The Goodells

101 in 1001 Monthly Update

2012-01-27T09:27:00.001-07:00

1. Make a wreath for my front door - 10/16/11

2. Go to the Texas State Fair - 10/4/10

3. Eat a meal from a food truck

4. Go to the symphony

5. Go 1 week without watching TV - 1/9/11

6. Finally buy wedding pictures...

7. Hang wedding pictures

8. Go to the ballet with Jed - 11/27/10

9. Go to The Sixth Floor Museum

10. Finish my T-shirt quilt I started 2 3 years ago - 3/23/11

11. Go to the Ft. Worth Zoo - 10/2/10

12. Lose 20 pounds!! - 11/3/10

13. Lose 20 more pounds!!! - 6/22/11

14. ~~Go snorkeling again~~ Go to the driving range - 12/30/11

15. Catch up on 30 Rock - 12/6/10

16. ~~Eat vegetarian for a week~~ Try fish - 12/15/11 (tilapia)

17. Go to a Rangers game - 5/13/11

18. Do a ropes course

19. Write in my journal every day for 1 month

20. Go rock climbing again

21. Go back to school - 3/23/11 :)

22. Take a picture each day for 3 1 month - 12/14/11

23. Ride on a real train - 11/19/11

24. Bear my testimony in church

25. Get my picture taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)

26. Get our family photo taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)

27. Swim 10 continuous laps

28. Get a dog

29. Visit NASA

30. ~~Family prayer and~~ Personal scripture study every day for 1 month - 2/3/11

31. Visit San Antonio during a holiday - 7/4/11

32. Join a choir - 10/10/10

33. Make a sourdough starter - 5/9/11

34. Go white water rafting again

35. Pick up the violin again

36. Take Jed to a rodeo - 1/20/11

37. Buy cowboy boots or hats - 11/6/10

38. Get in the car and drive 2 hours in one direction with the windows down and the radio blasting

39. Visit all great-grandparents' grave sites

40. Go to the Dallas Temple - 2/23/11

41. Take Jed to a jazz bar

42. Fly a kite

43. Go to a haunted house with Jed - 10/25/10

44. ~~Complete Couch to 5K Challenge~~ Ride a mechanical bull - 11/19/11

45. Participate in an organized 5K! - 7/11/11

46. Get my palm read or fortune told

47. Go on another cruise with Jed

48. Help build a Habitat for Humanity house - 12/7/11

49. Make Mom's cinnamon rolls - 10/30/10

50. Make Theresa's cinnamon rolls

51. Go to Schlitterbahn with Jed

52. Buy a homeless person lunch - 3/14/11

53. Have a baby

54. Watch the Zombie Walk - 10/16/10

55. Pay off Jed's car!! - 10/19/10

56. Go fishing with Jed - 5/30/11

57. Be 100% credit card debt-free

58. Ride a horse - 7/30/11

59. Go to the Dallas Aquarium

60. Dance to a vinyl record

61. Take a cooking class

62. Get ~~an SLR~~ a video camera - 12/25/11

63. Skydive

64. Visit Gettysburg or Williamsburg

65. Make out in the rain

66. Go to Six Flags with Jed

67. File my own taxes without calling Daddy - 2/22/11

68. Make a hole-in-one

69. Take a hot-air balloon or helicopter ride

70. Change my own oil

71. Go to NYC or San Francisco with Jed

72. Take an art class

73. Jump around in a mosh pit again

74. Go to a circus - 10/14/10

75. Deep clean my bathroom - 2/10/11

76. Visit my sister, Laurel, in California - 4/6/11

77. ~~Ride a motorcycle~~ Buy a house

78. Get a TX driver's license again - 9/29/10

79. Go ~~one week~~ three days without simple carbs - 11/11/11

80. Dance barefoot

81. Get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner

82. Get on a bike again

83. Buy myself flowers for no reason - 2/12/11

84. Go camping in Texas with Jed - 5/6/11

85. Go camping on a beach

86. ~~Go to the Texas beach~~ Float the river with Jed - 7/3/11

87. Donate blood again

88. Spend a night with the lights off, watching a lightning storm - 11/15/10

89. Go to the Grand Canyon

90. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar

91. Paint pottery again

92. Join a bowling or softball league

93. Watch a movie at a drive-in

94. Grow and eat my own vegetables - 12/1/11 (green onions)

95. Sing karaoke again - 11/4/11

96. Take the Riverwalk boat tour - 11/6/10

97. Don't eat out for ~~1 month~~ 2 weeks

98. Go to the batting cages with Jed - 4/1/11

99. Donate plasma

100. Eat fried green tomatoes - 11/6/10

101. Do 1 correct push-up

101 in 1001 Monthly Update

2011-12-27T17:22:00.011-07:00

1. Make a wreath for my front door - 10/16/11

2. Go to the Texas State Fair - 10/4/10

3. Eat a meal from a food truck

4. Go to the symphony

5. Go 1 week without watching TV - 1/9/11

6. Finally buy wedding pictures...

7. Hang wedding pictures

8. Go to the ballet with Jed - 11/27/10

9. Go to The Sixth Floor Museum

10. Finish my T-shirt quilt I started 2 3 years ago - 3/23/11

11. Go to the Ft. Worth Zoo - 10/2/10

12. Lose 20 pounds!! - 11/3/10

13. Lose 20 more pounds!!! - 6/22/11

14. Go snorkeling again

15. Catch up on 30 Rock - 12/6/10

16. ~~Eat vegetarian for a week~~ Try fish - 12/15/11 (tilapia)

17. Go to a Rangers game - 5/13/11

18. Do a ropes course

19. Write in my journal every day for 1 month

20. Go rock climbing again

21. Go back to school - 3/23/11 :)

22. Take a picture each day for 3 1 month - 12/14/11

23. Ride on a real train - 11/19/11

24. Bear my testimony in church

25. Get my picture taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)

26. Get our family photo taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)

27. Swim 10 continuous laps

28. Get a dog

29. Visit NASA

30. ~~Family prayer and~~ Personal scripture study every day for 1 month - 2/3/11

31. Visit San Antonio during a holiday - 7/4/11

32. Join a choir - 10/10/10

33. Make a sourdough starter - 5/9/11

34. Go white water rafting again

35. Pick up the violin again

36. Take Jed to a rodeo - 1/20/11

37. Buy cowboy boots or hats - 11/6/10

38. Get in the car and drive 2 hours in one direction with the windows down and the radio blasting

39. Visit all great-grandparents' grave sites

40. Go to the Dallas Temple - 2/23/11

41. Take Jed to a jazz bar

42. Fly a kite

43. Go to a haunted house with Jed - 10/25/10

44. ~~Complete Couch to 5K Challenge~~ Ride a mechanical bull - 11/19/11

45. Participate in an organized 5K! - 7/11/11

46. Get my palm read or fortune told

47. Go on another cruise with Jed

48. Help build a Habitat for Humanity house - 12/7/11

49. Make Mom's cinnamon rolls - 10/30/10

50. Make Theresa's cinnamon rolls

51. Go to Schlitterbahn with Jed

52. Buy a homeless person lunch - 3/14/11

53. Have a baby

54. Watch the Zombie Walk - 10/16/10

55. Pay off Jed's car!! - 10/19/10

56. Go fishing with Jed - 5/30/11

57. Be 100% credit card debt-free

58. Ride a horse - 7/30/11

59. Go to the Dallas Aquarium

60. Dance to a vinyl record

61. Take a cooking class

62. Get ~~an SLR~~ a video camera

63. Skydive

64. Visit Gettysburg or Williamsburg

65. Make out in the rain

66. Go to Six Flags with Jed

67. File my own taxes without calling Daddy - 2/22/11

68. Make a hole-in-one

69. Take a hot-air balloon or helicopter ride

70. Change my own oil

71. Go to NYC or San Francisco with Jed

72. Take an art class

73. Jump around in a mosh pit again

74. Go to a circus - 10/14/10

75. Deep clean my bathroom - 2/10/11

76. Visit my sister, Laurel, in California - 4/6/11

77. ~~Ride a motorcycle~~ Buy a house

78. Get a TX driver's license again - 9/29/10

79. Go ~~one week~~ three days without simple carbs - 11/11/11

80. Dance barefoot

81. Get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner

82. Get on a bike again

83. Buy myself flowers for no reason - 2/12/11

84. Go camping in Texas with Jed - 5/6/11

85. Go camping on a beach

86. ~~Go to the Texas beach~~ Float the river with Jed - 7/3/11

87. Donate blood again

88. Spend a night with the lights off, watching a lightning storm - 11/15/10

89. Go to the Grand Canyon

90. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar

91. Paint pottery again

92. Join a bowling or softball league

93. Watch a movie at a drive-in

94. Grow and eat my own vegetables - 12/1/11 (green onions)

95. Sing karaoke again - 11/4/11

96. Take the Riverwalk boat tour - 11/6/10

97. Don't eat out for ~~1 month~~ 2 weeks

98. Go to the batting cages with Jed - 4/1/11

99. Donate plasma

100. Eat fried green tomatoes - 11/6/10

101. Do 1 correct push-up

Thankful Thursday (Friday Edition)

2011-12-02T08:40:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for the holiday season.
I am thankful for the cooler weather.
I am thankful for a wonderful husband.
I am thankful that I got to have two Thanksgiving festivities this year.
I am thankful for a wonderful family, immediate and extended.
I am thankful that I have a job, and so does hubby.
I am thankful for Archie and our fish and sharks.
I am thankful that I have a roof over my head and food in my belly.
I am thankful for modern medicine.
I am thankful for technology.
I am thankful for the Gospel.
I am thankful for good friends.
I am thankful.

Monday Memoirs

2011-11-28T07:33:00.003-07:00

Friday:
Jed had off work, so we just kind of vegged most of the day. We did a little bit of shopping (I scored some great deals at Old Navy), but for the most part we were home relaxing and enjoying each other's company.
It was our friend Mandy's birthday, so we went out to dinner with her and her family. It was good to catch up with them and just have a good time with each other.

Saturday:
We bought our Christmas tree! We are lucky enough to have sweet friends (who happen to have a truck) who offered to help us haul it home from the store. I'm so thankful for them taking time out of their busy Saturday to help us!
Then, that night, we went to the temple with some people from our congregation. It's such an uplifting experience when we have the opportunity to go and worship in the temple.

Sunday:
After church, I had an interview to work as a substitute at a daycare. I got the job. :)
In the evening, we went to my sister's house to have a family Thanksgiving celebration.As always, it was good to see them and hang out with family.

101 in 1001 Monthly Update

2011-11-27T10:09:00.014-07:00

1. Make a wreath for my front door - 10/16/11

2. Go to the Texas State Fair - 10/4/10

3. Eat a meal from a food truck

4. Go to the symphony

5. Go 1 week without watching TV - 1/9/11

6. Finally buy wedding pictures...

7. Hang wedding pictures

8. Go to the ballet with Jed - 11/27/10

9. Go to The Sixth Floor Museum

10. Finish my T-shirt quilt I started 2 3 years ago - 3/23/11

11. Go to the Ft. Worth Zoo - 10/2/10

12. Lose 20 pounds!! - 11/3/10

13. Lose 20 more pounds!!! - 6/22/11

14. Go snorkeling again

15. Catch up on 30 Rock - 12/6/10

16. Eat vegetarian for a week

17. Go to a Rangers game - 5/13/11

18. Do a ropes course

19. Write in my journal every day for 1 month

20. Go rock climbing again

21. Go back to school - 3/23/11 :)

22. Take a picture each day for 3 months

23. Ride on a real train - 11/19/11

24. Bear my testimony in church

25. Get my picture taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)

26. Get our family photo taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)

27. Swim 10 continuous laps

28. Get a dog

29. Visit NASA

30. ~~Family prayer and~~ Personal scripture study every day for 1 month - 2/3/11

31. Visit San Antonio during a holiday - 7/4/11

32. Join a choir - 10/10/10

33. Make a sourdough starter - 5/9/11

34. Go white water rafting again

35. Pick up the violin again

36. Take Jed to a rodeo - 1/20/11

37. Buy cowboy boots or hats - 11/6/10

38. Get in the car and drive 2 hours in one direction with the windows down and the radio blasting

39. Visit all great-grandparents' grave sites

40. Go to the Dallas Temple - 2/23/11

41. Take Jed to a jazz bar

42. Fly a kite

43. Go to a haunted house with Jed - 10/25/10

44. ~~Complete Couch to 5K Challenge~~ Ride a mechanical bull - 11/19/11

45. Participate in an organized 5K! - 7/11/11

46. Get my palm read or fortune told

47. Go on another cruise with Jed

48. Help build a Habitat for Humanity house

49. Make Mom's cinnamon rolls - 10/30/10

50. Make Theresa's cinnamon rolls

51. Go to Schlitterbahn with Jed

52. Buy a homeless person lunch - 3/14/11

53. Have a baby

54. Watch the Zombie Walk - 10/16/10

55. Pay off Jed's car!! - 10/19/10

56. Go fishing with Jed - 5/30/11

57. Be 100% credit card debt-free

58. Ride a horse - 7/30/11

59. Go to the Dallas Aquarium

60. Dance to a vinyl record

61. Take a cooking class

62. Get ~~an SLR~~ a video camera

63. Skydive

64. Visit Gettysburg or Williamsburg

65. Make out in the rain

66. Go to Six Flags with Jed

67. File my own taxes without calling Daddy - 2/22/11

68. Make a hole-in-one

69. Take a hot-air balloon or helicopter ride

70. Change my own oil

71. Go to NYC or San Francisco with Jed

72. Take an art class

73. Jump around in a mosh pit again

74. Go to a circus - 10/14/10

75. Deep clean my bathroom - 2/10/11

76. Visit my sister, Laurel, in California - 4/6/11

77. ~~Ride a motorcycle~~ Buy a house

78. Get a TX driver's license again - 9/29/10

79. Go ~~one week~~ three days without simple carbs - 11/11/11

80. Dance barefoot

81. Get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner

82. Get on a bike again

83. Buy myself flowers for no reason - 2/12/11

84. Go camping in Texas with Jed - 5/6/11

85. Go camping on a beach

86. ~~Go to the Texas beach~~ Float the river with Jed - 7/3/11

87. Donate blood again

88. Spend a night with the lights off, watching a lightning storm - 11/15/10

89. Go to the Grand Canyon

90. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar

91. Paint pottery again

92. Join a bowling or softball league

93. Watch a movie at a drive-in

94. Grow and eat my own vegetables

95. Sing karaoke again - 11/4/11

96. Take the Riverwalk boat tour - 11/6/10

97. Don't eat out for ~~1 month~~ 2 weeks

98. Go to the batting cages with Jed - 4/1/11

99. Donate plasma

100. Eat fried green tomatoes - 11/6/10

101. Do 1 correct push-up

Oh, Christmas Tree!

2011-11-26T20:50:00.000-07:00

We bought our first Christmas tree as a couple today. Kind of pathetic when you realize that we've been together for three Christmases now. But we have never been in our own home for Christmas, so it seemed like a waste and more effort than it was worth. We're still not going to be in our own home for Christmas this year, but I felt like getting a tree was a good choice and it will get me more excited for the holiday season.

We don't really have very many ornaments, but there is an open invitation for you to come over and smell our tree.

Monday Memoirs

2011-11-21T08:10:00.022-07:00

FRIDAY:
We got to have dinner with a big group of friends at my favorite Mexican restaurant. It was so fun to catch up with everyone and just have a really great night.

SATURDAY: (most of my pictures are blurry for some reason)
We drove up to Grapevine and hopped on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad train.

An hour and a half later, we were arriving at the stockyards in Fort Worth. We did quite a bit of shopping and found some really neat things.

We got to sit in on a cattle auction for a little but and that was pretty interesting.

We got to watch the "running of the bulls" and I got to ride a mechanical bull! It was my first time and it was SO much fun! I stayed on the whole time! Woo!

Then, we jumped back on the train and got upgraded to first-class on the way back up to Grapevine. We totally lucked out because the kids sitting across from us on the first leg were kind of annoying.

I dropped Jed off at home and I went babysitting for the night.

SUNDAY:
After church, I took a long nap. That was pretty much all I did the whole day...

In-N-Out Spread

2011-11-16T15:26:00.011-07:00

Did you know that you can get packets of spread from In-N-Out? Neither did I until the last time I went there. So naturally I got a few packets of spread to go. Didn't use them right away, so I popped them in the pantry to use later. This is how I found them a few days later:

Crazy, right? I think they would have exploded if I hadn't have stopped the expansion. Lesson learned: read the labels on things because they might tell you to refrigerate things.

Monday Memoirs

2011-11-14T09:36:00.004-07:00

FRIDAY:
We had a date night walking around the mall. It was actually really fun and I walked away with a new pair of earrings. :)

SATURDAY:
I woke up early and went to our stake's Beehive Conference. It was really good - our stake leaders did a wonderful job and I think the girls really liked it. I know I did.
I then went to a Young Women's board meeting before going in to work for 8 hours. It was a long day!

SUNDAY:
After church, I cleaned the house, went for a long drive with Jed, made dinner for the missionaries, and then watched some TV. Pretty chill day.

Holy Broccoli!

2011-11-13T17:36:00.000-07:00

I have this grocery store I love called Sprouts. Technically it's a farmer's market; everything is always fresh and super cheap. I absolutely love it. Anywho, I found the world's largest broccoli crown there this weekend. I was going to enter it in to a contest or something, but then we ate it. Oops.

Thankful Thursday

2011-11-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for the beautiful weather we've been getting.
I am thankful to live in the great state of Texas.
I am thankful to be able to work with the youth at my church.
I am thankful for modern medicine and the possibilities it offers.
I am thankful for good friends.
I am thankful for a hard-working and caring husband.
I am thankful for free agency.
I am thankful.

Monday Memoirs

2011-11-07T11:10:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY:
We went to a birthday party. It was also a costume party. I was lame; I dressed in white and put a single piece of corn on the bill of my white hat. I was a unicorn. Jed wore his ghillie suit again (like he did for Halloween).

It was a really fun party. We played Minute to Win It games and then we sang karaoke. I love when Jed sings karaoke - he is really fun to watch!

SATURDAY:
We went to an Eagle Scout Court of Honor for one of Jed's scouts, David Seil, and then we went to get Jed's hair cut by my girl Kenna. Lunch at Chipotle, reading for me and 3-hour nap for Jed, then we went over to the Silvas' house to watch Crazy, Stupid, Love. I really liked it.

SUNDAY:
Stake Conference, more reading and naps, Jed went to orchestra practice (he's in the stake orchestra for the Christmas program in December), and I watched movies and baked some banana bread.

Monday Memoirs

2011-10-31T10:23:00.026-06:00

FRIDAY:
We drove down to Kerrville with the Silvas and spent the night there.

SATURDAY:

After my Texas-shaped waffle, we headed to Enchanted Rock. The climb was short, but steep! Bobby told me it's just like climbing a few flights of stairs, and I realized that I never, ever climb stairs in my daily life; everywhere I go is one-story. Yeah, that's not helpful. I had a hard time breathing more than anything. But I made it to the top and I'm so glad I pushed through - the view and the experience were awesome.

While we were at the top, Jed started climbing a rock and I heard a branch break and then "Uh oh". It wasn't a branch breaking, it was Jed's pants ripping a HUGE line right down the front. I was DYING laughing! Poor Jeddy. Throughout the rest of the hike it ripped a few more times, too. Oh, and he found a nice little hole in the rock for an awesome photo op:

After snacks at the top, we hiked down a different side of the "mountain" and then walked around it back to the front. We saw some deer and it was nice out, so we had a great little walk. The Silvas' baby, Wyatt, was in a backpack during the hike and he was the cutest little trooper. Everyone kept commenting on how adorable he was. I love that little boy.

We went back to the hotel to regroup and let Jed change, and then we headed to Frericksburg to do some shopping and have dinner. We found this sign while we were out strolling Main Street:

Oh, small towns.

SUNDAY:
We grabbed lunch in Fredericksburg and then headed home. It was such a great trip! Maybe we'll make it an annual thing. :)

101 in 1001 Monthly Update

2011-10-27T10:04:00.011-06:00

1. Make a wreath for my front door - 10/16/11

2. Go to the Texas State Fair - 10/4/10

3. Eat a meal from a food truck

4. Go to the symphony

5. Go 1 week without watching TV - 1/9/11

6. Finally buy wedding pictures...

7. Hang wedding pictures

8. Go to the ballet with Jed - 11/27/10

9. Go to The Sixth Floor Museum

10. Finish my T-shirt quilt I started 2 3 years ago - 3/23/11

11. Go to the Ft. Worth Zoo - 10/2/10

12. Lose 20 pounds!! - 11/3/10

13. Lose 20 more pounds!!! - 6/22/11

14. Go snorkeling again

15. Catch up on 30 Rock - 12/6/10

16. Eat vegetarian for a week

17. Go to a Rangers game - 5/13/11

18. Do a ropes course

19. Write in my journal every day for 1 month

20. Go rock climbing again

21. Go back to school - 3/23/11 :)

22. Take a picture each day for 3 months

23. Ride on a train

24. Bear my testimony in church

25. Get my picture taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)

26. Get our family photo taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)

27. Swim 10 continuous laps

28. Get a dog

29. Visit NASA

30. ~~Family prayer and~~ Personal scripture study every day for 1 month - 2/3/11

31. Visit San Antonio during a holiday - 7/4/11

32. Join a choir - 10/10/10

33. Make a sourdough starter - 5/9/11

34. Go white water rafting again

35. Pick up the violin again

36. Take Jed to a rodeo - 1/20/11

37. Buy cowboy boots or hats - 11/6/10

38. Get in the car and drive 2 hours in one direction with the windows down and the radio blasting

39. Visit all great-grandparents' grave sites

40. Go to the Dallas Temple - 2/23/11

41. Take Jed to a jazz bar

42. Fly a kite

43. Go to a haunted house with Jed - 10/25/10

44. Complete Couch to 5K Challenge

45. Participate in an organized 5K! - 7/11/11

46. Get my palm read or fortune told

47. Go on another cruise with Jed

48. Help build a Habitat for Humanity house

49. Make Mom's cinnamon rolls - 10/30/10

50. Make Theresa's cinnamon rolls

51. Go to Schlitterbahn with Jed

52. Buy a homeless person lunch - 3/14/11

53. Have a baby

54. Watch the Zombie Walk - 10/16/10

55. Pay off Jed's car!! - 10/19/10

56. Go fishing with Jed - 5/30/11

57. Be 100% credit card debt-free

58. Ride a horse - 7/30/11

59. Go to the Dallas Aquarium

60. Dance to a vinyl record

61. Take a cooking class

62. Get ~~an SLR~~ a video camera

63. Skydive

64. Visit Gettysburg or Williamsburg

65. Make out in the rain

66. Go to Six Flags with Jed

67. File my own taxes without calling Daddy - 2/22/11

68. Make a hole-in-one

69. Take a hot-air balloon or helicopter ride

70. Change my own oil

71. Go to NYC or San Francisco with Jed

72. Take an art class

73. Jump around in a mosh pit again

74. Go to a circus - 10/14/10

75. Deep clean my bathroom - 2/10/11

76. Visit my sister, Laurel, in California - 4/6/11

77. ~~Ride a motorcycle~~ Buy a house

78. Get a TX driver's license again - 9/29/10

79. Go ~~one week~~ three days without carbs

80. Dance barefoot

81. Get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner

82. Get on a bike again

83. Buy myself flowers for no reason - 2/12/11

84. Go camping in Texas with Jed - 5/6/11

85. Go camping on a beach

86. ~~Go to the Texas beach~~ Float the river with Jed - 7/3/11

87. Donate blood again

88. Spend a night with the lights off, watching a lightning storm - 11/15/10

89. Go to the Grand Canyon

90. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar

91. Paint pottery again

92. Join a bowling or softball league

93. Watch a movie at a drive-in

94. Grow and eat my own vegetables

95. Sing karaoke again

96. Take the Riverwalk boat tour - 11/6/10

97. Don't eat out for ~~1 month~~ 2 weeks

98. Go to the batting cages with Jed - 4/1/11

99. Donate plasma

100. Eat fried green tomatoes - 11/6/10

101. Do 1 correct push-up

Hallowen Decorations

2011-10-26T10:37:00.005-06:00

Yeah, I carved this:

And I made this:

Thankful Thursday

2011-10-13T09:24:00.000-06:00

I am so thankful for the rain we've gotten recently!
I am thankful for my job.
I am thankful for the opportunity to work with Big Brothers Big Sisters.
I am thankful for my wonderful husband.
I am thankful to be able to work with the youth at my church.
I am thankful for our city rec center.
I am thankful for the cooler weather we've gotten recently.
I am thankful.

Babysitting

2011-09-30T15:18:00.002-06:00

I've been on a certain babysitting website for a few years now. Usually a parent will email me requesting my services and then we may talk on the phone and set up an interview, or do a phone interview.

I recently got an email requesting that I come babysit for a family a few days later. Nothing big, just two hours with an 8 y/o and a 5 y/o. I The parent asked me for my pay rate and I told her; she said they would pay me the lowest on my scale. Love when that happens.
Then she asked me if she should make payment to me directly - weird - and asks for two references (I have four on my profile) and for my full name and contact info; I give her my full name (sans middle name) and phone number.
She asks for access to my background check and an phone interview with two of my references, THEN she asks if she can keep a copy of my driver's license "on file". Uh, what?!? No. I told her that I work for a local police dept. and I could show her my credentials, but I don't feel comfortable leaving my information with her.

I've gotten one-night babysitting jobs, extended babysitting jobs, and even part-time nanny jobs through the site and I have never had anyone be so microscopic. My sister thinks she's in the witness protection program.

My Day

2011-09-01T14:26:00.000-06:00

Things I've done so far today:
Worked out
Showered and got ready
Made Spanish rice
Did four loads of laundry
Talked to two friends on the phone
Made a doctor's appointment
Got the mail and paid rent

Things still left to do today:
Drop Spanish rice off at friend's house
Babysit for two hours
Go to a dinner party

Utah Trip

2011-08-31T13:29:00.000-06:00

I recently went to Utah for a little immediate-family reunion. It was so fun! But of course I didn't get very many pictures (ie. I got two when we first got in the car to start the road trip up there and one in the car driving around town) and blogs aren't as interesting without pictures, so I'll just quickly share some highlights.

*Milking a cow - it was awesome! And nothing like I thought it would be.
*Utah Olympic Park - such a fun day riding the Alpine Slide and zipline.
*Temple session with all of my endowed siblings - first time we've all been together in the temple since my wedding three years ago.
*Camping in the mountains - campfire, s'mores, and lots of fun!
*Cousin David's Homecoming - he's an outstanding guy.
*Seeing old friends
*Game night with Grandma
*Couple's Massage with my sister - haha!
*Of course, all of the yummy food that you can only get in Utah!

It was hard to get back into the real world. I'm already ready for another vacation. ;)

1001 in 101 Monthly Update

2011-08-27T08:57:00.008-06:00

1. Make a wreath for my front door

2. Go to the Texas State Fair - 10/4/10

3. Eat a meal from a food truck

4. Go to the symphony

5. Go 1 week without watching TV - 1/9/11

6. Finally buy wedding pictures...

7. Hang wedding pictures

8. Go to the ballet with Jed - 11/27/10

9. Go to The Sixth Floor Museum

10. Finish my T-shirt quilt I started 2 3 years ago - 3/23/11

11. Go to the Ft. Worth Zoo - 10/2/10

12. Lose 20 pounds!! - 11/3/10

13. Lose 20 more pounds!!! - 6/22/11

14. Go snorkeling again

15. Catch up on 30 Rock - 12/6/10

16. Eat vegetarian for a week

17. Go to a Rangers game - 5/13/11

18. Do a ropes course

19. Write in my journal every day for 1 month

20. Go rock climbing again

21. Go back to school - 3/23/11 :)

22. Take a picture each day for 3 months

23. Ride on a train

24. Bear my testimony in church

25. Get my picture taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)

26. Get our family photo taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)

27. Swim 10 continuous laps

28. Get a dog

29. Visit NASA

30. ~~Family prayer and~~ Personal scripture study every day for 1 month - 2/3/11

31. Visit San Antonio during a holiday - 7/4/11

32. Join a choir - 10/10/10

33. Make a sourdough starter - 5/9/11

34. Go white water rafting again

35. Pick up the violin again

36. Take Jed to a rodeo - 1/20/11

37. Buy cowboy boots or hats - 11/6/10

38. Get in the car and drive 2 hours in one direction with the windows down and the radio blasting

39. Visit all great-grandparents' grave sites

40. Go to the Dallas Temple - 2/23/11

41. Take Jed to a jazz bar

42. Fly a kite

43. Go to a haunted house with Jed - 10/25/10

44. Complete Couch to 5K Challenge

45. Participate in an organized 5K! - 7/11/11

46. Get my palm read or fortune told

47. Go on another cruise with Jed

48. Help build a Habitat for Humanity house

49. Make Mom's cinnamon rolls - 10/30/10

50. Make Theresa's cinnamon rolls

51. Go to Schlitterbahn with Jed

52. Buy a homeless person lunch - 3/14/11

53. Have a baby

54. Watch the Zombie Walk - 10/16/10

55. Pay off Jed's car!! - 10/19/10

56. Go fishing with Jed - 5/30/11

57. Be 100% credit card debt-free

58. Ride a horse - 7/30/11

59. Go to the Dallas Aquarium

60. Dance to a vinyl record

61. Take a cooking class

62. Get ~~an SLR~~ a video camera

63. Skydive

64. Visit Gettysburg or Williamsburg

65. Make out in the rain

66. Go to Six Flags with Jed

67. File my own taxes without calling Daddy - 2/22/11

68. Make a hole-in-one

69. Take a hot-air balloon or helicopter ride

70. Change my own oil

71. Go to NYC or San Francisco with Jed

72. Take an art class

73. Jump around in a mosh pit again

74. Go to a circus - 10/14/10

75. Deep clean my bathroom - 2/10/11

76. Visit my sister, Laurel, in California - 4/6/11

77. ~~Ride a motorcycle~~ Buy a house

78. Get a TX driver's license again - 9/29/10

79. Go ~~one week~~ three days without carbs

80. Dance barefoot

81. Get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner

82. Get on a bike again

83. Buy myself flowers for no reason - 2/12/11

84. Go camping in Texas with Jed - 5/6/11

85. Go camping on a beach

86. ~~Go to the Texas beach~~ Float the river with Jed - 7/3/11

87. Donate blood again

88. Spend a night with the lights off, watching a lightning storm - 11/15/10

89. Go to the Grand Canyon

90. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar

91. Paint pottery again

92. Join a bowling or softball league

93. Watch a movie at a drive-in

94. Grow and eat my own vegetables

95. Sing karaoke again

96. Take the Riverwalk boat tour - 11/6/10

97. Don't eat out for ~~1 month~~ 2 weeks

98. Go to the batting cages with Jed - 4/1/11

99. Donate plasma

100. Eat fried green tomatoes - 11/6/10

101. Do 1 correct push-up

101 in 1001 Monthly Update

2011-07-27T08:21:00.008-06:00

1. Make a wreath for my front door
2. Go to the Texas State Fair - 10/4/10
3. Eat a meal from a food truck
4. Go to the symphony
5. Go 1 week without watching TV - 1/9/11
6. Finally buy wedding pictures...
7. Hang wedding pictures
8. Go to the ballet with Jed - 11/27/10
9. Go to The Sixth Floor Museum
10. Finish my T-shirt quilt I started 2 3 years ago - 3/23/11
11. Go to the Ft. Worth Zoo - 10/2/10
12. Lose 20 pounds!! - 11/3/10
13. Lose 20 more pounds!!! - 6/22/11
14. Go snorkeling again
15. Catch up on 30 Rock - 12/6/10
16. Eat vegetarian for a week
17. Go to a Rangers game - 5/13/11
18. Do a ropes course
19. Write in my journal every day for 1 month
20. Go rock climbing again
21. Go back to school - 3/23/11 :)
22. Take a picture each day for 3 months
23. Ride on a train
24. Bear my testimony in church
25. Get my picture taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)
26. Get our family photo taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)
27. Swim 10 continuous laps
28. Get a dog
29. Visit NASA
30. ~~Family prayer and~~ Personal scripture study every day for 1 month - 2/3/11
31. Visit San Antonio during a holiday - 7/4/11
32. Join a choir - 10/10/10
33. Make a sourdough starter - 5/9/11
34. Go white water rafting again
35. Pick up the violin again
36. Take Jed to a rodeo - 1/20/11
37. Buy cowboy boots or hats - 11/6/10
38. Get in the car and drive 2 hours in one direction with the windows down and the radio blasting
39. Visit all great-grandparents' grave sites
40. Go to the Dallas Temple - 2/23/11
41. Take Jed to a jazz bar
42. Fly a kite
43. Go to a haunted house with Jed - 10/25/10
44. Complete Couch to 5K Challenge
45. Participate in an organized 5K! - 7/11/11
46. Get my palm read or fortune told
47. Go on another cruise with Jed
48. Help build a Habitat for Humanity house
49. Make Mom's cinnamon rolls - 10/30/10
50. Make Theresa's cinnamon rolls
51. Go to Schlitterbahn with Jed
52. Buy a homeless person lunch - 3/14/11
53. Have a baby
54. Watch the Zombie Walk - 10/16/10
55. Pay off Jed's car!! - 10/19/10
56. Go fishing with Jed - 5/30/11
57. Be 100% credit card debt-free
58. Ride horses
59. Go to the Dallas Aquarium
60. Dance to a vinyl record
61. Take a cooking class
62. Get ~~an SLR~~ a video camera
63. Skydive
64. Visit Gettysburg or Williamsburg
65. Make out in the rain
66. Go to Six Flags with Jed
67. File my own taxes without calling Daddy - 2/22/11
68. Make a hole-in-one
69. Take a hot-air balloon or helicopter ride
70. Change my own oil
71. Go to NYC or San Francisco with Jed
72. Take an art class
73. Jump around in a mosh pit again
74. Go to a circus - 10/14/10
75. Deep clean my bathroom - 2/10/11
76. Visit my sister, Laurel, in California - 4/6/11
77. ~~Ride a motorcycle~~ Buy a house
78. Get a TX driver's license again - 9/29/10
79. Go ~~one week~~ three days without carbs
80. Dance barefoot
81. Get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner
82. Get on a bike again
83. Buy myself flowers for no reason - 2/12/11
84. Go camping in Texas with Jed - 5/6/11
85. Go camping on a beach
86. ~~Go to the Texas beach~~ Float the river with Jed - 7/3/11
87. Donate blood again
88. Spend a night with the lights off, watching a lightning storm - 11/15/10
89. Go to the Grand Canyon
90. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar
91. Paint pottery again
92. Join a bowling or softball league
93. Watch a movie at a drive-in
94. Grow and eat my own vegetables
95. Sing karaoke again
96. Take the Riverwalk boat tour - 11/6/10
97. Don't eat out for ~~1 month~~ 2 weeks
98. Go to the batting cages with Jed - 4/1/11
99. Donate plasma
100. Eat fried green tomatoes - 11/6/10
101. Do 1 correct push-up

Update

2011-07-06T16:29:00.000-06:00

I started my job as a jailer two weeks ago. I'll be in training for THREE MONTHS. That's a long time. It's even longer when my trainer isn't proactive and I don't feel like I'm learning anything. : /

This weekend we went down to San Antonio for a visit. We floated the river and had some good BBQ while we were down there. We also went shopping and had a great time just hanging out. San Antonio is in a drought right now, so there were no fireworks. I'm ok with that - fireworks aren't my favorite.

Today I got to watch my friend's little girl. She's so fun and I'm glad I can use her to get my baby fix. ;)

And my car is in the shop.

Update out.

101 in 1001 Monthly Update

2011-06-27T15:25:00.008-06:00

1. Make a wreath for my front door
2. Go to the Texas State Fair - 10/4/10
3. Eat a meal from a food truck
4. Go to the symphony
5. Go 1 week without watching TV - 1/9/11
6. Finally buy wedding pictures...
7. Hang wedding pictures
8. Go to the ballet with Jed - 11/27/10
9. Go to The Sixth Floor Museum
10. Finish my T-shirt quilt I started 2 3 years ago - 3/23/11
11. Go to the Ft. Worth Zoo - 10/2/10
12. Lose 20 pounds!! - 11/3/10
13. Lose 20 more pounds!!! - 6/22/11
14. Go snorkeling again
15. Catch up on 30 Rock - 12/6/10
16. Eat vegetarian for a week
17. Go to a Rangers game - 5/13/11
18. Do a ropes course
19. Write in my journal every day for 1 month
20. Go rock climbing again
21. Go back to school - 3/23/11 :)
22. Take a picture each day for 3 months
23. Ride on a train
24. Bear my testimony in church
25. Get my picture taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)
26. Get our family photo taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)
27. Swim 10 continuous laps
28. Get a dog
29. Visit NASA
30. ~~Family prayer and~~ Personal scripture study every day for 1 month - 2/3/11
31. Visit San Antonio during a holiday
32. Join a choir - 10/10/10
33. Make a sourdough starter - 5/9/11
34. Go white water rafting again
35. Pick up the violin again
36. Take Jed to a rodeo - 1/20/11
37. Buy cowboy boots or hats - 11/6/10
38. Get in the car and drive 2 hours in one direction with the windows down and the radio blasting
39. Visit all great-grandparents' grave sites
40. Go to the Dallas Temple - 2/23/11
41. Take Jed to a jazz bar
42. Fly a kite
43. Go to a haunted house with Jed - 10/25/10
44. Complete Couch to 5K Challenge
45. Participate in an organized 5K
46. Get my palm read or fortune told
47. Go on another cruise with Jed
48. Help build a Habitat for Humanity house
49. Make Mom's cinnamon rolls - 10/30/10
50. Make Theresa's cinnamon rolls
51. Go to Schlitterbahn with Jed
52. Buy a homeless person lunch - 3/14/11
53. Have a baby
54. Watch the Zombie Walk - 10/16/10
55. Pay off Jed's car!! - 10/19/10
56. Go fishing with Jed - 5/30/11
57. Be 100% credit card debt-free
58. Ride horses
59. Go to the Dallas Aquarium
60. Dance to a vinyl record
61. Take a cooking class
62. Get ~~an SLR~~ a video camera
63. Skydive
64. Visit Gettysburg or Williamsburg
65. Make out in the rain
66. Go to Six Flags with Jed
67. File my own taxes without calling Daddy - 2/22/11
68. Make a hole-in-one
69. Take a hot-air balloon or helicopter ride
70. Change my own oil
71. Go to NYC or San Francisco with Jed
72. Take an art class
73. Jump around in a mosh pit again
74. Go to a circus - 10/14/10
75. Deep clean my bathroom - 2/10/11
76. Visit my sister, Laurel, in California - 4/6/11
77. ~~Ride a motorcycle~~ Buy a house
78. Get a TX driver's license again - 9/29/10
79. Go ~~one week~~ three days without carbs
80. Dance barefoot
81. Get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner
82. Get on a bike again
83. Buy myself flowers for no reason - 2/12/11
84. Go camping in Texas with Jed - 5/6/11
85. Go camping on a beach
86. Go to the Texas beach with Jed
87. Donate blood again
88. Spend a night with the lights off, watching a lightning storm - 11/15/10
89. Go to the Grand Canyon
90. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar
91. Paint pottery again
92. Join a bowling or softball league
93. Watch a movie at a drive-in
94. Grow and eat my own vegetables
95. Sing karaoke again
96. Take the Riverwalk boat tour - 11/6/10
97. Don't eat out for ~~1 month~~ 2 weeks
98. Go to the batting cages with Jed - 4/1/11
99. Donate plasma
100. Eat fried green tomatoes - 11/6/10
101. Do 1 correct push-up

Thankful Thursday

2011-06-23T08:50:00.007-06:00

I am thankful that I got a new job!!!
I am thankful that I've lost another 20 pounds (down 40lb now)!!!!
I am thankful that Jed has taken an interest in mechanics and is enjoying working on our cars.
I am thankful for the nanny job that I've had this year and the wonderful family I was able to meet because of it.
I am thankful for modern medicine.
I am thankful that I live in Texas again.
I am thankful for wonderful parents whom I've come to appreciate more and more the older I get.
I am thankful for my siblings.
I am thankful for air conditioning.
I am thankful.

Somebody's Watching Me

2011-06-15T10:16:00.000-06:00

My neighbor is such a creeper. I literally cannot leave the house or return without him staring out the window at me. He sits on his couch and looks out of his big living room window (where he has the blinds completely up/open) all day long. I think he thinks he's sly about it, but I see him out of the corner of my eye every time. It's kind of a joke and definitely pathetic. I can avoid it if I get out of the house before 10 or 11 (I assume he sleeps in until then), but after that, forget about it.
So this morning I left for the gym early enough and then when I returned, the blinds were still closed - success! But then I looked over at his kitchen window, the blinds are turned just enough so that he can see out the slits, and I can see his figure, in his underwear, just staring out at me, motionless, as I got out of my car!!

Part of me thinks that I just shouldn't look over at their house, but the other part of me is wondering if there will ever be a time when he's not waiting, lurking, creeping. I have to check every time. It's a curse.

I < 3 San Antonio

2011-06-06T14:45:00.000-06:00

Jed and I went to San Antonio this past weekend. It was such a wonderful trip and we had a great time.
Every time I go down there, I realize that there are a ton of things to do in the area and I also realize that there is almost nothing to do in the DFW area. It's kind of pathetic. I wish we could hop in the car and take day trips to Fredricksburg, Enchanted Rock, the beach, or even Austin. I really miss camping in the hill country and floating the river. San Antonio is full of things to do, places to go, and attractions to see.
Also, it doesn't help that I have lots of friends in San Antonio and weekend trips are just so short!
It is so hard to come back to the DFW area after I've been in San Antonio. It literally makes me cry. I guess I should be glad that we live close enough for road trips down there, but I long to call San Antonio my home again.
:::sigh:::

Maybe some day...

101 in 1001 Monthly Update

2011-05-27T15:23:00.006-06:00

1. Make a wreath for my front door
2. Go to the Texas State Fair - 10/4/10
3. Eat a meal from a food truck
4. Go to the symphony
5. Go 1 week without watching TV - 1/9/11
6. Finally buy wedding pictures...
7. Hang wedding pictures
8. Go to the ballet with Jed - 11/27/10
9. Go to The Sixth Floor Museum
10. Finish my T-shirt quilt I started 2 3 years ago - 3/23/11
11. Go to the Ft. Worth Zoo - 10/2/10
12. Lose 20 pounds!! - 11/3/10
13. Lose 20 more pounds
14. Go snorkeling again
15. Catch up on 30 Rock - 12/6/10
16. Eat vegetarian for a week
17. Go to a Rangers game - 5/13/11
18. Do a ropes course
19. Write in my journal every day for 1 month
20. Go rock climbing again
21. Go back to school - 3/23/11 :)
22. Take a picture each day for 3 months
23. Ride on a train
24. Bear my testimony in church
25. Get my picture taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)
26. Get our family photo taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)
27. Swim 10 continuous laps
28. Get a dog
29. Visit NASA
30. ~~Family prayer and~~ Personal scripture study every day for 1 month - 2/3/11
31. Visit San Antonio during a holiday
32. Join a choir - 10/10/10
33. Make a sourdough starter - 5/9/11
34. Go white water rafting again
35. Pick up the violin again
36. Take Jed to a rodeo - 1/20/11
37. Buy cowboy boots or hats - 11/6/10
38. Get in the car and drive 2 hours in one direction with the windows down and the radio blasting
39. Visit all great-grandparents' grave sites
40. Go to the Dallas Temple - 2/23/11
41. Take Jed to a jazz bar
42. Fly a kite
43. Go to a haunted house with Jed - 10/25/10
44. Complete Couch to 5K Challenge
45. Participate in an organized 5K
46. Get my palm read or fortune told
47. Go on another cruise with Jed
48. Help build a Habitat for Humanity house
49. Make Mom's cinnamon rolls - 10/30/10
50. Make Theresa's cinnamon rolls
51. Go to Schlitterbahn with Jed
52. Buy a homeless person lunch - 3/14/11
53. Have a baby
54. Watch the Zombie Walk - 10/16/10
55. Pay off Jed's car!! - 10/19/10
56. Go fishing with Jed
57. Be 100% credit card debt-free
58. Ride horses
59. Go to the Dallas Aquarium
60. Dance to a vinyl record
61. Take a cooking class
62. Get ~~an SLR~~ a video camera
63. Skydive
64. Visit Gettysburg or Williamsburg
65. Make out in the rain
66. Go to Six Flags with Jed
67. File my own taxes without calling Daddy - 2/22/11
68. Make a hole-in-one
69. Take a hot-air balloon or helicopter ride
70. Change my own oil
71. Go to NYC or San Francisco with Jed
72. Take an art class
73. Jump around in a mosh pit again
74. Go to a circus - 10/14/10
75. Deep clean my bathroom - 2/10/11
76. Visit my sister, Laurel, in California - 4/6/11
77. ~~Ride a motorcycle~~ Buy a house
78. Get a TX driver's license again - 9/29/10
79. Go ~~one week~~ three days without carbs
80. Dance barefoot
81. Get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner
82. Get on a bike again
83. Buy myself flowers for no reason - 2/12/11
84. Go camping in Texas with Jed - 5/6/11
85. Go camping on a beach
86. Go to the Texas beach with Jed
87. Donate blood again
88. Spend a night with the lights off, watching a lightning storm - 11/15/10
89. Go to the Grand Canyon
90. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar
91. Paint pottery again
92. Join a bowling or softball league
93. Watch a movie at a drive-in
94. Grow and eat my own vegetables
95. Sing karaoke again
96. Take the Riverwalk boat tour - 11/6/10
97. Don't eat out for ~~1 month~~ 2 weeks
98. Go to the batting cages with Jed - 4/1/11
99. Donate plasma
100. Eat fried green tomatoes - 11/6/10
101. Do 1 correct push-up

Fitness Challenge Invitation

2011-05-26T15:11:00.001-06:00

Earlier this year I participated in a fitness/health challenge and I did really well with it. I have decided to head my own fitness challenge starting on Monday and would love for any of you who are interested to join me. Let me know and I'll give you the details.

Baby Halloween Costumes

2011-05-16T14:15:00.000-06:00

This really has nothing to do with anything, but I wanted to document this for when I have a baby.
http://www.bestweekever.tv/2008-10-31/25-reasons-to-have-a-baby-this-halloween/

Can I Go on Strike?

2011-05-06T10:08:00.000-06:00

I just need to sort through my thoughts. Bare with me.
Jed has asked me to start looking for a[nother] job. I have a part-time job, I do an aerobics class on my day off, and I am currently taking an online class as well. On the one hand, I do have quite a bit of time on my hands, but on the other hand, I am getting things done (losing weight and getting an education). We're trying to save for a house and I know that the extra income would be so helpful, but I am scared that if I get a full-time job it will become my whole life. Not literally, but I know myself and I foresee me being too tired in the evenings to work out and study. Sigh.
So that's the big thing on my mind right now.
I really love my aerobics class and would be really sad to give it up. The summer session starts at the beginning of June and I have to sign up soon, but I don't want to sign up, get a job, and lose my registration fee. Plus, it really motivates me to have a class to go to and the ladies in there are so nice.
I really like the job I have now - I love the mom and girl I work with and the schedule is ridiculously flexible. I don't know if I'm ready for a 9-5 job. That's a long day, every day. Then I also have to be so good about planning my food because I'll be away from home all day. I'm doing so well with my diet (not diet, just food intake) right now and I don't want to slip on that.
I don't even know where to start job hunting. The last two jobs I've had have been nannying and the three before that were through a staffing agency. I would just go to a staffing agency, but there aren't any good ones where I live, or else they rarely have jobs (I looked in to it when we first moved here). Also, because I've mostly worked through agencies, I am so rusty on my interview skills and my wardrobe would need a face lift. Ugh. I'm just dreading it.

101 in 1001 Monthly Update

2011-04-27T07:56:00.018-06:00

1. Make a wreath for my front door
2. Go to the Texas State Fair - 10/4/10
3. Eat a meal from a food truck
4. Go to the symphony
5. Go 1 week without watching TV - 1/9/11
6. Finally buy wedding pictures...
7. Hang wedding pictures
8. Go to the ballet with Jed - 11/27/10
9. Go to The Sixth Floor Museum
10. Finish my T-shirt quilt I started 2 3 years ago - 3/23/11
11. Go to the Ft. Worth Zoo - 10/2/10
12. Lose 20 pounds!! - 11/3/10
13. Lose 20 more pounds
14. Go snorkeling again
15. Catch up on 30 Rock - 12/6/10
16. Eat vegetarian for a week
17. Go to a Rangers game
18. Do a ropes course
19. Write in my journal every day for 1 month
20. Go rock climbing again
21. Go back to school - 3/23/11 :)
22. Take a picture each day for 3 months
23. Ride on a train
24. Bear my testimony in church
25. Get my picture taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)
26. Get our family photo taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)
27. Swim 10 continuous laps
28. Get a dog
29. Visit NASA
30. ~~Family prayer and~~ Personal scripture study every day for 1 month - 2/3/11
31. Visit San Antonio during a holiday
32. Join a choir - 10/10/10
33. Make a sourdough starter
34. Go white water rafting again
35. Pick up the violin again
36. Take Jed to a rodeo - 1/20/11
37. Buy cowboy boots or hats - 11/6/10
38. Get in the car and drive 2 hours in one direction with the windows down and the radio blasting
39. Visit all great-grandparents' grave sites
40. Go to the Dallas Temple - 2/23/11
41. Take Jed to a jazz bar
42. Fly a kite
43. Go to a haunted house with Jed - 10/25/10
44. Complete Couch to 5K Challenge
45. Participate in an organized 5K
46. Get my palm read or fortune told
47. Go on another cruise with Jed
48. Help build a Habitat for Humanity house
49. Make Mom's cinnamon rolls - 10/30/10
50. Make Theresa's cinnamon rolls
51. Go to Schlitterbahn with Jed
52. Buy a homeless person lunch - 3/14/11
53. Have a baby
54. Watch the Zombie Walk - 10/16/10
55. Pay off Jed's car!! - 10/19/10
56. Go fishing with Jed
57. Be 100% credit card debt-free
58. Ride horses
59. Go to the Dallas Aquarium
60. Dance to a vinyl record
61. Take a cooking class
62. Get ~~an SLR~~ a video camera
63. Skydive
64. Visit Gettysburg or Williamsburg
65. Make out in the rain
66. Go to Six Flags with Jed
67. File my own taxes without calling Daddy - 2/22/11
68. Make a hole-in-one
69. Take a hot-air balloon or helicopter ride
70. Change my own oil
71. Go to NYC or San Francisco with Jed
72. Take an art class
73. Jump around in a mosh pit again
74. Go to a circus - 10/14/10
75. Deep clean my bathroom - 2/10/11
76. Visit my sister, Laurel, in California - 4/6/11
77. ~~Ride a motorcycle~~ Buy a house
78. Get a TX driver's license again - 9/29/10
79. Go ~~one week~~ three days without carbs
80. Dance barefoot
81. Get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner
82. Get on a bike again
83. Buy myself flowers for no reason - 2/12/11
84. Go camping in Texas with Jed
85. Go camping on a beach
86. Go to the Texas beach with Jed
87. Donate blood again
88. Spend a night with the lights off, watching a lightning storm - 11/15/10
89. Go to the Grand Canyon
90. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar
91. Paint pottery again
92. Join a bowling or softball league
93. Watch a movie at a drive-in
94. Grow and eat my own vegetables
95. Sing karaoke again
96. Take the Riverwalk boat tour - 11/6/10
97. Don't eat out for ~~1 month~~ 2 weeks
98. Go to the batting cages with Jed - 4/1/11
99. Donate plasma
100. Eat fried green tomatoes - 11/6/10
101. Do 1 correct push-up

Friday Foto Fix - California

2011-04-15T09:57:00.001-06:00

Last week I pulled off the greatest surprise of my life! I flew in to California to visit my sister for her birthday! She was so surprised - it was awesome!!

I didn't get a ton of pictures, but some of the highlights from the trip were riding the ferry to Balboa Island and walking around, getting a frozen banana (a must), and walking up and down the pier.

We also went to Newport Beach, the famous Sprinkles cupcake store, and had a day at the beach.

Laurel and her sandcastle before the monsters came and destroyed it.

Eli loved getting buried!

Yep, that guy was definitely combing the beach with a metal detector and a digger.

Laurel also taught me how to make my own silkscreen(ish) t-shirts. It was so fun, and not even that hard! The first one is one I made for myself and the second one I made for Jed. ;)

And if you can't tell, that's West Virginia, where Jed is from. haha

And of course I got to enjoy some really yummy food while I was there: Cafe Rio, In-N-Out twice, Ancho's, Laurel's home cookin', etc.

It was a really fun (and too short) vacation and I can't wait until I can go back!

Five Facts

2011-04-02T07:25:00.000-06:00

1. I have never been summoned for jury duty.
2. I don't like gamey meats. Sometimes chicken is even too gamey for me.
3. I have a high pain tolerance. (When I was 4, I broke my arm and didn't even cry, or realize it was broken.)
4. My new favorite thing is to eat my Thai Chicken Salad at Panera while reading a book. I do it about once a week.
5. Nutella has become a staple in my home.

101 in 1001 Monthly Update

2011-03-27T07:08:00.017-06:00

1. Make a wreath for my front door
2. Go to the Texas State Fair - 10/4/10
3. Eat a meal from a food truck
4. Go to the symphony
5. Go 1 week without watching TV - 1/9/11
6. Finally buy wedding pictures...
7. Hang wedding pictures
8. Go to the ballet with Jed - 11/27/10
9. Go to The Sixth Floor Museum
10. Finish my T-shirt quilt I started 2 3 years ago - 3/23/11
11. Go to the Ft. Worth Zoo - 10/2/10
12. Lose 20 pounds!! - 11/3/10
13. Lose 20 more pounds
14. Go snorkeling again
15. Catch up on 30 Rock - 12/6/10
16. Eat vegetarian for a week
17. Go to a Rangers game
18. Do a ropes course
19. Write in my journal every day for 1 month
20. Go rock climbing again
21. Go back to school - 3/23/11 :)
22. Take a picture each day for 3 months
23. Ride a train
24. Bear my testimony in church
25. Get my picture taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)
26. Get our family photo taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)
27. Swim 10 continuous laps
28. Get a dog
29. Visit NASA
30. ~~Family prayer and~~ Personal scripture study every day for 1 month - 2/3/11
31. Visit San Antonio during a holiday
32. Join a choir - 10/10/10
33. Make a sourdough starter
34. Go white water rafting again
35. Pick up the violin again
36. Take Jed to a rodeo - 1/20/11
37. Buy cowboy boots or hats - 11/6/10
38. Get in the car and drive 2 hours in one direction with the windows down and the radio blasting
39. Visit all great-grandparents' grave sites
40. Go to the Dallas Temple - 2/23/11
41. Take Jed to a jazz bar
42. Fly a kite
43. Go to a haunted house with Jed - 10/25/10
44. Complete Couch to 5K Challenge
45. Participate in an organized 5K
46. Get my palm read or fortune told
47. Go on another cruise with Jed
48. Help build a Habitat for Humanity house
49. Make Mom's cinnamon rolls - 10/30/10
50. Make Theresa's cinnamon rolls
51. Go to Schlitterbahn with Jed
52. Buy a homeless person lunch - 3/14/11
53. Have a baby
54. Watch the Zombie Walk - 10/16/10
55. Pay off Jed's car!! - 10/19/10
56. Go fishing with Jed
57. Be 100% debt-free
58. Ride horses
59. Go to the Dallas Aquarium
60. Dance to a vinyl record
61. Take a cooking class
62. Get ~~an SLR~~ a video camera
63. Skydive
64. Visit Gettysburg or Williamsburg
65. Make out in the rain
66. Go to Six Flags with Jed
67. File my own taxes without calling Daddy - 2/22/11
68. Make a hole-in-one
69. Take a hot-air balloon or helicopter ride
70. Change my own oil
71. Go to NYC or San Francisco with Jed
72. Take an art class
73. Jump around in a mosh pit again
74. Go to a circus - 10/14/10
75. Deep clean my bathroom - 2/10/11
76. Visit my sister, Laurel, in California
77. ~~Ride a motorcycle~~ Buy a house
78. Get a TX driver's license again - 9/29/10
79. Go ~~one week~~ three days without carbs
80. Dance barefoot
81. Get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner
82. Get on a bike again
83. Buy myself flowers for no reason - 2/12/11
84. Go camping in Texas with Jed
85. Go camping on a beach
86. Go to the Texas beach with Jed
87. Donate blood again
88. Spend a night with the lights off, watching a lightning storm - 11/15/10
89. Go to the Grand Canyon
90. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar
91. Paint pottery again
92. Join a bowling or softball league
93. Watch a movie at a drive-in
94. Grow and eat my own vegetables
95. Sing karaoke again
96. Take the Riverwalk boat tour - 11/6/10
97. Don't eat out for ~~1 month~~ 2 weeks
98. Go to the batting cages with Jed
99. Donate plasma
100. Eat fried green tomatoes - 11/6/10
101. Do 1 correct push-up

New Discovery

2011-03-26T09:59:00.000-06:00

I had to pass this along because it's changed my life. And at the same time helped me ~~waste~~ spend hours online.

It's a website called StumbleUpon.com and it's fantastic. You make an account and choose areas of interest, then it gives you pages that fit into your interest categories. Does that make sense? Just try it, you'll love it. Or your money back

Friday Foto Fix - Quillow

2011-03-25T09:17:00.000-06:00

I finally finished my T-shirt quillow! It only took me 3 years. Literally 3 years almost to the day. BUT it's done!!

This is My Fear

2011-03-21T15:53:00.000-06:00

HOW TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE READY TO HAVE A BABY

MESS TEST

Smear peanut butter on the sofa and curtains. Now rub your hands in

the wet flower bed and rub on the walls.

Place a fish stick behind the couch and leave it there all summer.

Obtain a 55-gallon box of Legos. (If Legos are not available, you may

substitute roofing tacks or broken bottles.) Have a friend spread them

all over the house. Put on a blindfold. Try to walk to the bathroom or

kitchen. Do not scream (this could wake a child at night).

GROCERY STORE TEST

Borrow one or two small animals (goats are best) and take them with

you as you shop at the grocery store. Always keep them in sight and

pay for anything they eat or damage.

DRESSING TEST

Obtain one large, unhappy, live octopus. Stuff into a small net bag

making sure that all arms stay inside.

FEEDING TEST

Obtain a large plastic milk jug. Fill halfway with water. Suspend from

the ceiling with a stout cord. Start the jug swinging. Try to insert

spoonfuls of soggy cereal (such as Fruit Loops or Cheerios) into the

mouth of the jug while pretending to be an airplane. Now dump the

contents of the jug on the floor.

NIGHT TEST

Prepare by obtaining a small cloth bag and fill it with 8 to 12 pounds

of sand. Soak it thoroughly in water. At 8:00 PM begin to waltz and

hum with the bag until 9:00 PM. Lay down your bag and set your alarm

for 10:00 PM.Get up, pick up your bag, and sing every song you have

ever heard. Make up about a dozen more and sing these too until 4:00

AM. Set alarm for 5:00 AM. Get up and make breakfast. Keep this up

for 5 years. Look cheerful.

PHYSICAL TEST

Obtain a large bean-bag chair and attach it to the front of your

clothes. Leave it there for 9 months. Now remove 10% of the beans.

Purchase a newspaper. Go home and read it quietly for the last time.

FINAL ASSIGNMENT

Find a couple who already have a small child. Lecture them on how they

can improve their child's discipline, patience, tolerance, toilet

training, and table manners. Suggest many ways they can improve.

Emphasize to them that they should never allow their children to run

wild.

Enjoy this experience. It will be the last time you will have all the answers.

answers.

Friday Foto Fix - Fitness Challenge

2011-03-18T09:40:00.001-06:00

For the past 10 weeks, I've been participating in a 10-Week Fitness Challenge. This was my countdown of the 70 days. I have changed a lot in the past 10 weeks - I've read my scriptures every day for 70 days, I've not had any soda since the start, I've only had one dessert per week (sometimes none), and I've worked out most weeks for 6/7 days! Good habits have been formed and I'm kind of sad to see it all end, but I am definitely a different person than I was 10 weeks ago. I can't post how much weight I've lost because I'm in a Biggest Loser competition and I don't want to give anything away, but I'll tell you if you message me and ask.

I was thinking that I might start up my own 10-Week Fitness Challenge. Would any of you be interested in joining the group?

Monday Memoirs

2011-03-14T10:49:00.000-06:00

Friday - Jed was on a camp-out with the scouts (did I mention that he's the scoutmaster and is gone almost every weekend for something?). So I went to Panera by myself and got my new obsession: Thai Chicken Salad. I sat there and read a book by myself. I'm not a huge fan of eating by myself in public, but it was nice. Then I came home, watched some TV, and took a long bath. Then I read some more and went to bed.

Saturday - I got a wonderful facial in the morning. Then I went to the mall and walked around a bit - exercise and retail therapy all in one. Costco was next and then the farmer's market. Jed finally came home in time for dinner and then we watched The Land Before Time. I had only seen it maybe twice when I was a kid. Cute flick.

Sunday - Guess who was an hour late to church? And yes, my phone is my alarm and it changed automatically. But, 7:30 church was just not in the cards. I taught the Beehives for the second time. The first time I ran out of time, and this time I ended 20 minutes early! Haha! I'll get it eventually...
I got to take a nice nap and then we made my mom's tortilla soup for dinner. I took another bath (it's becoming a habit) and talked to my sister a little before bed.

Ali's ABC's

2011-03-13T11:07:00.002-06:00

Since my blog has been boring as of late, I thought I'd do something. Still kinda boring, but whatevs.

A. age: 25
B. bed size: queen. I want to upgrade next year when we buy a house.
C. chore you dislike: dishes and sweeping.
D. dogs: none now, but we'll get one when we get a house.
E. essential start to your day: breakfast.
F. favorite color: blue.
G. gold or silver: white gold.
H. height: 5'6
I. instruments you play(ed): voice, violin, piano, recorder, and spoons.
J. job title: nanny, wife, and housekeeper.
K. kids: waiting in Heaven for us.
L. live: I don't know if I understand the question... we live in Hurst, TX.
M. mom’s name: Becky.
N. nicknames: ali, albee, allister, al.
O. overnight hospital stays: gall bladder removal in 2005.
P. pet peeves: ignorance, fake people, and other peoples' dogs barking at me.
Q. quote from a movie: "I do a great impression of a hot dog."
R. righty or lefty: righty
S. siblings: Emily, Laurel, Thomas, Angela, and Jeff [also Adam and Nathan]
T. time you wake up: somewhere between 8:30 and 11am
U. underwear: clean.
V. vegetables you don't like: none.
W. what makes you run late: thinking that everything is 10-15 minutes from my house.
X. x-rays you’ve had: teeth at the dentist, arm when it was broken, neck/back after a car accident, head when I cracked it open.
Y. yummy food you make: you tell me: goodellgoodies.blogspot.com. I'm partial to my thai food.
Z. Zoo animal favorites: all. I love the zoo!

Happy Friday

2011-03-11T10:59:00.002-07:00

Thankful Thursday

2011-03-03T07:01:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for my job.
I am thankful for this beautiful weather we've been having.
I am thankful for my car.
I am thankful for Jed.
I am thankful that Jed is such a hard worker.
I am thankful that I can sing.
I am thankful for my weight loss so far.
I am thankful for the Gospel.
I am thankful for our new neighbors - they're so quiet!
I am thankful.

101 in 1001 Monthly Update

2011-02-27T09:39:00.022-07:00

1. Make a wreath for my front door
2. Go to the Texas State Fair - 10/4/10
3. Eat a meal from a food truck
4. Go to the symphony
5. Go 1 week without watching TV - 1/9/11
6. Finally buy wedding pictures...
7. Hang wedding pictures
8. Go to the ballet with Jed - 11/27/10
9. Go to The Sixth Floor Museum
10. Finish my T-shirt quilt I started 2 years ago
11. Go to the Ft. Worth Zoo - 10/2/10
12. Lose 20 pounds!! - 11/3/10
13. Lose 20 more pounds
14. Go snorkeling again
15. Catch up on 30 Rock - 12/6/10
16. Eat vegetarian for a week
17. Go to a Rangers game
18. Do a ropes course
19. Write in my journal every day for 1 month
20. Go rock climbing again
21. Go back to school
22. Take a picture each day for 3 months
23. Ride a train
24. Bear my testimony in church
25. Get my picture taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)
26. Get our family photo taken by a professional (once I get under 200lb)
27. Swim 10 continuous laps
28. Get a dog
29. Visit NASA
30. ~~Family prayer and~~ Personal scripture study every day for 1 month - 2/3/11
31. Visit San Antonio during a holiday
32. Join a choir - 10/10/10
33. Make a sourdough starter
34. Go white water rafting again
35. Pick up the violin again
36. Take Jed to a rodeo - 1/20/11
37. Buy cowboy boots or hats - 11/6/10
38. Get in the car and drive 2 hours in one direction with the windows down and the radio blasting
39. Visit all great-grandparents' grave sites
40. Go to the Dallas Temple - 2/23/11
41. Take Jed to a jazz bar
42. Fly a kite
43. Go to a haunted house with Jed - 10/25/10
44. Complete Couch to 5K Challenge
45. Do a 5K
46. Get my palm read or fortune told
47. Go on another cruise with Jed
48. Help build a Habitat for Humanity house
49. Make Mom's cinnamon rolls - 10/30/10
50. Make Theresa's cinnamon rolls
51. Go to Schlitterbahn with Jed
52. Buy a homeless person lunch
53. Have a baby
54. Watch the Zombie Walk - 10/16/10
55. Pay off Jed's car!! - 10/19/10
56. Go fishing with Jed
57. Be 100% debt-free
58. Ride horses
59. Go to the Dallas Aquarium
60. Dance to a vinyl record
61. Take a cooking class
62. Get ~~an SLR~~ a video camera
63. Skydive
64. Visit Gettysburg or Williamsburg
65. Make out in the rain
66. Go to Six Flags with Jed
67. File my own taxes without calling Daddy - 2/22/11
68. Make a hole-in-one
69. Take a hot-air balloon ride
70. Change my own oil
71. Go to NYC or San Francisco with Jed
72. Take an art class
73. Jump around in a mosh pit again
74. Go to a circus - 10/14/10
75. Deep clean my bathroom - 2/10/11
76. Visit my sister, Laurel, in California
77. Ride a motorcycle
78. Get a TX driver's license again - 9/29/10
79. Go ~~one week~~ three days without carbs
80. Dance barefoot
81. Get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner
82. Get on a bike again
83. Buy myself flowers for no reason - 2/12/11
84. Go camping in Texas with Jed
85. Go camping on a beach
86. Go to the Texas beach with Jed
87. Donate blood again
88. Spend a night with the lights off, watching a lightning storm - 11/15/10
89. Go to the Grand Canyon with Jed
90. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar
91. Paint pottery again
92. Join a bowling or softball league
93. Watch a movie at a drive-in
94. Grow and eat my own vegetables
95. Sing karaoke again
96. Take the Riverwalk boat tour - 11/6/10
97. Don't eat out for 1 month
98. Go to the batting cages with Jed
99. Donate plasma
100. Eat fried green tomatoes - 11/6/10
101. Do 1 correct push-up

Happy Friday

2011-02-25T12:54:00.000-07:00

I saw this before I saw the original SNL sketch. So funny!

Happy Friday!!

Confession Session

2011-02-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

Justin Bieber. When I first heard about this kid, I thought "Oh great, another Jonas Brothers 12-year-old-boy Disney-ish singer who only appeals to 7-year old girls." And that was my story and I was stickin' to it! And even though I've never heard one of his songs all the way through and I won't go out of my way to see/hear him, I do like him more and more each time I see him on a talk show.
Even though he is still kind of awkward and shy, he is starting to come in to his own and I believe that he is a good role model (so far) for kids. I would allow my kids to love him and listen to him all the time.

And I'm glad that he cut his hair. Finally.

Thankful Thursday

2011-02-17T15:21:00.003-07:00

I am thankful for the beautiful weather we've been experiencing.
I am thankful for good friends and good times.
I am thankful for air conditioning.
I am thankful that some things are coming to an end.
I am thankful for new challenges.
I am thankful.

2011-02-17T14:56:00.000-07:00

Since I have so many professional photographers in my life, I thought I would pass along this article/blog post that I found through a friend. I don't know this photographer, but I thought that the information was interesting. Enjoy!

Click here

Five Facts

2011-02-07T17:42:00.000-07:00

1. I make my own panko breadcrumbs, tortilla chips, pita chips, and pancake mix.
2. I would rather sweep than mop.
3. I have lost more than 10% of my body weight. :)
4. I am a planner. Mostly for vacations. Researching hotels, flights, activities, etc. gets me so excited!
5. I don't like sitcoms. I just can't get into them.

Thankful Thursday

2011-02-03T09:42:00.002-07:00

I am thankful for a working heater in our home.
I am thankful that I didn't have anywhere to go for the past two days.
I am thankful for a kind, thoughtful boss for telling me not to venture out on the ice.
I am thankful that Jed made it to and from work both days without any accidents or injuries.
I am thankful that rolling power outages are not part of our daily routine. I know that for some people they are and I now know how awful that would be.
I am thankful that we no longer have a yappy dog in our front yard every day.
I am thankful that nobody I know is in Egypt right now. How scary!
I am thankful.

BYU in Old Navy

2011-02-01T12:34:00.002-07:00

I stumbled across this T-shirt while I was shopping online today:

Just in case any of you were interested in a BYU shirt from Old Navy. I think it's kinda cool.
Oh and they have a Spurs shirt, too. The only NBA team from what I could tell.
BYU and Spurs?? I love Old Navy!!

Thankful Thursday

2011-01-27T18:55:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for my job.
I am thankful that I discovered Starbucks' Caramel Apple Spice. Mmmm.
I am thankful that I lost three pounds this week!
I am thankful for our health.
I am thankful for good friends.
I am thankful to have some family close.
I am thankful for warm showers.
I am thankful that Jed is so handy.

101 in 1001 Monthly Update

2011-01-27T11:45:00.019-07:00

This list is my New Year's Resolution. ;)

1. Make a wreath for my front door
2. Go to the Texas State Fair - 10/4/10
3. Eat a meal from a food truck
4. Go to the symphony
5. Go 1 week without watching TV - 1/9/11
6. Finally buy wedding pictures...
7. Hang wedding pictures
8. Go to the ballet with Jed - 11/27/10
9. Go to The Sixth Floor Museum
10. Finish my T-shirt quilt I started 2 years ago
11. Go to the Ft. Worth Zoo - 10/2/10
12. Lose 20 pounds!! - 11/3/10
13. Lose 20 more pounds
14. Go snorkeling again
15. Catch up on 30 Rock - 12/6/10
16. Eat vegetarian for a week
17. Go to a Rangers game
18. Do a ropes course
19. Write in my journal every day for 1 month
20. Go rock climbing again
21. Go back to school
22. Take a picture each day for 3 months
23. Ride a train
24. Bear my testimony in church
25. Get my picture taken by a professional (good thing I know some great ones)
26. Get our family photo taken by a professional
27. Swim 10 continuous laps
28. Get a dog
29. Visit NASA
30. ~~Family prayer and~~ Personal scripture study every day for 1 month
31. Visit San Antonio during a holiday
32. Join a choir - 10/10/10
33. Make a sourdough starter
34. Go white water rafting again
35. Pick up the violin again
36. Take Jed to a rodeo - 1/20/11
37. Buy cowboy boots or hats - 11/6/10
38. Get in the car and drive 2 hours in one direction with the windows down and the radio blasting
39. Visit all great-grandparents' grave sites
40. Go to the Dallas Temple
41. Take Jed to a jazz bar
42. Fly a kite
43. Go to a haunted house with Jed - 10/25/10
44. Complete Couch to 5K Challenge
45. Do a 5K
46. Get my palm read or fortune told
47. Go on another cruise with Jed
48. Help build a Habitat for Humanity house
49. Make Mom's cinnamon rolls - 10/30/10
50. Make Theresa's cinnamon rolls
51. Go to Schlitterbahn with Jed
52. Buy a homeless person lunch
53. Have a baby
54. Watch the Zombie Walk - 10/16/10
55. Pay off Jed's car!! - 10/19/10
56. Go fishing with Jed
57. Be 100% debt-free
58. Ride horses
59. Go to the Dallas Aquarium
60. Dance to a vinyl record
61. Take a cooking class
62. Get an SLR camera
63. Skydive
64. Visit Gettysburg
65. Make out in the rain
66. Go to Six Flags with Jed
67. File my own taxes without calling Daddy
68. Make a hole-in-one
69. Take a hot-air balloon ride
70. Change my own oil
71. Go to NYC or San Francisco with Jed
72. Take an art class
73. Jump around in a mosh pit again
74. Go to a circus - 10/14/10
75. Deep clean my bathroom
76. Visit my sister, Laurel, in California
77. Ride a motorcycle
78. Get a TX driver's license again - 9/29/10
79. Go one week without carbs
80. Dance barefoot
81. Get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner
82. Get on a bike again
83. Buy myself flowers for no reason
84. Go camping in Texas with Jed
85. Go camping on a beach
86. Go to the Texas beach with Jed
87. Donate blood again
88. Spend a night with the lights off, watching a lightning storm - 11/15/10
89. Go to the Grand Canyon with Jed
90. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar
91. Paint pottery again
92. Join a bowling or softball league
93. Watch a movie at a drive-in
94. Grow and eat my own vegetables
95. Sing karaoke again
96. Take the Riverwalk boat tour - 11/6/10
97. Don't eat out for 1 month
98. Go to the batting cages with Jed
99. Donate plasma
100. Eat fried green tomatoes - 11/6/10
101. Do 1 correct push-up

Five Facts

2011-01-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

1. My feet don't touch the ground when I sit on my couch. Maybe that's why I always tuck one under me.
2. I have a heightened sense of smell and I'm really sensitive to bad smells.
3. I consider myself an amateur food critic and I critique places on yelp.com and urbanspoon.com.
4. I am scared to have a newborn baby. I want to fast forward and have a 18-month old right away. That's weird, right?
5. In the summers when I was younger I used to wear swimsuits practically all day long - my dad started calling me "Nitro", like the guy on American Gladiators.

Thankful Thursday - Friday Edition

2011-01-21T08:59:00.001-07:00

I am thankful for the three job interviews I had this week.
I am thankful for the new job that I started yesterday.
I am thankful that I LOVE my job - it is positively perfect in every way!
I am thankful that Jed and I got to go to the rodeo last night.
I am thankful for both of our cars.
I am thankful to have found an honest mechanic.
I am thankful for my health.
I am thankful for the my freedoms.

New Job!

2011-01-18T16:00:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness. Oh. My. Goodness.
I got offered a job today and I start on Thursday! It's a part-time nanny job, two mornings each week, about four hours each day. Just enough to get out of the house, but not so much that I'll dread going. (I've kind of become a homebody over the last six months...)
I'll be working with a 2-year-old girl who loves dress-up and princesses. Two-year-olds are my absolute favorites - they are so fun at this age!
I absolutely adore the mom! She's got an awesome British accent and she's just a fun lady.
Plus! I may be going with the family to Europe in August for a wedding! Wouldn't that be incredible?!?

Big Girls

2011-01-17T10:57:00.001-07:00

Jed's cousin introduced me to this song and I LOVE it - so catchy!
Happy Monday!

Great Day!

2011-01-11T14:27:00.000-07:00

Today has been such a good day! I went to my OBGYN and he gave me a clean bill of health - my body is now baby-ready (even though we are not) and according to his scale I've lost 10lb since I last saw him! Then I came home, talked to my MIL, and got two job interviews lined up - one working at the DFW airport and the other working as a nanny. Both are part-time jobs and I would be lucky to get either one. Jed and I are going to go to the gym when he gets off of work and then The Biggest Loser is on tonight! Yay!

Freakin' Amazing!

2011-01-10T08:50:00.000-07:00

My friend E posted this little number on her blog last week. It's fantastic!
Happy Monday!

Weight Blog

2011-01-02T11:12:00.000-07:00

Or should I say Weight Blarg...?

I started a weight loss blog this summer. It's just something I do for myself, to help keep track of things, to have some accountability, and as an outlet. It's private and it will stay private, at least for a while.

Before Christmas, I had lost 27 pounds since my heaviest this summer. If you would like to share the journey with me, be a cheerleader, etc, email me and I will send you an invitation.

101 in 1001 Monthly Update

2010-12-27T11:53:00.008-07:00

1. Make a wreath for my front door
2. Go to the Texas State Fair - 10/4/10
3. Eat a meal from a food truck
4. Go to the symphony
5. Go 1 week without watching TV
6. Finally buy wedding pictures...
7. Hang wedding pictures
8. Go to the ballet with Jed - 11/27/10
9. Go to The Sixth Floor Museum
10. Finish my T-shirt quilt I started 2 years ago
11. Go to the Ft. Worth Zoo - 10/2/10
12. Lose 20 pounds!! - 11/3/10
13. Lose 20 more pounds
14. Go snorkeling again
15. Catch up on 30 Rock - 12/6/10
16. Eat vegetarian for a week
17. Go to a Rangers game
18. Do a ropes course
19. Write in my journal every day for 1 month
20. Go rock climbing again
21. Go back to school
22. Take a picture each day for 3 months
23. Ride a train
24. Bear my testimony in church
25. Get my picture taken by a professional (good thing I know some great ones)
26. Get our family photo taken by a professional
27. Swim 10 continuous laps
28. Get a dog
29. Visit NASA
30. Family prayer and scripture study every day for 1 month
31. Visit San Antonio during a holiday
32. Join a choir - 10/10/10
33. Make a sourdough starter
34. Go white water rafting again
35. Pick up the violin again
36. Go to a rodeo
37. Buy cowboy boots or hats - 11/6/10
38. Get in the car and drive 2 hours in one direction with the windows down and the radio blasting
39. Visit all great-grandparents' grave sites
40. Go to the Dallas Temple
41. Take Jed to a jazz bar
42. Fly a kite
43. Go to a haunted house with Jed - 10/25/10
44. Complete Couch to 5K Challenge
45. Do a 5K
46. Get my palm read or fortune told
47. Go on another cruise with Jed
48. Help build a Habitat for Humanity house
49. Make Mom's cinnamon rolls - 10/30/10
50. Make Theresa's cinnamon rolls
51. Go to Schlitterbahn with Jed
52. Buy a homeless person lunch
53. Have a baby
54. Watch the Zombie Walk - 10/16/10
55. Pay off Jed's car!! - 10/19/10
56. Go fishing with Jed
57. Be 100% debt-free
58. Ride horses
59. Go to the Dallas Aquarium
60. Dance to a vinyl record
61. Take a cooking class
62. Get an SLR camera
63. Skydive
64. Visit Gettysburg
65. Make out in the rain
66. Go to Six Flags with Jed
67. File my own taxes without calling Daddy
68. Make a hole-in-one
69. Take a hot-air balloon ride
70. Change my own oil
71. Go to NYC or San Francisco with Jed
72. Take an art class
73. Jump around in a mosh pit again
74. Go to a circus - 10/14/10
75. Deep clean my bathroom
76. Visit Laurel in California
77. Ride a motorcycle
78. Get a TX driver's license again - 9/29/10
79. Go one week without carbs
80. Dance barefoot
81. Get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner
82. Get on a bike again
83. Buy myself flowers for no reason
84. Go camping in Texas with Jed
85. Go camping on the beach
86. Go to the beach with Jed
87. Donate blood again
88. Spend a night with the lights off, watching a lightning storm - 11/15/10
89. Go to the Grand Canyon with Jed
90. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar
91. Paint pottery again
92. Join a bowling or softball league
93. Watch a movie at a drive-in
94. Grow and eat my own vegetables
95. Sing karaoke again
96. Take the Riverwalk boat tour - 11/6/10
97. Don't eat out for 1 month
98. Go to the batting cages with Jed
99. Donate plasma
100. Eat fried green tomatoes - 11/6/10
101. Do 1 correct push-up

Friday Foto Fix - Car Title & San Antonio Trip

2010-12-17T07:16:00.020-07:00

Jed paid off his car!!

We took a trip down to San Antonio!

Mike and Kim on the Riverwalk boat tour.

Us on that same boat...

The cowboy hat I bought on the Riverwalk!

Tower of the Americas!

Thankful Thursday

2010-12-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for fantastic friends.
I am thankful for my wonderful family.
I am thankful that I get to be with my entire family for the first time in over two years on Sunday!
I am thankful for the opportunity to celebrate the birth of my Savior, Jesus Christ.
I am thankful for the Christmas season.
I am thankful for my knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I am thankful that I haven't had to deal with snow so far this winter.
I am thankful for a warm place to live.
I am thankful.

Yikes!

2010-12-15T14:59:00.000-07:00

We got this postcard in the mail today:

Yeesh! It's days like this that I'm thankful that we don't have kids...
I'm kind of glad that they warn the neighborhood when dirtbags like this guy move in, but it kind of makes me uneasy too. : /

Sunday Funday

2010-12-12T10:41:00.004-07:00

Merry Christmas!

Friday Foto Fix - Texas State Fair and Shriner's Circus

2010-12-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

Texas State Fair

We went with Emily and her kids - such a fun night!

Here are Nate and Jed workin' hard for the money.

"Everything's Bigger in Texas"!!

We loved the petting zoo - so many random animals.

We rode this beast. It was exhilarating! Like your garden-variety-swings-ride on crack.

Shriner's Circus

I know, I know, everyone's been to a circus and they're all the same. But this was my first circus, so I had to document it.

4 Different Types of Labs

2010-12-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

Hubby sent this to me. I laughed out loud. Happy Tuesday. :)

Five Facts

2010-12-05T13:40:00.000-07:00

1. Cutting onions doesn't make me cry. True story.
2. I have recorded a song in a professional recording studio.
3. I have high arches.
4. I have never eaten a Philly cheesesteak.
5. I don't have good balance.

Friday Foto Fix - Hair & Family

2010-12-03T06:50:00.004-07:00

This is how I woke up yesterday. Notice the hair. I wasn't lying.

I went home in September when Tom came home. This is the fam at the airport.

Angela found one of Jeff's old baseball gloves. And the shenanigans began...

Jed and I gave this huge box to my nephews and they had hours of fun in it. Go figure.

Firehouse Subs. Good stuff.

Thankful Thursday

2010-12-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

I am thankful that we got to spend Thanksgiving with one of my sisters and one of my brothers.
I am thankful that it's December.
I am thankful that Christmas is right around the corner.
I am thankful that my weight loss is on the right track.
I am thankful for Jed.
I am thankful for the possibilities that the future holds.
I am thankful for my health.
I am thankful that neither Jed nor I have any addictions or real hardships.
I am thankful for Jed's job.
I am thankful for our Church.
I am thankful for good friends whom I can rely on.
I am thankful.

Lauren Conrad Strikes Again

2010-11-30T11:43:00.001-07:00

Remember this post? Where I took in a picture of a beautiful haircut and came out with something...else?
Well, I waited 3 months to let my hair grow out before going back to the stylist (this time I went to a different place, for obvious reasons). I think that my hair's grown out long enough to try for the Lauren Conrad hairdo again. So what do I do? Bring in the same picture of LC and expect that the new stylist will be able to capture my vision.

The stylist was a pro - she was quick and knowledgeable. She told me that since my hair wasn't long enough to do the exact length, but the cut would be the same, just a little shorter. No biggie, I was expecting that to some extent. What I did not expect was to walk out of there with the "1990's Rachel Green look".

Sigh. It's big, it's round, it's unruly. The bangs are the only redeeming part of my hair at this point. Lots of ponytails and half-up do's for the next few weeks...

Now, I have learned my lesson.
I, Ali Goodell, do solemnly swear to NEVER take a picture of Lauren Conrad to a hair stylist again.

101 in 1001 Monthly Update

2010-11-27T08:15:00.032-07:00

I've done quite a bit this month!!

1. Make a wreath for my front door
2. Go to the Texas State Fair - 10/4/10
3. Eat a meal from a food truck
4. Go to the symphony
5. Go 1 week without watching TV
6. Finally buy wedding pictures...
7. Hang wedding pictures
8. Go to the ballet with Jed - 11/27/10
9. Go to The Sixth Floor Museum
10. Finish my T-shirt quilt I started 2 years ago
11. Go to the Ft. Worth Zoo - 10/2/10
12. Lose 20 pounds!! - 11/3/10
13. Lose 20 more pounds
14. Go snorkeling again
15. Catch up on 30 Rock
16. Eat vegetarian for a week
17. Go to a Rangers game
18. Do a ropes course
19. Write in my journal every day for 1 month
20. Go rock climbing again
21. Go back to school
22. Take a picture each day for 3 months
23. Ride a train
24. Bear my testimony in church
25. Get my picture taken by a professional (good thing I know some great ones)
26. Get our family photo taken by a professional
27. Swim 10 continuous laps
28. Get a dog
29. Visit NASA
30. Family prayer and scripture study every day for 1 month
31. Visit San Antonio during a holiday
32. Join a choir - 10/10/10
33. Make a sourdough starter
34. Go white water rafting again
35. Pick up the violin again
36. Go to a rodeo
37. Buy cowboy boots or hats - 11/6/10
38. Get in the car and drive 2 hours in one direction with the windows down and the radio blasting
39. Visit all great-grandparents' grave sites
40. Go to the Dallas Temple
41. Take Jed to a jazz bar
42. Fly a kite
43. Go to a haunted house with Jed - 10/25/10
44. Complete Couch to 5K Challenge
45. Do a 5K
46. Get my palm read or fortune told
47. Go on another cruise with Jed
48. Help build a Habitat for Humanity house
49. Make Mom's cinnamon rolls - 10/30/10
50. Make Theresa's cinnamon rolls
51. Go to Schlitterbahn with Jed
52. Buy a homeless person lunch
53. Have a baby
54. Watch the Zombie Walk - 10/16/10
55. Pay off Jed's car!! - 10/19/10
56. Go fishing with Jed
57. Be 100% debt-free
58. Ride horses
59. Go to a Cowboys game
60. Dance to a vinyl record
61. Take a cooking class
62. Get an SLR camera
63. Skydive
64. Visit Gettysburg
65. Make out in the rain
66. Go to Six Flags
67. File my own taxes without calling Daddy
68. Make a hole-in-one
69. Take a hot-air balloon ride
70. Change my own oil
71. Go to NYC or San Francisco with Jed
72. Take an art class
73. Jump around in a mosh pit again
74. Go to a circus - 10/14/10
75. Deep clean my bathroom
76. Visit Laurel in California
77. Ride a motorcycle
78. Get a TX driver's license again - 9/29/10
79. Go one week without carbs
80. Dance barefoot
81. Get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner
82. Get on a bike again
83. Buy myself flowers for no reason
84. Go camping in Texas with Jed
85. Go camping on the beach
86. Go to the beach with Jed
87. Donate blood again
88. Spend a night with the lights off, watching a lightning storm - 11/15/10
89. Go to the Grand Canyon with Jed
90. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar
91. Paint pottery again
92. Join a bowling or softball league
93. Watch a movie at a drive-in
94. Grow and eat my own vegetables
95. Sing karaoke again
96. Take the Riverwalk boat tour - 11/6/10
97. Don't eat out for 1 month
98. Go to the batting cages with Jed
99. Donate plasma
100. Eat fried green tomatoes - 11/6/10
101. Do 1 correct push-up

Thankful Thursday

2010-11-18T06:54:00.001-07:00

I am thankful for modern medicine.
I am thankful for urgent care clinics so that we don't have to go to the ER every time we get hurt.
I am thankful for health insurance.
I am thankful for Jed - he's amazing.
I am thankful that we were able to visit San Antonio recently.
I am thankful for Jed's job.
I am thankful for my jobs.
I am thankful that we were able to see Jesse this week before he entered the MTC.
I am thankful that the holidays are near.
I am thankful that I get to see my family soon.
I am thankful.

Thankful Thursday

2010-11-04T10:49:00.001-06:00

I am thankful that I am down 20 pounds from my heaviest this week!!!
I am thankful for anesthesia.
I am thankful for good friends.
I am thankful that we get to go out of town this weekend.
I am thankful for a "free" gym at our apartment complex.
I am thankful that the weather is getting cooler.
I am thankful that I found my camera that had been missing for a week.
I am thankful for phones, internet, and all of the other ways that I am able to keep in contact with loved ones who live far away.
I am thankful for inspiring people and for their stories.
I am thankful.

But You Don't Have To Take My Word For It

2010-11-01T13:48:00.001-06:00

I am not a reader. But I'm trying to be. I mean, I have all the time in the world, so I might as well expand my brain, right?

I just finished an incredible book. It was recommended to me by one of my sisters and I would highly recommend it to any married woman out there. It's called The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands and it was written by Dr. Laura Schlessinger. You may have heard her talk show on the radio. She is a "take no crap from nobody" kind of lady and she is really good at what she does (Marriage and Family Therapy).

Anyway, the book is about how to get what you want out of your husbands (not in the usual manipulative way...) and how to find ultimate happiness in your marriage. It was a huge eye-opener to me and I would recommend it to all wives.

101 in 1001 Monthly Update

2010-10-27T09:28:00.027-06:00

1. Make a wreath for my front door
2. Go to the Texas State Fair - 10/4/10
3. Eat a meal from a food truck
4. Go to the symphony
5. Go 1 week without watching TV
6. Finally buy wedding pictures...
7. Hang wedding pictures
8. Cook a turkey
9. Go to The Sixth Floor Museum
10. Finish my T-shirt quilt I started 2 years ago
11. Go to the Ft. Worth Zoo - 10/2/10
12. Lose 20 pounds
13. Lose 20 more pounds
14. Go snorkeling again
15. Catch up on 30 Rock
16. Eat vegetarian for a week
17. Go to a Rangers game
18. Do a ropes course
19. Write in my journal every day for 1 month
20. Go rock climbing again
21. Go back to school
22. Take a picture each day for 3 months
23. Ride a train
24. Bear my testimony in church
25. Get my picture taken by a professional (good thing I know some great ones)
26. Get our family photo taken by a professional
27. Swim 10 continuous laps
28. Get a dog
29. Visit NASA
30. Family prayer and scripture study every day for 1 month
31. Visit San Antonio during a holiday
32. Join a choir - 10/10/10
33. Make a sourdough starter
34. Go white water rafting again
35. Pick up the violin again
36. Go to a rodeo
37. Buy cowboy boots or hats
38. Get in the car and drive 2 hours in one direction with the windows down and the radio blasting
39. Visit all great-grandparents' grave sites
40. Go to the Dallas Temple
41. Take Jed to a jazz bar
42. Fly a kite
43. Go to a haunted house with Jed - 10/25/10
44. Complete Couch to 5K Challenge
45. Do a 5K
46. Get my palm read or fortune told
47. Go on another cruise with Jed
48. Help build a Habitat for Humanity house
49. Make Mom's cinnamon rolls
50. Make Theresa's cinnamon rolls
51. Go to Schlitterbahn with Jed
52. Buy a homeless person lunch
53. Have a baby
54. Watch the Zombie Walk - 10/16/10
55. Pay off Jed's car!! - 10/19/10
56. Go fishing with Jed
57. Be 100% debt-free
58. Ride horses
59. Go to a Cowboys game
60. Dance to a vinyl record
61. Take a cooking class
62. Get an SLR camera
63. Skydive
64. Visit Gettysburg
65. Make out in the rain
66. Go to Six Flags
67. File my own taxes without calling Daddy
68. Make a hole-in-one
69. Take a hot-air balloon ride
70. Change my own oil
71. Go to NYC with Jed
72. Take an art class
73. Jump around in a mosh pit again
74. Go to a circus - 10/14/10
75. Deep clean my bathroom
76. Visit Laurel in California
77. Ride a motorcycle
78. Get a TX driver's license again - 9/29/10
79. Go one week without carbs
80. Dance barefoot
81. Get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner
82. Get on a bike again
83. Buy myself flowers for no reason
84. Go camping in Texas with Jed
85. Go camping on the beach
86. Go to the beach with Jed
87. Donate blood again
88. Spend a night with the lights off, watching a lightning storm
89. Go to the Grand Canyon with Jed
90. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar
91. Paint pottery again
92. Join a bowling league
93. Watch a movie at a drive-in
94. Grow and eat my own vegetables
95. Sing karaoke again
96. Take the Riverwalk boat tour
97. Don't eat out for 1 month
98. Go to the batting cages with Jed
99. Donate plasma
100. Eat fried green tomatoes
101. Do 1 correct push-up

50% off Outerwear at Old Navy

2010-10-26T07:25:00.003-06:00

1. Go to oldnavy.com and pick one piece of outerwear.
2. Enter code: OUTER50.
3. Get said item for half off!!
Code good 10/26-10/28.

You're welcome.

Monday Memoirs

2010-10-25T13:31:00.000-06:00

On Friday, Jed and I had a fun date night. We went to Chipotle for dinner and then watched the Rangers cream the Yanks! We're going to the World Series!! Such an exciting game!

We woke up early on Saturday and went to help out with a service project. Our city and two other surrounding cities got together to clean up and beautify some homes in the area. The house we were working on was super close to our apartment, so Jed and I dropped our car off at home and walked there after we checked in.
Clouds started rolling in in the morning and we had some sporadic light rain, but we plowed through. We took down a fence and put up a new one, painted all of the trim of the house, planted a tree, and cleared out some brush and debris. Not five minutes after we finished securing the new fence, the winds picked up really strong and rain started pouring down. We scrambled to get all of the tools put away and then the sirens starting going off and we took off running toward home. Yes, I ran! I wouldn't have been able to run as far two weeks ago! :)
Anywho, we spent the rest of the day inside, watching the storm. It was a good day.

Yesterday was pretty low-key. I went and visited two women from church, then we went to church, then we went to choir, and then we had the missionaries over for dinner. I made my mom's tortilla soup. One of the missionaries doesn't like Mexican food or anything resembling it. Poor guy ate a whole huge bowl of it before he told me. :(

Thankful Thursday

2010-10-21T11:55:00.000-06:00

I am thankful for modern medicine.
I am thankful that we found the source of my pain and are working to treat it.
I am thankful that Jed and I weren't trying to have kids any time soon, because the news would have been a lot harder to take.
I am thankful for my job.
I am thankful that I am starting to get out there and run.
I am thankful that the weather is getting better.
I am thankful that Jed paid off his car this week!
I am thankful.

PCOS

2010-10-19T11:52:00.001-06:00

I went to the OB/GYN this morning. He said that I have cysts (which I already knew) and I do in fact have PCOS. We will not be addressing the cysts at this time, but I will have to start taking a daily pill. He also said that it may take anywhere from six months to upwards of three years for my body to be ready to accept a pregnancy.

I am ok with this. Jed and I weren't even planning on starting to try until around April of next year anyway.
The pill that I'll be starting is used not only for PCOS, but it is also prescribed for people with pre-diabetes (interesting, huh?). It helps with blood sugar and will also speed up my metabolism. Rock on! Killing two birds with one stone! So, really, I am ok with this. :)

Monday Memoirs

2010-10-18T08:42:00.001-06:00

I went to my first ever circus on Thursday! It was fun! I can't believe I never went to one as a child - it was a child's dream! Thanks for taking me, Jed!

We went and saw Toy Story 3 at the dollar theater on Friday. I had already seen it, but it was Jed's first time. I cried again... great movie.

Oh, Saturday! What a day! We went grocery shopping in the morning (woo!) and then we drove in to Dallas. We ate at Twisted Root and then went to the Zombie Walk and took some pictures. We went swimming later on that night and then bought me some new running shoes (because I run now...)! Such a fun and productive day!

Sunday was just your average lazy Sunday. Nothing to report.

Couch to 5K Link

2010-10-13T20:56:00.001-06:00

I've had a few people ask me for the link to the Couch to 5K Challenge, here it is: Click here. I got the link from Susie Barlow, so props to her! Thanks Susie!!

Proud Day

2010-10-13T16:25:00.001-06:00

Today was a GREAT day! I weighed myself this morning and I'm a little over a quarter of the way to my weight loss goal!!

And I also did Day 2 of the Couch to 5K Challenge!!

Today is a proud day. :)

Couch to 5K Challenge

2010-10-11T07:19:00.004-06:00

Today is the day. Today is the day that I start the Couch to 5K Challenge! Wish me luck!

Monday

2010-10-08T13:43:00.002-06:00

Monday will be the first day of my Couch to 5K Challenge. Now that I posted it, I have to do it, right?

Thankful Thursday

2010-10-07T18:39:00.000-06:00

I am thankful that we got to go to the zoo this weekend.
I am thankful that we got to spend Aidan's birthday with him.
I am thankful that we had the boys sleep over on Sunday night.
I am thankful that we got to go to the State Fair of Texas on Monday with Emily and the kids.
I am thankful that baby P was all better this weekend and got to come hang out with me yesterday and the day before.
I am thankful that I was able to go to the doctor yesterday.
I am thankful for modern medicine.
I am thankful.

Something's Wrong

2010-10-06T13:22:00.001-06:00

**Personal Post - don't read if you can't handle it**

About a year ago, I started having occasional pain in my abdomen after love-making. The episodes got worse and worse and then I started having them randomly, for no reason, every so often. Then I my hair started falling out in droves and I started having breast tenderness/pain. I hadn't had insurance since last May, so I just rolled with the pain because paying out of pocket to go to the OB/GYN was financially not an option.

A few weeks ago, after a particularly painful couple of days, I started doing research online to see if I could self-diagnose myself, or at least come up with some possibilities. I came across what's called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS, and it sounded like I fit the bill. I called an OB/GYN registered with our insurance, scheduled the next available appointment, and called it good.
Ironically, we went out with some friends that same night and found out that my friend had PCOS. What are the odds? She recommended her OB/GYN; I called the next day to cancel my appointment with Joe Shmoe and scheduled an appointment with "Dr. Sak".

At the appointment, I told the doctor my concerns and he checked me out, drew some blood, and sent me to get a sonogram. The tech told me that she saw at least one cyst on each ovary. I have an appointment in two weeks to go over the results of the blood test and the sonogram.

Ali-Haps II

2010-10-01T15:01:00.020-06:00

Here are some more Ali-Haps that my mom reminded me of:

*Going around the whole neighborhood with my wagon, picking up all of the newspapers off of other people's yards/porches, and bringing them home for my dad because I knew he liked to read the paper.
*"Washing" my dad's car with a brick.
*Throwing my mom's friend's car keys in our ivy bush because I liked her so much and didn't want her to go home. My mom tells me that they looked for over an hour for those keys.
*Cutting little slits in the upholstery of my dad's car with the cute little retractable blade I found in his glove box.
*Leaving crayons in my dad's back seat on purpose so that they would melt. (My dad's car took a beating from me.)
*Cutting my bangs up to the hairline because they were getting in my eyes too much.

Thankful Thursday

2010-09-30T14:51:00.009-06:00

I am thankful for my new job.
I am thankful for the sweet baby girl I get to care for.
I am thankful that I finally got my license.
I am thankful for the alone time I have every day.
I am thankful that I get to choose what I do each day.
I am thankful to Alyssa Paul for the 101 in 1001 idea - getting my "to-do" list in writing will help a lot.
I am thankful for Jed pushing me to work out when I don't want to.
I am thankful.

Five Facts

2010-09-29T09:48:00.001-06:00

1. I have been through 2 DUI checkpoints, one in Kansas and one in Ohio.
2. I am not good at video games. At arcades, I play the game where the machine pushes the quarters off the edge.
3. I almost always order chicken enchiladas at Mexican restaurants.
4. I hate parades. I think they're pointless and a huge waste of money.
5. The older I get, the less I care what my driver's license picture looks like - this morning I didn't even shower before I went to the DMV. : /

101 in 1001

2010-09-27T11:42:00.001-06:00

I got this idea from Alyssa Paul. The goal is to do 101 things in 1001 days' time.
1001 days from now will be Monday, June 24, 2013. I'm not so concerned about the date as I am just getting through this "bucket list".

1. Make a wreath for my front door
2. Go to the Texas State Fair
3. Eat a meal from a food truck
4. Go to the symphony
5. Go 1 week without watching TV
6. Finally buy wedding pictures...
7. Hang wedding pictures
8. Cook a turkey
9. Go to The Sixth Floor Museum
10. Finish my T-shirt quilt I started 2 years ago
11. Go to the Ft. Worth Zoo
12. Lose 20 pounds
13. Lose 20 more pounds
14. Go snorkeling again
15. Catch up on 30 Rock
16. Eat vegetarian for a week
17. Go to a Rangers game
18. Do a ropes course
19. Write in my journal every day for 1 month
20. Go rock climbing again
21. Go back to school
22. Take a picture each day for 3 months
23. Ride a train
24. Bear my testimony in church
25. Get my picture taken by a professional (good thing I know some great ones)
26. Get our family photo taken by a professional
27. Swim 10 continuous laps
28. Get a dog
29. Visit NASA
30. Family prayer and scripture study every day for 1 month
31. Visit San Antonio during Fiesta
32. Join a choir
33. Make a sourdough starter
34. Go white water rafting again
35. Pick up the violin again
36. Go to a rodeo
37. Buy cowboy boots or hats
38. Get in the car and drive 2 hours in one direction with the windows down and the radio blasting
39. Visit all great-grandparents' grave sites
40. Go to the Dallas Temple
41. Take Jed to a jazz bar
42. Fly a kite
43. Go to a haunted house with Jed
44. Complete Couch to 5K Challenge
45. Do a 5K
46. Get my palm read or fortune told
47. Go on another cruise with Jed
48. Help build a Habitat for Humanity house
49. Make Mom's cinnamon rolls
50. Make Theresa's cinnamon rolls
51. Go to Schlitterbahn with Jed
52. Buy a homeless person lunch
53. Have a baby
54. Go to Las Vegas
55. Pay off Jed's car
56. Go fishing with Jed
57. Be 100% debt-free
58. Ride horses
59. Go to a Cowboys game
60. Dance to a vinyl record
61. Take a cooking class
62. Get an SLR camera
63. Skydive
64. Visit Gettysburg
65. Make out in the rain
66. Go to Six Flags
67. File my own taxes without calling Daddy
68. Make a hole-in-one
69. Take a hot-air balloon ride
70. Change my own oil
71. Go to NYC with Jed
72. Take an art class
73. Jump around in a mosh pit again
74. Visit a concentration camp
75. Deep clean my bathroom
76. Visit Laurel in California
77. Ride a motorcycle
78. Get a TX driver's license again
79. Go one week without carbs
80. Dance barefoot
81. Get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner
82. Get on a bike again
83. Buy myself flowers for no reason
84. Go camping in Texas with Jed
85. Go camping on the beach
86. Go to the beach with Jed
87. Donate blood again
88. Spend a night with the lights off, watching a lightning storm
89. Go to the Grand Canyon with Jed
90. Have a meaningful conversation with a beggar
91. Paint pottery with Jed
92. Join a bowling league
93. Watch a movie at a drive-in
94. Grow and eat my own vegetables
95. Sing karaoke again
96. Take the Riverwalk boat tour
97. Don't eat out for 1 month
98. Go to the batting cages with Jed
99. Donate plasma
100. Eat fried green tomatoes
101. Do 1 correct push-up

Ali-Haps

2010-09-24T07:29:00.010-06:00

When I was young, my section in the family Christmas letter was always riddled with silly things that I had done over the past year. Things like eating gum off of the sidewalk, telling my teacher that one of our family rules was "we do not drink out of the toilet" (we didn't even have a dog), hiding from my babysitter and yelling at her that she wasn't my mom, burning my hair because I wanted a haircut, getting my finger stuck in a small hole in the oven door, etc. These funny events in my little life were called "Ali-Haps".

Last night I was told about an Ali-Hap that I don't even remember from a lady who used to be in our ward. I'm sure she won't mind if I copy and paste part of the email she sent me:
"...I thought to myself, I know [E. Busath], and [L. Busath], but I don't really remember Ali Busath...then I did remember something about you [...] Were you about 5 when you moved to San Antonio? Well, anyway, this is what I remember...shortly after your family moved to Tx I received a phone call--it was you inviting my family to your birthday party--which was several months away. You had gotten the ward list, gone upstairs with the phone, and started calling people on the ward list and inviting them to your party! Your mom was mortified--but she had to think it was funny, too!"

Classic Ali. I was a crazy, independent, silly, and impulsive. I always kept my mom on her toes. And now I'll probably have three kids just like me. Heaven help me! ; )

Thankful Thursday

2010-09-23T08:49:00.004-06:00

I am thankful that we got to go to Emily's house for dinner on Sunday.
I am thankful that we were able to go out to dinner with the Lackeys on Monday.
I am thankful for new friends - "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship".
I am thankful that Jed gets home from work so early every day.
I am thankful that our disposal is fixed.
I am thankful that I got to meet my Little Sister on Tuesday - she is sweet.
I am thankful that Jed does nice things for me.
I am thankful.

I Am Inspired

2010-09-22T13:13:00.003-06:00

After watching this video and crying by myself on the couch, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share. This is such an inspiring man and, although I don't know him personally, I am so proud of him and happy for him. Enjoy.

Thankful Thursday

2010-09-16T12:48:00.002-06:00

I am thankful for the possibility of a job nannying for the 6-week old baby girl of a lady at church.
I am thankful for good friends, however far away they may be.
I am thankful for our new phones - they are so sweet!
I am thankful that we are starting to feel like a part of society/our community now.
I am thankful for the power of prayer.
I am thankful.

Thankful Thursday

2010-09-09T12:41:00.003-06:00

I am thankful that my sister called my today and we got to talk for a while.
I am thankful for insurance and our upcoming dental visits (even though I dread it).
I am thankful for air conditioning.
I am thankful for the rain that we've had this week.
I am thankful that we made some new friends this last weekend.
I am thankful that we got to have the missionaries over for dinner on Sunday (one of them looks exactly like Jason Bateman). [Oh my gosh! I just found out that Jason Bateman and I have the same birthday!]
I am thankful.

Jed's Phone Evolution

2010-09-07T15:37:00.005-06:00

Well, Ali had such a great idea that I decided to copy it. Here goes......

In 2001 I got the Motorola V120C with US Cellular. It was the smallest cell phone I had ever seen up to that point so I wanted it. The crappy thing was was that in 2001 I was the only kid in high school who had a phone so it didn't get a lot of use. It sat in a corner for 8 months until I went on my mission.

On my mission the DL's got to use these beauties, the Nokia 3285. It was a downgrade from my last phone but I got REALLY good at that snake game where you eat the dots.

In 2005 I got a Sony Ericsson T610 with T-Mobile. I learned how to make my own ringtones with this one. Sony Ericsson was one of the only phone manufacturers that had the ability to use any MP3 as a ringtone at the time. Most other phones used polyphonic ringtones or you had to buy them from the store.

In 2006 I signed up with ATT to get those roll over minutes. It turns out I still haven't used any of them in my 4 years that I have been with ATT. I picked another Sony Ericsson, and my first and only flip phone: the Z520a. My boss also has this phone.

In 2007 my friend Jerr sold me his Samsung Blackjack, my first smartphone. I still have it and use it as a backup phone. I liked this one because I uploaded a nintendo emulator. This was a really powerful phone and I still like it better than my current phone...

which is another Sony Ericsson. The W580i Walkman phone. I like it a lot but its no smartphone. Well the screen has cracked in two different places so that means it is time for a new phone.

My new phone will be the Droid X! It comes in two weeks and I cant wait. We decided to get this phone because of the awesome camera on it (8 MP and two flashes) and the display is amazing. Also, it is on Verizon's network so the third party apps aren't restricted like they are with ATT. So yea its gonna be sweet.

Friday Foto Fix - Phone Evolution Ed.

2010-09-03T07:38:00.001-06:00

This is the first cell phone that I had ever seen in real life/used. And I thought that it was the coolest thing ever.
[Nokia 5110]

In college, I got this sweet thing. Best phone I've ever had, present phone included, because it was so fast and easy to text.
[Nokia 6810]

Then I got something like this. Didn't really care about it because it sucked when compared to my old phone (but I wore that old phone down and it broke).
[Have no idea. Couldn't care less.]

Then I got this little number. Thought it was awesome when I bought it, but it wasn't as user-friendly as I thought and it weighs as much as a premature child.
[AT&T Tilt by HTC]

Moving on...
This beauty will soon be mine. Wipe up that drool - I know, it's awesome! Can't wait!!
[Motorola Droid X]

I've been a loyal AT&T/Nokia customer for a while now, but if I stayed with AT&T I would have gotten the iPhone. I wouldn't have minded so much, except Apple is a selfish, profit-seeking (Heaven forbid!) company and they don't allow 3rd-party apps. (Jail-breaking is just too much effort.)

And since I'm all about cheaper/free-er apps, we're going with Verizon/Motorola!

Thankful Thursday

2010-09-02T12:10:00.000-06:00

I am thankful that we got our new love seat this weekend - last one in the whole DFW area!
I am thankful that we got to try Good 2 Go Taco this weekend.
I am thankful that we were able to hang out with Emily and the kids this weekend.
I am thankful for my new calling (I think): Relief Society Secretary.
I am thankful that I was able to spend a few hours at the food bank on Tuesday.
I am thankful that I didn't have to go back to school this week.
I am thankful that Jed was able to fix the Wii after a power surge this week.
I am thankful.

My Day

2010-08-31T17:32:00.003-06:00

I watched The Price is Right while I ate breakfast.
I went to the food bank for a couple of hours.
I had a crash course in Ebonics from a guy who works there.
I made hundreds of meals for under-privileged people.
I came home and made up a chicken enchilada casserole recipe in the slow cooker.
I got the mail and cleaned up a little bit.
Jed came home and we ate dinner.
I worked a little on my job and my calling.
Now I'm ready to watch Teen Mom. Yup, I love that show.

Friday Foto Fix - Tom's Homecoming

2010-08-27T08:31:00.000-06:00

The (Ohio) family the day Tom left.

And the day he came home.