Recent blog entries I've loved

Because I don't want to blog about the singles activity I went to last night (way too depressing) and because I haven't taken pictures of fun things I've been doing lately (brunch with Krysta, BBQ with my family, a play with Kim) I'm going to blog about other people's blogs. Smart, huh?

I've fallen off my blog of the week wagon but here are some recent entries I loved and thought you'd love as well. I probably have more than this to share but guess what? My reader is up to 607. This is what happens when I get too busy at work and I don't get to take lunch (but it does make for nice results at WW - go me.)

Anyhoo...

You know how people come up with lists of things to accomplish before a certain age? My friend Jasmine's sister Autumn posted the BEST such list. Read it here. Seriously awesome. Number nine made me laugh out loud.

One of my darling/former YW, Jamie has such a fun blog. I love her. Read her letter to her life here. It made me want to write my own such letter.

I really want to get over my fear of pie-making and bake this pie but not the cookies for the crust. I love that there are people out there who go to that extent when baking but me? I buy cookies from the store and feel great about it.

I made these chocolate chip cookies today for our handyman at work who is so nice and does whatever I ask without rolling his eyes or complaining. They've got a really good flavor and a nice texture but I don't know that they're the best ever. I used all butter but didn't chill the dough so will try them again and be more exact next time.

Have you read anything interesting I need to know about???? Do share. I mean, I won't have time to read them but I might have free time again someday.

Blogworthy news

I'm not sure I'm loving the whole "blog once a week" thing but since I've had a lot going on lately (including stuff I couldn't really talk about) I just haven't been able to blog. But the cone of silence has been lifted and I can officially tell you I got the job!

The interview was much easier than I expected -- only three simple questions. They obviously liked my answers because two days later I was told the job was mine. I started supporting the new guy on Monday in addition to my regular work and let me just tell you, I am going crazy. Thankfully, I will be able to start offloading my old job to my replacement by next week.

I have such mixed emotions about everything. I'm over the moon happy about the new job. Seriously thrilled, I tell you! My new boss is so nice and very similar in leadership style to my current (beloved) boss. He's also just as devoted to his family, just as ethical and a really great guy. The job will be different and with different challenges which is good after working in the same group for nearly five years. I could also easily pull a Dwight Schrute and cross out the "to the" after the "assistant" part of my title and sound REALLY important.
HOWEVER, I get in my car and cry just about every night as I drive home because I'm so sad to be making this change. Last night, my (beloved) boss called all three phone numbers, sent texts to both work/personal cell phones and finally called my friend Krysta to try and find me because he thought he had said something that upset me. I mean, come on...who does that? I know we'll still be close - it'll just be "different" and I'm not always a big fan of "different."

Anyway, I'll be fine. This really is a great thing. I just want (a.) to stop crying so much and (b.) to sleep for 8 hours in a row. Is that so much to ask? I think not.

Five before bedtime

1. I interviewed for "the job" yesterday. It went very well and now I'm playing the waiting game. I loathe playing the waiting game. It's my least favorite game.

2. My favorite candies are now available in stores, staring at me as I try to pay for my healthy groceries. Dear Cadbury Creme Eggs and Peanut Butter M&Ms/speckled egg variety, why are you so fabulously good??? Get thee hence.

3. This should really be a post in and of itself but last week I took a day off work so I could watch my sister's four kids overnight while Jen and her home from Iraq husband could go stay downtown. Here's what I did while playing favorite auntie/pseudo mom...

I made my bro-in-law's favorite cookies:

I let this cute dog (and the other one who isn't quite as cute) in and out all day.

I went shopping at the mall during the 3 hours Natalie was at school on Friday and found my way cute interview outfit. I celebrated by stopping at Sonic on the way home. I got a lovely drink chock full of limes and crushed ice. Yum.

I attempted to do Natalie's hair before school. I should have taken a better picture but it was not pretty. I'm not one of those girls who grew up doing everyone's hair. I can barely style my own hair, let alone anyone else's. She was nice about it though. Thank goodness she's only five and doesn't care (and seriously isn't she just the cutest?)

I played this very fun game. Love it although now it's stressing me out because it's gotten too hard.

But the best news is that this restaurant paid for Jen & Matt's dinner after Jen told them Matt was home on R&R. THEN their hotel gave them an upgraded room for free. I love it when businesses are kind and generous so I linked to them and when you are so inclined, you should give them your business as a thank you.

4. I spent time with these wonderful girls this weekend. It does my heart good to see them. My favorite thing was laughing uncontrollably during games on Saturday night (Celebrity Taboo!) Sigh. I love to laugh almost as much as I love these girls. I think I'm laughing (or more likely, talking) in this picture. I'm a dork.

5. Should #5 be A. that I played on the trivia team again this week and we won for the second week in a row, despite the fact that two of my correct answers were pooh-poohed in the final round (the animated sequel to Disney's Peter Pan is what? And what 80s movie series was set in Hill Valley, CA?) Or B. should it be that my boyfriend, Mr. Crushworthy came to visit me today? Hmm. Both are good and noteworthy. The latter included a hug so I'm thinking I'll go with B.

It's been a week? Seriously?

I can't believe I haven't blogged in a week. What's up with that? Want to know what I'm thinking about? Okay, I'll tell you!

• I loved the Oscars. I watched with three of my dearest friends, as we have done for the past several years. We eat, laugh and yes, we throw a quarter into a bowl if we miss a category. I won this year by only missing four. And guess what? I've only seen two of the best picture nominees! I am just THAT good at guessing, people. My favorite parts of the night were Alec & Steve as hosts (perfection!), the opening with Neil Patrick Harris (love him!), the dresses that Sandra, Kate, Queen Latifah and Sarah Jessica wore (stunning!) and Sandra's speech (beautiful!)
• I made the BEST non-WW appetizer for the party. Bacon wrapped little smokies that you sprinkle with brown sugar and bake (Callie, you must make them!) Seriously, so good. One of my friends came about 45 minutes later than the rest of us and we seriously contemplated eating all of them and not letting her know I'd even brought them.
• I'm taking a multi-vitamin plus vitamin C and vitamin D supplements every day and I still feel like I'm getting sick again. What the heck??
• I have some friends that play trivia in a restaurant downtown every week and they needed an extra person for their team so I joined them and helped them to win! It was all very random stuff, covering every subject under the sun. I'm good at the stupid pop-culture stuff (should not surprise you) and I'm going to play again next week.
• Have I mentioned I'm going to Vegas for a few days the first week of April? Well, I am and I've never been. I don't know yet what I want to do when I get there. I just know I don't want to see Blue Man Group. But other than that, I'm open to suggestions.
• I forgot to record Jason & Molly's wedding last night but caught part of it. I just don't get why they went ahead with the wedding outside, in those beautiful clothes, when it was a torrential downpour. It was a wedding on TV, paid for by a major network and a huge department store chain. Could they not afford a big tent? Why didn't they have a plan B that was at some equally beautiful indoors location? Molly's hair looked beautiful for ONCE in her life (sorry Molly but you need a hair makeover or to become BFF's with Ken Paves) and she ended up looking a little drowned-rat-ish when she should have been stunning. I felt sad for her even though everyone acted like it was fine and wonderful.

Aaaannnnddddd...that's all I've got.

It is done. See ya, Jake & Vienna!

Thank heavens this season of The Bachelor is FINALLY over. Here are my random thoughts after watching last night's finale:

• I say things incorrectly all the time. I am certainly not perfect. HOWEVER, I could hardly stand listening to "sister-in-laws" over and over. I wish the producers would have told Jake's mom the correct way to say it.
• Watching Jake's family when they first met Vienna was beyond painful. Who else thinks Jake pulled his family aside off-camera and told them Vienna was his choice because there is NO way they could so quickly change their collective minds about her. I mean, Jake's mom visibly hated her and you don't get over that in an hour-long meeting.
• I laughed when Vienna invited Jake back to her room for "dessert and cheese and crackers." I'm guessing it was twinkies, chicken in a biscuit crackers and spray cheese. Yummy.
• Okay, Jake. You had to tell Tenley you weren't the least bit attracted to her physically right after you tell her "emotionally you captivated me." How did you become so unlikeable and insincere? Jake so lucked out that Tenley is probably the sweetest and most forgiving girl on the planet. Imagine if the situation had been reversed? Vienna would have gone all sorts of crazy had she been in Tenley's position. Sigh. Now THAT would have been awesome TV.
• It's hard to see from this picture but when Vienna was looking at herself in the mirror prior to the final rose ceremony, I imagined her thinking "I can't believe I found these earrings at Claire's on sale 3 for $10." They were horrible and cheap looking.
  
  
• I always wonder why the girls are willing to face the Bachelor again on TV after the the final rose. Who wants that sort of public pain? I don't get it.
• I couldn't find a good picture but so many times watching last night, I thought Tenley strongly resembled a less-endowed Mariah Carey. Mostly her profile, I think. Anyone else see it???
• I can't decide what Vienna has done to herself after seeing her on After the Rose. Is it just weight loss? I'm thinking so. And she looked like she had no eyelashes or mascara on and her eyes just looked weird and baggy (that could also be from weight loss.) Wait! As I'm re-watching it now, I'm wondering if she had botox or Restylane. I know she's young so she should have smooth skin but her forehead looks sort of unnaturally taut. And Vienna, you cannot go without mascara. Trust me, I know stuff. The natural look is not your friend.

Okay, I will close by saying Jake and Vienna obviously seem to both think the other is amazingly awesome and that's great. I mean seriously, I would love to have that for myself. But, still, I give it six months. I'm sure Vienna is hoping for a Jason/Molly style wedding next year but I really don't see that happening.

I'm glad we have two months off so I can forget the frustration before we have Ali the Bachelorette this May. You know that despite all of my complaining, I'm still gonna watch.

I know, I know. It's a sickness.

Snaps for an excellent weekend

A couple of years ago, "Legally Blonde the Musical" was shown on MTV and I've kept it on my TiVo ever since. Since then, I've had Christina, Kim, Lynda and Rachel over to watch it and they loved it as much as me.

When I heard last year that the show was finally coming to our corner of the world, I knew we had to go. I bought Christina's ticket as her high school graduation gift and she flew up from Provo for the weekend. The morning of the show, we went to breakfast at this cute little place out in the country. So yummy! I'm still dreaming about the hash browns and bacon. Why does bad food have to taste SO good?

Finally, 5 PM came and it was time for our big night on the town. We had dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory before heading into the city. Ahh, mizithra cheese, how I love thee (again, why is food SO good?) My dear friend Boni joined us and got to experience the craziness that is us (so happy she did!)

Here we are downtown outside of the theater and note that we all wore pink because it's Elle Woods' signature color. We're cool like that.

The show was so darling and happy. Of course, they had to throw in stuff that wasn't in my TiVo'd Broadway version (i.e. naughtiness that was not necessary) but I still smiled throughout the whole thing. Christina and I were probably the most giddy about being there and we tried hard to not sing along out loud. :)

During intermission, we decided to try and take a self-portrait in front of the "no photography" sign - ha. Kim tried first but we decided that "kids" have better skills in taking self-portraits because Christina took this awesome one of us (okay, I love how I look in this one - yes, I'm vain. We've discussed that already. Get over it.)

We had such a good night. I'm so glad we take advantage of opportunities like this to see fun musicals when they come to town. I love making memories with fun experiences like this.

I'm so grateful for the special relationship I share with Christina. I know she used to think I didn't love her as much as I love her sisters (haha -- remember that, Chrissy??) but hopefully she knows now how much I totally love her. She's a beautiful, special, hilarious, smart, faith-filled young woman and I'm so proud and grateful to be her friend. Love you, Christina!

My favorite commercial - right now

I saw this when I was at the movies this weekend and then saw it a bunch of times this week during American Idol. This is just hilarious - watch.