"In the Fallows"

A Fallow of land is plowed and left unseeded for a season or more; uncultivated. The idea behind it is to give the land a rest, to rejuvenate and replenish nutrients and to prepare the land for the next seeding.

It's good for land and it's good for crops to have a fallow season. I know the scriptures say there is a time to sow and a time to reap. What about a time to be in the fallows? I think it could be good for people too.

I love books

As an elite member of the Borders Reward Club, I freqently receive coupons in the email like this:

I stopped by the La Habra store last night on my way home so I could finally purchase this:

Which isn't a book, but is based on a book, a really good book....

And I saw a poster that said something like this:

"Romance! Buy 4, Get the 5th Free!"

Is that what it takes? Do I have to purchase FOUR before I can get a FREE romance?

And then I started to think, what if I hadn't seen the sign and had come for the purpose of purchasing romance? I can imagine taking my treasure to the counter and being surprised to look at the transaction total. "What is this?" I would exclaim. "But I purchased ten romances and am only being charged for eight!"

Wouldn't that be a fun day? Surprised by Free Romance.

That could make an interesting book title.

I'd like to thank the Academy...

After more than two years as a Southern California resident, I finally got to be a tourist. My cute mom was in town and treated me to a "Wicked" matinée at the Pantages theater in Hollywood.Here's a pic of the stage...which was all the more amazing surrounded by the vintage art deco-ness of the Pantages.


Since I'm SO into the LA lifestyle, I didn't even know that the Academy Awards are on tonight. Hollywood Blvd was all decked out for the event that glorifies...um...you know (I'm trying to curb my appetite for judgment).

But honestly, it was only a matter of time until I would have to pay my respects to the mecca of film and entertainment.

We strutted down the Walk of Fame,

and found cutie Zack Efron on Hollywood Blvd,

Said 'hello' to Oscar,

Walked the Red Carpet,

Posed in the Kodak Theater,

Paid tribute to Harry Potter and others at Grauman's Chinese Theater,

And finished up the evening with Italian at the Hollywood & Highland Center.

Thanks for playing with me Mom! I had a much needed blast!
Love you!

Ciao Bella!

I loved this photo from the Crew Cuts catologue. After reading the Italy section of Eat, Pray, Love - the only thing I could think of was "I heart Roma."

Last Saturday night, I checked in at a friend's birthday party and schmoozed for a while. On my way home I got a crazy craving for caprese salad. Most of the markets were closed, so I drove around for a bit so I could pick up some fresh tomatoes, basil and mozz. OH, and some sourdough for garlic bread.

When I got home, I had the place to myself and I ate enough cheese for a family of 4 (like 4 adults, not two parents and two babies). The next day, I melted the rest of the mozzerella over basalmic chicken...Yummy!

Are you excited?

After months of not having anything on television to watch...I'm excited!

Relations and Renovations...

Take a look at these two shnookums!
avery (my niece) in 2007 and emily (my sister, avery's aunt) in 1987 - Just 20 years apart!










It's Saturday morning and it's a good thing my body doesn't allow me to sleep in, otherwise I'd be ticked! So, here I sit, still in bed, still in my pj's blogging--serenaded by the sounds of remodel coming from my oh-so-close next-door neighbors. Oh blessed hammer, joyful circular saw, love you nail gun!! Oh, and the emphesmatic construction worker's coughing is a nice touch!

Good morning to you too, Carrie and Josh!

i love seeing this...

Yesterday was unbelievably beautiful! My roommate, Holly, and I rode bikes down to the Wedge and sat on the rocks to soak up some sun and much needed vitamin D. I wish I had my camera to capture the whimsy of what I saw. Five dolphin dorsals popping up out of the ocean, including a couple very smallish, baby looking fins. I could have watched them for hours, but they got about 20 yards from the jetty and disappeared.

Calling all Ladies!

The Best Homemade Pizza Ever!

Not to toot my own horn, but I made some good pizza last night! I wish I had taken a picture of it, but honestly, it wouldn’t have done it justice.

Ingredients:

TJ’s Whole Wheat Pizza Dough—thawed and ready to roll
TJ’s Bottled Alfredo Sauce
TJ’s Quattro Formaggio 4 Cheese Blend
Raw Sliced Mushrooms
TJ’s Just Grilled Chicken Strips
½ - ¾ c shredded or sliced Muenster Cheese

Preheat oven to 400° F. Roll out pizza dough on to greased pizza pan (I use the Pampered Chef 9” baking stone, greased with TJ’s Olive Oil Cooking Spray). Bake for 8 minutes and remove from oven.

While the crust is baking, sauté the mushrooms. When heated, they’ll create their own juice, so no need to uses any oil or water. Drain and set aside. Thaw about 1 ½ cups grilled chicken strips and set aside.

On baked pizza crust, spoon and spread Alfredo sauce to your liking. I used about ¾ cup. Lightly sprinkle Quattro Formaggio (it's salty!), mushrooms, chicken, and cover with more Quattro Formaggio and Muenster.

Bake at 400° F until cheese is browning and bubbly. Serve fresh out of the oven for melty, yummy pizza.

So so sorry for those of you who don’t live near a Trader Joe’s—I’m sure you can substitute with other brands.

Flashback...already??

I do not remember whose birthday this was, but I just think it's so classic Charity. 1987. Emily was 18 months old. Wasn't she a cute baby? And what about my frizzy perm? Man, those were the days!

super tuesday...barf.

It was an bright, clear, brisk spring day. Hello beautiful day! I walked myself down the street to our neighborhood voting center and cast my ballot. I wore my sticker proudly all day and carefully placed it on the bulletin board upon returning home. At 11 pm, I check the news and I didn't feel so super anymore.

Fear, darkness, angst begin to set in. Who will I vote for now???

Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.

I received some wise counsel the other day:

1. Don’t buy things. This is a hard one for me. When I am sad I tend to buy things, usually clothes. As if it will make me feel better. It’s really easy for me to justify, but it’s not really logical. When I’m happy, I like to buy things. It’s a lose-lose. I have issues. *Though it could be worse, right? At least when I buy "things" it's usually a just a couple shirts from F21. What's that, like 20 bones?*

2. Keep the commandments. I like the scripture, “And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness” (Mosiah 2:41).

3. Focus on gratitude. “Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation and thankfulness for blessings or benefits we have received. As we cultivate a grateful attitude, we are more likely to be happy and spiritually strong. We should regularly express our gratitude to God for the blessings He gives us and to others for the kind acts they do for us” (Gospel Topics).

“The Lord has promised, 'He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious' (D&C 78:19). Gratitude is an uplifting, exalting attitude. People are generally happier when they have gratitude in their hearts. We cannot be bitter, resentful, or mean-spirited when we are grateful.

"We should be thankful for the wonderful blessings that are ours and for the tremendous opportunities we have. We can be thankful to our parents, family, friends, and teachers. We should express appreciation to everyone who has assisted us in any way.

“We should thank our Heavenly Father for His goodness to us by acknowledging His hand in all things, thanking Him for all that He gives us, keeping His commandments, and serving others. We should especially thank Him for His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, for the Savior's great example, for His teachings, for His outreaching hand to lift and help, for His infinite Atonement” (True to the Faith, 78–79).

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations” (Psalms 100).

The Lord is good! And He is good to me. I am committed to focusing more on gratitude.

I am grateful for…
*trying to be…

Happy melodies
A steady job that pays
The hope that someday I’ll be getting paid for the other stuff
A car to drive
Generous parents
Means to pay for my rent
A house by the beach
Palm trees
Fluffy white clouds in a blue sky
People with British accents
My seat at work next to Lezlie
No-iron dress shirts
A cell phone, even if it doesn’t ring very often
Gift cards
New church callings*
Healthy food
Kangen water
Beautiful sisters
The excitement of the unknown*
Acoustic guitars
My testimony
Reverse commutes (feeling sorry for the south-bounders in the morning and the north-bounders in the evening)
My brave & courageous clients who want a better life
Green grass
Flip-flops
to name a few

Flashback

Remember when I broke up with (no, he broke up with me) that one guy and cameleoned into a brunette...er, auburn...person?


New Year's 2004...

Family Christmas...

Winning the ugly sweater contest at Nate Dallin's annual Sweater Soiree...I think the turtleneck "dickie" propelled me to the top!