Oprah and Chicken

Oprah is amazing. Whether you agree with her politics or think her shows have too many dramatic pauses during the teasers (that's what I think). She knows what women want. Whether its book club reading or giving America a new President. She has an instinct about what women want that many corporations wish they had.

This week she gave away FREE Chicken coupons to KFC. However, it was "grilled" chicken. So, once again my feelings are mixed. Grilled Chicken and KFC...I think I'll pass. Thank you for the thought Oprah.

Denial is not just a river in Egypt

In let's say...January, I bought a weight watcher scale. I just took it out of the box about a month a go and I just put in the batteries, TODAY! So, I put it on the ground and tapped it, then stepped on it. YES! I have officially re-entered the no weightloss zone. Which means that I weigh exactly the same about as I did last year BEFORE I lost 42.4 lbs.

I was in denial that my habits had fallen so terribly. But, its true I am back to square one. I think this is like any goal whether its music, fitness or spirituality. It needs constant diligence to keep something up. Its a let down and I can't believe that I was in denial for so long. Last night I bought the frozen meals, I'm going to sign up again. I need to, its no use pretending I look good or I feel good. Okay, maybe I look good, but I can always look better. ;)

Some things that make me slightly different

Before you think this is going to be some expose post on my life. Just go ahead and click out. Its not. I was just having conversation with my cousin's wife Felecia and she made a comment that some girls don't like Jane Austen Movies. Which is a shocker to me since my sisters and I love them. So, here are some things that I think might be unusual or make me feel different from many other people. Feel free to share what you think makes you feel different or unusual.

1. Garth Brooks sounded better as Chris Gaines.
   
2. Twix should not have done away with the peanut butter twix.
3. I hate guys with long hair, especially pony tails.
   
4. I hate raw onions and sometimes say I'm allergic in restaurants because I don't want them near my food.
5. I hate when I hear that they may do away with the penny because, how can I ever come out with exact change. I don't understand.
   
6. When I donate to the "Fill in child's name" for "Fill in organ" transplant fund, wonder if I'm being suckered.
   
7. Like a Hannah Montana song and I'm over 30.
8. Wonder if Elvis and Tupac are really alive, I doubt it but still am intrigued.
   
9. Worry about a world that gets more of their news from housewife blogs than from credible journalists.
10. I am blogging at 1:00 AM and work early tomorrow.
11. Like lists to end in multiples of 5, but also like to break conformity rules.
    

So, tell me what is something that you don't know if other people feel the same way about something as you do.

Death and Taxes...

The saying goes that in life there are only two things that you can be certain about, death and taxes. It is a somewhat comforting statement in an uncertain time. We lived in an era where people thought buying and selling homes like we used to sell candy to our relatives for some school organization, was a sound investment strategy. People watch the stock market like its a game of blackjack and that you should move your stocks daily. Fear, becomes our motivation.

That is more depressing than an economic depression. So, I would like to say that there are more things you can be certain about than death and taxes. Here is my list.

1. McDonald's will always sell a cheeseburger and I will always order it with no pickles and no onions.
2. Reality game shows like survivor and the Amazing Race should not show during the dinner hours of 7-8pm. *sound of gagging.*
3. I will always wonder how a chain smoker like Anthony Bourdain can also be a food critic. Smoking and taste buds don't mix.
4. I will always yell at the movie screen and close my eyes when the people go into a dark room or go walk alone down an abandoned road. ARE YOU CRAZY!
5. Oreo cookies are always better with milk.
6. Celebrities will always get divorced and magazines will always cover them on the front page and we will always say, "I could have told you that wasn't going to work out."
7. 100 calorie snack packs will never assuage my appetite for the real stuff.
8. Money doesn't make people kind or mean. They either are or they aren't.
9. I will never understand politics no matter how much I study or think about it.
10. I will always love my family and friends no matter how long we go without speaking or seeing one another.

How much does it cost to be pretty???

I know, I haven't written in a while and I apologize for the delay. I have been crazy, busy, but really who isn't. This lack of time has made me spend money on things I would have been hesitant to ever consider in the past. I eat out more, I buy clothes without browsing as much and considering the cost. But, last week I bought a pair of tweezers for TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS!! I couldn't believe how much until I left the beauty supply shop. I thought that the wax I usually purchase had increased. When I looked at the receipt and saw that it was the tweezers, I was floored. It made me think about what am I spending my money on and why?

Is it the way that owning something makes us feel or is it really the quality. Take name brand jeans for example. As a 13 year old girl I had my heart set on a pair of Girbaud jeans. I knew that if I could just have a pair, then I would be happy. I begged and pleaded with my mother for a pair. Finally, Santa heard my pleas and I was given some for Christmas.

I felt so fantastic, I wore them almost every other day. However, it really didn't change my social status or my friends thoughts about me. It changed the way I felt about myself. I think sometimes we identify with things like purses and shoes or make-up (I am a recovering sephora addict) to make us feel better. Even our jobs can try to define us.

I went to a networking lunch a few weeks ago with new BYU Alumni. I had never been to one before and it was only $8.00!!! Usually I spend a minimum of $25.00. Going to this lunch I realized I have been working with seasoned networking pros for too long.

I went to this lunch and the first thing you do at any networking function is to AVOID talking about business, unless you know that person already. Why? Because you have nothing to build on. Business is done through relationships. You have to first have one to build on, otherwise you're just a car salesman. These new alums, the first thing they did was ask me "what do you do?" I of course, knew what they meant and I answered. However, then I began asking them about had they been to an alum lunch before, how long had they been a graduate. They are all hard working kids, who had probably been to very few if any lunches, yet they flashed their cards in my face and asked me about my insurance/investing. They were eager to talk about their "positions." Because they are still new and a title defines them. They've probably never been fired, laid off, downsized or let down--yet.

Sometimes we all get caught up and let others define us. We let what car we drive, where we live and even what our church positions define us. We buy $25.00 tweezers because there is no price and you like leopard print. But, its just a pair of tweezers/job/car. A better title to define me is, friend, sister, daughter, best looking person you know. (come on do you really thing I wouldn't crack a joke).

New Years Resolutions

Every year I make the same resolutions, lose weight, get in shape, run a marathon, pay off debt and graduate from college. This year I lost weight and gained it back, got in shape and ran two 5K's, now I'm out of breath walking up stairs. I finally graduated from College (Thanks for coming Dane, even thought I didn't get to see you) LOL Paid off (with the help of my parents who I'm paying back) all my debt. So, I thought I should make the lose weight goal, get in shape and run a real marathon my goals. BO-RING! I know, so instead of focusing on me, I think I'll make New Years Resolutions for others.


MTV - To make music videos or find REAL stars to make reality TV shows about. It was funny with the Osborne's and we laughed at the first couple of Real Worlds, but seriously. You hit a low with Celebrity Fit club and Dr. Drew Celeb rehab. Lets go back to, oh I don't know, music television. Crazy, I know.


Paris Hilton - Retire. We get it your family has money and you are a hoochie. No one wants to be your BFF except crazy girls.


Stephanie Meyers - write something that doesn't make girls sound whiny and boys sound like dark, obsessive, prone to violence adolescents. I'm still a little bitter.




Brittany Spears - Get it together girl. Millions of dollars and lots of fame and you are still crazy. Life is not drama, you are. Take your meds.

Fox TV - you have two good shows, the Simpsons and House. Everything else is NBC re-runs, whats up with that!


BYU Football team, can we get a good o-line next year! PLEASE! Help your quarterback.

Happy New Years Everyone!

Sometimes I can cook too...

My father is an excellent cook. I am a believer that cooking is not hard, however excellent cooking is a gift. I have not been blessed with that talent. However I do make a few things well and I did it by trial and error. So, I'll share one of my famous recipes with you, please keep in mind that I make these dishes by sight and so while I am saying a certain amount of ingredients you may have to add or reduce based on how it looks and the consistency you like.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes:

This recipe I made up based on an Tyler's ultimate mashed potatoes and Spencer's Garlic Smashed potato recipes that I mixed together. This dish serves either 7 Tongans or 20 palangi's LOL.

Ingredients:

5lb bag of Golden potatoes - wash them.
3tbs of olive oil
2 twigs of fresh rosemary
3 whole minced garlic cloves
2 cups of half & half milk (you can use regular milk, but its not as tasty)
1 cup of salted butter
2-packages of cream cheese softened

wash and then boil (1) Five pound bag of unpeeled potatoes until fully cooked. While the potatoes are boiling, in a separate pan place the chopped cloves of garlic and rosemary twigs and saute them in olive oil until lightly brown. In another pot place the half and half milk and a stick of butter and place over medium heat until the milk begins to simmer then immediately remove from heat. Once the potatoes are done boiling remove them from heat and drain the water. begin to smash the potatoes together either in a kitchen aid or with a tool of some sort, combine the potatoes with soften cream cheese. Slowly add the garlic and rosemary with the olive oil into the potatoes while stirring. Then add the milk and butter until you reach the consistency of the potatoes that you like remember you can always add more, but you can't remove it if its too runny. I like mine a little lumpy, but that's just me. Add salt and pepper to taste.

That's it! Make it and your family will LOVE it!