Food for thought.

The other day, there was a plate of freshly baked cookies on my in-laws counter just sitting there, untouched. They were big, chunky chocolate chip, chewy looking cookies that I just couldn’t resist. Now, I’d like to preface this with the fact that I’m more of a cake and pie kind of girl, cookies are at the bottom of my sweets totem pole, but that’s how good these looked. I had to have them. I placed three on a plate and warmed them to the perfect temperature- firm enough to dunk but soft enough to melt in your mouth. I poured myself a mug of cold milk, and gloated in the fact that I would be the first to indulge in these chocolaty delights.

I grabbed my first cookie. I dunked. I stuffed the whole thing in my mouth at once. And then- I realized.

Those were not gooey, chocolaty chips smattered about my delicious cookies, they were RAISINS.

I wanted to throw these deceivingly inedible morsels in the garbage. But these were not my cookies, nor was I eating them at my counter, leaving me to abide by the etiquette of eating at someone else’s house. I choked down the remaining two raisin infested cookies, which no longer deserved the sacred name of cookie. Baked raisin dough balls seemed a more appropriate title. Dehydrated grapes do not belong on anything besides an overheated, under watered vineyard fence.

Then I realized something impossible.

These weren’t that bad. They were actually kind of.. good.

I was surprised that my taste buds were no longer rejecting the shriveled little monsters. I took a few moments to appreciate that miracle. Eventually, I dug through the pantry until I found the holy grail of all things sweet- a bag of straight chocolate chips, and I helped myself to 3 handfuls a few.  

Now, it’s not that I don’t like the raisins themselves. I actually quite enjoy the little raisin filled boxes typically paired with a  juice box from my childhood. I just wasn’t expecting them, I was expecting chocolate chips. It was then that my brain created a slightly farfetched metaphor, but a metaphor none the less. I started to think of all the things I’m striving for right now, all of the things I think I want and need, or in food metaphor talk- the chocolate chips of life. But, I somehow keep getting raisins. It’s not that the raisins aren’t good, they just aren’t what I’m expecting, or what I think I want. It always takes a while, but then I realize that the raisins of life really aren’t that bad, if fact, they turn out to be really pretty good. And in reality, they are probably better for me. I just need to learn to appreciate the raisins, and once the chocolate chips come, they are that much sweeter.      

I’ve been trying to be grateful for all of those raisins in my life, and it’s really not as hard as I thought. I still pray for chocolate chips to come pouring into my life (both literally and metaphorically speaking) but now, by having and appreciating the raisins first, they are that much better. Hopefully my food metaphors will also get better, but until then- i'll start enjoying those raisins.  

The weekend is here!

It always seems to come so fast, yet so slow at the same time. But, it's finally here, and I'll be spending it with my love.

(Photos taken by Bodie before we were married.)

El mejor viaje de mi vida.

We brought a disposable camera on our honeymoon (disclaimer** although I wish this was an original idea by yours truly, it was borrowed. Thanks to those of you who introduced the idea to us!) and it provided us with some great pictures to look forward to when we got home. I sure love looking at these, they fill me with so much happiness.

Honeymooners.

Having returned from our wonderful honeymoon adventure to Mexico, I have a new perspective on the term 'cruise people.' In order to continually remember our amazing vacation, I have taken it upon myself to review our trip from my first time cruiser's perspective.

To any and all women whose husband and/or significant other has fallen victim to the enticements of mobile technology, specifically the makings of one Mr. Jobs (may he rest in peace), for you my dear fellow women I have the answer: go on a cruise. Or a honeymoon. Or both, because we did. And for 8 glorious days, I had the complete and undivided love and attention of my husband. It was incredible.

We arrived at the Long Beach 'airport'- I like to think of it as a trailer with an outdoor baggage claim- when we realized we didn't have a way to the cruise ship. Luckily, a very nice Asian man offered us a ride to the port in his minivan for a cheap price. We gladly accepted. Once we arrived at the port, we glided through a myriad of long lines onto our ship, the Splendor. We were greeted with multiple lunch buffets, and after indulging at the burger bar we navigated our way to our closet sized sleeping area room. Even though we didn't spring for a room with a balcony, window, or soundproof walls, I was quite pleased with our King size bed, until we realized it was two beds pushed together. That's when we realized it was probably time to go eat more food.

When you put a few thousand technology dependant vacationers together on a large boat, the unlimited room service, mini-golf, and pool access easily distracts for the first little while. However, about half way through the ‘Fun day at sea,’ people start to become jaded by the ship's many amenities, and begin to acknowledge that face-to-face social interaction may indeed become a possibility. A whirlwind of social chaos starts to arise, and before you know it you can no longer stand in the buffet lines between 9 a.m. and noon because sobriety minus technology produces awkward forced conversation. Luckily, Alex and I realized this early on, and engaged in non-stop conversations and/or public affection, both of which seemed to deter the looming conversationalists.

Before our first dinner night in the dining room, we started to wonder who we would be sharing a dinner table with. As dinner arrived we were pleasantly surprised to be seated at a table with an ocean view, a waitress named ChaCha, and three other young, honeymooning couples who delighted in people watching as much as we did. It made for some fabulous dinner conversation, a good laugh or two, and a few new friendships.

Now, there are two dinner nights on the cruise that are "formal" nights. I was unaware that a simple skirt and heels would classify me as "dressed down." Just imagine that you are at prom and you forgot your dress and then- yeah, that pretty much sums it up. Good thing feeling self conscious on a cruise ship is next to impossible. I can't complain about my date though, he looked so dapper as always. 

After dinner, as our stomachs bulged from multiple appetizers, entrees, and desserts, we would typically attempt to go see a show. I say attempt due to the quality of entertainment presented at these shows, however, the American Idol-esk auditions we watched were pretty incredible. Debbie- if you ever read this, you stole the show.

The following days consisted of similar schedules: sleep, eat, movie, sleep, eat, lay outside slathered in SPF 50 due to a wrinkle conscious husband, shower, eat, sleep. It was perfect.

Then the port days came- woo hoo! 

Cabo was similar to walking into a car dealership with 5 cars, and 200 salesmen. After an hour of entertaining many adventurous prospects, we finally decided on a glass bottom boat salesman to take us to Lover's beach and then forget to pick us up. Luckily, Lover's beach had us so mesmerized by its silky soft sand and beautiful scenery that we weren't even mad. We traveled around the town via walking and bicycle taxi, which took us to the ritzy part of Mexico where we paid homage to Van Halen by eating at Cabo Wabo. It was undoubtedly the most delicious and expensive coconut shrimp I will ever eat. We zip lined through the rainforest in Puerto Vallarta, and played with a dancing parrot while feeding him possibly fatal small amounts of chocolate. We spent two fantastic Spanish filled days in Cabo, one in Puerto Vallarta, and loved it all. 

Our trip was over before we knew it. As we arrived back in Salt Lake City, semi-tan but wrinkle free, we were greeted with a graduation party for Alex. We were able to tell our story about 497 times which, as everyone knows, telling the story of your vacation is just like re-living it all over again. It was wonderful. 

We loved our honeymoon, and we love each other. It's just as simple as that! I'm already thinking of planning a second one..

Glitter Fins.

I would like to provide you with a (slightly overdue) detailed timeline to paint a picture of last month, I believe it was a Monday.

Morning: I fooled myself into thinking love was more important that dollar signs and ordered Alex’s graduation present- the overpriced special Nudie khaki pants he wanted.

Early-afternoon: To add to the surprise, and create an elusive alibi for any and all evidence he would see on our bank statement (whoever created joint bank accounts surely hadn't thought through holidays and/or special occasions), I told him Kaitlyn was getting Chris the pants he already had 5 pairs of wanted, and that we couldn’t afford anything for graduation (which in reality was pretty accurate). If there is one surefire way to make a twin envious, jealous, and mope like disappointed kid on Christmas, just tell them their twin is getting exactly what they want. And that they can’t get it. It worked like a charm.

Mid-afternoon: The pants shipped from Europe. I patted myself on the back for a surprise well planned.

Late-afternoon: Alex told me he couldn’t graduate. I couldn’t cancel the pants.

5 pm: I came home from work. WaterDog was dead. My grief and despair led me to facebook, where I shamelessly declared the loss of our beloved fish.

7 pm: The doorbell rang. I rushed down our never ending stairs and was greeted by my father-in-law and Dallin with new fish in hand: Glitter Fins! Thank you social media, you have yet to let me down. Our future may have still been in jeopardy at that moment (luckily the future panned out in our favor), but at least all hope was not lost in the pet department.

Meet Glitter Fins, she may be a replacement of the fish we wish we still had, but we love her almost the same.

And then we got locked out of our house. Again.

Can I graduate?

Let’s talk some crazy. There were more Third Eye Blind Graduate lyrics being sung around our house last week than in 1997. Why, you might ask, would my music connoisseur of a husband repeatedly exclaim the song’s undeniably catchy chorus ‘Can I graduate’? Because the Monday before graduation, he was surprisingly told that he might not be able to graduate. A large number of credits were apparently unfulfilled, and this had somehow gone unnoticed for 4 years. To be told you have a year’s worth of credits remaining, when you are supposed to be graduating in 5 days, would naturally lead anyone back to their Third Eye Blind roots.

After days of meetings, pleadings, and dealings, he was told on Friday that he could walk on Saturday- hallelujah! It made us all the more grateful for the exciting occasion.

Since Alex and Chris were both graduating, and with the same degree, the day was like killing two birds with one stone. The day started at 9 am, with the tradition of the graduates taking a triumphant march across campus. Then there was a commencement speaker, but we opted to go to breakfast at Herms instead. Judging by my Juevos Rancheros, it was the better decision.

With full bellies and a burette in Al's hair, we headed to the graduation ceremony held in the Spectrum. There were a few motivational words said, a 98 year old woman received her degree- if that doesn't make you feel like you have a lack luster ambition for learning, I don't know what will- and then Al walked the walk, shook hands, got his diploma (holder), and graduated (+ a few summer classes but we'll disregard those for the time being)!

We celebrated with some famous Aggie Ice cream, a long nap, and dinner at Elements (my former place of employment I might add). We even had the same server that served Kaitlyn and I on our graduation day (one whole year ago) - talk about tradition.

After some exquisite Kamakaze Salmon (highly recommended), we rushed off to see The Avengers (also highly recommended) which was pretty spectacular.

I was so proud of my Graduate that I even got him a little present.. a pair of grey Nudie Khaki's that he's been begging for (I think this brings the Nudie Jean count in our household up to about 7). 

There were some high quality photos taken by Al's dad, and a few from my mediocre camera, but in the meantime here are a few my phone caught throughout the day.