Thanks Martha!

Martha was kind enough to send me a housewarming gift a few weeks ago! (She also had the audacity to sneak in a magazine subscription request, but we'll overlook that for now). Since we're such good friends she knew that I was thinking about trying out some sort of banana cookie recipe (once I took the time to find one) and generously sent  me one of her faves.

I was nervous at first with the whole wheat flour (sometimes I just don't like to mix my healthy with my not) but as it turns out, you can't event taste it! I was also nervous because the dough ended up quite runny- as far a cookie dough goes. I should have never doubted Martha. The cookies were great and a huge hit with Scott, the missionaries, and Megan. (I don't think I've introduced Meg yet. I work with her at bv and she's great. She's also a great cook so her opinion is quite important- unlike the first 2 listed who are very easy to please.)

Anyway, you can find the recipe here if you're interested. The photo is courtesy of Martha, but I swear mine looked exactly the same (although I did not take the time to build a tower).

That's Just Too Bad...

You know when you're really hoping for something, almost to the point your're sure it will happen...And then it doesn't. And you feel your stomach drop- you're that bummed.

Sometimes I think things go completely opposite of what you want, just because you want it a certain way. Like the Universe is out to get you. A dear friend would say:

"if you want it, put it out to the Universe. If you want it bad enough, the Universe will grant it."

Sometimes I think the Universe just likes to laugh in your face.

I hate it when that happens.
It would have been a really sweet getaway!

The BIG 2-3

Thank you all for the birthday wishes- It was a great day full of surprises, gifts and great company!

One of the highlights was this sweet Edible Arrangement delivered to my work from Mum, Dad and Jared. I was totally surprised and caught off guard- and then I helped the delivery lady shop around the store! It looked very similar to this one- minus the marshmallows and cantaloupe. Oops, My bad, I did not take a picture of the actual one. (Gimme a break, I was at work!)

Thank you Edible Arrangements for supplying this wonderful image.

I was treated to donuts from only the best local bakery in town, homemade kettle corn (as good, if not better than the fresh stuff at the "fair"), gift cards, clothes, a lovely sterling bracelet from Mexico and a great meal at Firebirds! 23 is lookin' good.

P.S. If any of you were concerned for my safety when we moved to Crime Capital, USA you can now sleep well knowing that I am the proud owner of Pepper Spray! Before you know it, I'll be packin'. 

(Thanks S&B)

A Want and a Weekend Update

Would really love a water cooler. The tap water here is naaaaaaaaasty. Bottled water is annoying, not to mention it can get pricey. This beauty is at Costco for $199.00 and the bottom loading means:
1. The days of schelping, and hoisting a huge water jug up on to the top are over
2. It looks SO much better with the concealed water jug

http://www.costco.com

In other news:

We missed game night on Friday because the ward directory has Scott's number and we all know he LOVES to answer the phone :). It was a bummer when I found out on Sunday because we did NOTHING Friday night and would have enjoyed games with the Wingerts.

We watch the movie "The Box" last night and today (we started it late, Scott started to fall asleep and I was too creeped out to stay up late alone and finish it). It was a very strange movie and I still don't get it.

I was loving my Sunday Afternoon nap, but am now loathing it because it's 11 and I'm wide awake, wanting to snack and have to work in the morning.

And finally, I "invented" a new "recipe" earlier this evening. My cravings were battling between popcorn and cinnamon/sugar toast, so I made....Cinnamon/Sugar Popcorn. Actually, it was pretty good.

About to head into another week...WooHoo!

Dream Weekend

CMA Music Festival takes Nashville by Storm June 10-13. 4 days and nights of non stop concerts, kick off parade and block party all for ONLY $157/Person (that's including Tickemaster fees)!!!!

Will I be there? 

No. 

Would I die to be there? 

Yes.

Here is JUST A TASTE of who will be there....

Jason Aldean 

Lady Antebellum

Martina McBride

Reba McEntire

Brad Paisley

Rascal Flatts

Darius Rucker

Carrie Underwood

Keith Urban

Zac Brown Band

Can you think of a better way to spend a weekend in June? I think not.

Canada vs. USA

We were teaching Sunday School last week and I wished the class luck in the Olympic hockey game to be held that afternoon and told them I would be nice when they lost and had to see me again the following Sunday.

This week I made sugar cookies in the shape of Maple Leaf's for them, but it was Fast Sunday (obviously I didn't notice until we were running out the door to be on time, and chose to leave the cookies at home). I told them all about the cookies. One boy in our class, Taj, said we got lucky.

Umm, no, you got lucky in the LAST 20 SECONDS. 

He also said he almost memorized the Canadian Anthem- 

"well duh, you heard it so many times with all of our record breaking Gold Medals" I said. 

He said he was going to come over tonight and decorate our apartment with American Flags. Instead, he showed up at the door with a giant heart shaped cookie decorated like the US Flag. I knew he was coming and changed out of my pajamas and answered the door in my Oilers Jersey.

A good night. 

 

My Miscellaneous Thoughts

My Aunt Kathy is really rubbing off on me. When she first started talking about moving into a container home approximately 6 months ago, I thought is was a ghetto and crazy idea. But it's growing on me to the point that I would do it. If, like she says, you could actually find a nice area zoned to hold a shipping container dwelling. She has posted pictures of what they can look like, and they're amazing with a very modern/minimalist feel.

Just want to mention, as Kathy does, that they come standard with hardwood floors. They are totally repainted inside and out. You cut the windows out (well, hire someone). You can drywall.

I like the whole minimalist look, to an extent, but you have to have the stuff  and your spaced designed to accommodate it. You just can't put little to nothing up on the walls or out on display because you think your modern and minimal. If you do that, you will just look like you don't really have anything (like my house!) The accessories and furniture have to fit the style of your house, and you. I will be ecstatic when the day comes that my furniture, decor and home actually feel like "me".

This is what a container home could look like. 

There is some great potential.You can even get
crazy and stack them, which is how they
are shown here.

Here is a single level container house...not too bad.

(ignore the ugly duvet cover...)

p.s. I stole these 2 pictures from Kathy's blog, 

but she stole them from someone else off the 

world wide web, so I don't feel bad. Thanks Kath!

Also, I just want to say that while "spreadable butter" sounds like a really great idea, it's not. Well it would be if it were actually SPREADABLE.....But alas, Scott and I fight with our "spreadable butter" every day on our toast/sandwiches etc. to get it to spread. I would love one of these: (Kathy has this too!)

Butter store in this "Butter Bell" is actually spreadable!

FYI: It was a great week at work and I am now off until Monday at 2 pm...I'm not sure what I'll do with all this time! Maybe Scott and I will go biking tomorrow, it's supposed to be nice outside :)

My Many Names

I just received a letter addressed to Carl Hale. Yes, Carl. And when you stop and think, well it's not so bad, at least it was just this once- and not in public, hold those thoughts. Many a voice competition would go by where I would be introduced as Carl Biggs, because my teacher would write in all-capitals on the registration form. I figured I was beyond that now that I'm not doing such things. Nope, apparently not.

I am also called "Kay" and "Terri" on a regular basis at work when I'm on the phone. C'mon people...Cari. It must be a thing with names ending in "ee" because Stephanie gets called Becky. Nobody screws up names like Megan, Scott, Kris, etc. Just another thing to add to the list when selecting baby names. It will be a hard process. (Note to my mum: that was not an announcement, just thinking ahead!)

In other news, Canada beat the USA in Men's hockey. We took Gold. On home ice. We also took home more Gold medals than any other country in Winter Olympics..EVER. But hey, who's counting? (Your congratulations are graciously accepted.) Just wanted to make sure the news reached all these USA folks- we all know how good NBC is at reporting all the facts.

To celebrate the exciting moment, I wore my Oilers jersey to work today. America is celebrating the loss by sending Canada a case of Molson Canadian Beer. I believe Terri Clark said it best when she said "I think the world needs a drink...World peace can be achieved if we all sat down for a drink".

Well folks, they are being served in Ottawa- as soon as Obama delivers.