Celtic Fiddle Festival

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

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

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

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?

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

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.

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

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

*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

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

 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!

Photo by Heather Mildenstein

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

I Just Can't Believe It

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

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!

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...

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.