie downstairs and watch it. I love that she always knows how to make me laugh, even when I'm on the verge blowing up. I love her! And I love everything that she's done for me! She is a huge example to me and I'm so grateful to have an example like her in my life. I know if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be half the person that I am today and that I wouldn't have learned from all my mistakes the way that I have. I only hope that one day I could be half of as good of a mother as she has been to me. I love you, Mom!





I also love my aunt Deborah! She's like a second mom to me hehe but an aunt at the same time... if that makes sense! I love when we get together with her and Claude and Lindsey because there's always laughing and smiling! I know that if I ever needed her for something that she would be there for me! She's a great example to me and I look up to her a lot!



I actually know that all of my aunts are like that, so I'm grateful for all of them.

I'm also grateful for Cody's mom, Julie. She really is like my second madre! Whenever I'm over at their house she's always making sure that I'm taken care of and that I'm happy. She reminds me a lot of my mom in a way. She has the same values that my mom does and she mother's a lot like my mom does, which I'm very grateful for. She's always got a huge smile on her face, just like my mom, and she knows practically everyone in the world... just like my mom! haha!She is also one of those women that I look up to as a great example and that I know if I need anything she will be there. Thanks for everything Julie!

Commercials

So I am texting my dear Holly as we speak hehe and we are talking about commericials that we hate and that we love.

One that I hate is the Carl's Jr commercials with the girl in the bikini or the girl in just her shirt and they're like being all seductive while eating the foot. How degrading is that? Not impressed, although they're food is pretty yummy!

Right now I have 3 favorite commercials. I love the U Kotex tampon commercials haha I know I know... kinda a weird one but they are hilarious. This one is my absolute favorite!



And what's funny is that that's exacly how guys act!

Next favorite... the Progressive Flo commericials! I love her! She's hilarious! "...Or a big tricked out name tag." "Unicorns and Glitter!" "I once went 12 whole minutes!" haha!



My next favorite commercial? Jimmy Dean Breakfast...



"Did someone call for rain?" haha!

Anyways... I had nothing else to blog about so this was an awesome suggestion, thanks to Holls! Enjoy! :D

Zucchini Chocolate Cake

Alright everyone, so I'm adding another "label" for my blog.

I've been wanting to work on my baking and cooking skills, and so my goal (and I made this one up when Cody left in February since I would have lots of time on my hands hehe!) is to cook new and more things and to bake more and new things. So far... haha I've kinda been slow at it. Last month, when Mom and Dad and Parker went on the cruise, I made Peanut Butter Buddies and Raspberry Creamcheese Bars. That's all since Cody's left. :0( Sad day!
So... my new "label" is, well I can't decide between Food Madness or Culinary Creations... hmmm... let me know what you think.
Well, I'm well on my way! Tonight I made Zucchini Chocolate Cake. Sooo yummy! And you can't even taste the Zucchini! I wanted to know what the health benefits of Zucchini was, so I googled it. And this is what I found.

- Zucchini helps to cure asthma as it contains Vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant, and has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Zucchini helps to prevent diseases, like scurvy, bruising etc, caused by the deficiency of Vitamin C.
- Eating zucchini also helps to support the arrangement of capillaries.
- Regular intake of zucchini effectively lowers high homocysteine levels. (whatever that is!)
- Zucchini also prevents the risk of having multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Zucchinis have high water content (over 95%), so they make perfect food for people on diet.
- Zucchini contains useful amounts of folate, potassium, and vitamin A, necessary for a human body.
- Zucchini contains Vitamin C and lutein, both of which are good for eyes.

Here's the recipe:

Mix together first - 1/2 cup Margarine
1/2 cup Canola Oil
1 3/4 cup of sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp. of vanilla
1/2 cup Buttermilk

Add these ingredients into wet mixture -
2 1/2 cups flour
6 tbl. baking cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder

After wet and dry ingredients are mixed, add 2 cups of grated zucchini.
Bake in greased and floured 9x13 pan for 40-45 minutes at 350 degrees.



Someday, I wanna do something like in "Julie and Julia", but I wanna do it with someone like Rachael Ray or Paula Dean. Hmm. Maybe someday. Probably when I have my own place.

Feel free to try this out and let me know what you think! More zucchini recipes to come! We love zucchini at my house so we have lots of recipes! :D

Food, Interview and Other Nonsense

Oh my goodness! I am so excited! Tomorrow I have an interview with College Dental Clinic, which is the clinic that I worked with while going to school. One of their assistants is leaving to get her hygiene, which I will eventually do as well, and so they've asked me to go in and do a working interview with them. I'm a little nervous because I haven't done asssiting since December haha! But I know that once I get going it will come back to me. I'm reviewing my book and stuff too hehe I think I might worry a little too much ;D But this will give me my years experience that every other dental clinic wants. I'm planning to still go to school and get my pre-reqs while I'm working there. Hopefully it all works out well! I hope I get it because I'm getting tired and too stressed out over Sam's Club.

I don't know if i ever told you about my positive month... haha well Ann, my COS supervisor at Sam's Club that I absolutely love!, challenged me last month to do a month of positivity. She did it in March simply because she wanted to try to be more enthusiastic about things and have a positive outlook on things. She challenged me to do it in April. I did well, except for like the last two weeks, in which she told me I could bag it and start over again in May. She's doing it with me this month. I've done super well so far! I did have a little break down last night but I got over it quickly and back on track. I challenge everyone to have a positive month! I've noticed a little difference in the way things are going in my life, and I'm sure the better I get at it the better things will get and the more that I will notice. I don't wanna be annoyingly positive, because obviously everyone has those days where it just isn't cutting it, but try it. See how you do.

I've also made another decision haha. I've been wanting to work on some church related things... like reading my scriptures better and praying and such. I'm raising the bar for myself I guess you could say. Actually I'm just working on being a better person spiritually which I know will help me temporally. I decided that I wanted to work on one specific principle every month. This month I'm going to do scripture study. I want to read my scriptures every day at least once, if not twice. I'm gonna try to incorporate prayer in there as much as I can to get used to it but right now my focus is on the scriptures. I'll see how it goes too :)

Do you wanna know what sounds super super yummy right now? The Turkey Bacon Avocado sandwich from Kneaders. MMMM!

My Favorite Dad :D

Hahaha oh I love my dad! He came home, layed down and fell asleep two seconds later :D