tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92181344105806407282024-03-21T17:38:36.580-06:00Brownies and onion dipCherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.comBlogger545125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-47502745933143259582015-02-08T12:58:00.001-07:002015-02-08T12:58:16.661-07:00I'm only alone if I choose to beThis weekend was stake conference (church meetings where multiple congregations come together). Last night was the adult session. As I pulled into the parking lot, I saw multiple couples walking in holding hands. I was instantly very aware of my single status. It's unusual for me to struggle with this at all. I'm very happy with my life. Last night, though, I felt like an outsider walking into that chapel. I saw the neighborhood grandpa and his wife, and they made room for me to sit. I mentioned the single-status-reminder to him, and bless his heart, he reached out and held my hand for a second. We had a good laugh about it. After the meeting, two couples decided to go out for pie and invited me. I declined, because I needed to do more homework, but it was nice of them to make me feel included.<br />
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Lesson learned: <b>I'm only alone if I choose to be.</b> I have a great support system.<br />
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Today I had a headache and I had to force myself to go to stake conference, because it's always worth it. The stake president said how great it was to see everyone there with their families, and my immediate response was positive. I realized that yes, <b>I was there as a family!</b> Either as a family of one or with my ward family. <br />
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I heard so many things that touched my heart this weekend, both spoken words and thoughts that came as a result of being in the right place at the right time. It would have been so easy to turn around and leave last night, or to stay in bed today, but I was blessed as a result of making the right choice.<br />
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So yeah. My life kinda rocks. Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-41594098824476030212015-01-08T08:58:00.001-07:002015-01-08T08:58:05.306-07:00Things I can't believe I waited this long to try<span style="color: #674ea7;">1. Fleece-lined tights. They're great. They're toasty warm but don't leave you miserably hot indoors, layer nicely under jeans, don't feel uncomfortably tight, and are smooth inside and out. TJ Maxx or Ross has them for $5-10.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;">2. Spotify. I like Pandora (with Chrome blocking the ads) but I'm really starting to dig Spotify. Currently enjoying Premium access for 3 months for only 99 cents. Even better!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">3. Nostril waxing. Sounds nuts, but I think many men and some women would benefit from it. My friend told me about it and I tried it a couple months ago. You barely notice any pain - definitely the easiest area I've ever had waxed. And if you're in the Salt Lake area and have any waxing needs, I love Carly at <a href="http://www.waxmetoo.com/">Wax Me Too</a>.</span>Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-90236929114862658082015-01-04T20:49:00.000-07:002015-01-04T20:49:38.707-07:00New callingI had a change in my church calling (assignment) effective today. I've been serving with the ward young women for almost five years, and now I'm going to be serving as the secretary for the stake young women presidency instead. I found out last Sunday and it's been an odd week, trying to ease out of my responsibilities but not knowing my new ones. Today was an emotional day for me. I shared my testimony with the girls and then went to the stake offices to get set apart. Then we had two meetings in a row. I've immediately been put to work, for which I'm grateful. <br />
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I've never before spent this long in the same calling. This is not the hardest time I've had getting released, probably because I'll still be around the girls to some degree, but it is an adjustment. I'm hopeful that I'll have more Tuesday nights available for dancing (yay!) but it will certainly be work in different ways. <br />
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I'm grateful for this new opportunity to serve and grow. I'm grateful for the gospel and the organization of the Church. I am incredibly blessed and I hope I remember to recognize my gratitude for all that I have.Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-82743665066319253972014-12-31T14:41:00.000-07:002014-12-31T14:41:28.588-07:002014 Goals <h4>
In 2014, my goals were:</h4>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Build savings to (undisclosed amount).</b></span> I slightly exceeded this goal.<br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Road trip!</b></span> They were mini ones, but I did more than one road trip to visit LDS temples.<br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Regular Sunday School attendance.</b></span> I've struggled with this for most of my life. I didn't hit every Sunday, but I did much better and stopped finding excuses to wander the hall for that hour.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">One midsingles activity a month.</span></b> School interfered with this during the fall, but some months I did two, so I feel okay about my success.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Temple visit once a month.</span></b> There were a couple months I didn't go, but others where I went multiple times. Overall I feel good about this.<br />
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I think these are the most well-rounded goals I've ever made and successfully achieved throughout a year. I'm currently deciding on my 2015 goals. I'm incredibly blessed and love my life. <br />
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<br />Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-72705940857064458052014-12-27T15:35:00.000-07:002014-12-27T15:35:07.290-07:00Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">It was a fantastic Christmas season. Festival of Trees, a live nativity (with a camel!), California with family, sewing, baking, Messiah sing-along, looking at lights, ice skating, dates, helping with missionary care packages, a party with the young women at church, etc. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">I've already put photos on Facebook or Instagram, and I get so focused on enjoying family that I slack at taking pictures while I'm with them. I did take some baking pictures and I'll share recipe links in a later post. Here's a blurry picture with my sister and mom. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">For the last year or so, I've been asking my grandma questions in order to write her life story. On this visit, I did some of the interviewing as a video. It increasingly hits me that I don't know how much longer I'll have, and I want to remember her voice. </span></div>
Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-72951765869090818242014-11-29T10:32:00.001-07:002014-11-29T10:32:22.193-07:00Christmas cookie plan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;">I'm stressing over the end of the semester, but I'm starting to plan Christmas baking. This is my favorite source of recipes for Christmas cookies. It's the most adorable book (as all Gooseberry Patch books are) with cute ideas and cutouts for cookie exchanges.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;">I always completely skip over this chapter, because cut-out cookies are too much hassle for me.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">This is the tentative plan for this year.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Repeats:</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">S'mores fudge</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">Cinnamon fudge</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">Chocolate cherry fudge</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">Chewy molasses dreams</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">Banana split bars</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><b>New experiments:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">Potato chippers</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">Peanut butter swirl bars</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">What do you think?</span>Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-75719677360753198562014-11-25T19:14:00.000-07:002014-12-03T21:13:16.601-07:00Thankful postIt's November and I love posting one thing each day for which I am thankful, but I have friends on Facebook who hate it. I'm going to update this blog post every few days instead.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">I'm thankful for...</span></b><br />
1: The beauty of God's earth. There are so many amazing places to explore within a reasonable traveling distance.<br />
2: Getting home safely even though we drove through rain and snow storms and lost traction a few times. Time to replace my tires!<br />
3: People who let me into their lives.<br />
4: How fluffy my carpet feels after vacuuming with the vacuum I just bought.<br />
5: Knowing exactly where to turn for peace when dating brings disappointments.<br />
6: Scoring 86 on my last exam! Way higher than the first two!<br />
7: The peace and inspiration I find in the temple.<br />
8: Beautiful fall weather.<br />
9: Laughter. I laughed my way to tears several times today. <br />
10: Rain on my birthday. I love it.<br />
11: My sweet sister doing yard work for me. It's ready for winter!<br />
12: My parents' 32nd anniversary. I'm grateful they stuck it out on this go-round.<br />
13: Sweet friends who make me sweet birthday treats.<br />
14: New tires and the $ to purchase them, so I can drive safely this winter.<br />
15: The empowering feeling that comes from repairing things in my home.<br />
16: Heat. Baby, it's cold outside. (There's ice inside my windows.)<br />
17: The flexible schedule of my new job position. I love the reduced stress.<br />
18: The talents and accomplishments of the lovely young (and not-so-young) women at church and their willingness to share.<br />
19: The semester being almost over! Only one more new concept to learn and then it's all review and assignments!<br />
20: The repair to my water heater being simple and inexpensive (and my banging pipes being fixed as a side benefit). <br />
21: The opportunity to appreciate good music with a fellow music-lover.<br />
22: Men who act as gentlemen on dates.<br />
23: Sisters who remain dear to my heart across the miles and through divorce.<br />
24: Living in a city where I feel safe. (Praying for those in rioting areas.)<br />
25: The beautiful view of lights across the valley from my dining room.<br />
26: The healing power of the Atonement.<br />
27: Peace. <br />
28: The Christmas season.<br />
29: Leaves to rake - just the right amount to keep it enjoyable!<br />
30: The opportunity to learn by preparing a talk for church.<br />
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<br />Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-66063085392367007162014-10-19T14:48:00.000-06:002014-10-19T14:48:23.092-06:00Chocolate party, year 2!Remember last year's <a href="http://dipmakesmehappy.blogspot.com/2013/11/chocolate-party.html">chocolate party</a>? It had to happen again. I invited lots of lovely ladies, looked through my Pinterest and cookbooks, bought brown paper goods, and had a blast! Somehow I didn't even have anxiety about it. I knew whatever fell into place would be enough, and the important part was to have a place for everyone to enjoy themselves. <br />
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<a href="http://itbakesmehappy.com/2012/08/smores-fudge.html">S'mores fudge</a> - a make-again recipe</div>
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I've been planning for several years to tackle <a href="http://www.budgetgourmetmom.com/marie-callenders-chocolate-satin-pie/">chocolate satin pie</a>. It wasn't the cheapest pie, but it was delicious and cheaper than buying it from Marie Callender's. It wasn't hard to me, but I realized how grateful I am for all of the cooking knowledge I've gained over the years. I knew what it meant to whip cream until stiff and to fold said cream into the chocolate mixture. This will definitely make it to future Thanksgiving dinners.</div>
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I also made <a href="http://butterlustblog.com/2013/12/10/chocolate-peanut-butter-cake-balls/">chocolate peanut-butter cake balls</a> and chocolate dipped Nutter Butters, and bought ice cream. (Huh. I just realized I tackled three new recipes in one day - even though cake balls aren't hard, grocery shopped, shopped for and went to a bridal shower, and still wasn't stressed. I didn't even wake up early. That rocks.) The rest was provided by other people, including a gourmet hot chocolate bar. </div>
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I shoved around furniture and then watched the place transform into this! </div>
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People helped clean up. I managed not to overindulge and therefore didn't feel sick, and had a (mostly free thanks to credit union rebate) burger to balance out the sugar. Success!</div>
Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-92055420650451121062014-10-05T21:02:00.000-06:002014-10-05T21:02:26.266-06:00Utah State Fair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is my first attempt to catch up with blogging about summer. A month ago, I went with friends to the Utah State Fair. We ate greasy fair food and played people-watching Bingo with a card I created. Darrin found these awesome sunglasses (and other accessories to match) to model. </div>
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I loved the animal buildings and all the jars of preserved goodies, plus this butterfly cake!</div>
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<br />Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-85452526305261154162014-10-02T21:01:00.002-06:002014-10-02T21:01:46.084-06:00Trust in God's timing and promptingsTonight I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes: "God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom."<br />
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I got home after a trying day and my visiting teacher called. She was clearly frustrated that she has tried so hard to find me at home to deliver a treat, and I've been gone A LOT. She came over and I went outside in jammies. She told me how she had thrown together a spiritual message and bag of chocolate at the beginning of September, and had been trying for weeks to find me at home. What she didn't realize was that I didn't need it for all of September. I needed a hug and some chocolate right then. God's timing is perfect. It can be really hard to see this while you're in the midst of trials. Tonight though, Chauna served me exactly when I needed it. I was too stubborn to call and say, "I need you," but Heavenly Father sent a friend anyway.Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-30731934828755436692014-08-24T15:03:00.002-06:002014-08-24T15:03:31.293-06:00Just wait until the summer is over<div style="text-align: center;">
I know I haven't been blogging. I'm too busy loving my life this summer to stop and blog. I promise I'm taking pictures and making memories, and I'll update once I've completed my summer goals. The semester just started and algebra is kicking my trash, so the fun is wrapping up quickly.</div>
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Dating, dancing, camping, good food, and much laughter...I am so blessed.</div>
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Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-886332357078044572014-07-13T18:58:00.000-06:002014-07-13T18:58:14.490-06:00Seattle trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My best friend in the teen years was Melissa. It was the kind of friendship where I stopped by every day after work and just walked into her house, where one of us could go pee or take a shower while the other was in the bathroom, where I didn't even go to Target without her... until I introduced her to a guy and she ended up in an abusive and controlling marriage. I didn't get to see her anymore and I blamed myself. Eventually they got divorced, but our friendship had been reduced to a letter every year or two.</div>
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She lives in Washington now. Last October (I know, I'm super late at blogging about this) I got to go visit her. She was expecting a baby, which was a complete miracle given her health history. I felt like such a grown-up, flying out of state to attend a baby shower. It felt really important to me to support her in this. Unfortunately, after I booked my flight, the shower got rescheduled. It was too expensive to change my flight, so we planned on a nice little weekend together. Then she ended up in the hospital with complications. </div>
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I got a rental car and a hotel near the hospital and mostly devoted the weekend to visiting with her and her mom. It was just like old times, hanging out in a hospital, but our lives are so separated after years of being out of contact. What kind of lame elevator doesn't want you to jump in it? The radio in my rental car was touch screen - so cool!</div>
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On Saturday morning, I went to the Seattle LDS Temple. I was not missing the chance to visit it. The leaves were gorgeous on the temple grounds.</div>
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This statue is also in Temple Square and it's one of my favorites. I love this example of a woman who is dressed very femininely and is enjoying time with children. </div>
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I had an awful time navigating the Seattle/Tacoma area. The speed limit was painfully low and the GPS gave directions at the very last second. Also, the hilly streets with flat intersections and closely spaced lights caused me to get confused of which light belonged to which intersection. I accidentally ran a red light in Tacoma because of it. While I was visiting on Saturday, Melissa needed a PICC line put in, and they let me stay in the room if I wore these adorable accessories.</div>
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I wanted to fit in a tiny bit of sightseeing while I was there. I decided to visit the giant ferris wheel over the water. My GPS and I were complete enemies in this venture, but I made it and found an overpriced parking garage. </div>
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In this glass gondola, I instantly recognized that my fear of heights was much worse than I remembered. I spent serious effort calming down a near panic attack, taking selfies to distract myself. When I got off, I had very little time to get back to my car before the parking garage closed...but I had run to the waterfront in such a hurry that I hadn't kept close track of directions. By the time I found my car, I was panicking again. </div>
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From there, I went to visit another good friend from the teen years who also happens to live in Washington. She had some health issues and hadn't been able to take the bus to the city, so I made the drive to a restaurant near her and we enjoyed talking. When I took her home, I was shocked at how well I recognized her small town from my visit 10+ years before. </div>
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(1997)</div>
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(2013)</div>
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Sunday morning, I went back to visit Melissa in the hospital before my flight left. Her water broke while I was there and she went into labor, so I left and chilled at the airport for a bit. There was never really a good time to take a picture together. </div>
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Two weeks ago, she came to Utah for a family wedding. I got to see her again as well as her grandparents (we played games together frequently growing up), and meet her baby. I didn't have much time to visit, but I'm so grateful for the time we had. Life doesn't turn out as you plan. Friendships change. She was once a huge influence in my life and my world was shaken when she left it. I'm thrilled that she is a mom and continues to defy medical odds.</div>
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<br />Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-62797213500715014512014-06-15T10:37:00.000-06:002014-06-15T10:37:51.573-06:00Deuel Creek hike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fZseuRHXbRxJ7VsNAOGRziVf0Naqp9xQ-l62wUR6AbIF-7J9iX50ly3VHtu7Hs2BP41YNXRN7gvhGLi99hMApgrVgPGJaYJOK5RVu_vJxaJcru7POAey1U1_7uDJEi3qHtgbRPHSVIo2/s1600/CAM01971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fZseuRHXbRxJ7VsNAOGRziVf0Naqp9xQ-l62wUR6AbIF-7J9iX50ly3VHtu7Hs2BP41YNXRN7gvhGLi99hMApgrVgPGJaYJOK5RVu_vJxaJcru7POAey1U1_7uDJEi3qHtgbRPHSVIo2/s1600/CAM01971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fZseuRHXbRxJ7VsNAOGRziVf0Naqp9xQ-l62wUR6AbIF-7J9iX50ly3VHtu7Hs2BP41YNXRN7gvhGLi99hMApgrVgPGJaYJOK5RVu_vJxaJcru7POAey1U1_7uDJEi3qHtgbRPHSVIo2/s1600/CAM01971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fZseuRHXbRxJ7VsNAOGRziVf0Naqp9xQ-l62wUR6AbIF-7J9iX50ly3VHtu7Hs2BP41YNXRN7gvhGLi99hMApgrVgPGJaYJOK5RVu_vJxaJcru7POAey1U1_7uDJEi3qHtgbRPHSVIo2/s1600/CAM01971.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5rUwz8wzShmGk938o5csZUhAPRzApKJU0rUKYQmaMaB51rcf7mEzSweXj6Ye7iVjho2QTkH2fPbip4UZd32YaRmDnvXI9qFudErSghhPfk_59EwlIF3-JMLrFnBoBoj_4W38HaRUMl-V/s1600/CAM01972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5rUwz8wzShmGk938o5csZUhAPRzApKJU0rUKYQmaMaB51rcf7mEzSweXj6Ye7iVjho2QTkH2fPbip4UZd32YaRmDnvXI9qFudErSghhPfk_59EwlIF3-JMLrFnBoBoj_4W38HaRUMl-V/s1600/CAM01972.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a> I went on what I thought was a "girly" hike yesterday. It turned out to be a little harder than I expected (good to push myself) and we followed the trail longer than we intended (it turned into a different trail and we didn't know). There was supposed to be a small waterfall. We didn't see it on the section of the loop we were on, so we kept going...and going... Cool scenery though. Scads of boysenberry bushes, a humongous dandelion, a lizard that stayed just a couple feet ahead of us for quite awhile, unidentified bugs, etc.<br />
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I got tired and hungry. My friend went on ahead for 5 minutes to see if there was a big waterfall around the corner. I stood there on a narrow trail listening to loud bug noises and decided to take a pic of myself to see just how dirty my face was. I knew it was dirty because I'd used my shirt sleeve to wipe sweat off my forehead. By then, I had fallen twice, crawled through slippery spots twice, and gotten a dust cloud in my face when my friend kicked dust at a snake trying to get it to leave the path. (I found the snake by falling close to it.) I was feeling a little dehydrated and alone.</div>
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No waterfall within 5 minutes, and we knew we'd gone much farther than the predicted trail distance, so we headed back toward the swing we'd skipped because it had a few people on it. It was really a deserted hike other than that. This time we had the swing to ourselves! You had to pull the swing up a slippery slope to a rock in order to climb on, and it was a bit scary to push off.</div>
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After finally stopping him at the bottom, I decided it was more important for him to catch me than record me. It was impossible to get good enough footing to stop my momentum. He ended up scrambling down to the bottom to stop me, after multiple failed attempts. We had some good laughs on the swing and then headed down the south trail. We'd hiked up the north trail, which was significantly more difficult, and the best little waterfall turned out to be on the south trail just below the swing.</div>
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Finally we could see the city again. </div>
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Our hike took about 3.5 hours and I'm glad we went, even if it wasn't quite as girly of a hike as I expected. </div>
Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-23158252699174008392014-05-26T09:30:00.001-06:002014-05-26T09:31:03.423-06:00Proud auntie moment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Today is my nephew Ryan's 18th birthday. So hard to believe! In looking for the photo I wanted, I found an email I wrote a guy. "I got to hold my new nephew Ryan for the first time. He's so little and precious. His skin is too baggy for him, like a kitten's skin on their neck, you know? He likes to be cuddled. :) I just love him to pieces."</div>
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I love reading books to my nieces/nephews. Here's a flashback moment of me and Ryan.</div>
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This is from a visit last year when we went to General Conference. Love my Ryan!</div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>Happy birthday, Ryan!</b></span></div>
<br />Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-45268505076989306372014-05-23T18:46:00.003-06:002014-05-23T18:46:44.515-06:00HikingEveryone hikes to Ensign Peak. I've never done it. It's not a long hike, but it needed to happen. It was short enough that I picked another nearby hike to do on the same night. I wore my #teamjaime shirt since my sister had chemo the day before. I huffed and puffed and appreciated my thigh muscles, which have greatly improved thanks to dancing. There were pretty blue flowers (I failed to get a picture), plus some mystery bird that I'm voting was a pheasant. My friend and I had fun joking around and enjoying a picnic after the second hike. While eating dinner, I realized a tiny green caterpillar was inching its way across my leg.<br />
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<br />Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-40874618938744330462014-05-21T17:59:00.004-06:002014-05-21T18:04:03.205-06:00Dip of the week<div style="text-align: center;">
Linked up to:</div>
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I dreamed up some yummy dip for game night and thought I'd share! You'll need 1 lb of Velveeta, 1 can of chili (I used hot), 1 tube of chorizo (I used beef), 1 package of cream/neufchatel cheese, and 1 1/2 C sour cream (not pictured).</div>
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<a href="http://polkadotsonparade.blogspot.com/"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IzcN0ppedVukqRxwZWh1-YeB1SxOpodqXahbM4sqXeJiRcTM_fpml8UT1AA-00RoSBdsOidq9BO3wtjGlKnegDJYyFiR5Ml_1jJfLmTFaDXPrEBBOtbGsmDd623lVMmaobsbWepLNcyd/s1600/CAM01911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IzcN0ppedVukqRxwZWh1-YeB1SxOpodqXahbM4sqXeJiRcTM_fpml8UT1AA-00RoSBdsOidq9BO3wtjGlKnegDJYyFiR5Ml_1jJfLmTFaDXPrEBBOtbGsmDd623lVMmaobsbWepLNcyd/s1600/CAM01911.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cook up the chorizo. This is maybe the second or third time I've cooked it and it looks pretty weird to me. It has tons of grease so just cook it until it feels a little solid (like sausage). I actually stuck a meat thermometer in a pile of meat I scooped out of the grease, just to make sure it was done.</div>
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Then drain and drain and drain the fat. I pressed this in layers of paper towels and napkins.</div>
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In a medium glass bowl, microwave together chunks of velveeta and cream cheese with the chili for 2 minutes, then stir. Add the sour cream.</div>
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Add the chorizo, and microwave for 3-5 minutes until it's bubbly around the edges. You could also bake it.</div>
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We were too busy eating with Fritos scoops and tortilla chips to get a final picture, but enjoy! It was a hit both at game night and leftover at work today.<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Dip of the week:</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 lb. Velveeta cheese (or store brand substitute)</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 package cream cheese </span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 can hot chili</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tube chorizo</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/2 C sour cream</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fry the chorizo and drain. Cook the velveeta, cream cheese, and chili for 2 minutes in the microwave. Stir in the chorizo and sour cream and microwave 3-5 minutes or bake until bubbly. </span>Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-63163887112542405432014-05-16T16:30:00.004-06:002014-05-16T16:30:48.769-06:00My bucket list for the summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>This is going next to the fridge!</b></div>
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<b>Movies in the park:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.slcgov.com/slcevents/slc-events-friday-night-flicks">Salt Lake parks schedule to be posted soon</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thegallivancenter.com/events-monday-night-movies.htm">Gallivan Center schedule to be posted soon</a><br />
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<b>Camping reservation already made:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/currant-creek/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70117">Currant Creek Reservoir</a><br />
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<b>Ice cream recipe I have pinned:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.cravingsofalunatic.com/2012/10/chocolate-fudge-brownie-ice-cream-for-sundaysupper.html">http://www.cravingsofalunatic.com/2012/10/chocolate-fudge-brownie-ice-cream-for-sundaysupper.html </a><br />
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<br />Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-87574623342233199162014-05-11T11:52:00.000-06:002014-05-11T11:52:07.208-06:00I am thankful for the many women who have nurtured meI enjoyed the recent Ensign article called <a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/04/celebrate-nurturing?lang=eng">Celebrate Nurturing</a>. Today I am thankful for the influence of so many amazing women throughout my life.<br />
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I am making taco soup. I pressure-cooked dried beans because my mom taught me how. I browned hamburger and was reminded that my sister Janice taught me how. I mixed up taco seasoning and ranch salad dressing mix from recipes that Rosalyn provided me, in her efforts to strengthen the cooking skills of women at church. <br />
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I wrote quick notes to a few women I admire or who struggle on Mother's Day, because whether or not I have children, I am a nurturer with much to offer this world. Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-32336110901027903432014-05-03T21:36:00.002-06:002014-05-03T21:36:22.494-06:00I love my life!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's been a good weekend. Yesterday I took the afternoon off to attend the funeral of a good friend's Grandma. I had never met said grandma, but I had heard much about her and wanted to support my friend. I left inspired to do better at nurturing others. It was a gorgeous day and I got to chat with a coworker on the drive, then take care of some errands and have an absolutely fantastic visit to the temple. Later I went to dinner with friends and we had a great time discussing our recent dating adventures.</div>
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Economics homework is done and that final is on Monday. I already finished Marketing on Monday. I can't wait for this semester to end. Microeconomics and I were not friends years ago, and macroeconomics proved to be only slightly less painful. </div>
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Today I woke up ready to be productive. I cleared the top of my dresser/nightstand of things that no longer hold emotional attachment, and moved on from there. I'm not going to say I worked hard all day. I took a break when my back started having twinges, but I had several cycles of productivity. <span style="color: #4c1130;"> The car is vacuumed out and the dash wiped down</span>, <span style="color: #20124d;">kitchen cupboards washed</span>,<span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: #274e13;">tub scrubbed</span>, <span style="color: #cc0000;">quite a bit of paper tossed</span>,<span style="color: #a64d79;"> an online dating profile created</span>, front door paint touched up, and<span style="color: #674ea7;"> the linen closet door transformed to white</span> in preparation for fun vinyl lettering. I've also been playing the piano a bit more lately. I found music in my piano bench that I haven't played before, and sight reading is a fun challenge, along with playing familiar Phantom of the Opera music.</div>
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I've enjoyed the gorgeous weather and rocking out to music all weekend. I took myself on a date tonight. I love dates with myself. I can do whatever I want. I have no problem taking myself to a movie but I normally struggle with sitting alone in a restaurant. Tonight I happily ate Thai food on my date with myself. Mmm, curry. The movies I wanted to see weren't showing anytime soon at the nearby theater, so I hit the bookstore instead and got a 50% off plaque for my bedroom wall. I'm waiting until daylight to hang it, so I can make sure the wood doesn't clash with the bed frame.</div>
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<br />Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-37871195170613587902014-04-28T11:50:00.001-06:002014-04-28T11:50:04.384-06:00Birthday funIt's a coworker's birthday today. She's an absolute dear who is always serving others and is crafty as can be. This is how I decided to decorate her cubicle in addition to the normal birthday decorations.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPRbZsbvhgD9YfgohshyphenhyphenUaAZBvlVTh-_FulDrpJSGEEUI8c5IgXpwqCYYm92ciqK4uyXYifVS5SqDhQdMJKCtLZx1rWJSk-kfBKYnubO1EwXsr5j9PcfhBLctErqiFhrct7MSk2NNnEQm/s1600/CAM01856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPRbZsbvhgD9YfgohshyphenhyphenUaAZBvlVTh-_FulDrpJSGEEUI8c5IgXpwqCYYm92ciqK4uyXYifVS5SqDhQdMJKCtLZx1rWJSk-kfBKYnubO1EwXsr5j9PcfhBLctErqiFhrct7MSk2NNnEQm/s1600/CAM01856.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMVGKGsTqpXxhfjCq2F3W0KW9wOm-SaOYMcTHmcWEH4xtm4TJaDZQNj9cWNGzGvR4UZL74xOXM70yiQNiuKym4wph_Pwg6vvdj-S6qILbV4BAXlW3n8vemupLxRiex0a9DBaBnRW3KFGt/s1600/CAM01857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMVGKGsTqpXxhfjCq2F3W0KW9wOm-SaOYMcTHmcWEH4xtm4TJaDZQNj9cWNGzGvR4UZL74xOXM70yiQNiuKym4wph_Pwg6vvdj-S6qILbV4BAXlW3n8vemupLxRiex0a9DBaBnRW3KFGt/s1600/CAM01857.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<br />Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-64989417224896780632014-04-27T14:01:00.001-06:002014-04-27T14:02:53.071-06:00Man, I make good food!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Yesterday I hosted dinner for a few friends. It was supposed to be more than a few, but people had to cancel at the last minute. It's okay - it meant we could all fit around the dining table. Plus I have delicious leftovers! It would be sad if my house still smelled of tastiness but I didn't have any to eat. I was up a little too late Friday night meeting...we'll call him Texting Man...for the first time, and being on my feet cooking for hours also wears me out. I'm glad to rest today.</div>
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<b>The menu:</b></div>
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Rolls</div>
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Ham</div>
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Funeral potatoes</div>
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Green beans with bacon</div>
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Carrots with brown sugar and butter</div>
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Raspberry jello with blueberries and mandarin oranges</div>
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Deviled eggs - plain or topped with curry powder, nutmeg, or caraway seeds</div>
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Strawberry lemonade</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnDl3825TZqx9OvYJS3lrJ5n2pslm6D4LEcIk6aL5Ce_VFQOTUf0nl7mE88YvRb2hzHaESusruW2Swi1m-f0uQejxXK6YaSDKrIf9Lsqgz5AN1UReG6zJrtSKxl3LqyEY4Hwxbi7I32Dd/s1600/CAM01837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnDl3825TZqx9OvYJS3lrJ5n2pslm6D4LEcIk6aL5Ce_VFQOTUf0nl7mE88YvRb2hzHaESusruW2Swi1m-f0uQejxXK6YaSDKrIf9Lsqgz5AN1UReG6zJrtSKxl3LqyEY4Hwxbi7I32Dd/s1600/CAM01837.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CJwDpFSTwcO3uDF4viIfm9d_0oE7Vgm-e5QFnNAkICG-31-uTw3GWTLj9an8wZ11c1-AA0ac1p58F7Qozq05aZ1aVs0IjF36UIlSJW49MZuH577ETi8_JoNul6SH8oxptr-T6Idi8Mpa/s1600/CAM01839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CJwDpFSTwcO3uDF4viIfm9d_0oE7Vgm-e5QFnNAkICG-31-uTw3GWTLj9an8wZ11c1-AA0ac1p58F7Qozq05aZ1aVs0IjF36UIlSJW49MZuH577ETi8_JoNul6SH8oxptr-T6Idi8Mpa/s1600/CAM01839.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKW1bk1GssqfN969wfLYUxqQiy23juxs-nkUIFEOjH1zEmbf4dDWCEdnWcSR7JMMSE7DL0s4gIJ2Fv5zWlV3Uw1CAtgQQrHAq5T1qSZLSSRRL7m2mpa8GlBtkQCEhfftqeXwlUY2rbqho/s1600/CAM01843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKW1bk1GssqfN969wfLYUxqQiy23juxs-nkUIFEOjH1zEmbf4dDWCEdnWcSR7JMMSE7DL0s4gIJ2Fv5zWlV3Uw1CAtgQQrHAq5T1qSZLSSRRL7m2mpa8GlBtkQCEhfftqeXwlUY2rbqho/s1600/CAM01843.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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My friend loaned me his vacuum and I got the couch looking better than it's looked since the good vacuum moved out with Nathan a year and a half ago. My cheap vacuum is awful! Then Echo decided to add fur again.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkb0FFBoUjRpoj1G864TxpgxBEkMEJOBqL0xkoIee6kEvqjRoVINGMBue59O_m3fqaKx3UTUSOao0Yfv_6317aw5KePF9o1YauDAnbZnVu3vgu014KnpZMXD6Cq_2qAu-wOSeUP68Ejs81/s1600/CAM01847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkb0FFBoUjRpoj1G864TxpgxBEkMEJOBqL0xkoIee6kEvqjRoVINGMBue59O_m3fqaKx3UTUSOao0Yfv_6317aw5KePF9o1YauDAnbZnVu3vgu014KnpZMXD6Cq_2qAu-wOSeUP68Ejs81/s1600/CAM01847.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsHBZQ9GNyCyg2lrd39TjK_Lf1j9Fe2RxY4cp1fXqW6IQIBmV-KaFnsmVSwAVu7vBkxQSi9MXaWhPRT8T1CljuDc40bLcyssRaJIQpp7wVyd0Ewf1BidSi5hAwuFA4kdBkE7N5-gXQGoC/s1600/CAM01848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsHBZQ9GNyCyg2lrd39TjK_Lf1j9Fe2RxY4cp1fXqW6IQIBmV-KaFnsmVSwAVu7vBkxQSi9MXaWhPRT8T1CljuDc40bLcyssRaJIQpp7wVyd0Ewf1BidSi5hAwuFA4kdBkE7N5-gXQGoC/s1600/CAM01848.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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A friend made lemon icebox pie with meringue topping. It was a perfect spring dessert, and the pale yellow matched the tablecloth.</div>
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Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-41043331451132756992014-04-26T14:11:00.001-06:002014-04-26T14:11:24.033-06:00Shimmy time!Well, the semester is almost done (taking the summer off) and it's time to play! I took a couple belly dancing classes through a community center when I was 18-19. I still have my finger cymbals and my hips remember a few movements. I'm excited to say that I just signed up for a 6-week course at a local community center, starting in May. It'll be fun to try it again.Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-23386502653570342012014-04-21T18:13:00.002-06:002014-04-21T18:13:32.999-06:00EasterEaster was a really good day for the most part. I love alleluia hymns. It's fun to wrap my tongue around the word while floating through notes. I crashed another ward for church and they were having a musical sacrament meeting, where people get up and say why a hymn is their favorite, and then we sing a verse of it. Some of them were my favorites too, and we sang my mom's <a href="https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/how-firm-a-foundation?lang=eng">favorite verse of her favorite song</a> (verse 7). <br />
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I've been needing new sandals, so I went shopping the day before Easter. The challenge with having big toe arthritis is that I really can't wear anything with a heel. I found black sandals that will work with jeans or a skirt, and so far they have passed the comfort test.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1RgVWwlqlnwTITcOL7yPaSJK3XlfRoNUWbKQgdu-hcAlPDAyan8MlN6IkQFy5GsmKwIiWi_cUPYKiJpQESPyBDG0wWU4KObfZd0ODRwBFLekZXB0RQsVGXDTvndDB_eYkxPb5OHyxeqP/s1600/CAM01787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1RgVWwlqlnwTITcOL7yPaSJK3XlfRoNUWbKQgdu-hcAlPDAyan8MlN6IkQFy5GsmKwIiWi_cUPYKiJpQESPyBDG0wWU4KObfZd0ODRwBFLekZXB0RQsVGXDTvndDB_eYkxPb5OHyxeqP/s1600/CAM01787.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I also found brown sandals but just casual ones. It's a shame because I really need nicer brown sandals for work. The ones I have are completely falling apart. I have never been able to handle flip-flops with the strap between my toe. I tried on these Skechers in desperation and found that they fit very comfortably, and the strap barely touches between my toes, with no pressure. These may be my new "I could walk the entire earth in these" sandals. Ugly, but so comfortable that I will fall in love with them later.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNct7gPq4ppalZ7s-bR_pQANWMCdK4RZl8J3e5lh28KFI0PuAjpZEE_S090MiWeWgDtXGeLYORwKK5VRtIObR1x3OUidDWrqoaPFyzvunVv0TlidFKpDMOpdbSQydL389rmHtCcaZqS-wi/s1600/CAM01788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNct7gPq4ppalZ7s-bR_pQANWMCdK4RZl8J3e5lh28KFI0PuAjpZEE_S090MiWeWgDtXGeLYORwKK5VRtIObR1x3OUidDWrqoaPFyzvunVv0TlidFKpDMOpdbSQydL389rmHtCcaZqS-wi/s1600/CAM01788.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I also spent Saturday preparing Easter goodies for a few men (friends/dating). These included a throw pillow cover made out of fabric scraps left from a blanket I made for Christmas...</div>
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...lots of cookies, packaged in serving sizes to easily take to work</div>
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...Ben and Jerry's for the ice cream lover...plus other stuff.</div>
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I love having a new-to-me Easter skirt. I found a circle skirt at the thrift store a few weeks ago but it was white, yuck. On Saturday, I dyed it purple. The seams have silver thread and they retained their color beautifully. I love how it came out! I love my new sandals! I was so stinking cute!</div>
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The day ended by playing Truth/Dare Jenga with friends. This coming Saturday, I'll host a dinner with all the Easter goodies such as ham and funeral potatoes. </div>
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<br />Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-24179739526604687682014-04-20T16:33:00.001-06:002014-04-20T16:42:31.550-06:00Dating is so different!<span style="font-size: large;">Dating is really a different adventure than it was before I got married. </span><br />
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It's a combination of me changing, dating when you have more life experience, and society changing. There wasn't texting before, and therefore no texting rules for dating. There wasn't Facebook with worrying about how little to share, whether or not to tag someone, and of course being <span style="color: #274e13;">Facebook official</span>. Strangers didn't message me with cheesy pickup lines<span style="color: #990000;"> (the Winter Olympics come around every 4 years, but the chance to talk to someone as amazing as you only comes once in a lifetime)</span>. There wasn't the consideration of whether I was okay marrying someone with kids, or being occasionally stigmatized because I'm divorced. There was no dating someone who traveled for business (I was sooo easily impressed the first time that happened, until I realized it was just due to being in my 30s.). <br />
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I don't recall crowds of people hanging out on a regular basis and the pros/cons of being interested in someone who ran in the same circles. Maybe that's because it was harder to gather a group, living in the boonies? Another weird thing is having someone get engaged who I went on dates with maybe 4-6 months before. It's not like we were close, just held hands a couple times, but I never had that happen in my previous dating life and now it's happened with two men. Things move fast, just not with me, haha!<br />
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There wasn't the stress of trying to quickly evaluate a situation so I wouldn't waste too much time on a fling. There didn't seem to be as many weirdos. Some people are single in their mid-30s for creepy/socially awkward reasons and it's hard to look past it. <span style="color: #274e13;"> </span><span style="color: purple;">At a singles event, you should not ask me only two get-to-know-you questions: "Have you ever been married?" "Do you have kids?"...before cutting off the conversation.</span> There wasn't the issue of being surrounded by cute, single men who are far too young for me.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some components of dating stay exactly the same...</span><br />
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<br />Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218134410580640728.post-11750195217103191082014-04-15T11:46:00.006-06:002014-04-16T18:05:08.452-06:00Cake decorating<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Someone in my group of friends was throwing himself a birthday party and I volunteered to make a cake. Then he decided he wanted the party to be
Batman-themed, and somehow I convinced myself that meant the cake must also be
themed. The problem is that I've never decorated a cake. The internet told me I
could frost the cake yellow, print and trace a Batman logo, then fill using a
star tip.<br />
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I knew Mystery Man's mom decorates cakes, so I asked her
to give me a crash course and loan me the supplies. She was kind enough to do
so a couple days in advance. I forgot to print the logo at work, so I pulled it
up on my laptop, held wax paper to the screen, and delicately traced the
outline with marker. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I'm very proud of my first attempt at cake decorating! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Cherishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00278649029861408119noreply@blogger.com1