Merry, Merry Christmas

Christmas this year was exceedingly jolly because ...

1)I got to spend it with my whole family & Mike.

2)I got an awesome camera for myself (if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself)

3) White Elephant Christmas = Hilarious (I think we all liked these gifts as much or more than we have ever liked any of the gifts that were meant for us)

4) Devin: "Giant remote controls are the awesomest gift ever!!!!"

5) Family photos!

6) Snow

7) Snow

8) Snow

9) Snow

10) Jumping in the Snow

11) Eating Snow

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

The Finger

I wanted to title this "This happened and I am ashamed" but I thought it might be too soon to reuse that.
Yesterday as I was leaving the parking garage I have left at least 5 times a week for 1.5 years, I suddenly had an idea to go to a store just one block to the north. I approached the light in the left lane, yielded for oncoming traffic, then turned left onto ninth street. Heading in the opposite direction, in the lane next to the one I was turning into, there was an clearly marked police car. I saw that car and grinned to myself; I am a wonderful driver and I sort of enjoy showing off how safe and competent I am for our boys in blue.
Now you all know where this story is going. You know that ninth street is one way and I was turning the wrong direction. And you know that I realized that only once I was faced with oncoming traffic. But what you don't know is that instead of pulling me over, the police officer, trying to suppress a grin, just gave me one finger...No not that finger.

This finger:
The "no no" finger. Then he took off down the street leaving me to execute an 18-point turn in front of impressively patient traffic.

Christmas Cheer

Last weekend, I had a few friends over for dinner. Since I had a few more guests than I had seats at my dining room table, I added a folding table and wrapped both in wrapping paper and ribbons to make them match. I had so much fun planning, preparing, and of course eating this meal. It was especially great because Shy and Katie showed up a couple hours early and helped with everything (even dishes). And Nikki brought a wonderfully festive guacamole and pomegranate dip that everyone raved about. Most of all, my guests were so fun and it was great to spend the evening with them.

Twiggy

My bedroom is finally starting to come together. I painted the walls mint which goes deliciously with the chocolate accent wall. I also got a new comfy chair off Craigs list, spray painted an old lamp, hung curtains, added some pillows and an ottoman. Most of the walls are still bare but I made myself this rustic, modern art piece out of twigs and spray paint. Oh and I bought a new bedspread. Doesn't it just make you want to jump into bed with me? Fine, whatever, you are missing out.

Right at home

I actually got this couch a while ago and I love it but I must admit that it has not replaced the old blue one which is the absolute best couch ever.

Halloweenies and Other Classy Events

I know it has been months but I finally uploaded some pics from the last couple of months and still wanted to post them.

First are a couple shots of Mike's birthday party which was hilarious. The main events were Rock Band and DDR. There is nothing like exploiting your friends for a laugh.

Then we had a Kitsch Halloween party where everyone brought food that looked like dismembered body parts or was otherwise Halloween themed. I have never been more impressed with my awesome friends.
Steph & Sol & the Halloweenies (I know they look more like a swaddled child than a mummy)

Jill

Sarah

Nik & Noah

Brit (bone breadsticks)

Shy's brains (head of cauliflower with dip... genius)

Mike (This might be my favorite. Mike's eyeballs are actually oreo balls with chocolate bark. So freakin good, I would have eaten them straight out of the skull.)

Finally, a few of us went to a yurt above Idaho City. It was just snowy and wet enough to be very cold but not enough to actually cross country ski or snow shoe. Instead we ate really really well (including more Halloweenies!), took lots of pictures, and went to a hot tub. The only bad part was enduring Stephanie's constant rapper potty mouth.



*drool*

Try this at home

Mike recently started talking about this bread Great Harvest made called Swiss Cracked Pepper Bread so we decided to try and make it. We found a recipe that had those ingrediants and made a lovely loaf of bread that didn't even remotely resemble the Great Harvest bread. Apparently, the Great Harvest bread was round with a chewy crust and large crumb with big air bubbles.

As I attempted to find a recipe, I found that the kind of bread he wanted is called rustic artisan bread and it is (used to be) impossible for mortals (non-bakers) to make because we need a steam injection oven (>$5,000). Luckily, just before I gave up, I came across an article in the New York Times which describes a method to create this wonderful bread at home.

At first it was still a little daunting because it takes 24 hours to complete but keep in mind, about 23.5 of those hours can be spent doing anything else you want while your dough rises. I made some this weekend and could not believe I had managed to create something so pretty and fancy and yummy. The recipe included with the article has a few simple ingredients. I added pepper when I first mixed it and chunks of swiss cheese when I folded the dough. I could not be happier with the results (although next time I will add more pepper). It was a gorgeous round carmel loaf with cracks and imperfections that make it look so deliciously home made.

Here is the list of stuff you need:

• Yeast


• Flour


• Water


• Salt


• 6-8 qt. lidded baking pot or dutch oven

Seriously, make this. It will make you feel like an Italian grandma, who doesn't want that?

My Excuse

I know those of you who live from post to post are hanging by a thread out there. But the problem is, my home computer is broken. It gives me this horrible message when I turn it on that says I have to get the fan serviced. But I am taking it to get fixed today so I will do a big catch-up post soon. Here is what you have to look forward to...

• Katie blowing our minds with her DDR skills at Mike's B-day
• Tackiest/yummiest/cleverest Halloween treat collection
• My new couch
• Mad yurt action

Also, I am painting my bedroom tonight. I think I can safely say that tomorrow I will have a better looking bedroom than any of the rest of you. How does that make you feel? (Just kidding, I know you all have really nice rooms...)

It again

I got tagged again. This time I am supposed to post the 4th picture in my photo file. This is a lovely one of my younger brother Devin and I getting rocked in the waves off Cozumel. If anyone is curious, that was an awesome vacation. Also, I guess this time I will play along and tag Sarah, Hobbs, Erin & Jade (Jade, I know you don't have a blog but you need to start one. It just makes good sense.)

Tag-- now you have a husband

My old roommate Liz tagged me in one of those blog games. I have a great love for Liz but a general aversion to games like that (not so much playing myself but being required to tag others) however, this one is especially uncomfortable because all the questions are about my husband.
For those of you who don't already know, I hate to break it to you but, I do not have a husband. Don't get too upset, I have accepted my loss. It was rough for a while but I am used to it now. I finally stopped making dinner for two and started mowing my own lawn (any true follower of my blog knows that is a total lie) and on the bright side, I hardly ever have to do his laundry any more, but sometimes when I get lonely, I still leave the toilet seat up...
But really, this just proves once and for all that Liz truly is in denial about my marital status (to be fair she wrote me a nice email acknowledging her slip and asking me to play along anyway). And since I think Liz is the cutest, nicest, funniest and just generally most perfect person I know, I would do anything for her including pretending my boyfriend is my husband (just like she apparently does all the time). P.S. Mike please do not dump me after you read this.

What's your husband's name? Mike

How long have you guys been married? Zero wonderful years

How long did you date? 1.5 wonderful years and counting

How old is he? 32, which makes me feel old. I remember when the idea of dating a 32-year-old was decidedly creepy!

Who eats more sweets? relatively speaking, I do but he eats more of everything so in strict quantity it is probably him

Who is taller? him

Who is the better singer? yikes, that is a rough one. We both suck. But he always gets booed off of Rock Star and I only sometimes do so I am going to say ME.

Who does the laundry? We both do, that is the beauty of separate houses with separate laundry facilities.

Who pays the bills? Me... well, I pay my bills. I don't know who pays his bills.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? He does... er... um... I mean, shame on you for asking, we have never slept in the same bed.

Who mows the lawn? Him/little neighbor kid/nobody

Who cooks dinner? That might be equal. Sometimes he heats up a hot pocket or corn dog for me. And if I am actually cooking something, he will stir and chop as required.

Who drives? Mostly me. He has a company car with limited miles.

Who is the first to say they are wrong? Still waiting for one of us to fold.

Who kissed who first? We kissed each other at the same time as far as I could tell. I might have initiated it; I may have been "leaning" a bit if you know what I mean.

Who asked out who first? I think I lost a bet and had to take him to ice cream, that was probably our first date, which was probably after we kissed for the first time (in the midst of the Wasatch Back, a 24 hr. relay race---relay romances have always been irresistable for me)... actually, I really cannot remember.

Who wears the pants? We both do most of the time, but sometimes Mike likes to relax in a flowy skirt... just kidding, I am not sure we are in a deciding-who-wears-the-pants kind of relationship, that is so last century.

And that is all... I hope nobody gets too sad that I am not tagging anyone else. If you have a great desire to write about your husband/boyfriend/pet/roommate, just take the initiative yourself; you do not need my permission.

pumpkin deliciousness

One of my favorite things about the coming season is all the pumpkin desserts. Mike's sister, Kate, provided me with my new favorite recipe. It turned out perfectly. Next time I think I will try baking and serving it in little custard bowls. And "next time" will probably be today.

Pumpkin Tart

Filling

1 big can of pumpkin

1/4 tsp cloves

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 can evaporated milk

1 cup sugar

4 eggs

Topping

1 stick melted butter

1 bag of yellow cake mix

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix melted butter with cake mix until all the cake mix is clumpy and moist. Set aside.

Mix all filling ingredients together with a wire whisk.

Put filling in greased 9x13 cake pan. Sprinkle topping evenly over filling.

Bake uncovered for 40 minutes then cover with tin foil and continue baking for 5- 10 minutes. Let cool at least 20 minutes before serving. Serve with ice cream or whipped topping.

zip, zip, zip

Last Saturday, Mike and I went up to Tamarack Resort for their zip line tour. Zipping offers an array of benefits including:

1) flying through the trees at 40 mph
2) wearing goofy hats
3) perching a few hundred feet up in a tree that is swaying (yikes)
4) hiking from zip line to zip line
5) beautiful fall foliage
6) spectacular views of Cascade lake (at 40 mph from hundreds of feet in the air)

Welcome

Yesterday I lived alone and had no reason to think that would change for a while.

Last night Sarah was moving somewhere else but suddenly moved in to my house instead. It surprised us both.

But it is going to be rad.

Welcome Sarah.

Progress

My front room is coming together. I added a rug, ottoman, chandelier, and finally hung up my mom's paintings. Now I just have to figure out what to do with that huge white wall. I am accepting suggestions.

Warmth

It is unseasonably cold and my furnace has not been working. I hate being cold. It makes me want to be under blankets all the time. But I also hate calling repair people when it always seems like I should be able to fix things myself. However, all my google-search repairs were falling short and I was about ready to cave when Mike told me his co-worker was an HVAC repairman.

So today those two went to my house and fixed my furnace (the part cost $20). Now I can look forward to a warm house when I get home. I am so relieved. This whole home-ownership thing is really damaging my otherwise pristine feminist independent image of myself. If Mike keeps this kind of behaviour up, my whole blog is just going to become an ode to him and his generosity.
THANKS MIKE!

Grass

The house I moved into had been vacant for a few months so the lawn was a little long. Then I moved in and didn't care so I haven't touched it. My boyfriend, Mike, apparently really cares about lawn maintenance however, so he has been nagging me for a while to buy a lawn mower and cut the grass.

Yesterday, I was chatting with Mike on the phone and he asked how my lawn looked. I jokingly (but seriously) replied, "Crappy, okay!" Then he quietly said, "But I mowed it today..." I went outside and sure enough my lawn looked perfectly mowed. I hadn't even noticed.

This taught me two things:
1) I really, truly do not care about how my lawn looks; and

2) I have a really, really, really nice boyfriend who does care how my lawn looks.

We Ran

After 3.5 months of training, we finally got to run the marathon this Saturday. It was pretty much what everyone said it would be... way hard. Since none of us could walk after the run, we mostly just layed around and watched movies and let my mom feed us. I am still wondering when my quads will allow me to descend stairs normally.

Now I am just looking forward to 0.5 marathons. I was feeling great at 13.1.

The Day Katie was Born

In honor of the day our lovely Katie was born, a bunch of her faithful followers hiked in the blistering heat to the top of Table Rock (that is just how devoted we are to her). Being sweaty and parched made us all the more grateful for the darling little lunches Nikki and Shyla had prepared for us.

They were even in cute little lunch boxes. After we ate, we each wrote a few birthday wishes for Katie and sent them up to heaven on 99 red balloons (or maybe 12... I lost count).



From there the pilgrimage migrated to my house where we met up with even more friends (the less devoted who didn't make the trek to Table Rock) and had some crepes. It was good times. Thanks for being born Katie!

Narrows

The Narrows is a spectacular sandstone canyon that terminates at the Temple of Sinawava in Zion's National Park. For the small price of hiking in a river for at least ten hours, you can be in the midst of spectacular painted sandstone cliffs, and waterfalls, and snake grass. As Brigham said, leaving feels like "getting kicked out of the Garden of Eden."

Just right!

I really like to mountain bike. Except that I don't really like going uphill or downhill. (Uphill makes me tired and downhill is scary). Otherwise, I am quite a hard-core mountain biker.

However, those two little exceptions sometimes put quite a kink in my mountain biking enjoyment. Whenever I go biking I get way behind on the climbs because I am weak and slow and I get even more behind on the downhill because I hold my brakes with a kung fu death grip.

But yesterday, a few of us went to a biking park and Steph and I found the perfect path. It wound around a lovely hill and all the climbs ended just before I got out of breath and none of the decents were steep or rocky enough to be scary. It was like the hill knew me and wanted to make me happy. And I was happy.

The bike park also included a terrain park for lunatics like Aaron and Mike.