additions to my bucket list

1. Stand at the top of the Eiffel Tower
2. Learn to scuba dive
3. See the pyramids in Egypt
4. Learn a foreign language
5. Visit the Colosseum
6. Own a BMW
7. Drive a 1968 red Corvette Stingray
8. Get a stamp in my passport
9. Visit all the Disney parks around the world (Disneyland: done, Disneyland Paris: done, Disney World: will be done in March 2014!)
10. Eat an artichoke
11. Eat a beignet in New Orleans
12. Try lobster again, but this time in Maine
13. Visit Four Corners
14. Go to Mt. Rushmore
15. Spend a week at the Smithsonian
16. Become a published author
17. Go to a Disney on Ice show
18. Go to a Star Trek Convention
19. Attend an Olympic event

miscellaneous musings

Some miscellaneous thoughts and pictures from the last week or so...

Still going strong on my weight loss/fitness goals.  

I veganized my chocolate chip cookie recipe and it was a great success!!

I've been practicing my flute to accompany the ward choir next month.

It's gotten up to 80 a few times this past week.  Sick.

Made some really good tofu-stuffed pasta shells.

 

Been reading the book, "The Other Eminent Men of Wilford Woodruff."  There have been some really great quotes about some of these great men in history.  I really liked this one.

100 pounds!

Stepped on the scale this morning and guess what??

national popcorn day

In honor of National Popcorn Day, I'm posting some pictures I took of the popcorn balls we made last week.  These are one of Dad's specialties and I love them!  It's kind of become a family tradition to make them on New Year's Eve.  This year we ended up making a batch on New Year's Day and then again for FHE  last Monday.   Yum!

gilbert temple open house

We're so excited to have a new temple in our area!  And it's finally open for the open house.  I went with Mom, Dad, and Julia on Saturday and then again today with Julia and Katy, John, and Harper Bowen.  I can't express with words how incredibly gorgeous this temple is.  And how big and grand!  It's truly breathtaking.

i'm not going to die

Once upon a time I was watching the movie, National Treasure, with my then roommate Elaina Halford.  At the end of that movie is a scene where everyone has to climb up a rope ladder in order to avoid plummeting to their death.  Elaina turned to me and said, "See!  We may be called upon to climb a rope ladder one day to save our lives.  And we would die!"

Earlier in the day we had been discussing our general lack of upper arm strength and lamenting the amount of weight we had gained over the years.

Fast forward to now...

Every time, over the last year, that I have wanted to give up on this whole weight loss/fitness journey I've been on, I hear Elaina's voice in my head repeating her prophetic pronouncement.  "We may be called upon to climb a rope ladder one day to save our lives.  And we would die!"

I'm not going to die.

That statement keeps me going when things are hard and I want to give up.  I don't know when, but when the day comes, I WILL climb that rope ladder!

recent goings-on

Julia and I tried a Thai restaurant by the house last Saturday.  It was really good!  Only problem: bean sprouts got stuck in Julia's braces.  We were both laughing as she tried to get them out!

Everyone seems to be choosing a word for 2014.  After a few days of thought I jumped on the bandwagon with mine.  I want to do more, be more, see more, feel more, and taste more this year.  I can't wait!

Itty-bitty baby heart sprinkles!!!  It was love at first sight.  I had to buy them.  They make me happy!

A quote I liked from one of the books I'm currently reading:

I'm going to Disney World!!!  After a few weeks of research and comparing various vacation packages, Julia and I bought our tickets and booked our trip.  We're going March 8-15th.  I'm so excited.  I can't wait!!

Almost 32 and still breaking out like a teenager.  Sigh...

Tried some new recipes today, one of which used millet.  It turned out pretty good!

Went to Goodwill yesterday with Mom, Faith, and Julia.  Spent $50 and got: 2 dresses, 2 skirts, 3 pairs of pants, 1 sweater, 1 corduroy jacket/coat, and 4 shirts.  I wore one of the dresses today.  Look how skinny I am!  And my butt is disappearing!!

time to make some resolutions

This year I want to...

...lose another 60 pounds
...be to my goal weight by my birthday in July
...read 250 books
...try/do something new everywhere I go