WICKED!!

a couple of weeks ago, chris took me to see the play, WICKED, and i forgot to write about it!! can you believe that??  i have wanted to see Wicked for years after hearing the fun music and learning a little about the story line.  chris bought us tickets for christmas and we have waited patiently these last seven months to see this amazing show.  and it was amazing!! 

i loved elfeba and especially galinda.  i know, she is the ditzy, shallow one, but she was hilarious!! she really played up the part and she reminded me a lot of myself when i was younger - but only in the ways that she was over-dramatic and cheerful. elfeba had a wonderful, strong voice and was pretty funny herself. i really like the music of the play.  it is fun and quirky, yet powerful.  a good combination, if i do say so myself. 

the only "low" point was fierro.  he just wasn't as strong as the other characters.  he didn't have a strong voice and he couldn't dance worth a hoot.  he kept doing the same move over and over and looked quite awkward doing it.  sorry, fierro, you just didn't cut it for me.  luckily, he wasn't the focus of the play and was not in it very much.

everything else was great! the singing, the dancing, the stage, the music - loved it all!  thank you so much, chris, for giving me that experience!

The Famous Farmington

This is now the second week since we officially moved to Farmington. It feels like only the second day because we have been traveling all over the place the past two weeks and we haven’t really lived in our apartment.  However, now that we’re back, we’re settling down a little. 

A few tidbits about Farmington:

v  I love the location! We are about a minute away from the freeway entrance and yet we feel tucked away in a quiet, little neighborhood with tree-lined streets and family-friendly parks.

v  Even though we’re only about fifteen minutes farther north, it feels like I am sooo far from my family!  I think I was just spoiled before, being smack dab in between my parents and my in-laws. I have no idea what I’ll do when we actually move out of state!

v  There is a pool right next to our apartment.  I haven’t taken advantage of it yet (because we’ve been gone) but I am excited to spend some of these hot summer days lounging in the cool water!

v  Our new ward is fantabulous! The Elders Quorum presidency came to visit only two days after we moved in and the Relief Society presidency is coming over tonight!  (The Relief Society wouldn’t have been over just as soon as the Elders Quorum if we hadn’t been out of town. Just FYI – they’re not slackers. J)

v  For some reason, this new apartment seems much more difficult to decorate! I am in need of some serious help.  Pinterest isn’t really helping because I just end up wanting my room to look exactly like the room in the picture! Argh!

For the most part, we’re really loving it here (minus the crazy landlords) and we’re excited to make this our new home for the next few years!

Thank You!

I just wanted to give a shout out to all those who came & helped us move today. You were all so quick and efficient and made this move so easy! We were so appreciative to have your manpower with us!

Also, a special thanks to Darren for coming all the way from Logan and for bringing the trailer. It was a huge help!! (even if it was a pain to get out of the driveway)

We are excited to be in our new apartment and make it our home.

pictures coming soon

Bookstore Date

Last Saturday I decided it was time that I take Chris out for a date.  We went to Barnes & Noble armed with a list of tasks we each had to complete. For example, find a recipe of something you would like to make for your date, or go to the children’s section and pick out your favorite book.  I surprised Chris with this date and he seemed pretty excited to give it a try.  (I found this idea here along with all of the tasks for our date.  Great site!)

We started out with the recipe section.  Turns out that we both picked out something simple but delicious.  My recipe – an ice cream sandwich made with waffles.     Chris’s recipe – a blended drink of mint and lemonade.    Simple but Delicious!

Next stop – magazines!  We each found a quiz in a magazine that we then took together.  I had a hard time actually finding a quiz!  I thought magazines were filled with quizzes but I couldn’t find one anywhere!  Chris took the only magazine with a guaranteed quiz each issue so I just took an article and made one up myself.  ;)

We then sauntered over to the children’s section to pick out our favorite book as a kid.  We found that we read similar books as children. It was fun to reminisce of our favorites and relive a few as we read them aloud to each other.  We couldn’t pick just one!

Task #4 told us to go to the humor section and find a joke we could tell our date.   Chris found “A Book of Insults Every Man Should Know.”  Inside were some seriously witty comebacks and insults.  Chris was having a hay day!  I picked out a book called “Porn for Woman.”  Now, before you go jumping down my throat, you need to see what was inside.  Pictures of men (fully clothed) saying or doing things we women always wish they would.  For example, this young man is leaning forward intently saying “Well, I can’t offer you any solutions, but I am a good listener.”  Priceless! J

One of my favorite tasks was in the travel section.  Chris and I both picked out a dream vacation.  Mine was to Istanbul, Turkey.  Why? Because I know very little about the place and the culture.  I do know about Haggia Sophia and would love to visit that feat of architecture. I know it has both Christian and Muslim influences.  I am drawn to it because I feel it would be a great discovery.

Chris chose Cambodia and Laos.  Apparently, Cambodia is the Asian country least touched by Western civilization, therefore retaining a lot of the ancient culture.  Chris also loves nature and beautiful landscapes, which Cambodia and Laos are full of.  Who knows, maybe one day we will actually take these dream vacations.

 

However, we saved the best task for last.  For our final book we went to the poetry section and picked out a poem that expressed how we felt about each other.  It was so much fun to rummage through different love poems to find the perfect one.  I don’t think I succeeded in finding the perfect poem, but I’ll tell you what, Christopher did – On an Anniversary by Donald Justice.  We had such a fun time and bonded in a way we hadn't for a while.  I would definitely recommend this date to anyone. 

Diet Update

Sorry I have not been very diligent in recording my progress on the blog.  Truth is, there hasn’t been much progress.  I’ve pretty much stayed constant since those two measly pounds I lost in the beginning.  Between a week of wedding festivities and riding the crimson wave (sorry, TMI) I haven’t much to show for myself as far as weight goes. 

I can say, however, that I am feeling better.  I used to get headaches almost every day in the afternoons.  Come to find out, my daily afternoon candy bar or sugar snack is most likely to blame.  Since I have been trying to eat healthier, I have had almost zero headaches!  That I count as a victory!  I have also had more energy in the afternoons.  I’m usually ready to take a nap at 2:00 with my face in the keyboard.

In summation, while there has not been much to show in terms of numbers, I do think there have been overall positive improvements in my health and energy.

Goal for this week:  go to the gym more consistently.

As we all know, life happens.  Events come up and unforeseen circumstances take us away from our plans.  Unfortunately, I use that as an excuse all too often.  Just because my plans change doesn’t mean that I can cut out exercise entirely. 

On to week 3!

Just for fun, a few pictures from our week

"Just Because" flowers from my hubby.  <3

Thomas & Kelsie's wedding dinner

Thomas & Kelsie's first dance.  Lovely!



Belated, but here

I know, I know, I was supposed to post this on Sunday - the official start date of my Biggest Loser Competition.  However, it was a holiday and we were up in Malad, Idaho celebrating with Christopher's family.  I was far away from my computer (and thoughts of my diet) at the time. 

But, better late than never, right?  So here are the numbers.  I went to the doctor's on Friday for a check-up and of course was weighed. 

Official weight: 158 lbs. 

       Well, that's a little bit much for a girl my size.  So... I went home and calibrated my own scale to
       match the one at the doctor's office.    And then I determined my goal.
            
                 Target weight: 130 lbs.

                               28 lbs to lose.

And guess what, I've already lost two!  I weighed myself tonight, just for good measure, and came in at 156.  Good news!  Of course, I did have my clothes on at the doctor's office and I didn't at home, so that could account for about a pound.  But I'm taking credit for the other one!

I realized something else today.  I like my body. Funny to say as I'm writing about my diet plan, but I was looking in the mirror today and I could honestly say to myself, "You know, self, you're a little bit short and stubby, but I like you!"  I am not doing this Biggest Loser thing to become a "skinny" (that Stacy is so afraid of) but to keep my body as healthy as it can be (and to keep the government from controlling my weight for me ;).  I used to dance, run, play, and swim and my body loved it!  Now that I'm a little older it's harder to get my body in motion.  But with a little energy from me and support from a wonderful husband (who has to literally kick me out of the house sometimes so I will keep my goal of going to the gym) I can get my body moving and in shape. 

Love it!

The Dash Diet

On the third day....
             ....she is fighting.

I have been trying to eat according to the Dash Diet plan which gives you precise measurements for portion size, outlines a well balanced meal including all food groups, and of course, limits your intake of sweets and candies.  I have been pretty well for the past two days.  I had some nonfat frozen yogurt last night with the Relief Society, but at least that was nonfat right! 

But let me tell you this - frozen yogurt is not ice cream!  Today is "get your ice cream free if you guess the price" day at work.  Right now I am feeling like this little girl.  Just replace that Snickers with ice cream and I would run like the wind to be able to eat it! 

However, I must say that I am exercising miraculous will power.  I am not going downstairs to buy ice cream.  I am not even opening the candy cabinet right above my head to grab me some delicious chocolate.  (The office candy cabinet is of course located in my office and I have the key.  Not smart.)

I am going to eat me some strawberries and yogurt, if I can find any.  I feel like that will satisfy my cravings. 

I will be strong!....

           ....I just keep telling myself that.  :)