V-Day

Take a look at these so very cute V-Day garlands and then go and print them out for free here courtesy of Whisker Graphics.

New Temple in Utah

The LDS Church announced a couple of days ago that they would be building a new temple in Utah--in Payson to be exact. This will bring the total number of temples in Utah County to 3. The write up in the Deseret News following the announcement included this little gem of information:

"Some temple-going members have been driving to Provo, some 14 miles away..."

So my question (to those of you who are LDS and have real drives (or airline trips) to make) is this:

Do you hate us?

To be fair I'm pretty sure that driving distance did not factor into the Church's decision to build a temple in Payson--I understand that the Provo temple is one of the busiest in the world and they are simply trying to lighten the load.

To Do:

Finally finish The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Eat yummy leftover chicken gyro for lunch (thanks Janssen--I am now stalking that blog)

Tweet (already done--twice even)

Think about working out--but then put it off until tomorrow

Stay warm

I'm on Twitter

I know what you are thinking: She doesn't even do Facebook right (only get on once a week) how can she go and sign up for Twitter?

You are right, except that Twitter has Tracy Morgan, the British Monarch, and Anderson Cooper and I've just always (since sometime last year) wanted to follow them on Twitter.

What can I promise you if you should decide to follow me on Twitter? Not much. I promise 1 Tweet a day--I think I can do that. Maybe someday in the future I will really pick it up (don't start holding your breath now though), but for now I just want to know what Stephen Colbert is saying.

Anyway, should you want to follow me (and I can't say that I know why you would) you can find me, and my one tweet, here:

Making Their Happily Ever After

(How awesome are her red shoes? So lovely)

My sweet, sweet cousin and her husband are hoping to bring a precious little baby into their home through the miracle of adoption. As part of the process they have create an adoption blog which you can visit here (I am also putting a button on my sidebar should you want to refer someone to my cousin at some point down the road). They can also be contacted at robbyandangeeadopt@gmail.com.

Please send them all your prayers, good thoughts, and happy hopes.

Post-Vacation Blues

Is there anything quite as difficult, sad, horrible as the day after a vacation? Okay, so if I turn on CNN I would have to say yes. However, for me, on this day, the answer is no.

I am just back from Aspen Grove where I enjoyed a long weekend with this view:

I'm really not sure how I'm going to recover.

Curried Couscous

Since a few of you have given me a few recipes to try, I though it only fair to pass on to you my favorite:

Curried Couscous.

1 1/2 c. couscous (I just use one box)

1 T. butter

1 1/2 c. boiling water

Place couscous in a bowl. Melt the butter in the boiling water and pour over the couscous. Cover tightly and allow the couscous to soak for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

Whisk together the following ingredients then pour over the fluffed couscous and mix well with a fork:

1/4 c. plain yogurt

1/4 c. olive oil

1 tsp. white wine vinegar

1 tsp. curry powder

1/4 tsp. ground tumeric

1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. ground black pepper

Add the following ingredients and mix well:

1/2 c. craisins

1/4-1/2 c. cashews

I have only tried it with the above ingredients, but other possible add-ins/replacements:

1/2 c. grated carrots

2 scallions, thinly sliced

1/4 c. diced red onion

cubed grilled chicken

When I make this for myself I am perfectly content to just eat a bowl of it by itself--I am pretty sure I would be quite content to live off of this for several weeks. When I am making it for others I usually do a grilled chicken and maybe some asparagus on the side.

Plain Old Yogurt

This is my new favorite pantry item (okay maybe not the old part--and I'm obviously not storing it in my pantry)

Do you have any recipes using this ingredient that you would like to share with me?

This is part of my New Year's resolution to collect some new recipes so you should feel a special need to help me out.

Pretty Flowers

I just picked this lovely up at Forever 21 (just 80 cents!) Paired with my sweet pea body wash, it made my shower so much nicer this morning.

If only I didn't have to shave my legs.

I hate shaving my legs.

(but don't worry I still do it)

Skirt Love

I got this skirt for Christmas:

I Love it.

It is the perfect length, a great color, and has a really nice fit.

It has snaps at the back to control the amount of leg that you want to show off that, as an added benefit, prevent me from taking stairs two at a time or taking long ungainly steps--too bad it doesn't prevent slouching as well.

I'm considering wearing it everyday this week.

And it is on sale here.

Wish they were selling those legs along with it.

I Resolve To...

Two years ago I stole a rather lengthy resolution list (really love this list and may return to it soon) and faithfully kept at it throughout the year and accomplished some fun and great things. Last year I shortened the list thinking it would be great to just focus on a few things and failed in spectacular fashion. I guess I am just one of those people who needs a big long list to motivate me into action. This year I have been so inspired by the many resolution lists that I am reading around the blog world that I've stolen some of your resolutions--hope you don't mind--to create my 2010 list of resolutions:

1. Read the Old Testament (was going to pick the New Testament because it is shorter but I decided to go with the OT since we are studying it in Sunday School this year)

2. Read the Book of Mormon again

3. Read the Gospel Principles manual.

4. Drink 5 cups of water daily--I know that it is supposed to be more than that but I am a water drinker so I'm just trying to be realistic--and so far it is working out for me

5. 3 30 minute workouts a week (to start in February--cause I'm lame like that)

6. Declutter my bedroom (I've decluttered my bookcase, I've decluttered my blog following list, and now it is time to move on to the real clutter problem in my life)

7. Organize clothes--get rid of what I don't wear and what I don't love

8. Create 4 new music mixes

9. Read 12 nonfiction books

10. Complete Young Women Personal Progress

11. Learn to sew a pillow

12. Learn to sew a skirt (I've had the material for a skirt and a pillow for over a year and have done nothing with it)

13. Write and mail 12 thank you notes (because mail is wonderful and thank yous are wonderful)

14. Send Christmas cards

15. Compile a collection (40) of tried and true recipes (1/2 of which will be vegetarian)

16. Complete Christmas shopping and wrapping before December 1st

17. Declutter bedroom (cause I will need to do this at least twice this year so I'm putting it down twice)

18. Organize clothes (again I'll need to do this at least twice this year)

19. Wake up, shower, get dressed at 7:30 every Sunday--I have the dreaded 1pm worship time on Sundays this year and I know if I don't get up Sunday mornings will just be a waste--worked so nicely this last Sunday that I'm thinking of not dreading the 1pm time slot

20. Read each month's Ensign cover to cover

21. Eat 2 fruits and 2 veggies everyday--I'm going to struggle on this one

22. Read 1 poem a day (love, love, love doing this)

23. Memorize the Gettysburg Address (I knew it once and thought it would be nice to know it again)

24. Memorize 1 poem

25. Visit 1 spot I've never been to before

26. Take a hike with my family

27. Visit a museum(s) 6 times--at least 3 different museums

28. Bake fresh bread weekly

29. Wear lipstick

30. Visit the temple at least 24 times this year

The First Monday

It is the first Monday of the year and somehow I feel that I should be very productive (not yet worn down) today.

Sadly I've been plagued by the theme song from The Smurfs and do not feel I have been very productive.

(Were did that song come from? Not who wrote it, but how on Earth did that song get into my mind?)

The song has me thinking, though, about all those wonderful cartoons that I grew up with: Rainbow Brite, The Care Bears, He-Man, She-Ra, GI-Joe. Those were good times.

Perhaps this post will get it all out of my sytem and let me get on with the business of putting the finishing touches on my New Year's resolutions. With a little focus and a bit of luck I just might manage to get them up tomorrow.