Life is Like a....

So as most of you know I am now a college graduate and living in Florida (for those who have not figured this out, please refer to previous posts). I have been now living "in the real world" for about 9 months now. And I now know that college does not prepare you for life. I have been thinking, and I want to compare life to a roller-coaster. Yes, a roller-coaster. We wait in line to get on this wonderful roller-coaster. Sometimes that line is long, sometimes it is short. Once we are on the ride we go through a series of ups and downs, twists an turns, times when you are shouting for joy and times you are screaming to get off the ride. But all to soon the ride ends. What happens then? Did you really just get off the best ride ever? what did you make of it? Did you make friends with the people that were screaming next to you or where you to busy screaming to notice those around you?
Life is funny that way. Sometimes I love life. I am screaming with pure enjoyment! and then other times I am wishing we were on the last big turn I was just on and not the one that I am on right now. I want to get off the ride and maybe even start the ride over. But who would I miss the next time around? will they even let me on the next one? No, I think I will just wait it out. Maybe, just maybe I will like the next turn after this one. Maybe I will notice someone new to enjoy the ride with. Or maybe it will be worst then the loop I am in right now. That is the risk that I have to take, no, the risk I NEED to take. I need to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

Nerd-tastic Halloween!

 So this Halloween I had to work, but luckily a friend was having a party the night before Halloween. I didn't know what to go as, so I went as myself, A Nerd!

I was decked out with the taped glasses, pens in the pocked, jumper, backpack, high socks that one is higher then the other, tennis shoes and to top it all off a sideways ponytail! It was awesome! 

Here I am with a few friends at the party. This picture you can see my outfit the best.

During the night I took of my backpack and we came up with this idea...

Of course some one had to fallow the sign :(

Michelle and I in our costume. Both of our costumes we based of our glasses! She saw her's at Wal-Mart and I had old sunglasses with pop out lens. We think alike. So, we had to take a picture together with our glasses! 

Kate was Jack Sparrow with all the eyes! it was so creepy to look at her sometimes!

Dance party!

funking group picture!

Great party! Best costume I've done yet! 

Love the Life I Have

Can I just say how much I am loving life right now?! Well I am! I work at an amazing job! Work with awesome people! Make friends with even more awesome people! Have the best ward in the church! and I am having a blast in Florida!! ...but after saying that, I have to admit that I miss my family so much it hurts!!! They are the world to me! So, this is for them!

Mom,
You are one of my best friends! I love you so much! I can talk to you about anything, and I love that I can do that. I am not afraid to tell you any of my problems or what I am doing. I know you wont judge me. You give me advice and call me for my advice (mostly about cooking, but that is okay by me!).

Dad,
You are the best dad that I could ask for! You are one of the smartest people I know and I love how hard you work. I have to admit, we have are arguments, but I know you love me still. I just want to tell you that I love you so so much!

Christina,
You are my other half! I know I can call and talk to you at any time and about anything. You understand me best out of everyone. We have so much fun when we are together. And most recently on our iphones helping each other with our games that we are both addicted to! I love you!

Richard,
You are my big brother! I know that you are always there for me. Although we have never been as close to each other as we have others, I know that you love me! I love hearing about you and seeing you! I wish we lived closer so I can see you more!

Amy,
You are an amazing sister-in-law! You are an awesome mother and a great friend! I am so glad you are in our family now! Thank you for all the picture text messages. (send one of yourself sometime too. I miss your face!)

Isabelle,
You are so cute and so smart! I love getting to talk to you on the phone and play with you at Christmas. You are such a big girl. You are an awesome big sister!

Wendell,
You are just a cute little boy! You are so cute how much you love your sister! I loved seeing you at Christmas. I love you!

Brittney,
I miss seeing you. I loved being so close to you this last summer and driving to visit! You are always so creative. Also, I love cooking with you! I remember this last time when we had a cooking fest weekend when mom and I were there for the weekend! that ice cream was amazing! Keep smiling and being your amazing self!

Job,
You are an awesome brother-in-law! You do so well for your family! You are always there for my sister and you are so generous to others! Thank you for all you do! I am glad you are in the family!

Porter,
You are so cute and are learning so fast! I can't believe how big you are! Keep helping mommy around the house and preparing to be a great big brother.

Lori,
You are so beautiful and amazing! I miss our Friday morning dates! those were my favorite days of the week! You are always so happy and willing to do everything for people! I love talking to you and seeing all your crafts you do around your new house!

Kurt,
Thank you for being so great to my sister! You are a great father and husband! You take care of your family so well! Keep doing what your doing! I am glad you are in our family!

Brooklyn,
You are my little Brooklyn. I love how you just stare at me when we webcam like you know me but you are not sure how. I miss holding you while you sleep. You are getting so big and smart! You are your mother's daughter! I love you!

Dear Family,
YOU ARE THE BEST!!! Thank you so much for all that you do! You make life worth living! I love you!!!!!!!

BEST FAMILY EVER!

How Do You Eat A Canadian Moose?

So I went out to dinner with a few friends today, and we went to the Le Cellier Steakhouse in Epcot. It was so good. The pretzel bread sticks were the best part! But for dessert I got the Canadian Chocolate Moose. When they brought it out this is what it looked like...

The waiter then asked if I had ever eaten a Canadian Moose before. I of course said no. So he precedes to tell me how I am suppose to eat one...

First you eat it's tongue, so it can't call out to all it's moose friends.

Then you eat it's eyes so it can't see you coming. 

After that you have to eat it's ears so it can't hear you.

And last you eat the rest of it.  

So now for future reference, that is how you eat a Canadian Moose.

A Walk on the Wild Side

So being in Florida is all grand and everything, but I was beginning to miss my family so I broke down and requested time off and bought a ticket to California!

 I flew out on Saturday September 11th. And let me tell you I had an amazing experience. I had just got to the airport around 8:30am and was almost to the security bag check when a security person went through and ordered everyone to stop what they were doing. Most of the guest waiting to get through were puzzled, and I was one of them. We asked one of the security people what was going on, and they replied that they were having a moment of silence. It was amazing! It was so profound and reverent in that busy airport. It was a privilege to be there for that. There was so much respect for the people that gave their lives on those airplanes and on the ground on September 11, 2001.

(The view from the airplane. This is Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.)

When I got to California I wanted to go to Yosemite, so one Monday my mom, dad, and sister Christina all went to Yosemite. 

(mom, me, and dad below Bridalveil Falls)

(There was not very much water coming off the falls. I was a little disappointed about that.)

(My dad and I at the top of the trail for Bridalveil with the little water that was coming down in the background)

(Christina eating Subway for lunch at Yosemite)

(My parents with their lunch. Dad wanted to eat by the river, but the fence was blocking us from it so this is the closest we could get.)

(Christina looking crazy)

(Sisters!!)

Of course dad has to fish while we are up here. We left him for a few hours but when we went to go get him he was not done fishing. So we hung around and I took a few pictures

(dad fishing when we first got back to him)

(Mom got comfortable, she know this might take a while)

(Me just goofing around. You can see my dad still fishing over my shoulder.)

(I love this picture of my dad fishing)

So I was sitting on a rock reading my book when my dad yells my name. He had caught a fish and wanted me to take a picture of it. I tried but I was to far way. This was the best one I could get. So I tried to run as fast as I could over the rocks without falling or cutting myself. Just as I got to him and looked up the fish swam away. It was so sad.

(you can see the little splashes from the fish in the water)

So I stayed closer to him after that. He finally did catch another fish!

(catching the fish with the net)

The man with his kill (well sort of, he let it go after)

(I was so proud of him!)

Here are a few of the pretty pictures that I took while on our trip

(Half Dome)

(A random tree and the river)

(The river by Happy Isles)

Ultimate Chicken Fingers

I love trying out new recipes. Some turn out disgusting, while most turn out great. Tonight I was looking around for an idea for dinner and I happened upon this recipe in the most peculiar  place, my Bisquick box. I made it, and they were AMAZING and so easy (with easy clean up also).

Ultimate Chicken Fingers

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb), cut crosswise into 1/2-inch strips

2/3 cup Original Bisquick mix

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp salt or garlic salt

1/2 tsp paprika

1 egg, slightly beaten

3 Tbsp butter or margarine, melted

Heat oven to 450. Line cookie sheet with foil; spray with cooking spray. In 1-gallon resealable food storage bag, mix Bisquick mix, cheese, salt, and paprika.

Dip half the chicken strips into egg; place in bag. Seal bag; shake to coat. Place chicken on cookie sheet. Repeat to use up remaining chicken. Drizzle butter over chicken.

Bake 12-14 mins, turn halfway through bake time with pancake turner, until no longer pink in center.

I cut up a red potato and put some of the butter and salt and pepper on it and baked it with the chicken. It turned out very good. I hope you have a great time with this recipe and also others that you find like I found this one. 

You Scream, I Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!!

The first two months I work at Typhoon Lagoon I worked at Happy Landings, which is our ice cream shop. We sale sundaes, cones, and the infamous Garbage Pail. It has Vanilla and Chocolate ice cream, hot fudge, carmel, strawberry sauce, waffle cones pieces, walnuts, oreo pieces, whipped cream, sprinkles and cherries all served in a sand pail to be eaten with a shovel. 

Of course I had to get a picture with me and my first Garbage Pail!!!

This one I actually came with Ashley to Typhoon Lagoon before I had to go to work. She hung around until I went on break and I met up with her and we came and got a Garbage Pail. Half way through she tells me that she is not a sweets person...yicks! I was determined to finish the thing by myself. Needless to say I had to go back to work before I could get the whole thing done. I was so sick from eating to fast and I had to go back to Happy Landings to work. It was pain to look at that ice cream after that.

Typhoon Lagoon is not the only place that has a big bowl stuffed with ice cream...we have the Kitchen Sink!

One evening my roommates and I got a few people together and we went to try to devour this monstrosity. Here is a few pictures of the night and our conquest.

It starts by going to the Yacht and Beach Club resorts and finding the restaurant Beaches and Cream.It's small so you may have to wait to get in. We found a lounge right by to wait in the air-conditioning.  

Then you look for the Kitchen Sink on the menu and order it!! YUMMY!!

After all you need to do is take some random pictures while you wait. Like these...

I took a lot of really random pictures and Christian was the only one paying attention and smiling in ALL of them. Way to be the star Christian

Jenna and her BIG green eyes! I love you!

Now when it arrives you must hold off for a few minutes while you get a group picture with it

 and then you have to be selfish and take a picture by yourself with it. (he he he you could fool people with it saying you ate it by yourself later)

But everyone knows you shared :)

And NOW you can dig it!

Then the question comes...."Did you finish it?"...Well did we?...

HECK YES WE DID!!!!

Soooo Knocked Ooovveeerrrr!!

Book Worm

I love to read!!! It is my little way of getting out of my normal world and into a world with adventure and excitement. My favorite is Fiction.

 I just finished "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins. It is the 3rd and last book of the series. They are all amazing!!!! The first book is called "Hunger Games". Look them up!

Another book that I recently fell in love with is "The Goose Girl" by Shannon Hale. It was very good.

Now I am off to find another book to fill my time with! If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

One Last Adventure Together

So the last Thursday my old (and amazing) roommate were going to be in town before they left me to go back to school we all had the day off. We then planned to go to the BEACH!!!

Unfortunately we had to drop Dani off at the airport right before we headed off. Then we headed to the Atlantic Ocean! That was the first time I put my feet in the Atlantic Ocean. I was so cool. We had planned to go to Cocoa Beach, but when driving there I was not sure were it was. I thought we were close so I drove down this street and luckily found an other beach. It was not even crowded!!

Here we are all together with the ocean in the background

We got there so early that you could kinda still tell that the sun was rising. it was so pretty!

All set up to play in the water and then take a nap.

After we played in the water, then napped, and then played some more we packed up and went in search of the real Cocoa Beach. We found it and toured the shops for a while. This is Jenna and Alyssa looking a flip-flops.

On the escalator in one of the shops we went in.

We were so hot and thirsty so we stopped by Starbucks and I got a Vanilla Bean Frapachino. It was so good! (you can see Merri in the background)

All of us together, chillin at Starbucks in the air conditioning 

Trying on funcky hats. I love these girls!

We found these tiki men so we wanted to take pictures of us popping out of them. Here are Jenna and Alyssa

Then it was my turn

Look at this sweet car! I had to get a picture with it. (oh and that dress I'm wearing I bought there too. It is so cute, and silky!)

There were all these statues outside the shops so we took pictures of them. This one was my favorite so I made them take a picture of me with it! I am such a dork.

I saw this sign for a surf museum so we had to check it out...

It wasn't much. A little room at most, but it was kinda cool.

There was this cool wall with foot prints on it, so we pretended to put our footprint on there. (it is only for awesome surfers...yea, I can't surf...)

I had to get my picture with the surfboards! they were so cool!

So we finially found the actual Cocoa Beach. It was so much more crowed! I am so glad I chose to drive down that random street!!!! We are so cute! I am going to miss these girls!

P.S. We all got FRIED that day, but the best part is, we went to Magic Kingdom that night to ride Space Mountain and watch the fireworks one last time together! Here we are on the Monorail. You can totally tell we got burned! 

One last time on Space Mountain with these girls! 

I am going to miss these girls like crazy! Thank you so much for a fabulous summer! We will always be friends! 

College Program 2010!!!