Partial Redemption

At long last, we set out to rectify last month's bad experience. On Stake Temple Day we ventured to Oakland with the Maloys and Monsons. It turned out to be the first time I've ever gone to the Temple and actually ENJOYED (not merely survived) it. What made the difference? One word: Sealings. We arrived just as an Endowment session was starting, so we weighed our other options and decided on Sealings. It was my first time (well since I got married) to participate in a one. Our Sealer was awesome. He shared several inspirations and thoughts throughout our time with him plus he spoke French. Dan is constantly on the prowl for French speakers to chat with, so you can imagine his elation when we found out our sealer went on his mission to France, and had been the Mission President in Paris. The end of it all was great too. I felt like I had cheated death when after we were done & they ushered us into the Celestial Room. Awesome, all the gain with none of the pain. Good/Spiritual times were had by all.  

Now I just need to learn to replicate this positivity with the Endowment Session next month... 

{dan & pete = not happy, bleu ribbon burger issues}

After my redeeming experience, we ventured to Red Robin that Dan might have his. Sadly, it was not to be. The service was really bad - and the food wasn't great either. We even got off of the Atkin's Induction Wagon for this one meal, so wasn't worth it. Poor Dan, dashed dreams. (I wasn't too heartbroken, I kind of hate RR.) I think someone needs to pick a new favorite restaurant. Cafe Rio has NEVER left me high and dry. Just sayin'...

A Boardwalk, Valentines, and a Baby Blessing

Happiness has abounded the past week (or so):

I can now cross one more thing off of my Monterey Bucket List:
"Go to Santa Cruz Boardwalk."It ended up being exactly like Lagoon. Except for - and I didn't think this was possible - it's dirtier. The boys became obsessed with winning those silly prize booths. But alas, the milk carton knock down humbled the Mighty Artichoke Champion. Only Pete walked away with a beat up stuffed animal for his adoring wife.... Dan was left empty handed (And with $10 less allowance).

Valentine's Day consisted of our traditional Pizza Hut pizza and wings, ghetto deliciousness at its best. Served with a fine bottle Wild Cherry Diet Pepsi, it was a special occasion. Dan got his traditional gift: a violent video game. My gift however was completely original, I got a SNUGGIE!!! I can now not just drape myself in a blanket while going about household chores, but actually WEAR a blanket while going about household chores. It also has pockets large enough to carry a small monkey about. Awesome. Valentines success.

I've enjoyed a baking streak last week, thanks to such excuses as my bosses b-day, Dan's class v-day party, and a baby blessing. Let's just enjoy the beauty that is four batches of cookies, whoopie pies, chocolate peanut butter bars and a cheesecake and not count calories, shall we?

Lastly, but certainly not least, we got to spend a long weekend in Utah! It was a lot of fun to see family and be able to be part of Charlie's blessing day. Many friends and family came over post church for food & fun. I ate myself sick. 

This little monkey is still slow to warm up to Dan, but we have a blast with our favorite niece. 

Throwing her in the air (sometimes into light fixtures- sorry!), tickling her, bouncing her on the medicine ball, painting her tiny nails, "reading" books and sneaking her M&Ms... 

On Saturday we went down to our beloved SLC for a date night at our favorite (well it's tied with The Pie) place: Charlie Chow's Dragon Grill. I also got to go to my favorite mall in the world: Fashion Place.

Monday morning before we left, we met up in SLC at the Pancake House for breakfast out with the Streeters. Oh how we've missed them. We anxiously await Mark's forthcoming political blog,  as Dan and I both rely on him for all of our political opinions. 

{picture stolen from Tori's facebook. all the ones I took of him are totally blurry}

A very happy week. 
Thank you to Rick and Denise for flying us out, hosting us, and sewing my coat back together at 11 pm (Denise = great mother in law).  
Thank you to Maloys for so kindly  shuttling us to and from the airport - we owe you! 
And thank you most of all to Charlie,  for being the cutest nephew ever. 

xoxo Valentine's Shout Out xoxo

The fact that I never gush about Dan on this blog may lead you to believe he is in fact a wife beating ogre of a husband. He's not (that one time was accident, I shouldn't have made him so mad...) Really though, I'm just about as anti PDA as one can get. But being that its Valentines Day, and we are still living a extreme budget (by my standards) this is my gift to Dan: A bit of PDA - haha.

A few of the many things I love about Dan:

* He's so good with children. Seeing him swing them, play with them, tease them warms my heart.

 I know he'll be a super fun, interactive, and involved Dad someday.

* He has a kind heart. Though I sometimes get annoyed at the times we stop to help a broken down car, or  drive to McDonald's to buy a hamburger for a homeless man we pass, I am ultimately in love with Dan's constant need to help others.

*He works hard, and never leaves a job half done. Unlike my 5 minute attention span and complete lack of attention to detail, Dan fixates on the task at hand and works hard till its done, and done right.

* He's so funny. He always makes me laugh with random quips, funny ideas, and just a general upbeat outlook on life.

* He's super outgoing and friendly. I love knowing that with any group of people he will be at ease and can make friends with anyone. 

* When Army doesn't get in the way, he has a soft red beard. He looks like Yukon Cornielus. 

 And I love it. And him.

Happy Valentines Day! 

Ramblings on Asian Things and More Happiness

 I want to like Yoga. I do. It's hip, healthy, and trendy. So I started off my saturday with a "Yoga Flow" class, and I hated every one of the sixty minutes of deep breathing. Instead of quieting my mind, I keep thinking to myself of millions of things that I could be doing instead of down dog. The rest of the weekend was much better. Dan was all jazzed about going to a sports bar to watch a Big MMA fight Saturday night. As much as I love watching actual proof that man descended from Apes, I was relieved when it evolved into a "Boys Night."

{only picture I have of Sue, Bonni, and I}
In response to boys night, the women (Bonni, Sue and I) struck out for Asian massages as "Girl's Night". I'm still unclear whether I enjoyed it or not. At certain points, I felt "Ahhh, this hurts so good." And other points, "Ahhhh! This just hurts! What kind of *&^% masochistic person do they think I am?" I am sore. Jury is still out on that one. Something that has a definite verdict: I'm not a sushi person. I want to like it, for the same reasons as Yoga: its hip, healthy, and trendy. But as Sue and Bonni and I chowed down on Philadelphia rolls, pepperoni pizza and other less glamorous food danced through my head... 

Conclusion: Yoga, painful massage, Sushi. Nothing good has ever come out of Asia. But girls night rocks.

In other news, I found writing last week's happy list seriously fun. The concept of happiness really intrigues me.  I listened to a TED talk (which I'm prone to do whilst doing laundry or dishes, I am a weirdy) by a Economics Nobel Laureate on the very subject. Contrary to my personal beliefs, money (well lots of it) doesn't apparently bring happiness. "Making below $60,000 a year, people get exponentially unhappier the poorer they are, but above $60,000 it flat lines into one of the flattest lines I've ever seen." 

So basically, I just need to start making $60,000 a year and I'm good to go. 

Things that made me Happy this Week: 

1) Sticking to my Grocery Budget

I've been pretty good w/ my resolutions thus far, except this one. I have the hardest time. But finally last week I did it. Instead of running to the store mid week if I ran out of something, I simply got creative and did without. (And I kept myself out of my grocery shopping place of Nirvana, Whole Foods, or "Whole Paycheck" as I've heard it called.) Pathetic perhaps, but it felt like such a victory to me.

2) Glitter Gel Toes

My kind, pregnant, friend Sue, sat on the ground for hours during the Super Bowl and did my gel glitter toes. They sparkle and fill me with ultimate delight. Thank you Sue!!!

3) Running

I seriously have not run since the 1/2 Marathon. Nada. But when Dan mentioned wanting to do an upcoming 10k, I decided to see if I still had it. Running 6.2 miles at a decent pace after 2.5 months of no running wasn't easy for me (granted I still Spin/fitness class it up daily) - but it felt so good. 

I always keep in mind this cheesy quote: "Running is a mental exercise with physical benefits." I really believe it, when my legs are dying, its a total mind game. (It was only after this run that Dan revealed a conflict and we are no longer running that race. ha.)

4) Broccoli

Okay, this is the weirdest one. I'm struggling w/ the goal to eat more veggies. I mean, if vegetables actually tasted good, there wouldn't be so many obese people in the world. But I discovered a roasted broccoli recipe in my ATK magazine, and am now obsessed. In fact, I'm roasting more broccoli for dinner tonight! Take that evil carbs. 

If you made it to this point, I thank you for reading my ramblings. The End. 

* Let us all pray that something exciting starts happening in my life, that there might be more pictures in future posts, and less words.