Restaurant chains I love

I came home last night from an expensive dinner with all of this leftover food that I didn't even really love and that's what drove my blog entry listing all of the restaurants I dislike. So by popular demand, here are my most favorite places to eat, in no particular order:

• California Pizza Kitchen -- duh! If you know me at all, you know that this is my favorite place to eat. I tend to order the same thing every time (half of a BBQ chopped salad/no jicama and hopefully I can talk my table into ordering the thai chicken spring rolls as an appetizer.) I love that the food is always fresh, they have limes for my soda and my salad is just the right size (outsized portions sort of offend me for some reason - maybe because I generally dislike leftovers? I'm not sure why.) Anyway, I love this restaurant and I think I would eat there at least once a week if I could.
• Panera Bread -- love this place. Like CPK, I think the food is always fresh tasting and hello they have the name of my favorite food group (bread!) in their name. Besides great bread, the salads are yummy and I especially love the broccoli cheddar soup! They have free wi-fi too...how cool is that??
• Red Robin -- when you want good french fries, you've gotta go to "The Rooster" as a friend of mine used to call it. I love the campfire/onion ring sauce for my fries and the raspberry limeade is totally yum!
• PF Changs -- kind of expensive Chinese food but I love all of the sauces they mix up for the lettuce wraps and the Mongolian beef is fabulous.
• Qdoba Mexican Grill -- I'm not necessarily a fan of the big giant burrito type places but the food here is just great. I love getting a quesadilla when I go here (their beef & chicken tastes real & like they just grilled it -- some restaurants do not have good tasting meat, in my opinion.) They also have limes for my soda, which is almost unheard of for a restaurant that is probably considered fast food.
• Salty's -- I wouldn't call this a chain but they do have 3 locations so I'll slip them in here. Salty's is one of my most favorite special occasion restaurants. They do a really expensive but really special and amazing brunch on Saturdays & Sundays (and we Mormons appreciate a restaurant that has brunch on Saturdays, don't we??) The Alki location is my favorite and they have the best view of downtown Seattle.

Okay Lindsey & Jazzy...are you happy now? :) If you guys want my leftover chicken piccata and asparagus from last night, let me know!

Restaurant chains I dislike

In honor of my dinner out tonight, I thought I'd share a list of restaurant chains that I do not enjoy. I would prefer to stay home then go out to eat at any of these places:

• Maggiano's Little Italy: Overpriced, the portions are too large and it's really just boring food. Plus our service tonight was awful. Boo hiss.
• Olive Garden: I know this will be an unpopular opinion but with the exception of the salad and breadsticks, their food is just not good and I will never understand their popularity.
• Stanford's: They have a ton of different options on the menu but do none of them well. Pick a theme and stick with it!
• Bahama Breeze: Meh. I've never found anything I liked on their menu. I understand the bar is great, however, if you're into that sort of thing.
• Red Lobster: Horrible, horrible service.

What's on your list???

Lipstick analysis, a recipe and other stuff

Both Sheryl & Bridget sent me links re: my lipstick quandary last week. According to Bridget's link, my lipstick shape (sharp angled box curved tip, thank you very much) says I'm creative, enthusiastic/energetic, talkative, loves attention, falls in love easily and helpful. Hmm. What does YOUR lipstick shape say about you? Click here to find out and then report back.

My home teachers came over yesterday. One is the stake president and the other is a fairly new member of the church whom I will call Brother Swell. Brother Swell came to find me in the Primary room yesterday. I was hurriedly setting up chairs before the kids started coming in. Brother Swell started talking to me about the visit they wanted to make that afternoon and we agreed on a time and then he started helping me with the chairs. I told him where to put the chairs and then directed one of the young men who came in to help. When the home teachers came over later, Brother Swell said "I don't want to offend you but I had no idea you could direct people like that." I thought it was funny he was worried that would offend me so I told him I was just naturally bossy and proud of it.

On Saturday, I brought dinner over to a friend's house. I made something new: a Pizza Bubble Ring and I found the recipe here. It was so good! I think it would also make a great appetizer for parties. Try it!

Last week's Office was fantastic. I loved that David Wallace let Jim in during the negotiations (take THAT Charles!) Buying the Michael Scott Paper Company was such a great way to bring them all back to Dunder Mifflin AND to get Pam out from behind the receptionist's desk. The NBC website has a free download of Jim's Dwight ring tone -- go here to get it. If you can figure out how I can get it on my phone, let me know.

Okay, okay!

You want a new blog entry? I'll give you a new blog entry!

• Biggest Loser last night. UGH! I am so sad about Kristin leaving. And you know what? Those people on the show were SO stupid to not get rid of Ron back when they could have (when he was below the line so much.) Now that he's on a roll, he is basically unstoppable. It's probably going to be him and his son in the finale with Ron almost throwing it so Mike will win. Blah. I might be rooting for Tara now even though I am beyond sick and tired of her winning each challenge. Please note that I'm not rooting for Mike. Why? I loathe cockiness. So unattractive coming from such a cute kid.
• I love love love spring! We've had mostly good weather for the past week and the trees are blooming and beautiful. My personal favorites are any variety of magnolia trees. They seriously make me happy and wish I had a yard full of them.
• I've been craving spinach salad with strawberries, sugared walnuts and poppy seed dressing. I bought the fixings tonight - YUM!
• I bought gas yesterday and today it was 4 cents a gallon cheaper. What the heck?
• Did anyone watch the Real Housewives of NYC when the Countess spoke to some group of teenaged girls? Did anyone else just cringe and want to throw stuff at the Countess' head when she told the not-skinny aspiring model that it'll be really easy for her to lose weight? So lame, Countess. Sometimes you should maybe not say everything that pops into your head, okay?
• My boss gave me a movies gift card for Admin Professionals day today (thank you, Krysta for reminding him!) He wrote on the back "to be used only on G, PG or PG13 movies." That guy just cracks me up.
• People brought in treats for us today too -- I thought you'd like to know that Safeway makes REALLY good M&M cookies.
• Why do I do this with my lipstick? Seriously, why? And yes, the tip broke off when I used it after I took this picture.
  
  

The I's have it...again...

I struggled through my camp meeting on Wednesday night. It was SO hard. The girls don't seem to be one bit excited and I don't know what to do about it. Plus there were seven girls there. SEVEN! Sadness.

I laughed when I found out I have a blog stalker (you know who you are -- hi!!) For whatever reason, I don't go around telling people about my blog. My family and closest friends know but I just feel weird telling the people at church or work about it. However, someone confessed to me this week that she's been reading my blog for awhile now and it was so funny.

I stamped at an SU regional event on Friday. It was really fun, even though the crowd was a little dead. My table was fun and we laughed a ton and had a blast. One of the presenters, a cute lady named Bonnie described herself as pre-married (instead of single.) I like it!

I watched the rest of the "Friday Night Lights" episodes I had TiVo'd. Oh my gosh, I so love that show. I cried when Tyra got into UT (I'm a dork, I know, but I love her.) I can't wait until next season.

I opened my windows at home for the first time this year (well, except for that one time when I cooked lasagna but that doesn't really count.) It was in the low 70s today. Heaven!

More thoughts -- 2 days in a row

I know I just blogged yesterday but I have more things on my mind today!

• I'm trying to gather my thoughts for my camp meeting tonight. I want to talk about how being a leader does not mean you have total control, that being in charge means you want only the best for those you're leading, that you must first and foremost love those you serve.
• Tara on Biggest Loser is seriously a machine. That being said, I'm kind of tired of her winning all of the challenges (as I would be if it were anyone else...I like it when the wins are spread out!) I want Kristin to win it all - loved her makeover but Laura's was probably my favorite. She looks great with darker hair. And I totally heart Tim Gunn.
• Facebook item of the day -- I'm loving that I can hide all of the quizzes without hiding the people!! I came home today to see pretty much all status updates on my home page. Happiness.
• My favorite American Idol performer this week was Kris Allen - loved his song. I hated only hearing from two judges. They should have just stuck with 90 minute shows a little longer instead of trying to rush everyone through in an hour long show (well, or just let Simon or Kara do the critiquing.)
• I had a bunch of tulips waiting at my door when I came home today! They're from a friend I also happen to visit teach. So incredibly sweet and unexpected. Tulips are such a happy flower.

Thoughts on a Tuesday

• Navy SEALs? Holy cow. They are so totally awesome. I know they train for situations like that but the fact that they took those three pirates out, simultaneously, in the dark, in a boat while floating on the ocean is really just incredible. Now if someone would just figure out what to do about those stupid pirates - enough already.
• That glazed ham I made for Easter (too lazy to link - look at my last entry) turned out SO good. I highly recommend you make it next time you make a ham. Quick, easy and yummy. I think next time I'll double the glaze and keep the 2nd batch to serve on the side (we are a sauce-loving family.)
• I'm co-hosting three bridal showers over the next few months. Yes, three. I have one game I like to play at showers -- it's a matching game of wedding related words and the prizes are treats that go along with that word. It's nice because it's fun and not a traditional (aka boring and stupid) shower game and hello, the prizes are candy bars. However, I can't play it at all of the showers. Anyone have a good idea of some sort of game or activity? I mean, they could just show up, watch the bride open gifts and then eat but we need SOMETHING else, don't we?
• Camp meeting tomorrow night - I think I'm ready.
• Yes, I watch a lot of TV. Well, I TiVo a lot of shows and sometimes I actually get around to watching what I TiVo, sometimes I delete everything. Lately I've been watching some episodes of Friday Night Lights - it's such a great show. Seriously. And Tim Riggins? Yum.
• In the last 3 days, I have done the following to my left hand: cuts in three different places, jammed a notebook up underneath my thumbnail until it bled, burned my thumb and forefinger with my hair straightener and then bent the already injured thumbnail back. All to the same dang hand! What is wrong with me? Sheesh. And the sore thumb really cuts into my texting! I'm done with having a hand that hurts all over.

Saturday is a special day

Why is today special? I have a few things on my mind today. Okay, so that doesn't make it that special but I really just needed a blog title.

• Since she blogged it, I figure I can share -- Callie's engaged! The future Mrs. Jennings called me last night to give me the great news. I hung up the phone and cried happy tears. I'm just thrilled for her and Andrew.
• Last night I had dinner with the Allens, my friends who just moved back after a couple of years living abroad. So fun to be with them again!!! Anyway, while we were at dinner, a couple with 2 girls, around 8-10 years old sat next to us. The dad spent the entire time quizzing the girls on math stuff (factors, prime numbers -- no times tables for these girls.) The mom said nothing the entire time. Very odd.
• This week's 30 Rock was hysterically funny. Kenneth saying "I'm sorry to be using my barn voice in front of a lady" was so funny.
• My sister and her family get here from Hawaii tonight -- I'm so happy they're going to be living close by again.
• Thursday's Oprah? I didn't watch it but did watch Friday's and I'm still sort of stunned by the advice given by the "doctor."
• Facebook rant of the day: I got a message in my inbox from a total stranger with an African name. Subject: you are beautyful. Body of the email said Hello Jean. Um, seriously? We can get junk email in Facebook now?? I reported him.
• For tomorrow's Easter dinner, I'm making 1-2-3 pudding and bar sugar cookies. Tomorrow I'm making the ham with this glaze. I love food blogs.
• Butter was on sale at WinCo this morning for $1.28 a pound, limit 6. I KNOW! My favorite beverage was $2.48 for a 12 pack. I love a good grocery deal.
• And while I'm on the subject of groceries, I'm still irritated and offended by the Dreyers and Breyers ice cream people for switching to 1.5 qt containers but not lowering the price even a stinking penny. Weren't they using 1.75 qt containers last summer? Tillamook went down to 1.75 qt containers and you just know they (and everyone else) will be going to 1.5 qt unless we band together and boycott Dreyers and Breyers. This madness has got to stop. Anyone with me?

Things that are bugging me

• I hate how much the new boss hates Jim Halpert on "The Office." Seriously. Hey "Office" writers, it's really not enjoyable to see our favorite guy constantly hassled. Not one bit funny.
• I'm allergic to my mom's new puppy -- whenever she licks me, I break out in hives.
• I'm still bugged that American Idol went overtime on Tuesday night. I record it, as you know, and I didn't even get to see the one singer I wanted to see, Adam Lambert.
• I bought two new pairs of jeans this week, both on sale. One pair is so incredibly long and they aren't even talls (I'm almost 5' 7" too!) I'm going to see if my mom can hem them without them looking stupid (they're trouser jeans so I think it might work.) The other pair seemed fine in the store but they're too short and I haven't even washed them yet. So lame. They're going back.
• I can no longer comment on blogs from my work computer which totally blows and is really cutting into my commenting.
• I'm out of cereal which makes breakfast less than satisfying.
• I wasted time watched a stupid movie this week (House Bunny.) Seven Pounds is coming next. I need movie suggestions for my Netflix Queue -- anyone???

Laziness

I'm feeling Lazy with a capital L.

I really don't feel like doing anything I need to do...like my taxes, sharing time, camp stuff, responding to email & facebook messages, writing, putting away my stuff after my fun weekend at Patty's, creating cards to swap at a stampin up event I'm going to next week and making invitations for a bridal shower I'm co-hosting later this month.

I don't feel like doing any of these things but I'll of course be doing some of them soon (taxes & sharing time are at the top of my list.) I think I'll take the easy way out and buy shower invitations (which goes against every fiber of my being but there just isn't time to create something.) Everything else will get done eventually. Won't it?

Sigh.

Oh where, oh where has my motiviation gone? Oh where, oh where can it be?????

My fave conference tradition

When I was in my 20s, I started a tradition with my friend Patty. On General Conference Saturday, she'd come over with two AM/PM 32 oz diet cokes (does anyone else remember when they came out with those refillable plastic bottles??) I'd pull a bag of chocolate chip cookies out of the freezer (baked the night before and slightly undercooked so the texture would be perfect) and we'd have our own version of a "breakfast of champions." We'd lay on my bed and watch the first session of Conference together (the one that is always, always my favorite), enjoying the diet coke (yes, there's some irony there) and trying not to eat too many of the cookies.

This Friday night, I'm having dinner with my friend who is visiting from Chicago and then after dinner, making the nearly 3 hour drive to Patty's. Crazy, I know, but I can't not see my friend when he's here and I also don't want to miss my favorite session of conference with one of my dearest friends. I probably won't get there until nearly midnight but it'll be worth it.

It's been a long time since we watched conference together but I had to bake cookies tonight to surprise Patty and as soon as they're cool, they'll go in the freezer. This conference will be different from the ones 20 years ago in that Patty's married now and has 3 amazing boys. So besides the cookies, I'm bringing some conference activities for them (thanks to Kim and Sugardoodle.) It's going to be a great weekend!