{easy weight loss plan- get the flu for a week}

Cough Syrup- $6

Trip to Instacare- $30

Prescription Medicines -$60

(yes I'm being serious- Tamiflu cost $50 and that was with insurance!)

Loosing 5 lbs after being sick with the flu all week- PRICELESS

(picture via google images- definitely NOT mine...i wish!)

Okay, so I know it's not the healthiest way to loose weight, but hey, 5 lbs is 5 lbs! This girl will take all she can get! Even if it means laying on my death bed for a week!

{the best corn bread ever}

Since I've been sick all week, my diet has mainly consisted of soup, juice, and water. But now that I am finally feeling a little better, I'm starting to crave normal food- especially Z'Tejas Famous Corn Bread! Z'Tejas is a southwestern restaurant in Salt Lake and it's delicious! Well, my friends, today I found the recipe, and I feel the need to personally thank Fox 13 for posting this scrumptious recipe online, so that I may make this bread any ol' time I want!

Z'Tejas Famous Corn Bread

By Todd Gardiner, Executive Chef

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups corn meal
1 1/2 cups flour
1/3 cups plus 1 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup plain yogurt
1/3 cups plus 1 Tbs. cream corn
1/3 cups plus 1 Tbs. frozen corn
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
3 eggs
1/3 cups plus 1 Tbs. butter, melted
1/4 tsp. salt

Instructions:
Mix all dry ingredients together.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk all wet ingredients together.
Add dry ingredients to form batter.
Use small pre-heated skillet, spray with non-stick cooking spray and then fill with 9 oz of batter.
Bake at 375 degrees (convection oven) 400 degrees (conventional) for 16 minutes.
Rotate at 8 minutes.
Test using a toothpick in the center of the corn bread.
Toothpick should come out clean.

{question}

Alright everyone, listen up!

I need your help answering a question! So all of you who have been married or have attended a siblings wedding, this one is for you!

As you know my little brother is getting married in June. His fiance never directly asked me to be a bridesmaid, however she bought me and her sisters all the same dress to wear (so I guess that makes us bridesmaids, right?) Anyway, so we're all wearing matching dresses, the moms have their pretty dresses, and my brother rented tuxedos for the dads, my brothers, and her brother to wear. However, they didn't get a tux for Andrew to wear, which I thought was odd. If everyone in our family is dressing formally and in matching attire, shouldn't he wear a tux too? Yes, he's an in-law (the only one so far), but he'll be in the family pictures.

So, here's my question- when you got married or when your siblings got married, did you have your brother and/or sister in-laws wear a bridesmaid outfit or a tux (or matching attire) to match the rest of the family?

Maybe I'm just a little bias, cause I like how my man looks in a tux!

{virtual shopping spree}

Since I'm home sick today, I thought I'd catch up on my online "window" shopping.
Here are a few must haves for spring!

images via forever21.com

images via bananarepublic.com

images via shabbyapple.com

{sick}

I know when you get married you promise to share everything- why do sicknesses have to fall into that same category? I officially have the flu Andrew had earlier this week. This was our conversation before bed.

Me: I should probably take some of this before we go to bed right?

A: You'll probably sleep better if you do.

Me: (hesitating before I consume what is known to be the most disgusting, foul taste on the planet)

A: You're so funny

Me: Why am I so funny?

A: You always plug your nose and scrunch your face up as you drink that.

Me: Because it's awful! I don't know anyone on this planet who likes the taste of cough medicine!

A: Uh, you're married to one.

Me: You're kidding me.

A: Nope, I really like how it taste.

Me: Wow........

If I'd known that before we were married, it might have hindered my decision to marry him! Not really, but seriously, who likes the taste of cough medicine? Gross

{poor, little bunny}

Andrew is sick, and has been since Sunday. Lucky for me, I am now getting it too, which sucks. I jokingly asked him today who was going to take care of me, since we're both under the weather, and he just smiled and shrugged. You see, men are more needy when their sick. I like to be left alone to sleep. If I need something, I'll ask but it's usually something small like a glass of water or a cup of soup. On the other hand, I have fulfilled many requests that Andrew has had while being home sick, including buying him the DVD of "Dirty Jobs", because we don't have cable and there's nothing for him to watch on TV. Since I think Mike Rowe, the host of Dirty Jobs is hot, I gladly obliged, however there have been more, tedious, detailed requests made which I won't detail- I just think it's funny how men seem to be more needy when their sick. Case in point:

{New Pet}

They're selling these pets at a local science lab-

they're experiments they no longer need. Check them out here.

I'd like to buy these two:

However I don't think I want this one...

{Get Banged}

Interpret that however you want. Here's what I meant by it- I need a new hair style. Seriously, I'm in a rut. For some reason, I cut off most of my hair after I got married. Bad decision. I miss my long hair like the desert misses the rain. I've had it trimmed once since cutting it last October, and it's grown a few inches, but now it's in the weird, won't do anything length.

Here's how it looked post hair cut...Here is the after....(please keep your shrieks and gasps to a minimum)I didn't hate it at first, but I didn't like it- now I'm just waiting for it to grow out, and as much as I don't want to cut it more, it needs some style. This leads me to my post title. I'm thinking about getting bangs cut. Here are a couple of examples of what I like-

So, what do you think? Should I do it? If not bangs, what should I do???

{Bake Off}

My neighbor Karry Edwards is a finalist in the 43rd Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest! Her amazing cookies are shown above, and she is an awesome cook! Seriously, she could have her own baking show, and she needs our support! Not only could you help her win, but YOU could also win $1,000,000!!! Click HERE to vote! You need to register in order to vote and to be eligible for the big prize, but it's totally worth it! Not only are her cookies delicious, but they're incredibly easy to make!! You can see Karry HERE on our local Good Things Utah television show! She's the red head hottie in the center! (Click on the video link on the side to start the video!)

So vote for her and who knows, YOU could win the million dollars!!!

{Easter Goodies}

Andrew and I did things a little differently this year. Since we both didn't want a bunch of candy, we decided to get each other a little gift for Easter. Yesterday we stopped by Pirate O's (Utah's version of Trader Joe's) and picked up just a few snacks for the basket (we got 2 small bottles of sparkling apple juice, a crunchy bar for me, gummy frogs for him, peeps of course, and a couple of cadbury eggs.) I got him I am Legend (even though I thought it was the scariest movie ever)and he got me a subscription to Cottage Living (my favorite home magazine). He also surprised me with these beautiful spring flowers!

Thanks Honey!

{Geese}

Our back porch sits about 40 feet from the Cottonwood Creek, and just around the corner from that is a huge pond full of ducks and geese. We stopped to feed them yesterday on our way to go Easter basket shopping. Most of the geese were nice and happy to be fed a little bit of bread. (hey that rhymed!)

This one smiled politely while waiting to be fed. Good Goose. But there were a few geese who were a little greedy and impatient. Whitey here, was hissing and honking at us, and no matter how far we backed up, he kept charging! Poor Andrew had to throw bread at him while I took the pictures. Thanks for protecting me honey!

Bad Goose!These geese hang out on our front lawn. They're the most relaxed out of the bunch and very curious! I'm hoping to see baby duckling and goslings romping around here soon!

{Easter Eggs}

Ah...coloring Easter eggs! I love this tradition! And yes, we eat the hard boiled eggs after we color them!

Before....

After!

The eggs were sweating from being so cold and being placed in hot water!

Hubs and Me
Barry takes great care of his egg!

Andrew's reaction upon hearing the Easter Bunny is not real.

{Does it ever!}

{Dreaming}

Dreaming of Kerala by Margaret Atwood

Ever since I was little, I've had vivid dreams. I always remember them when I wake up. I don't just remember little bits and pieces, I remember everything, and I usually don't forget. I don't know why I dream, but every night it's different. Sometimes they are pleasant dreams, in which I'm doing something fairly normal (relaxing at the beach, hiking through the woods, etc). Sometimes they're very weird. I've had dreams where I've talked to animals- not just talking, but discussing or explaining how to do a human task, such as why you should prepare your taxes before April 15, or how to drive a stick shift car. Weird. I also have reoccurring dreams. When I was little, I used to dream all the time that I was in a huge warehouse with a bunch of unmarked crates, stacked high to the ceiling. In my dream I was being chased by something- I couldn't see it or hear it, I just knew it was after me. I would hide in between the crates, until I saw it's shadow getting close, and then I'd run and hide again. I always woke up right before it grabbed me. I haven't had that dream in a long time, but ever since I got married, I've had vivid dreams. So vivid that when I wake up, I almost feel like I didn't sleep. I feel rejuvenated, but I feel like when I go to sleep I lay down, close my eyes, and then start watching a movie with me in it, and then my alarm goes off and I'm up. I don't feel like I've had relaxing or normal sleep. I think my lack of relaxing sleep is why I had the dream I did last night.

I dreamt I was on a cruise ship with my entire family- in laws and everyone. Andrew's friends were there too, but for most of the cruise, I was in this big, suite. I could hear activities going on outside of the room, and I could even see what people were doing- swimming, tanning, dancing, etc, but I was alone in this room, exhausted, yet I didn't want to sleep because I felt like I would miss out on something. In my dream, nobody knew I was in that room, and nobody came to find me. When I opened the door to the suite, there was a man standing about 3 feet outside the door. The hallway was dark, and when he noticed I opened the door, he lurched at me. I shut the door just in time and locked it, but I could see his shadow under the door. Then all of the sudden in my dream, I'm outside of the suite, and I'm on a pier, looking back at the ship. Now I am with everyone, but the only person that doesn't seem to see or hear me is Andrew. His sisters tell me they like my swimsuit and then we're back on the ship. For some reason, I have to get back to the suite. I find the dark hallway and I can't see if the man is still there, so I walk down the hall, trying not to look scared. I get to the room, and my brother Barry is there. We talk for a little bit and I tell him about what's happened so far. He says not to worry about it and I hear an alarm. At first I am confused, but reality sets in and I realize it's time to get up.

Weird huh? I seriously wish I could just sleep without any dreams. I'm not sure why we even dream. Some people say that dreams are seen as projections of parts of the self that have been ignored, rejected, or suppressed. I can kind of understand that. Maybe I had that dream because Andrew has school at night and I don't see him that often during the week. But what did the man in the hallway mean? Why was I on a cruise? Should I even be looking for "meaning" in my dreams or should I just try to ignore them? What is the weirdest dream you've had? (Sorry for the onslaught of questions!) Dreams are interesting, but in my case it's starting to get old!

{I *heart* E.L.F.}

No silly, I don't have an obsession with fairy people that have pointy ears, and although I do like the movie Elf, I'm talking about Eyes, Lips, and Face! It's an online cosmetic store and all of the makeup is a dollar! Seriously, check it out! Here are a few of my favs...

{New Music Obsession}

This girl won on X Factor (British version of American Idol).

All I can say is, "Girl has got it goin' on!!"

Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love (U.S. version)

{Picture Tag}

Here are the rules: Use only pictures from a Google image search. (don't cheat and use any of your own, or ones on your computer!)

Fav Color:Fav Animal:

Bad Habit:

Fav Food:

Fav Hobby:

Fav Song:

Fav Dessert:

I tag anyone who reads my blog regularly! You know who you are!

{Blast from the past!}

A couple of days ago, the hubs and I were at Walmart grocery shopping. Whenever we pass the toy isle, I like to see what kids are playing with now days! (That makes me sound old) As I strolled down the isle, I noticed the regulars- baby dolls, barbies, and then I noticed one doll in particular that took up almost the entire right side of the isle! Here was this doll with huge eyes magnified by heavy makeup, a sultry look on her face, big, clunky, shoes, a mini skirt, halter top, and a fuzzy jacket...You all know the doll I'm talking out and if you don't, check out the toy section and you'll see for yourself! My brother has a name for doll's like that- the prostitot doll! (Prostitot is a name used when people dress their children or allow their children to dress in inappropriate clothing and/or let their child wear makeup and strut around when they're still little girls!) *sorry if I've offended anyone* I can't believe anyone would let their little girl play with something that portrayed females that way! I'm not a feminist, but please...who wants their little girl to play with a doll that looks like a hooker? Anyway, it got me thinking about toys I used to play with when I was a kid and I took a stroll down memory lane....

Here are a few of my favorites....

Nintendo

I remember the Christmas we got our first Nintendo. Not because I played with it a lot (I was 6, in fact, I don't really remember playing with it at all until a few years later), but my brother and my dad were so excited about it! It came with the gun for Duck Hunt, the pad for World Class Track Meet, and two controllers. When I was finally old enough to figure out how to play, I loved it!
Oh, the days of Donkey Kong and Super Mario Brothers!

Teddy Ruxpin

This bear told some great stories, but got a little creepy when his talking became slower and lower from the batter running out. That, and he only had one expression. I would turn him around to face the wall at night. Nonetheless, we loved Teddy!

She-RaShe-Ra: Princess of Power! My brother and I would play She-Ra and He-Man for hours! Check out that sword and the sparkly cape- what power and style!

Play DohIt's Play-Doh...enough said!

And last, but not least, my favorite toy ever...

Calico CrittersBack in the day these were called Sylvanian Families (yes, you can see why they changed the name!). They were a collection of miniature animals, dressed in clothes, and came with little houses and furniture.

So there you have it- a blast into my past! Now I want to hear from you! What were your favorite childhood toys? Cartoons? Post about it on your blog and share!

{Why I love Easter & Spring time}

Decorations

dying easter eggs

paper easter basket grassfun, spring cakes