Worst Beehive Adviser That Ever Lived

How many weeks now have I been in the Young Women's program? And how many of those weeks have I actually remembered to go to Mutual? Maybe 3 out of 16. I try to justify my absence, saying things like,"I was busy with tons of housework that magically didn't get done while I was watching Desperate Housewives," or "I was so tired from work that I started watching Desperate Housewives and fell asleep." The dirty truth is this:

i forgot.

I don't have so much to do that I shouldn't go. I'm not so preoccupied that there's a good reason for me forgetting. I just forget. Almost every week. The first mutual I missed, I didn't even realize I had missed until Thursday night. Mutual had been over for a good 2 days. Tonight, I realized at about 7:48, which means I'm getting better! One of these weeks, my remembering will line up with the hour it starts, and I will show up and everyone will throw a party for me. 

This forgetfulness of mine has decided to only manifest itself in Mutual activities. I don't forget anything else. My memory isn't failing. I think I've just been out of practice of going to it for so long (since high school, four years ago) that I don't even think to schedule a place for it in my brain. Or day. 

Anyway, I've decided that there are a few things that should be in my life, that aren't - and for no good reason. They just aren't. 

• The Temple. I know people who attend weekly. Including the person I'm married to. In fact, he goes for 5 hours at a time. I can certainly handle at least once a month.
• Mutual, obviously. It's not for me, it's for the girls. They need leaders who are good examples, and I haven't really been one so far. 
• Working. Apparently I have way to much time on my hands and I keep getting lost watching Desperate Housewives.
• Doing more crafts and etsy. One of my birthday goals was to professionalize my etsy shop, sell more stuff, and expand my network. I've done that a little, but I could do more. 
• Exercising. I hate it! I won't do it! You can't make me! Except for, I'm a little less toned than I'd like to be. So I set a reasonable goal for myself: Go for a walk 3 times a week. Accomplishable?
• Singing in a choir. I've sworn to myself that I would do it ever since I got married, and I never have. Why? Who knows. But I'm committed to joining a choir. Singing has always been one of my favorite forms of expression.
• Reading scriptures. We have plenty of time before bed, and it just doesn't happen. I think I need to start putting my scriptures on my pillow in the morning so I remember as I'm going to sleep.

Before I berate myself too much, I'd like to point out some things that I have added to my life in an effort of making myself happy.

Journaling           Cooking            Reading          Spending tons of time giggling (that's giggling, not jiggling) with my husband          Loving the weather      

Things to Celebrate

• Conrad and I are taking a trip! We bought our tickets 2 days ago, and we're going to Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina! We can't wait to visit our friends and see new places, and we're extremely grateful to be blessed so much that we can take little spontaneous trips across the country. 
• Indian food. It never gets old. I'd even be willing to smell all spicy if it meant I got to eat Middle Eastern and Indian food all the time.
• Clothes that fit just right.
• Health.
• Books. I've decided to make more time in my days for reading, and I've been loving it. It's perfect for winding down before bed, to read for 20 or so minutes. 
• Friends. After not really having many local friends for over 2 years, I forgot how nice it is to go out with some girls and just eat sweet stuff and laugh really hard. I'm finally feeling like I have a group of friends I can count on.
• Mason Jars. I love them.

What are you loving in your life?

Rice Pancakes

This is a yummy recipe I've been making for a couple years. It's really filling and yummy, and it can be made for breakfast, dessert or snack (or any other meal, I guess). They look like regular pancakes, but they have rice in them! You could make them by just adding cooked rice to plain pancake batter, and then eating them with syrup or however you want, but this is how I make them.

Like I've said in countless posts, I don't measure unless I'm following an exact recipe, so I just combine the following ingredients until I reach the batter consistency I like.

Bisquik or other pancake mix
milk
eggs (I usually add at least 3 for a protein boost, especially if it's breakfast)
sugar (probably about 1/3 cup or so)
cinnamon
cooked rice

They would be really good for little kids to gum on because they have a fun, ricey texture, and they dissolve easily, and they're sweet. Try them and tell me if you made any improvements!

Yosemite Granola

My mother-in-law brought this granola to Yosemite, and it's amazing. She gave me the recipe, and although it makes a lot, it can be stored in jars and frozen, and given as gifts.

10 cups oats

2 cups coconut

2 cups slices almonds

1 Tbsp salt

1 Tbsp cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg

1 ½ c. brown sugar

1 ½ Tbsp vanilla

2/3 cup water

1 ½ c. canola oil

Mix all dry ingredients, and in a separate bowl, stir together wet ingredients. Add to dry, mix together. Bake for about 1 ½ hours at 300. Every 20 minutes stir it and rotate the areas. It should be dry and golden brown. Let cool completely before you add Craisins store it. 

It's amazing in yogurt, with milk, or however you want to eat it. My favorite way is on ice cream. The cranberries get really cold, and become really chewy and hard. 

Get to know you ABC's

Age: 22

                                                                                                                         Bed size: Queen

Chore you hate: Vacuuming. Our machine is a weird one, where the body of the thing is attached to the sucker by a hose, and it's almost impossible to maneuver. Every time I vacuum, I get really frustrated and make Conrad finish.

Dogs: My family has a standard poodle, Jasper, who is the baby of the family. He is treated like a person, much to the disgust of my husband. Someday, when we have a yard, I'd love a standard poodle.

Essential start of your day: A good snuggle with my husband. Every morning before he leaves, I'm still sleeping, and he snuggles me until he has to leave. Sometimes I wake up, sometimes I don't, but either way, I love that he does it.

Favorite color: I have favorite colors for different things. Dark grey and white are probably the most all-around.

Gold or silver: Well, my wedding ring is white gold, which is gold, except its silver. I guess I'm 50/50.

Height: 5'6"

Instruments I play (or have played): I took piano lessons for most of my childhood, played flute for one year in elementary school, sang in school choir for 5 years, sang in Los Angeles Children's Chorus for 8 years, performed in two operas, and taught myself ukulele in college, which I still play recreationally. Voice is my forte instrument, I'd say.

Job title: Medical Assistant/Office Assistant for Alvera Podiatry.

Kids: Yes if the question is "do you want them," No if the question is "do you have them."

Live: La Costa, Ca. Previously: Solana Beach, Ca; Covina, Ca; Upland, Ca; Claremont, Ca. California all the way.

Mom's name: Diane

Nickname: Tess (which everyone calls me, but is not, in fact, my real name), Shmess, Goose, Baby Goose, Moose, Babe, Tessi, Boozer, Moozer.

Overnight hospital stays: Peanut Butter Incedent, 2010.

Pet peeve: When I'm driving and the person in front of me is turning right, but doesn't use their blinker or pull to the right. Also, when I'm determinedly am walking, and people are in my way. I want to slap them in their oblivious faces.

Quote from a movie: "the boo box"

Right or left handed: right

Siblings: 1 sister, 2 brothers, all younger than me.

Time you wake up: Generally between 7:30 and 8. Sometimes I sleep in, but I always regret when I do.

Underwear: special. sacred. kind of weird and ugly. but i love it.

Vegetables you dislike: Is it even possible?! I love vegetables. I guess my least favorite is peas. They kind of remind me of roe (fish eggs), the way they burst.

What makes you run late: sleeping in. Like I said, I don't enjoy sleeping in, like most people. It wastes the day.

X-rays you've had done: Teeth, nose, foot, whole body.

Yummy food you make: Most things I make are pretty good, if that isn't too cocky. My favorites are stroganoff, brussell sprouts, asparagus, and pasta. Love me some carbs and veggies.

Zoo animal: Gorillas. I love watching them. All apes are amazing to watch. 

Now you do it. 

Autumn Chopped Salad

Tonight I made a yummy salad from a recipe I found on Pinterest. Have I mentioned lately how much I love Pinterest?? At first it was about pinning everything I saw that I liked, but now its about re-reading what I've pinned and trying it all! Here's the original site for that salad recipe.

And here's how I changed it. First of all, I didn't measure anything. I usually don't. Second, I used walnuts instead of pecans, apples instead of pears, and omitted the Poppy seed dressing. All the changes were made based on what I had.

Also, I tried this trick I saw on Pinterest (where else), and am proud (and a little embarrassed to admit that Pinterest knows all) to say that it works. My lettuce was about to go bad, so I picked off the soggy outer leaves, chopped it up and stuck it all in a few mason jars.

Stay tuned for more recipe trials. From Pinterest of course.

Work of [T]art

I'm hesitant to share this because it's kind of become the rabbit up my sleeve when I'm entertaining. We've had some friends over a few times, and this was super impressive with minimal work. 

You will need:

1 sheet frozen puff pastry (from a standard 17.3-ounce package), thawed (I keep a package of the Pepperidge Farm kind in my freezer at all times- they take about 30-40 minutes to thaw).

Flour, for work surface
3 Granny Smith or Gala apples
1/3 cup sugar
1 large egg yolk, beaten with 1 teaspoon water, for egg wash
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons apricot jam

Here's what you do:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Open pastry sheet and remove paper. Fold sheet back up. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out pastry sheet (still folded) to an 8-by-14-inch rectangle. Trim edges with a pizza cutter or sharp paring knife if you want, or don't and it will just look a little more unique. Rustic, even!

2. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and transfer dough to baking sheet; place in freezer. Peel, core, and slice apples 1/4 inch thick. Toss in a large bowl with sugar, (and a little cinnamon of you want).

3. Remove pastry from freezer and brush with egg wash, avoiding edges. Use a sharp paring knife to score a 3/4-inch border around pastry (do not cut all the way through). Place apples inside border, and dot with butter. Bake until pastry is golden and apples are tender, 30 to 35 minutes.

4. In the microwave or a small saucepan, heat jelly with 1 tablespoon water until melted. Brush apples with glaze. Cut tart into pieces with a serrated knife, and serve warm or at room temperature, with vanilla bean ice cream, or fresh whipped cream.

I can almost guarantee that it will all get eaten when you serve it, but maybe if you made this only for 2 people, you could save some and have a pretty amazing breakfast of room temperature apple tart and raspberry tea the next morning. Or heck, make it as a breakfast, not a dessert. Heaven knows Conference is coming up, and this deliciousness sure would help you stay awake!

Diagonal Sleeper

Labor Day Weekend

I realized I totally forgot to do a post about our Labor Day weekend! Every year my whole extended family gets together for a family reunion in Pacific Beach. The main event this year was my grandparents' 40th wedding anniversary. Here are some pictures from the celebration.

I want to point out my cousin in the background, caught in a pretty hilarious pose. Not to mention my lovely sister's face.

Nana and Papa cutting their anniversary cake.

I'm really sad that I didn't get more pictures of the rest of the weekend, but we had a lot of fun!

The Hulce kids

Tonight I watched these two hilarious kids. I took them to Chuck E. Cheese's where they gorged on pizza (cheese, their preference), blew tokens on silly games and rides, and then I helped them win some tickets for prizes. Kimball got a squirt gun and Sadie got Fun Dip candy and a ruler. Such awesome choices. Afterward, I broke out the sugar cookies and frosting and sprinkles that I brought from home, and let them decorate and eat them. Best babysitter ever. 

This next one is my favorite. So lurchy! I had him wear an apron, and it covered his whole body. Good thing, too.

Then we went for a walk. By walk I mean I chased them for 2 miles as they scooted on these little things. 

They had lots of fun, tuckered out, and went to bed by 8:00. I tucked them in, went downstairs, almost passed out from my own stench (remember, I was figuratively running around an arcade, then literally running around Carlsbad), and read my book. Marvelous.

Thanks, SDG&E, for a lovely evening

Remember when we lost power in Solana Beach? It happened again yesterday, only bigger. Like, all of San Diego County, and parts of Mexico and Arizona. It was huge. And it lasted for 6 hours or so. I was at work when the blackout happened, and it was actually kind of funny and fun. We had to put patients in the storage room because the real patient rooms were too dark and it was the only room with enough light.

I drove home and the stoplights were out. The roads were pretty chaotic. I got home, read my book, and waited for Conrad. He got home and we barbequed some chicken, lit some candles, played Monopoly (a game which we didn't finish because it was taking too long) listened to our little wind up radio, and went to bed at 10:30 or so. The lights went back on five minutes after we got in bed.

And honestly, I'm glad we had an evening without TV or cars or noise. Even lights. Our candlelit house was so romantic. We did dishes by candlelight, even showered! I guess it's really nice to have a gas powered water heater - you still get hot water.

The whole night made me realize a few things:

• It is bleeping hot without AC.
• I am so glad we have a barbeque. What a good appliance when electricity is out! Ours even has a litte stove feature. I can cook stuff in pots if I need to. I also realized we should have at least one spare propane tank. 
• I love our little wind up flashlight/radio. Another good thing to have as far as emergency prep.

• If the whole world ever lost power in an apocalyptic state, the Amish and the Africans are the only people who would be virtually unaffected. Everyone was totally stupefied by the outage. I'd hate to think what would happen if it had lasted more than just a few hours.
• So many people have it harder than us. I'm really grateful for everything we have. 

Sitting on the couch with my love, listening to music

Our taste in music is one of the things that brought us together. Here's what we're currently listening to:

Radiohead - Reckoner
Regina Spektor - Apres moi
Of Montreal - Enemy Gene
The Long Blondes - Once and Never Again
The Kooks - Seaside
The Strokes - Heart in a Cage
Barenaked Ladies - Shopping

Go listen.

Texas Sheet Cake

I really love desserts and baking (as I'm sure I've made clear by now), so when I find an easy one, I get irrationally excited.

I found this chocolate sheet cake recipe, and read the comments (as I always do, to see if any modifications were made when people tried it). One comment said to replace the water in the recipe for coffee, and I thought it was an awesome idea. I ran to s'bucks and got some coffee with a shot of espresso (extra strong), and the cake turned out amazing. It's like a really rich mocha flavor. If you don't like coffee or don't use it, just follow the recipe as is. Also, I didn't sprinkle nuts on top. Didn't feel like it.