A while back a friend joked to me about how before he met Lester, he thought he looked pretty intimidating. But then after he met him, and saw him with me he realized Lester is really 'a big teddy bear.' I had a teacher my last semester who told me that she thought I could probably beat her up, and I've had multiple people who hear I'm from the SF area and think that I must be really liberal then. I've heard people who think that because a person is Mormon they must be a polygamist. Or of people who assume that because they are Mormon, they are better then other people.
My point is that in general, stereotypes are dumb. I realize that often they come out of some small truth, but at the end of the day I would rather get to know a person, and then form my opinion of them then believe the often wrong stereotypes.
And in case I didn't get my point across enough with my words, here is a picture to further illustrate it.
This week for FHE, Lester and I decided to hook it up w some friends and go to Buffalo Wild Wings! For those of you who don't know what that is [like me last semester] you are missing out! It is obviously a wings establishment, but the best part is they have a plethora of sauces or rubs you can try. Lester and I shared a set, and my favorite by far were the traditional honey BBQ and the parmesan garlic ones. We also had a side of onion wings. All I can say is YUM! Our waitress was great, as was the company. I think that when going to a place like Bdubs, it is good to go with people you already know you like, otherwise the awkward lulls in the conversation can be extended and weird haha. But luckily, that wasn't the case, since J&R and B&B are definitely good friend/bdub company material haha. After dinner, four of us headed back home and played a game of Sequence. After that, the Morco's joined us for another few games of Sequence, and my old roomie, Alexis and her bf came over, where we finished out the night w Monopoly Deal. Then Lester and I read until we fell asleep.
I think one of the best things about getting married is that you or your significant other don't have to go home after the food, games, cuddling or curfew is up. Its just continued into this awesome, infinite family night. I LOVE IT!
On Sunday, one of the things we talked about was the importance of little things like family night. Lester and I have been pretty good about this within the last year, but of course, there is always room for improvement...and really it shouldn't be that much hard to do that, since its only just the two of us! So this Monday, we decided to read a talk together given originally by an apostle of our church. It was good to be able to talk about our thoughts and feelings on it, and see from each others perspectives. Then, we used a recipe from a book we had gotten a while ago called Scoops. We made a Belgian Chocolate Gelato and while at first I was a little worried, it ended up turning out AMAZING. Lester said it was one of the deepest tasting chocolate gelatos/ice creams he had ever tasted! SCORE! Then we played Sequence, one of our new favorite games that my Grandparents had gotten us for Christmas. Even though it was only an hour, it was the perfect break and reminder of how blessed we are to be together and of how sweet even the small moments are!
On Sunday, one of the things we talked about was the importance of little things like family night. Lester and I have been pretty good about this within the last year, but of course, there is always room for improvement...and really it shouldn't be that much hard to do that, since its only just the two of us! So this Monday, we decided to read a talk together given originally by an apostle of our church. It was good to be able to talk about our thoughts and feelings on it, and see from each others perspectives. Then, we used a recipe from a book we had gotten a while ago called Scoops. We made a Belgian Chocolate Gelato and while at first I was a little worried, it ended up turning out AMAZING. Lester said it was one of the deepest tasting chocolate gelatos/ice creams he had ever tasted! SCORE! Then we played Sequence, one of our new favorite games that my Grandparents had gotten us for Christmas. Even though it was only an hour, it was the perfect break and reminder of how blessed we are to be together and of how sweet even the small moments are!
In keeping with the New Year, I am going to just share some new things goin down with Lester and I! For one, Lester got a fancy schmancy new camera..which is good news for our blog because now the pics will be better quality haha!
So then, with that new camera, he took a picture of my new hair cut! This is the shortest I've had it in ages, and most of the time I love it! Its also the first time since I think I was 16 that it has been completely my natural hair color. What do you think? Like I said I am liking it, but still getting used to it..
Another new thing we are trying is with our meal planning. It has been really difficult for me to find foods that are not only budget friendly, but also delicious and healthy. Then my Mom told me that Costco sells whole chickens for 89 cents a lb! Hello budget friendly!! The cool part is my friend Kim had blogged about how to make enough chicken for 4 meals, and also usable chicken stock from that! I have since done just this, and we have plans for chicken pot pie, chicken quesadilla soup, a chicken casserole meal, white chicken chili, chicken salad, and taquitos, which I made tonight [and are pictured below]! I'm already really excited about the effect this is having on our wallets, tastebuds and health! HOORAY!
I have also been reading a lot of good new books, per some suggestions. I am almost done with I Am The Messenger, and with shortly be starting Leviathan and The Maze Runner. After that I think I will take a hiatus from Young Adult books [although I do love that I can read stuff and then discuss it with Luke afterwards!] and go back to my roots of Sherlock Holmes, Jane Austen, LOTR and the possibly try out The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I suppose this is life after the Hunger Games right? Haha..can't wait till march!
Other then that, a few sucky things have happened but I am not going to take the time to dwell on them. Tonight were playing volleyball with some friends, and then is back to work tomorrow morning! Hey, it may not be glamorous, but sometimes life being ordinary is exactly what makes it EXTRAORDINARY!
I know, I know, I have been a bad blogger...but we are heading back to Rexburg on Tuesday, and I will pick up a more regular routine, with blog posts and pictures galore. Especially holiday ones.
I have to admit though, in heading back to Rexburg, it is hard not to be a little sad. I will miss my family and my friends here. I will miss the weather, and the nature here, beaches and woods. Its hard when I'm in Rexburg not to think about these things, and reminisce when I here the song, 'I left my heart in San Francisco'.
But you know what? I'm done with that! My family and I watched this video and it totally put things into perspective for me! My heart is wherever Lester is, because he is my present. In talking to him about this new year, he said that all he wants is for me to happy. But I realize now that in order to do that, I can't live in the past.
Don't get me wrong-the past is important. It has made us who we are today and brought us to this present. The future is too-its exciting and scary to think about the blank slate that we have yet to write on. But if I am constantly wishing I was somewhere else, or worrying too much for the future, I won't have time to enjoy the present. And I ain't doing that no more son!
I don't want to always be looking back. I love my life and I love Lester and he is my home now. The bay area will always be a part of me, and a part of my heart will always be here, especially as long as my family is, b/c they are part of my past, present and future. But I am living in the now-this year is going to be one of the best yet because I am going to be 100% present in it, living, loving and enjoying it till this time next year.
Today, in RS, we had a wonderful lesson about the meaning of Christmas; namely Christ, giving, and spending time with loved ones, like family members. However, in the course of that lesson, I mentioned that my family sometimes enjoys doing soul trains. To my astonishment, a majority of the girls then proceeded to ask what a soul train is..I thought they were joking at first, but after seeing all the girls continue to look at me quizzically I realized they were not.
For their benefit, and for everyone else in this world who has missed out on the Soul Train, allow me to take this chance to educate you, so you can board the train as well! Soul Train was a show that originated in the 70's. For lack of a better example, it is a lot like the one showcased on the movie Hairspray, except more-well-soulful. Every week, they would feature the hottest artists [like the Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Elton John, etc], and often teach the audience a new dance. There would be two lines, and the people at the front of the line would dance through the middle to showcase, and then the next group would and so forth. Below is a clip of the show:
Now a days, soul trains are still a super fun thing to do, and can be seen often. For example, in the movie Hitch, which most of you have probably seen, there end in a soul train:
As I mentioned in RS, my family loves them. I think part of it was that my parents watched it in the 80's [while it was still going strong]. Then when I was a kid, my Mom's TV only got BET for a while, so apart from Bernie Mac and Living Single, she would watch Soul Train re-runs. This meant that whether it was the holidays, or we just wanted a piece of cookie dough, we had to participate in a family soul train or we weren't gettin any. It didn't matter if you were upset that your parents were making you do something this silly; by the end of it, you couldn't help but smile on the magnificent ride only a good soul train can bring. The best part was, EVERYONE had to participate, including your parents, aunts and uncles, bf's, or whoever was there. Over the years, we had so much fun doing it that I am planning on humiliating my kids sometimes so we can carry on the tradition and they can have the great memories I do.
As these pictures illustrate, dancing can be such a great release, whether your feeling happy, sad, mad, crazy or whatever it be. But regardless, a good soul train combines good family fun, and a lot of laughter and memories to be enjoyed. And who knows...maybe, if your lucky..someday you will get to see my dad illustrate how to do the superior dance in your next soul train! Peace out yo!
As I promised, this post is going to be about the most wonderful time of the year...CHRISTMAS! We have been doing a lot of fun things, lots of game nights, a few dates and our ward Christmas party, which we were in charge of organizing and ordering the food. Now that I have a job, which I kinda of hate, these have all been welcome diversions. But you do what you gotta do right?
Anywho, it has all been busy and fun, but our favorite place to be in all this has been home. We love our apartment, and the special touches we have made to make it personal and christmasy. And although it has been uncharacteristically nice weather in Rexburg, nothing beats sitting in your apartment drinking hot chocolate, while cuddling with the love of your life as you watch Polar Express or Its A Wonderful Life. Regardless, its 12 days until we head home for christmas...which for me is like a PRE-Christmas day. And we absolutely CAN'T wait!
Here are pictures of our Christmas decor. With us, all is truly merry and bright!
This picture is a picture of the wreath I made; its hanging on our front door.
This is a picture of our nativity and flower centerpiece thingy.
This is an up close of our nativity, which we LOVE.
Idk if you can tell, but this is our fridge, for which i made Christmas magnets for..see the little presents? That's them.
This is our Christmas tree of course.
My stocking, hung on our entertainment system since we do not in fact have a chimney.
Lester's stocking on the opposite side.
This picture doesn't really have any Christmas decor, its just a picture of our new furniture arrangement we have, and the opposite view of the below picture.
