Aurelian Ball

Goodbye Aurelian Ball

2011-12-16T23:46:00.001-07:00

July? Geez. I knew I hadn't posted in months, but I thought it was at least September, not July. Pheeps! My computer died for a looong time, but that's not the whole reason why I stopped posting.

Anywho. I'm not blogging anymore. I'm choosing to do less. Basically it's because I can't even clean my house and feed my child (or myself) everyday. Practically. (Hyrum is fed at regular intervals. Gee whilikers. Don't you know not to take me so literally?)

You already knew I'd stopped posting. It was obvious. "Now it's official! Ha ha ha."

Awesome Movie

2011-07-28T19:07:00.001-06:00

Arranged is about a Muslim girl and a Jewish girl becoming friends over their uncertainty for their arranged marriage prospects. I LOVED THIS MOVIE. And it's free streaming if you have Netflix. :)

So Tempted

2011-07-25T10:51:00.003-06:00

K, so I'm super pale, right? Cha. The polite/pretty term is porcelain, but that's definitely me. But I love my pale skin! Problem: finding make-up pale enough. Every foundation I find, always choosing the palest they have, makes me look ORANGE.

I did some pale-skinned-makeup research and tra la la! found out that there DOES exist a make-up that would work for me. It's just too expensive for little me to consider. Sad day. But if I could-- I'd go crazy for Bobbi Brown Alabaster shade. It's soooo tempting.

Two Months

2011-07-01T13:03:00.000-06:00

Someday I'll explain why I haven't been posting-- for now, here's Hyrum's most fabulous picture! Taken by his Aunt, Heather Mildenstein.

Hommina! Royal Wedding Cake

2011-04-30T17:57:00.001-06:00

News Group Newspapers Ltd

Royal Wedding of William and Kate was this week. We're all so glad that new Princess Kate chose a classy, timeless wedding dress. Right? It was breathtaking! But did you see a picture of the cake? Mah mah mah mah maaaaaa..... it's phenom. It took five weeks to construct, so it really should have been. I can't believe it's all frosting-- even those legit looking roses are made of frosting! Holy eight tiered goodness, Batman!

I'm a Mommy!

2011-04-26T17:33:00.006-06:00

HYRUM DYLAN MALTBY

April 22, 2011

21.5" long, 7 lbs


Hyrum looks just like his Daddy... even has the same hair-cut!

My baby made it here a whole week and two days early. He's just perfect. I'm SO GLAD he has hair! Tons of DARK hair! That's what I wanted. I suppose I got lucky. :) He has my hitch-hiker thumbs and stubby fingers, Dylan's nose and face (excuse the "conehead"), and a few features all his own.

We love him very much.

Birth Details follow if you want to read more. More pictures too.

Eleven and a half hours of labor, three of pushing. All natural (just like I wanted!) and I'd do it again. I'm very happy with my experience. That being said, I lost a bunch of blood and had about 30 stitches. I'd rather not do THAT again as it makes sitting a right pain in the...

I had Hyrum with a midwife at a birth center-- it's a really cool old Victorian house. That suited me because I don't fancy hospitals from their fluorescent lights to the loud hallway traffic and strangers walking into your room, constant blood pressure cuffs, mandatory IV's before you really need them, pressure to follow hospital conveniences, I could keep going forever, etc. etc. The birth center was so great! The same attendants were with me the entire time: four trained people giving me expert encouragement and support. I'd had my prenatal visits in the same room I delivered in, so I felt comfortable and familiar rather than feeling stranded and "where am I?" Really... it was just so nice. We loved it.

Brindy, Janae, Lisa, and Heather. They all look tired cause I woke them up in the middle of the night. Thanks, ladies! I hope your hands recover from me squeezing them.

Crazy as granola can get (and to my surprise) I ended up laboring for hours in a birth tub with heated water. The process traveled to birth stool and bed too before it was over. So yeah, I did the weird tub thing. I also made tons of random noises, even though I'd never wanted to be one of those people who moan in labor... couldn't help myself cause it helped me relax my muscles.

I got an IV after a while to keep me hydrated. (That's a nice way of saying I couldn't keep ice chips down so I needed medical assistance.) After he was born they flopped him onto my chest and he stayed there for a bit while they tried to get my bleeding under control. Hyrum was awake for four hours or so and quite alert. He looked at everything and held onto fingers and was just a happy boy.

Nowadays he's slightly jaundice, but still a happy boy. He loves his Daddy and Grandma just as much as me. For now. I have plans to control all the affection he has and channel it into loving me more than anyone! MWAHAHAHA! How I will accomplish this has yet to be determined. :)

1st bath-- always Grandma's privilege!

2011-04-26T15:54:00.000-06:00

Meanwhile, here's some Bach

2011-04-21T14:02:00.001-06:00

Only Japanese people would build something like this, I swear. Pretty cool though.

Anyway. I've been totally in labor-- not false labor, the REAL DEAL-- and then it slowed down. Lather, rinse, repeat: totally in labor "get yourself to the hospital now" labor... oh wait... your contractions just quit... since last Friday at midnight. My mom changed her plane ticket to get here early and now we're sitting here waiting.

I'm told this is very unusual for a first-time mom. There was no way that I should be 80% effaced and dilated to a four at 37 weeks, let alone have contractions every 2 to 3 minutes that last 2 to 3 minutes apiece, so I guess this is all unusual. Yippee.

I didn't mind waiting the full 40 weeks or even MORE for my baby; personally, I wanted him to stay inside and bake as long as possible. But now my Mom's here and the clock is ticking until she leaves, and I loathe being the "oh wait, sorry to upset everyone's life, but it stopped" girl. Ah well. At least I wasn't one of those panicked people who went to the hospital with braxton hicks-- these are, at least, real contractions.

So for now I just feel like my line is I'm going to free the genie. ...Anytime. *sigh*

Keep you posted. --R

Photo Proof

2011-04-11T13:45:00.000-06:00

A HUGE thank you to Heather for throwing me a baby shower Saturday. Another HUGE thank you to Heather for then taking some pictures of me so I can a) fondly remember my happy pregnant days, and b) show photo proof to the dozens of you who've been begging for a glimpse of my belly :) .

I never can get a good face-angle in pictures (I don't say this because I'm pregnant, I've thought this my whole life) but the rest of me looks pretty good. If I do say so myself.

Happy April, Everyone!

2011-04-01T00:04:00.001-06:00

daffodils are my very favorite flowers.

And Merry Conference, too! As for us Maltby's, two of Dylan's good friends are staying with us this weekend. They're visiting from Alaska.

It's intimidating business entertaining house guests you've heard stories about, but have yet to meet...

Especially when they've known your husband far longer than you. Aha ha. I'd better hear some really good stories this weekend. That's all I have to say.

Spring Cleaning

2011-03-28T15:18:00.001-06:00

I've always loved making bathrooms shiny! When I was little I pretended to host my own cleaning show. I told audience members how to really get your faucets to shine. :) Haha.

If you deep clean your house this spring please don't neglect baseboards, the tops and sides of door jambs, light plate switches, overhead fans (in bathrooms especially), refrigerator doors + handles, and around doorknobs. People often forget those areas and they can look nasty. Thank you.

Here are some cleaning digs I recommend:

Microfiber mitts or cloths (the kind with opposable thumbs are nice). Get one and you might forget to hate dusting. They pick up more than swiffers and don't snag on rough corners. After microfiber looks full of dust you can beat it outside to get off the excess nd keep dusting, or you can always wash it. Keep one in your glove compartment and your dashboard will always look spiffy!

Rubber gloves. Not only will your hands stay out of the muck, they won't absorb nasty chemicals either. I used to hate it when my hands smelled like bleach all day after I cleaned, but now they don't smell anymore!

Old toothbrushes + toothpicks. Especially in bathrooms and kitchens, dust combines with liquid-- water, grease, hairspray, etc-- and settles into every groove imaginable. I use old toothbrushes and toothpicks to remove it. The dials on your stove, the outside rim of your sink, the runners of sliding glass doors, that tiny space between your vanity mirror and its frame-- I dare you to pick at that gunk with a toothpick. They're also great to use on drains, spigots, and other tight spaces.

Click to read about my take on chemicals and products:

Chemicals: full of toxins, harsh on surfaces, often unnecessary, but still required for a few stubborn jobs.

I believe in using chemicals. Don't throw them out. However! Harsh chemicals can weaken, fade, or damage your surfaces, especially paint. Take baseboards for example-- all you really need is some baking soda and hot water (highly recommend a toothbrush for the creases and the top groove!) to get caked on dust/grime off. Anything stronger just puts fumes into your air and damages your paint. Some do a lot of cleaning with vinegar, but I can't stand the smell so I'd never consider it.

Chemical rule of thumb: Always pick the most gentle cleaner you can to do the job.

Rachel's favorite cleaners:

Bar Keeper's Friend Liquid. Gentle, but powerful. Nothing cleans my stovetop or sinks better.

Lime Away. I love LimeAway toilet bowl cleanser, shower cleaner, and the usual type as well. Saves my life! Hard water stains and rust abound in my old '40's home, and with Utah's hard water it's the only thing that'll work.

Murphy's Oil Soap. I keep some pre-diluted in a spray bottle. It's designed for wood, so I use it on my kitchen table, but I use it on my cabinets and linoleum too. Gentle with chemicals, but strong on clean. Smells nice.

Cinch. It never streaks! Best glass cleaner EVER, but often hard to find. When I can't find it, Windex w/vinegar works too.

Clorox Clean-Up. For when you really do need that bleach whitening/disinfecting/magic. Just go easy on it, it's the worst with toxic fumes.

I'd love to hear your cleaning tips and secrets. Care to share?

The Baby Bag

2011-03-27T22:38:00.006-06:00

Behold the Eddie Bauer messenger I bought at TJMAXX.

If the bag had come in an awesome color I'd have taken it but this was it. Usually I'm the girl with a brightly colored purse, so the utilitarian look will be a change for me, but function was more important to me than color.

What I most wanted:

1. Easy storage for and access to: keys, wallet, and cell phone.

2. Lots of pockets to hold things so they don't jumble into a mess.

3. A bag I wouldn't be embarrassed to carry everywhere.

4. Durable + easy to clean. Also won't start to look old.

Everything I thought I might eventually have to stash in a diaper bag-- extra clothes, blankets, books, toys, snacks, changing kit*, meds, burp cloth, water bottle, etc.-- I brought to the store with me so I could really tell how a bag would suit my needs. Hands down this was the most functional and attractive choice.

Why this particular bag:

1. My stuff has it's own section! I won't have to dig for my keys or phone and I can get to them with one hand. Most importantly, my clutch-wallet fits without a squeeze.

2. Changing system fits into it's own outside zipper pocket! Sweet.

3. Dylan is pleased he won't be embarrassed to carry it.

4. Slim! Even with all the junk inside! Half the diaper bags I saw resemble clunky luggage even before they're packed-- this does not.

5. Classy construction: the zippers glide open, it's lightweight, there's a very comfy shoulder strap AND a trim handle for easy pick-up, and it doesn't look cheap.

6. With everything inside there was plenty of room to spare, and it was very organized.

Finally I found a diaper bag to suit MY needs. There was much rejoicing.

*I have a sensational all-in-one changing pad that holds diapers, wipes, and ointments, so I wasn't looking for a bag that came with that extra stuff (plus if it comes with a bag it's usually flimsy). While not intended to be a "diaper bag," the bag I chose is sort of like this one from Chicco, except better. And mine didn't cost $60.

Alone & Windy

2011-03-23T22:25:00.001-06:00

Dylan works the graveyard shift*. Have I mentioned that? He does. As it's 10:00 pm right now I'm all alone at home in a rather eerie situation. WIND is howling through the trees and spaces between houses, wailing and moaning with great enthusiasm.

I must admit it's a little unsettling having windows rattle next to me... in the dark. Eek! Silence starts and all is calm-- interrupted suddenly by howls of air whistling through tree branches. Yes sir. Just a tad creepy being here alone. One more creak of the carport roof and I may hide under the covers! :)

*We both actually like his schedule. By working graveyard Dylan gets the same amount of hours but ALWAYS gets a three day weekend; we have more time together than if he worked during the day. 4 ten hour shifts instead of 5 eight hour shifts. Since we don't have kids (yet!) the nocturnal thing feels more like an oddity than an imposition.

Recommended Baby Gear

2011-03-21T20:06:00.000-06:00

My sisters are my trusty sources of modern-gadget mom knowledge. They recommend stuff that I wouldn't have thought to get. Like the baberoo necksaver. Self-explanatory, it's designed to prevent your child from looking like Nearly-Headless-Nick.

Seems sort of silly to get a neck pillow for a baby, doesn't it? But then I think of how many hours they spend asleep in a carseat or stroller and it seems less silly. I know MY neck hurts if I fall asleep in the car (or tour bus!) with my head lolling around with every bump in the road.

Today TJMAXX had them for 50% off. I bought one. :)

Happy St. Patricks Day!

2011-03-17T13:03:00.000-06:00

Wear orange today, please. Just for me. No green! Just orange. :)

Green Thumb & Petunia Pride

2011-03-16T22:00:00.005-06:00

Plants and I struggle with relationships. Just ask the feeble clinging-to-life pot of shamrocks in my living room. Hopefully getting a green thumb has more to do with practice than natural ability, cause I'm trying reeeeeally hard.

I've been making early preparations for my 2011 yard to be blooming terrific. (Does that count as a joke? It was supposed to, otherwise I'd have written terrific-ly. As in, adverb? ...anyway...) I bought fertilizer, swept away leaves and sticks blown in by winter winds, raked away dead grass, and soon I'll be turning over dirt to make nice, soft, drain-able flowerbeds for this years batch of petunias.

Yaaaay petunias: cheap colorful flowers tolerant of Utah dry heat and blazing afternoon sunlight that won't die easily! Woot yeah! But what colors should I choose? My house has sea-foam green siding (built in '41) and I need flowers that work its color-quirk.

Picture found at Vista Landscaping

Some things you repeatedly tell yourself to do but don't get around to them. Last summer mine was "take a picture of my house covered in the petunias that I planted." Big surprise, I never took that picture. I lost my chance to preserve the memory of a great summer. Moping aside, I've decided that it's okay because this year it will look even better! (and I promise to take a picture so you can see it too.) I'm gonna GET that green thumb, baby!

Sorry I didn't post last week-- my Mom was in town and I was having too much fun to get on the computer. :) Miss you already, Mom.

Sunday Funnies

2011-03-06T21:16:00.001-07:00

At church today our bishop announced that we'd have our closing prayer after the prelude music, then corrected himself and said closing prayer would be after the postlude music. At this point Dylan leaned in to me with a sly grin on his face and whispered,

"If music before and after this meeting is prelude and postlude, does that make our meeting a lude? I didn't know we were allowed to have lewd church meetings."

Har de har har.

Guess What Was For Dinner

2011-03-04T14:12:00.000-07:00

Italian Breaded Pork Chops, Asparagus, and Mashed Potatoes. This is the type of food that makes life worth living! Try the recipe, it's very tasty-- but be warned-- it makes enough breading for 16 pork chops, not 4.

My Dylan

2011-03-04T14:04:00.000-07:00

If husbands had a super-power, Dylan's would be the ability to calm me down. Those of you who've known me for years and years might say I can be a trifle... dramatic? Since I've been married, I am a much more mellow person. Really. Dylan's calming abilities tell my physical form and my mental storms that everything is ok, and to hold still. He's magic! Five minutes with him and my fire-breathing dragon insides have been lulled to tranquil sleep. Also, he gives really good hugs.

Dylan spoils me. He supports me with everything. He surprises me. He makes me laugh. He washes dishes. He eats everything I cook (even the infamous "dragon soup"). He notices what I do every day and says thank you for it. He recognizes 99% of my references and quotes to obscure things--wow! He tells me he loves me. He tells me I'm beautiful. He drives on the freeway for me cause he knows I'm afraid to. He's excited that I'm pregnant and is even more excited for our baby. Most of all Dylan is understanding, even when pregnant-me recoiled from him for the unforgivable offense of breathing on me after eating 1 soda cracker. He makes marriage easy.

I really love him.

Tragedy of 1st position, indeed. Haha!

2011-03-03T15:00:00.002-07:00

Her arms are my favorite part.

Girly Ruffle Cake

2011-03-02T13:46:00.001-07:00

from Martha Stewart

I eagerly await the opportunity to make this cake, cause oh baby, I'm gonna make this cake. The basic premise is that you fill one piping bag with both white and pink frosting, half and half, so when it's squeezed out it's two-tone. Ruffles made of two-tone frosting will be eye catching and forgiving, as far as piping talent is concerned. And I love the pink!

Come to think of it, maybe I'll make a blue and white version of this for my baby shower (substitute "baby ruffle cake" in instead of "girly.") Hmmmm. But then, who wants to eat blue frosting? It never looks as appetizing as pink. *sigh* I'll have to think of something else.

My Happy Place

2011-02-27T23:14:00.001-07:00

Getting ready to have a baby is interesting. People talk about "visualizing" something other than labor (when you're in it) to make things smoother, easier, hopefully less painful, etc. Sort of a FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE type... thing. They tell you to pick something detailed and easy to find.

photo by super-friend Bill Giles

My current happy place is actually a memory: big band night with all my folk dance chums. I'd always fantasized about a 1940's swing bash. It was so nice to have one for my very own!

The music, the real-vintage gown from 1942, coordinating gloves, the falling snow outside, performing an Andrew's sisters song with Tiff and Jan, kissing my escort and knowing we'd be married in a week, the live band, a ballroom filled with people who could actually foxtrot, and getting my make-up just the way I wanted it.....*sigh,* what a night!

That IS a happy place.

For Those of You Who Like MST3K,

2011-02-24T14:41:00.001-07:00

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Dylan &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Dylan and I quote this one all the time. The commentary is funny, yeah, but the actual clip is awesome too. Remember kids, "Always wash your hair on the same day every week!" and don't forget, "You're not clean if your fingernails aren't!"

Extra points if you get the subtle Fonzie reference. :)

My Favorite New Face

2011-02-22T15:14:00.001-07:00

Photo by Heather Mildenstein, stolen from here.

Meet my brother's new dog, Dorothy, a 9 week old Airedale Terrier. I'm spending too much time at my brother and sis-in-law's house; they're dying for privacy, I'm sure, but I can't stop myself! Why should I care about vacuuming or dishes when I can walk three blocks and spend time with a soft adorable puppy who loves me?

She's just too cute! Soft paws, cozy fur, and the sweetest little romping scamper-- I'm undone. And then she'll snuggle into my lap! Ohhhhh. Dorothy has no idea how much power she's got.

Same credits: Photo by Heather Mildenstein, stolen from here.

Love Linked Cookie Cutters

2011-02-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

Found at Fancy Flours

I have fallen in love with a new baking website. Trust me, you'll see a ton of posts from FancyFlours this year-- they have some of the coolest stuff I've ever seen. Awesome, brilliant things that spin my imagination into a whirl: like candy molds for gemstones-- can you say Leprechaun treasure, batman? SWEETNESS.

Baby Hair

2011-02-15T21:26:00.002-07:00

Baby Rachel Mildenstein had tons of hair. Baby Dylan Maltby had hardly any. I'm very curious to see how our Baby Maltby turns out... hair wise. I'm thinking that I should get one of these to help me picture it.

You're never too old to play imaginary-hairdo with iron shavings! Wooly Willy agrees with me.

This Makes Me So Happy

2011-02-15T18:42:00.001-07:00

There are a dozen reasons to love this movie clip: it's general vintage appeal, for example, or the 4 year old hula prodigy. Watch it! I swear it'll make you smile.

I originally was introduced to this by my History of Music professor, who used the short as an example of how classical music can be used to great effect in film. If you keep that in mind as you watch, you'll be thinking no kidding! just like I was.

Happy Valentines Day!

2011-02-14T00:08:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to tell people how much they mean to you!

Happy Birthday, Abe.

2011-02-12T16:18:00.002-07:00

"The struggle of today is not altogether for today; it is for a vast future also. With a reliance on Providence, all the more firm and earnest, let us proceed in the great task which events have devolved upon us."

--Abraham Lincoln, December 3, 1861

I want to have the first sentence of this quote displayed in my home. Few better reminders to maintain an "eternal perspective" exist, and even fewer are so eloquent. Happy Birthday, wise guy!

3rd Trimester Begins!

2011-02-06T16:33:00.001-07:00

Today I'm 28 weeks, which means I've started the third stage of pregnancy. (Cue Card Reads: Applause!) Hooraaaaay.

Recently I stumbled across a Dozen Eggs Bake Shoppe, which makes the most beautiful frosted creations. So cute! I am now inspired. My favorites are the little frosted onesie cookies.

Celtic Fiddle Festival

2011-02-06T16:17:00.000-07:00

I have a Pandora playlist some of you may enjoy-- the channel is seeded by The Chieftains and Celtic Fiddle Festival. I LOVE CELTIC FIDDLE FESTIVAL. Check them out. Their music is not too hyperactive, doesn't have annoying squeezebox-sounding interludes or piercing flutes, and they feature all the best parts of Celtic music. Nice and folksy!

They sort of remind me of Kirkmount, if you're familiar with them (though sadly, Pandora doesn't have their music).

New Jersey's Hoggin All the Snow

2011-02-03T06:33:00.002-07:00

While I've been sniffing over having no snow (in the land with license plates that say "greatest snow on earth," no less) my awesome older sister Melissa and her cute boys Lincoln and Grant made the ULTIMATE snowman; or should I say snow-giant? Seriously, this monster could rival the snow creations of Calvin & Hobbes! Next time you build a snow-giant I want in, ok?

I hope you don't mind that I posted this without asking your permission. The snowman made me do it! *shifty apologetic grin* He, uh, wanted publicity! *cough* Really I just wished he was my snowman and I wanted to live vicariously in your world of snowy wonderment.

Ahem! Lest I forget, here lies the honorable mention for Kenny and the Dog, who did not make it into the above photo but are too awesome to leave out.

Phil Says Spring is Coming

2011-02-02T14:33:00.000-07:00

At the annual Groundhog Day celebration this morning in Punxsutawney, Pa., Phil was gently lifted from his sleep spot to perform his duties. "He surveyed his surroundings carefully and found that there was no shadow around. So an early spring it will be," says the article I'm quoting on People.com (full article here).

This morning marked Phil's 125th prediction, stemming from a tradition that began in 1887. Though there have been several Phils over the years – the Inner Circle doesn't reveal how many – the revered rodent has seen his shadow 98 times, and hasn't seen it just 16 times. Record keeping of the event didn't begin until 1900.

Rachel's P.S.: This is the first time in memory that Phil has let me down. How could you, buddy? Where's my snow? :(

Free Samples

2011-01-31T22:34:00.000-07:00

I'm so jealous of people who constantly receive free samples in the mail. You know-- the ones who post pictures on their blogs of all the free stuff they got? Exhibit A:

I tried signing up for stuff online but I don't know if it'll even work. I am currently accepting advice on how to snag free-baby-goodies for myself. Ideas?

Pottery Barn Serves Geeks?

2011-01-26T19:29:00.001-07:00

Since WHEN has Pottery Barn decided to have Star Wars themed bedrooms? Heck-- I'd love to get my kid the Boba Fett sheets-- but doesn't that seem a little out of character for classy McClassy-Class Pottery Barn? You think the Vader alarm clock is sold separately?

If it turns out that being a geek is cool Dylan and I will soon be very fashionable. :D

Chicken Noodle Cold-Cure

2011-01-21T15:37:00.001-07:00

I just found out that chicken soup actually can help reduce your cold symptoms. Go figure.

Apparently chicken contains a natural amino acid called cysteine, which can thin mucus in your lungs and make it less sticky so you can expel it more easily.

I'm a vegetable-beef soup girl, myself. But Dylan LOVES chicken noodle. Our preferences aren't that helpful as far as Campbell's goes, though, cause processed canned soups don't work as well as the homemade types.

For best results, make a fresh batch yourself. Better yet, add tons of pepper and hot spices. The spices will trigger a sudden release of watery fluids in your mouth, throat, and lungs, which will help thin down the respiratory mucus so it's easier to cough up and expel.

Pink Champagne Gown? I want one.

2011-01-17T14:05:00.002-07:00

Golden Globes? Yeah, no one really cares. I checked in to see the gowns, and was surprised by Natalie Portman's look. She's pregnant! (And she won, incidentally.) Sorry I couldn't find a great picture of her sideways so you can see the bump. Great dress, especially for the bump, though I can't decide if the unorthodox combo of pink champagne and red is tasteful or not. Maybe if the rose had been pearl or cream? Hmm.

Who knew my favorite dress of the globes would actually fit my growing-baby look?

I Can Hear My Heartbeat

2011-01-16T20:44:00.001-07:00

The purpose of this post is not to rave about sugar cookies (even though these look amazing). The purpose is to whine about something. Here goes. Every night I can hear the pulse beating in my right ear. It's so obnoxious! I can't turn it off! Gah!

Apparently it's quite common for pregnant people to hear their pulse in their ear. This is not a sign of high blood pressure, it's just because of the increased blood volume and flow that are typical during pregnancy.

I should be chanting "yippedee doo dah, it's normal to hear this!" but all I can think about is how annoying it sounds. Grrr.

Scarrf, munch, lip-smack, swallow

2011-01-15T15:40:00.000-07:00

*sounds of messy eating continue*

I've discovered that when making a grilled cheese sandwich with dry bread, the best remedy is to use extra butter. :) Finish with a large side of broccoli to ease guilt. *licking fingers, smiling widely* ... mmm scrumptiousness...

Proof-- I DID have bangs

2011-01-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

A Jerusalem Center Fall-2007 partial reunion, March of 2010

Can you find me? Hint: my striped arms seem unnaturally long and are awkwardly hugging my friend Tiffany. That's just weird, cause Tiff and I are so against awkward hugs.

Anyway. I think this may end up being the only photo-proof of me with bangs. My bangs don't even look that good in it, either. Ah, well. At least now you've seen proof of the bangs that didn't last six months! Haha

Dreaming of Puj

2011-01-12T14:58:00.002-07:00

Those of you who have been to my FABULOUS little 1940's sea-foam green house probably know about the shower. *sigh* It's the #1 drawback to our otherwise blissful rental. Well, that and the complete lack of insulation.

What's wrong with my shower? Oh, nothing. The shower head, fully extended, sprays my nose-- which means that to douse my hair or rinse it, I have to bend my knees and squat to get underneath the spray. The tub is also very narrow. This is accentuated by the space sucking non-removable metal-track-sliding accordion door that I surmise was intended to be a shower-curtain. (Don't worry, I covered that eye-sore with a 7' shower curtain that rocks, and put another shower curtain inside the "door" to catch water so I'll never have to clean the drasted thing.) Did I mention that door struggles to open?

Recap: shower is tiny, hard to open, has a metal track on the edge, and an accordion door in the way.

I choose to forgive the house for this evil because the majority of the home is heavenly. HOWEVER. I can tell you I am NOT looking forward to leaning over the tub to bathe my baby while that metal track digs into my ribs. The accordion door, even open all the way, will even block my access to the water source! Grr. It will not be fun.

But as I said-- I'm dreaming of Puj. A Puj baby tub, that is. Then I could even fit a baby tub into my tiny sinks! It would be soooo nice.

Puj tubs are foldable for easy assemblage and easier storage.

And doesn't he look comfy? Mmm. I want one. (The tub, I mean. My baby's already on the way.)

My 1st Anniversary!

2010-12-19T06:42:00.005-07:00

Photo by Heather Mildenstein

Happy Anniversary, my Dearest. I still love you a year later!

I Just Can't Believe It

2010-12-18T21:41:00.000-07:00

Photos by Eric Torrie

My beloved "Taber-church," a phrase I coined around age three on my way to stake conference, is no more! I feel that I should script a word of farewell or speak of its greatness, but I don't have the heart to do it; for me "the grief is still too near."

A Good Morning Story

2010-12-15T13:14:00.002-07:00

My husband works the graveyard shift. That means he comes home to sleep at 6:30 am. Today I woke up at 6:15 to ah, relieve myself, (gotta love being pregnant) and decided to wait up for him. I put a heat-pack on his side of the bed to warm it up, arranged his pillows, and then climbed back under the covers to warm back up* while I waited for his return.

6:40, and he didn't show. Usually he'd have been home 40 minutes before. Just then my ears detected a snow plow on the street. Aha! I thought, Dylan must've been held up cleaning the car before he could drive home! Then I heard a shovel scrape. Pushing my arms into the sleeves of a robe, I snuck to the front curtains of the living room to inspect the scene outside. Dylan was home! And he was shoveling the walk! Scampering silently into the kitchen I prepared a mug of hot cocoa for him. Two minutes later he sipped it slowly in the kitchen while his soaked sneakers began to dry on the porch.

"I feel nauseous," my lips pouted. Pregnancy, pregnancy, pregnancy.

"Shall I get you food?" Dylan sweetly asked.

"No thanks," I pouted more. "I would eat cereal, but we have this much milk," I said, raising the teensy-pinch measurement.

"Would you like me to go get you some?"

Thinking very quickly that he didn't appear tired and that I really did need milk, I answered, "Can I come?"

Quickly bundling into my boots and coat, Dylan and I drove off into the dimly-blue-dawn of fallen snow, snowflakes collecting in my hair as we walked hand in hand into the BYU Creamery. Oooh, it was so much fun to be together so early in the morning! With SNOW! We told jokes and laughed as we scooped up our klim.

A mischievous smirk snuck onto Dylan's face as he put the jeep into gear to drive home.

"I was going to surprise you tomorrow, but it'll be more fun today," he said, driving not home, but to Provo Bakery.

I twirled in parking lot snow merrily before we opened the bakery door and were perfumed by hundreds of pleasantly sweet, glazed, spiced, baking wonderment scents. Breathing deeply, we selected our treasures. So good so good so good. Until this morning, Dylan had never been to Provo Bakery when they first open. I can easily say he enjoyed the experience; I'm not sure which was more glazed-over when we left, Dylan's eyes, or the doughnut in my hand. :)

What fun, what fun we had together! Our anniversary is Sunday, and I can hardly believe we've only been married a year. Everything is still bright snowy white with happiness whenever he's around. Just like this morning.

*To save money our house is 62 degrees at night, which feels very cold in just my pajamas. Before you freak, understand that we maintain a balmy 68 during the day.

20 Weeks! I'm halfway through!

2010-12-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

Over the hump!

Today is "over-the-hump" day for pregnant lady me; my baby is halfway done cookin' in the oven. But the hooray that follows such a milestone is accompanied by other thoughts, disbelieving that's it? and panicked I only have 20 weeks left? carrying most of the weight.

Nine months have never seemed so long, but now that I'm really enjoying my pregnancy I want it to last a little longer. Baby kicks are the best thing ever! I look forward to them every day.

Scrooge explains clothing...

2010-12-07T23:35:00.001-07:00

I've often thought everyone would find Winter to be a more hospitable season if they would dress properly. And just think! Ebenezer agrees with me. :) Hahaha. Yet another reason to love George C. Scott... and Scrooge.

I Look Just Like My Ma

2010-11-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

Once I was called "little Debbie." I thought it was the nicest compliment.

My parents are in town! Yay! I loooove spending time with my parents. Momma and I are gonna spend oodles of time together. :) Let the glee commence!

This is America, Charlie Brown

2010-11-24T20:34:00.002-07:00

YES! I found it! Parts 1 & 2 of the Mayflower/Thanksgiving Charlie Brown. I LOVE THIS MOVIE! It totally helped me on my AP US History test. Gotta watch this every year. :)

Mmm...Thanksgiving Food

2010-11-24T19:49:00.000-07:00

These are my favorites. What are yours?

Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce

Stuffing, Stuffing, and Stuffing.

Coolest Nightlight Ever

2010-11-22T15:02:00.000-07:00

The Twilight Turtle is a stuffed-turtle whose hard shell doubles as a nightlight; his shell glows, and get this-- it projects the night sky (with real constellations!) onto the ceiling and walls of your kids' room. Not the cheapest nightlight around, but unbelievably awesome!

The PouchMiss

2010-11-17T11:58:00.001-07:00

I'm having a dither of a time trying to find a diaper bag I'd be willing to pay for. The decent ones (that aren't even that great) cost $70-ish+, which I think is obscene. PouchMiss ($39) is a tote with all the pockets and storage you could dream of; all it requires is a big purse to stash it in. Pretty nifty: it holds all this, and you can switch out what purse you have to carry. Hmm. I'm considering.

All I need to do now is inherit my sister Melissa's knack for finding ridiculously awesome purses for cheap.

Aha! We did it!

2010-11-16T22:27:00.001-07:00

Three weeks have now passed where neither Dylan nor I remembered to take our trashcan to the street for pickup... until 8am, after the truck had already passed us by. On the other side of Provo we'd have been fine if we'd made it by 9 o'clock, but no... we have to live on the street where trash is received at 7:15. Grrr.

Gratefully, my panic about the trash being too full for one more bag led to finally remembering to street-side it on time. Fourth time's the charm! But hey-- haven't you forgotten to do that once or twice? Three times... in a row? *sigh*

The Faces of Jerusalem

2010-11-14T13:46:00.002-07:00

photo by Scot Proctor

A delightful photographic essay titled The Faces of Jerusalem was just done for Meridian Magazine. Though the photos were taken only on the old side of the city-- not in the bustling urban areas-- the essay accurately captures the wide variety of people in the Old City.

Seeing the faces of these people is truly like walking through the streets; I promise you'll grasp what it's like to be there yourself if you'll take a quick look.

Curious about my full reaction? Read more after the jump:

So many things jumped out at me as I perused the photos. First, that I had met a few of those people myself. Second, that not only did I recognize most of the backdrops of the photos and knew where in the city they were taken, but that I knew so often (before reading the caption) what the caption would say.

The guy outside Jaffa gate with the sesame bread? Yeah. I've bought from him. Didn't I tell you that stuff was good? Yummy.

I'm so glad the Israeli soldier girls were included. Saucy glasses they had on, too! When I was in Israel I would always seem to see soldier-women with neon pink fingernails. That always made me grin, since they'd be carrying enormous firearms. I dig the pink backpack, girls.

Scot Proctor, the author of the photo essay, made a crack about the vibrant "Jerusalem" colors behind a Muslim man who was, I am certain, playing backgammon. I instantly smiled to myself when he mentioned the colors, because Old City Jerusalem is a place full of white stone and vivid paints.

Kevork, the photographer mentioned, really does outstanding work. His photographs are breathtaking and truly capture the unbiased spirit of the city. And the Karakashian family who works on the tiles I instantly recognized, because several of my friends thought he looked like old man playing chess with himself on "Geri's Game," the Pixar short.

Armenians were particularly easy for me to spot. Thanks goes there to my friend Greg who made sure the JCenter students of Fall 2007 all visited the Armenian quarter of the old city; we were told that the BYU kids the semester before us didn't "discover" the Armenian section until their last day in town, which was very sad to me; Armenians are so friendly and their district is easily the most clean. Ahem. My friend Greg served his mission in Armenia, and it was so nice to have him around to make sure we met those wonderful people ourselves.

And I've got to say--the Mormon students were SO typical! Their clothes stand out of course, but a large group of young girls traveling the city with a token boy representative? Ha! They're so from the JC. Though I was sad that none of them carried their fanny packs.

A) Yes, Jewish school boys are always that adorable. B) I was stunned that Proctor caught an orthodox Jewish woman on camera, but so very glad he did; they have such grace.

My one regret was that the photographer spent so much time in the Christian quarter and so little in the Muslim quarter. I kept thinking where are the Palestinian women? because they are so beautiful, and to me, are more frequently seen in the city than this essay would suggest. But thankfully, they were there! Did you notice the woman with the severe eyebrows? That's fairly common. I'm so glad that Scot Proctor mentioned the women with their children-- Muslims LOVE kids, and are extremely family-friendly.

Do I have to eat?

2010-11-13T13:12:00.003-07:00

Is this what pregnant stick figures look like?

I've never wanted to eat food less in my entire life; I've also never wanted to eat less food in my entire life. I have to eat to avoid nausea (still, though I'm supposed to be out of the nausea stage,) but even when I do eat, I hardly ever want to. Crazy change for the girl who would eat 1/2 a cheesecake in one sitting--if given the chance.

Honestly, I don't know how people get themselves into trouble "eating for two." Every time Dylan and I go out somewhere to eat, I can stomach just 12 bites before I'm full. I've gained 1.5lbs in what tomorrow will be 17 weeks of pregnancy (the average by now is 6lbs). More than that, I just NEVER WANT TO EAT. Nothing sounds good. Nothing satisfies. Eating is just another chore.

At least I'm still looking forward to Thanksgiving.

Turn Back The Clock

2010-11-06T19:37:00.000-06:00

Don't forget Daylight Savings Time. Fall Back!

The bagel that loves you back:

2010-11-01T14:03:00.002-06:00

I usually stay away from bagels because they're too hard and flavorless to be worth eating, have 3 or more servings per bagel, and are usually full of empty calories and sugars. French Meadow Bakery's "Hemp Bagels" and I found each other in May, and they're a step forward in bagel-dom. Though they are a little pricey, I continue to get them on a regular basis.

A whopping 19 grams of protein, 11 grams of fiber, half the carbs of normal bagels, no added sugars, no yeast, and only 280 calories for the whole bagel instead of the half-bagel serving sizes you usually see, Hemp Bagels are great! You wanna talk whole grain? These babies have 3 servings of whole grains, 9 types of seeds (that you can see in every bite), and lots of good-for-you stuff like sprouted quinoa. Plus they're YUMMY.

Happy Halloween

2010-10-30T16:49:00.000-06:00

Just Take A Bite

2010-10-27T12:47:00.000-06:00

"Poison" candy apples found here

Snow White won't stand a chance! Aren't they gorgeous?

Recipe after the jump:

Red & Black Candy Apples

8-10 medium sized apples
8-10 wooden twigs, twimmed
3 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup of water
several drops of cinnamon flavored oil
1/4 teaspoon of red food coloring
1/4 teaspoon of black food coloring

Clean and dry the apples. Try to remove as much of the wax as possible. If you purchase them from your local farmer’s market then chances are they have not been treated with the food grade wax that makes then shine. Remove any stems or leaves and insert a twig into the end of each apple. To facilitate easier twig entry you can carefully sharpen the end of the twig or use a candy stick to create a guide hole. Set apples aside.

Heat and stir sugar, corn syrup and water in a saucepan until sugar has dissolved. Boil until the syrup reaches 300 degrees on a candy thermometer. Don’t go over 310 degrees or your candy burns and then you’ll be sad.

Remove from heat and stir in flavored oil and food coloring.

Dip one apple completely in the syrup and swirl it so that it becomes coated with the melted sugar candy. Hold the apple above the saucepan to drain off excess. Place apple, with the stick facing up, onto a baking sheet that’s greased or lined with a silpat. Repeat the process with the remaining apples. If your syrup thickens or cools too much, simply reheat briefly before proceeding. Let the apples cool completely before serving.

A note about the black apples: Lighter colored apples (Granny Smith, Golden Delicious) work well in making the red appear bright and glassy; darker apples like red delicious help the black candy appear as dark as possible

It SNOWED today! YAAAAAY!

2010-10-26T19:54:00.001-06:00

...just a little... but there WERE flakes. "and there was much rejoicing....yaaaaay."

Time to Say Goodnight

2010-10-25T20:21:00.001-06:00

Dylan and I found this today and found it amusing. Perhaps you will, too.

English Muffins

2010-10-20T12:34:00.001-06:00

This morning I saved $1.25 by buying English muffins at the Wonder Bakery Thrift-shop instead of the normal grocery store. Ha! *insert happy dance*

Wonder-thrift is a tiny hole-in-the-wall store you can see from our freeway entrance-ramp; since it's not easy to see from any other vantage point few people frequent the shop, even though hundreds drive past it everyday. Link to map/address of Provo store.

There're a ton of bargains in this place, as well as a bunch of random Hostess goodies that I've never seen anywhere else... mmmm...big bags of crunchy gingersnaps... yumminess.

Well, that was scary.

2010-10-20T12:21:00.001-06:00

Sunday night Dylan and I had to break a dinner appointment; we drove to Lehi (a few cities away) but then had to turn around and go home because I felt very sick and had pains. Not thinking that it was anything unusual, we just made our apologies and Dylan took me home to rest.

When we got home, I discovered that I was bleeding profusely. As I am 13 weeks pregnant I instantly started to panic. It's not uncommon to "spot" bleed during pregnancy--I knew this-- but bright red blood in copious amounts is not good. A little later I started leaking fluid (sorry for the graphic descriptions). Fluid loss is a really bad sign. I tried not to panic, but after losing a ton of fluid I was pretty confident that I was having a miscarriage.

Background: I am allergic to my own pregnancy hormones, which is one reason I've been so sick. Weird, right? I'm allergic to my baby! Haha. Anyway. I'm taking meds to hopefully build an immunity, so Monday morning I went in to get my hormone levels checked-- make sure everything was okay on my end-- and the concerned MD asked to do a "doppler," or to check for a fetal heartbeat.

He found one! Yay! I hadn't heard it before and it was such a relief to know my baby was still there and safe. The Doc had several hypotheses about what had caused the issue, but since a strong heartbeat is present, he ruled out the dangerous ones. Dylan and I are so happy everything's okay.

Beyond Glaze

2010-10-17T14:05:00.002-06:00

Hommina. Beyond Glaze, a doughnut shop in Draper, UT boasts two dozen flavors of... glazed doughnut. With individual flavors like

raspberry mango,


peach cobbler,

and German chocolate doughnut,

I'm a thinkin' a field trip is in order soon. I gotta get my paws on one! Visit Beyond Glaze.com for a mouthwatering peek.

Guess What Was For Dinner

2010-10-15T17:38:00.000-06:00

Sloppy Joe was for dinner. We done eat him up.

Looks Like a Real Ghost

2010-10-11T16:17:00.001-06:00

Doesn't it look like a skulking apparition is haunting that area? As it turns out, it's nothing but sculpted chicken wire. Happy Halloween!

Ghost found at WackyArchives.

Be Smart

2010-10-08T17:11:00.002-06:00

Notice something amiss?

Many websites list ideas of how you can "seem more smart." If appearing intelligent is of any concern to you, forget taking their advice and learn to spell instead. Relying on spell-check is foolhardy! It will not always be there to save you.

Correct spelling and grammar will shine a spotlight of intelligence on you faster than your college degree can (and in many cases, more accurately than your degree). People are smart in different areas, I know-- I certainly have no gift for math. Just trust me on the spelling, okay? There are many different ways of being smart, but few faster ways of appearing stupid than poor spelling.

Remarkable women of intelligence who run businesses and large families are the most disappointing. These are the brilliant women who blog about roasting "marshmellows" during "lightening" storms, discuss the elementary school "principle" instead of principal, write "definitly" and "mimento," "occasionaly" "embarassing" themselves with their writing. Worst of all, blogs have spell-check! Eeeeeew. It's just gross.

And if you can't discern the difference between it's/its, at the very least learn when to use to/too/two. Please.

Pumpkin Love

2010-10-08T15:51:00.000-06:00

I am dying to get my hands on some pumpkins to carve. Fall makes me dream of raking leaves, laughing through corn mazes, and baked apple sweets. Most of all I look at my porch and dream of jack-o-lantern faces glowing there at night.

All I have to do is wait until it's closer to Halloween so my carving doesn't rot!

"Sweet, refreshing rain!"

2010-10-06T17:35:00.000-06:00

Rain has visited often, lately. The smell is lovely.

Look Alikes

2010-10-05T19:29:00.003-06:00

I seriously think that Gordon MacRae (from Oklahoma! and other old movies) and Michael Buble look alike. Possibly it's the smile. Really it was this music video that made me see the resemblance. If you're familiar with MacRae in movies, you'll probably see it too.

Besides, the music video is fabulous! I love the charm of it, and the dancers' exhilaration is contagious-- so much smiling! It's a great pick me up. Every time I see it I wanna grab a baton and dance down a grocery aisle.

It's been a week since I last posted. Way too long, I know. I plea illness! I spend most of my days roaming the house with a bowl, just in case, and since this afternoon I experienced a rush of joy at keeping down jello... I think it's a fair excuse.

Guess What Was For Dinner

2010-09-28T13:03:00.002-06:00

I couldn't find a picture to do it justice: you get limes and cilantro instead.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole! ahem. I made the recipe myself.

Sauce:

1 big can of red enchilada sauce (green's okay, but I like the red for this)

1 pinch of garlic powder

1/4 tsp of cumin

(optional) A packet of hot sauce from a taco joint. I used a DelTaco "inferno" packet.

Open the can and stir the spices right into it before dumping it out.

Chicken:

2 cups-ish of cooked chicken, which you then soak in lime or lemon juice.

I use diced chicken, but anything will work. Put chicken in a bowl, pour juice over it, and stir it every so often so it's evenly coated.The longer it soaks the better--try to let the juice absorb.

Filling:

3 1/2 cups-ish of corn tortillas chopped into squares. (2.5" of stacked tortillas)

1 frozen bag of corn

1 can (drained) black beans

1 can of diced green chilies

1 can of diced tomatoes

Mix in whatever you want-- I don't always add the tomatoes, and once I added black olives and onions. Whatever. Add red pepper flakes for more spice if you don't have kids who need mellow food. :)

Mix it all together in a big bowl. Spread the goopy goodness into a casserole dish, two square pans, 13x9" pan, or larger pan if you've got it. If I use a 13x9 I have to put extra-overflow in a bread pan (that I often freeze and make another time). You can put it all in a 13x9-- it'll just have to cook longer.

Once it's in the pan, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese (or cheese blend) over the top, making sure everything is mostly covered. Toppings protect casseroles from drying out in a super-hot oven, which incidentally is why every casserole has to have a topping.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and goopy goodness is bubbly. Garnish with cilantro-- oooh, it's good stuff-- and the green rounds out the color palette to make it look extra tasty. I recommend serving it with pineapple and a veggie, but meh.

Halloween Party

2010-09-28T12:26:00.001-06:00


found on Martha Stewart.com

Halloween decorations always make me giddy. When I see pumpkins my eyes light up and my heart beats faster. I went all over Martha Stewart's Halloween stuff yesterday and found these print-able invites for a Halloween party. Fun, right? I know if I got one in the mail I'd make sure I attended.

How about an egg?

2010-09-27T12:29:00.004-06:00

I needed to eat something. I was getting more and more sick by the second and needed food, but of course, nothing sounded good. Dylan tried to brainstorm ideas for me.

Toast?

No.

OJ?

No.

Chicken?

No. And then he gets this not-so-genius idea that I want eggs.

"I'll make them any way you want! Scrambled, boiled, fried, over easy--"

Then I, trying to be snarky, say, "Poached."

To my surprise, Dylan smiled like poached eggs weren't ridiculously hard to make. "Sure! I'll get right on that!"

"Dylan, do you even know how to make poached eggs?"

"Sure. That's when I sneak into the neighbor's house and steal their eggs."

Ohmahgosh.

Let it begin! Let it begin!

2010-09-23T19:40:00.000-06:00

FRINGE starts tonight! Aaaaah, I'm so excited to see how Olivia escapes from Walternate. Unfortunately there's no TV at my house so I'll have to wait to see it on Hulu tomorrow. Peter just HAS to figure out he's got the wrong Olivia.

Castle is great; I am especially a fan of their Halloween episodes. But Fringe is so much more exciting! I've been dying for it to start all summer. BRING ON THE FRINGE SCIENCE!

Some Mornings Are Better Than Others

2010-09-22T12:09:00.000-06:00

Frequently I coax myself into eating. "Come on, Rachel, just one piece of toast. You can do it, just one bite. Good--now swallow--swallow, okay now one more bite..."

I feel sick and don't want to eat, but if I don't eat I'll feel even more sick. Everyday I mostly sit at home resting, and forcing myself to eat every hour and a half. If I give in and don't eat on that schedule... life is very unpleasant.

Yesterday wasn't so bad. Today... it's just one piece of toast.

Recent Album

2010-09-20T13:59:00.000-06:00

There are some fabulous songs on here. You should you-tube it.

Guess What Was For Dinner

2010-09-19T17:53:00.001-06:00

Homemade Mac & Cheese

When browsing the internet for a better mac & cheese recipe, I always revert to mine instead. It isn't perfect, but it's easier, faster, and the ingredients are common (except one). Dylan obsesses over it, and we both fight for the leftovers. Fatty carbs! Who can resist?

Recipe curious?

HEAT IN A BIG SAUCEPAN:

2-3 minced garlic cloves (depending on your tastes)

1 can of mushroom soup,

(use empty soup can to measure:) 1/2 can of milk + more if it gets too thick later

3/4 tsp dry mustard (or tiny squirt of dijon)

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp of onion pwd if you have it,

3/4 tsp tumeric if you have it (strictly for color)

a dash of black pepper

when everything in the pot is heated and bubbly, add until melted:

2 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

3/4 cup of Parmesan cheese

(add more bits of any cheese you like. Mmm, provolone.)

After everything is gloopy, boil it for 3 minutes. The heat breaks down the protein ties and will help make the mixture slippery instead of tar-like. If it still looks too thick to you, add more milk or some water to thin it.Sauce complete. Mix cooked noodles into the sauce (whatever sort, but I use bow ties for stab-a-bility) and you're done.

Drive through the canyon with me?

2010-09-18T18:03:00.000-06:00

I want a burger? I... what?

2010-09-18T17:06:00.006-06:00

Thanks for the gift card, Heather. I'm hooked.

I've never understood people saying "I want a burger." Why? If I went for fast-food, I'd much rather have had Arby's (then again, I still might, especially if curly fries are involved), and then there's Taco Bell, anything chicken at Wendy's, and obviously-- Dominoes-- oy, their new recipe far surpasses any other pizza. But want a burger? Meh. Even at a family BBQ there was always something better on the menu. Now thanks to In-N-Out I understand the concept of burger lust.

The hype surrounding the place originally made me skeptical; one opened in Orem and was swamped for three months and every Californian in Utah salivated like a zombie when the yellow arrow was visible. Soon after my first In-N-Out sample I began to provide Dylan with excuses to go back for more. Surprisingly, it's not just the food that's different.

Every surface in an In-N-Out shines with a clean gleam, people working behind the counter are neither slow, stupid, incompetent nor angry, ingredients are surprisingly real, and the taste...hommina. Holding my cheeseburger in hand, I felt like Willy Wonka beside lickable-wallpaper: the cheese actually tastes like cheese! The bun tastes like bread! The meat has seasoning! Fries are made from actual potatoes! The lettuce is crispy, and if you ask for onions they give you an entire onion slice. Mercy!

Much to my surprise, I... want a burger.

Ah, Make-up! How I love thee.

2010-09-17T14:28:00.002-06:00

It's been five days since Monday. That's five days since I've been well enough to leave the house, shower, eat, or sit up without the company of "Mr.Bowl." This morning I finally got to scrub my disgusting hair. Yaaaaay, cleanliness! Five days has got to be a record for me, cause my hair is nasty greasy (no thanks to genes from my Dad's side). And guess what! Today I got to put on make-up. :) So nice to see my familiar face.

Though clean, I remain at home whiling away the hours with Fablehaven and trying to eat something every hour or so. Though yesterday I could manage nothing but small sips of 7UP and a 1/4 cup of quinoa, today I swallowed Cilantro-Lime-Rice from a mex restaurant. I liiiiiive!

Yes, I refer to morning sickness. Psh! I had to visit a doctor for severe dehydration two weeks ago and it took 6 1/2 hours in his office for an IV drip to complete. Sheesh! Did you know that when you're really dehydrated your veins take extra-extra-long to absorb liquid? Jiminy, what torture. This kid had better be cute. ;)

Look familiar?

2010-09-17T14:10:00.000-06:00

Name that mountain vista!

Baby Maltby

2010-09-15T14:14:00.002-06:00

Coming Spring 2011

Silly me, I almost forgot to tell you! Dylan and I are thrilled that I'm pregnant. We're so excited!

Discipline

2010-09-15T14:08:00.000-06:00


"Mr. Discipline," the paddle in Split Infinity, a movie set in 1929.

The word discipline has 9 different definitions, but the one most of us think of is punishment. A more appropriate definition is an "activity, exercise, or regimen that develops or improves a skill; training to act in accordance with the rules." It should be training, and not punishment that springs to mind.

As I now prepare to be a mom, I admitted to myself that I'm nervous. No matter how much confidence says "you can handle that," my heart freezes in place when I see children ruling the roost while the parents try and try to combat unruly behavior. That could be me, I think. But then I see parents in similar situations with kids that are obedient and respectful and think what do those parents do differently?

Kids aren't cookie cutters. I'm not kidding myself-- I know for certain that every child will throw unique curve balls that Mom has to sort out and that each child requires different handling. But I also know some parents have smarter strategies that deliver more positive outcomes. In the interest of boosting my confidence I'm determined to discover as many of those as possible before my foremost title in life is "Mom."

Like any good librarian, I'm beginning my quest with book research. I'll be sure to share some tidbits here, but keep in mind that I have little experience myself; I'm simply repeating my findings.

Guess What Was For Dinner

2010-09-14T10:06:00.000-06:00

Cornbread & Paula Deen's White Bean Chili.

I think the Betty Crocker white bean chili is better, actually. But Paula's favored those with a super-spicy palette, so of course Dylan loved it. :)

I Love All Little Birdies

2010-09-13T14:33:00.000-06:00

but they never hold still long enough to see!

The Meanest Mom

2010-09-13T12:36:00.000-06:00

Great thanks to Bill, who told me about THE MEANEST MOM: a blog with the wittiest prose I have read in ages. 'Meanest Mom' posts true stories of her family, and they're awesome. My favorite posts thus far have been her responses to "Car Booster Seats," "The Cake," and "The Nudists." "Soccer Shoes" was also good.

Tee hee hee hee. It sort of reminds me of when some of my nephews complained about the food they got for dinner, and my brother (their father) decided that until they learned to be grateful for what they had they could eat oatmeal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Oooooh, so effective!

Some Teachers Are Just Better Than Others

2010-09-07T08:44:00.002-06:00

This guy was so awesome his students spontaneously called him "General," and on occasion would genuflect. "All hail General H!" Tee hee. Props to Brother Huntington, ancient studies professor at the JC.

I Want Some Challah

2010-09-03T12:24:00.000-06:00

Today Ben Jehuda Street Bakery must smell so good. I want challah bread. Happy Friday, everybody!

Bruce the Shark

2010-09-03T12:14:00.001-06:00

Stephen Spielberg is shown here inside the mouth of the Jaws shark. Jaws' official name was "Bruce," named after Spielberg's lawyer at the time because Steven's joke around the set was that "Bruce is chasing after me!"

Fact: the Finding-Nemo-Bruce was named Bruce specifically as an homage to Jaws.

Box of Chocolate Surprise

2010-09-02T11:58:00.003-06:00

Every day you'll cross something you did not expect. Every day requires a new challenge and some fresh resolve to meet it. By providence, there is also a fresh-daily strength that can be obtained from God on high, and he will always give it. He promised,

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee. (Isaiah 41:10)

I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content...
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.(Philippians 4:13)

So if a chocolate from your box seems like more than you can chew, call for help. I know you'll get it.

Adventure Passed

2010-09-01T09:26:00.001-06:00

Photo taken at the county courthouse in Carthage, Illinois on tour with the BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble. My legs are visible near the left of the picture, since I managed sound levels for the band.

This year I won't be involved at all with a Folk Dance team, which is strange after devoting so much of my life to it. All my friends were there, along with everything I loved about school. I'm gonna miss these people.

As a matter of interest, can you spot Dylan?

Iron Man at a ComicConvention

2010-09-01T09:20:00.000-06:00

Hey, Iron Man! Can you get these wrinkles out of my cape? Hee hee hee.

Ready for the Chill in the Air?

2010-08-30T10:07:00.003-06:00

All three of these classic lovelies are this season's jcrew. The cuts are just perfect, and I can't decide which I'd like best. The trench looks so Wait Until Dark Audrey, but then the spiced sunset seems so warm, and the heather color would accentuate my snow-queen skin. Mmmm, can't decide. :)

Salem, Massachusetts' Gallow's Hill Playground

2010-08-30T09:45:00.004-06:00

In my first class of the day, Professor York briefly mentioned the Salem Witch Trials and then gleefully informed us of the local playground of that town-- Gallow's Hill Park-- where, as he put it, "You can swing where they once swang!"

Wow. Talk about childhood memories.

If I Had A Pair of Saddle Shoes

2010-08-27T16:41:00.000-06:00

I would wear them everyday. Rory Gilmore style, for sure.

School Starts Monday

2010-08-27T15:25:00.003-06:00

I started to sing that old song,

"School days, school days
Dear old Golden Rule days
Readin' an' writin' an' 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of a hickory stick..."

when I realized that its melody starts out the same as "Toy Land, Toy Land, wonderful girl and boy land..." and the sour irony of school-days compared to a land of toys and merriment made me sick. Too bad.

Actually, I'm looking forward to school this year. Other than my microbiology class, I think I'll at least understand everything that's going on in my other classes-- since they're all History, so they're sure to get stuck in my brain easily.

I'm especially excited for a Jewish History class; but I'm scared of it too, since the course requires 15 books. Yeesh! I'm gonna need a Mazel Tov, which directly translated means "luck--good," or good luck, but rather than wishing someone luckiness instead expresses best wishes and/or congratulations. !מזל טוב
Why thanks, I needed that. :)

Geronimo

2010-08-25T13:01:00.002-06:00

Two frogs above my condo door in Nauvoo, Illinois. Photo by Lindsey Watson.

I love little green froggies! The small frog near the left I named Geronimo, because he jumped four feet into the air and then fell for seven feet total off of my porch in Nauvoo, only to land and keep jumping like the distance was no biggie for someone so small. Every night after coming home from a show he'd be sweetly waiting for me on our front door, eating bugs. I already miss him.

School Supplies

2010-08-24T08:42:00.001-06:00

"Don't you just love the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you bouquets of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address." Tee hee. Last night I went out with my Ma to get new notebooks. So exciting!

Tres Belle

2010-08-24T08:00:00.001-06:00


Photo from ShabbyApple

A beauty is a woman you notice;

a charmer is one who notices you.

--Adlai Stevenson

Correction: THIS tree.

2010-08-24T04:27:00.000-06:00

Actual photo of the evil thorn trees along the handcart trail in Nauvoo, as taken by handcart mate Erin Patterson.

You Can't Handle the Trek

2010-08-23T14:28:00.006-06:00

But it's only 2 miles, you say to yourself. Pah!

2 miles over your-shoe-will-be-sucked-off-by-this-quagmire mud,

2 miles up and down every 85 degree drop/raise hill in the Nauvoo area,

2 miles across 57,989,673 tree roots (while you wonder why you couldn't just steer five feet over off the trail where it's flat),

2 miles over cow dung (I stepped in three pies), and

2 miles where you must be sure not to lean on an evil thorn tree (people have been punctured, and some thorns are 7" long!)

This isn't your average Wyoming handcart trek, people. Beware! BEWARE!