It’s caramel apple makin’ time!

Tonight was awesome!! Gabby and I decided to have the most amazing adventure ever. Ok, not really…I am sure that there have been greater adventures in the past  and will be more incredible adventures in the future but…for tonight, it was an amazing adventure. We decided to make caramel apples. Remember the last time I made caramel apples…it turned out horribly looking but tasted simply divine. I have wanted to try again but was kinda nervous of how they would turn out. Gabby took a class a few months ago on caramel apple making and I took a class two years ago…so with the knowledge that she had and the lack of knowledge that I had, we decided to attempt. 

While the caramel was melting, we chopped up Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, crushed Oreos and Butterfingers, created a cinnamon sugar mixture and melted the chocolate.  Now,  it was time to cover the apples with delicious caramel.  Gabby was awesome at sharing her step by step knowledge on how to create the most delicious looking caramel apples.  Then, we dipped them into chocolate and covered them with delicious goodness.  

Caramel apples covered in chocolate & Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups!

Delicious looking ones with coconut, Oreo's & Butterfingers! 

Now it is time to package them all up!

Now…they are patiently waiting to be delivered!!

IAw…what a great adventure.  I had so much fun playing with Gabby!  Making caramel apples wasn’t as stressful as I thought it was going to be!  It was so much fun.  If I say so myself, I think that these delicious caramel apples are amazing masterpieces.  I think that we should go into the caramel apple making business.  Just kidding! 

Have a delicious day!

~Michelle

 

I think it is a gift!

I haven’t been to church in awhile.  Let me rephrase that,  I haven’t been to my ward in awhile.  My calling keeps me visiting other wards and it has been a lot of fun, but  there is something when it comes to attending your own ward.  I am not sure how to describe it…maybe a sense of belonging somewhere.  Almost every ward that I have visited in the past few months have been extremely welcoming.  But there is something about the ward that you belong to…some type of security. 

Well, yesterday, I was able to attend my ward and that is where the adventure begins.  I was seated in the front row of the back part of the chapel.  Did that make sense?  To the left of me was my roommate and to the right of me was our little greeter old-ish type of guy standing in the doorway.  He is always welcoming when you enter the chapel.  You know those old-ish type of people that are always kind and sweet.  Anyway, the organist finished the prelude music and a member of our bishopric began the meeting.  He was making the announcements of who was going to say the opening prayer and such things as that.  All of sudden, out of the corner of my eye, I could see the greeter raise his hand.  Ok…I thought that it was a bit strange that he was raising his hand…I turned to look at him.   He wasn’t raising his hand.  He was staggering.  I jumped up and  grabbed him as all of the programs went flying across the floor.  I looked at the color of his face and there was no color.  He was going down.  I gently with all of my might guided him downward.  Ok…this guy is tall and when it is dead weight…he was heavy.  One of the guys in the congregation jumped up and grabbed him on the other side. 

OK…this is all happening while the announcements are being made.  Then, all of a sudden, I hear…”We will now pause.”  I am thinking…why are we pausing.  But, then I realized that they were stopping the meeting for a moment and that the “pause” was not for us.  The pause was for the Bishop to come down to the episode that is going on.

We got him down to his knees and by this time a few other guys were there to help lift him back up on the bench.  A nurse from our ward runs up and starts accessing the situation and then, they move him out into the hallway.  We close the doors.  The ambulance comes and they take him to the hospital. 

Back to the pulpit, the meeting begins.  My roommate is freaking out and I am just as calm as can be.

Now that I reflect back on what happened…I never did feel a sense of panic.  I was fine through the whole situation.  I think it is odd that everything felt like it was in slow motion but I remained calm throughout the whole adventure.  I realized that it is a gift  from our Heavenly Father that I can remain calm throughout a scary situation.  Is it a gift?  I think so.  Of course, it isn’t one that comes in colorful packages but one that is built from within.

I think back at scary moments in my life and I HAVE remained calm.  The after moment is when I start to panic but during the whole ordeal…I am fine.  I am grateful for this gift.    I am truly grateful for it.

~Michelle

What is REALLY important?

I love the holiday season and it is FINALLY here.  I have so much to do because I have not even begun.  As I was jotting a list of things that I need to accomplish to get ready for this season, I received an email from Shauna Belt Edwards.

I put down my list of things to do, snuggled up in my chair and watched the video that she sent.  The true meaning of Christmas doesn’t have any thing to do with the many things on my to do list.  So…for right now, I want to share with you something that touched my heart…

I am grateful to be reminded of what REALLY is important!

~Michelle

It is all about the paper!

I am pretty particular about certain things during the holidays.  Of course, this is not of any importance to anyone else but it is important to me.  I have to have my decorations hung a certain way and my tree has to be decorated how I want it decorated.  I would say that these things are my mother’s fault.  My mom goes all out when it comes to the holidays but she decorates how she want to decorate.  She cannot have anyone’s help because she ends up redoing it or adjusting it to her liking.  I am just like her…I do the same thing.  I either redo it or adjust it a tad bit…for my liking. 

There is one thing that we differ during the holidays.  Mom wraps her presents in all different kinds of wrapping paper.  The tree is usually surrounded by multiple bright colored packages.  Like I said before…we differ on this.  My presents have to be ALL wrapped in the same color and tied with the same color of ribbon.  The presents that surround my tree are all of the same color and tied with the same type of big beautiful bow. 

Anyway, I found the perfect wrapping paper for this year’s Christmas gifts.  I am excited to start wrapping presents to put under the tree.  Hmmm…the problem is…I haven’t started thinking about  my Christmas presents therefore there isn’t any presents to be wrapped. But, at least I know when I finally start my Christmas shopping, I have the PERFECT paper to wrap my gifts in.

~Michelle

Favorite things Friday…my fireplace!

One of my most favorite things is

my fireplace!

One of my most favorite things is my fireplace.  I have struggled with sleeping lately.  This is not news to those who know me very well. I will go through cycles with my sleeping patterns.  Sometimes I fall asleep before midnight and sleep until morning. Aw…those are the sweet nights!  Other times, I fall asleep around one or two and then, find myself awake before my alarm goes of.  This is normal sleeping patterns for me.  But lately, I am not a fan of my sleeping pattern.  I fall asleep shortly before midnight and wake up around 2:30 am.  I try to go back to sleep but apparently by brain and body do not feel the need. 

After trying to fall back asleep, I decide to get up, grab my quilt and head downstairs.  I turn on the fireplace and cuddle up beside it.  Finally, what seems like forever…I drift off to sleep for about an hour or so.  I am grateful for my fireplace that keeps me company in the wee hours of the morning.  We have bonded so well! HA

~Michelle

 

I probably will pass on the Banana Cream Pie!!

This morning, I arrived early at Mom’s to help her with the pre-Thanksgiving dinner cooking.  She left the easy things for me to finish up. HA HA  She knows me so well.  After I made two delicious chocolate pies, I started to make the Banana Cream Pie.  I had finished the first one and it looked so scrumptious.  I was trying to remember when the last time I had tasted a Banana Cream Pie.  It must have been forever ago because I could not remember. The pie looked so inviting and so tempting.  I wanted to taste it but knew that I shouldn’t. 

Guess what? I decided to have just a small taste.  Knowing that I am allergic to bananas, I knew it wouldn’t be that bad…right?  Ok…I must have left my brain at home because it was not a very smart thing to do.   All of a sudden my lips started to tingle.  Then, they went  completely numb. Hmm…bad idea. I kinda had this panic feeling because I was not sure what was going to happen next.  Thank goodness, my lips only stayed completely numb for a few hours. I really have a lot to be grateful for...I really do.  I don’t think that I will ever eat a banana again.  No, it was not worth it.

Happy Thanksgiving!!  I hope your day was filled with fun, family and laughter!

~Michelle

**Several hours later…they are still tingley and the numbness is finally going away. YAHOO!!

promptings

Have you ever had a prompting to call someone but you have no idea why?  Have you ever had a prompting to drop by someone’s home but you have no idea why?  What about sending a note in the mail?  Have you ever had a prompting to do something…anything but you are unsure the reasoning behind it? When you act upon it, you feel kinda…weird or embarrassed.  You are not sure what the other person is thinking…so, you try to muster up some sort of reason why you did what you did.  Instead trying to figure out why, we should just share that you had a prompting to do what you are doing. 

Well, let me share with you a story.  I won’t go into much detail.  This past week was a crazy one for me.  I had so much going on and let’s just say there was a lot of emotions.  I will admit that I was struggling.  I won’t share details…wouldn’t want to bore you or think that I was seeking after sympathy.  Anyway, I was sitting at my desk…just sitting.  Thoughts and more thoughts were going through my head.  I was trying to figure out some things but was unsure of how (or IF)  I wanted to figure them out when my cell phone rang. 

The person on the other end of the phone was responding to a prompting that he/she just experienced.  No, he/she did not solve all my problems…not even close.  Did I share my thoughts with that person? No, I did not.  Basically, I just listened and listened.  One thing that I did recognize was that I needed a friend that cared to know how I was doing.  Could it have been anyone?  Of course, it could have.  I have lots of friends and loving parents.  The point is…he/she received a prompting and then acted upon it. 

How many times in our daily lives do we get a prompting to call, to visit, to write a letter or note to someone and we choose not to?  Why?  I know that there has been many times where I have felt to embarrassed to act.  Well, that night, I decided that I am going to do better.  When I receive a prompting to do something, I will try my hardest to act upon it.  It meant a lot to me when someone acted on a prompting in my behalf. Maybe we cannot solve their problems, maybe we can’t rescue them from their life, or maybe we physically can not do anything for them…but if we act on a prompting, we might be able to make this world a much better place.  What do you think?  I know that I am going to try and be better when receiving promptings. 

~Michelle

I think a lot!

Ok…I think a lot.  I think all day long.  I think about things in my life.  I think about people.  I think about places.  I think about my past, present and future.  I think about yesterday, the day before yesterday, and the day before that.  I think about tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and the day after that.  I think about things that I should have handled differently.  I think of how to correct the past.  I think about good memories.  I think a lot.  I had a friend once that would always ask me what I was thinking.  I found that strange…but secretly loved it because I felt that she really wanted to know. 

Anyway, I was thinking about my blog from yesterday.  You know, the one about hugs.  I do love hugs.  I really do.  I just feel awkward about giving them.  See, on Sunday, I gave a hug to a dear friend of mine.  She means a lot to me and has been there to listen when I have just needed to talk.  When I hugged her, she got all teary eyed.  Why? Because I am extremely incredible (ok…I am being sarcastic).  I am not sure why she was teary-eyed.  See it is that hug thing again?  It is just so awkward for me. I worry about what others think.

Then, I remembered a hug that I gave awhile ago.  Sit back…let me share a story with you.   I was curled up on my couch when the doorbell rang.  My roommate went and answered the door.  It was for me.  It was a friend that I had not seen in a long time.  I was so excited to see her.  I jumped up, ran (Ok…walked) to her, gave her a hug and just started talking.  I was SO excited to see her.  Let me say that again…I was SO excited to see her.  She handed me some cookies and told me that she could not stay.  She said that she had to get going and could only stop briefly.   I will stop the story there because the next 28 seconds doesn’t pertain to the hug story.  See…I was just as excited to see her as the girl that I ran into yesterday was excited to see me.  Perhaps, I might have been a little more excited than I would admit.  I think about how I just jumped up and gave her a hug.  That is definitely not normal for me.  I wouldn’t want to bring any awkwardness on anyone.  Why do I second guess myself when it is a true emotion?  I was excited to see her…very excited to see her…that is why I hugged her and started talking a zillion miles an hour.  If I wanted to give her a hug…I should.  Right?  Hmm…see, this is why I shy away from hugs.  I just feel so awkward going outside my comfort zone!!  GAH!!!  I wish I was different when it comes to these types of moments in my life.

The things that I contemplate in this brain of mine!!  GAH!!!

~Michelle!

Do you freely give hugs?

Tonight, Vieve and I  ran to Macey’s grocery store to pick up a few items.     There were people every where inside the store…probably due to the pre-Thanksgiving shopping.  As we were walking down the isle closest to the cashiers, I hear, “Sister Gren!  I love you!”  This young woman from my Stake runs up to me and gives me the hugest hug.  Of course, I gave her a hug back and just laughed.  See…I am not the type of person that would scream someone’s name, run up to them and give them a huge hug.  I wish that I was more like that but I am not. I am just not the “huggie” type.  In fact, I try to stay away from hugs.  I just feel that they are awkward.  Plus, why would someone want a hug from me?  crazy, I know, huh?

Also, I guess that I worry what others might think if I just screamed their name, ran up to them and gave them a hug.  It shouldn’t matter, should it?!  No, it shouldn’t.  Just like when this young woman screamed my name, ran to me and gave me a hug…it gave me warm fuzzies and yes, I loved it.  It didn’t matter how many people heard or seen the exchange, she wanted me to know how important I was to her.  Of course, I am sure that my face was 48 shades of red. 

Let me share a secret…I love it when people that I know say “HI” to me.  It makes me feel loved.  On the other hand, it makes me extremely sad when people I know completely ignore me when they see me.  GAH!!  I wish I was more open with screaming someone’s name, running up to them and giving them the biggest hug ever!  AW…but I am not!  I try…I really do but I guess I am not that great at sharing those types of emotions.

Thanks for listening to me ramble on about hugs.  I hope that you don’t think that I am too crazy.  If you have gotten a hug from me, you are probably pretty special. 

Hey, go out and hug someone for me. I am sure that they would love it.

~Michelle

I love quotes!!

My friend, Vieve, knows how much I LOVE quotes so when she finds one that she thinks that I would like:, she shares it on to me.   Anyway, she sent me the following quote and I love it!!!  So…I decided to share it with you! 

Happiness is not a matter of events; it depends upon the tides of the mind.

~Alice Meynell

I hope that you have a happy day!

~Michelle

Walmart….on a Saturday night…not my kind of fun!

I really dislike going to Walmart on a Saturday night and tonight was no exception.  The lines are forever long, children are screaming because they are tired, their parents are cranky and the cashiers are tired of dealing with all of the customers. 

I had only 5 items in my hand when I located a short line.  Plus the couple in front of me only had approximately 30 items or so.  BONUS!!  I knew that I was going to make it in and out of Walmart in less than 20 minutes.  This was going to be sweet.    Things were going great until the last 15 or so items when the lady customer made a comment to the cashier, “The last 15 items…I have a price match on each one of them.”  Are you serious?  Ok…I kept thinking, this won’t take very long.  BUT…the cashier was having problems with the whole “price-matched” procedure and kept typing in the wrong price.  She would get out her calculator, figure out what the price difference would be, type that number in and put away her calculator.  This didn’t happen on just one item, it happened on every single item.  I almost asked if she would just leave the calculator out and quit putting it back in the drawer because she was going to have to use it on the next item. UGH!!  After what seemed forever, I thought that the lady customer was finished.  WHEW!!  OH, BUT WAIT!!  She forgot to give the cashier her coupons.  SERIOUSLY!!! 

Trying to be nice and friendly, I kept smiling…at least I was trying.  Finally, everything was done and it was my turn.  I asked the lady customer, how much money did she save clipping coupons and figuring out the price matches…she didn’t know, she just does it for the fun of it.  ARE YOU SERIOUS?! 

Maybe…I should be grateful that we have a Walmart to go and spend a zillion hours at just to purchase 5 items. 

Hope your day was an ADVENTURE!

~Michelle

Fabulous things Friday…things made with pumpkin!

One of my most favorite things are...

things made with pumpkin!

I love things that are made with pumpkin.  Pumpkin Pie.  Pumpkin Cookies.  Pumpkin muffins.  Pumpkin Cheesecake.  Pumpkin Bread.  Deliciousness!!  So, today I decided that I wanted to make something delicious.  I headed over to one of my favorite recipes sites and found a recipe that I wanted to try.  Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins.  Aw…could anything sound any better than that?!  Plus they were so easy!   EXTREMELY EASY.  And…they are so delicious!!  EXTREMELY DELICIOUS!  

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

2 spice cake mixes (Duncan Hines-is the best for this recipe)

1 30-oz can pumpkin

1 12-oz. bag of Milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Combine cake mixes and pumpkin.  Add in chocolate chips.

Spoon mixture into lined muffin tins.

These really don’t rise very much, so you can fill the tins pretty full. 

Keep in mind that how they look going into the oven is very much

what they will look like coming out of the oven. 

Bake for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of

one of the muffins comes out clean. 

They are DELICIOUS!!!

Have a SCRUMPTIOUS day!

~Michelle

what to do…

I have the day off of work tomorrow.  Rarely, do I ever take a day off.  Realizing that the year is drawing to a close, I decided to take a gander at how many hours of vacation I have yet to use.  UGH!!  I have A LOT!! It is crazy.  I think that I could probably take off most of the month of December. But, I do not see that happening. So, tomorrow is a vacation day.   I was pondering what my plans for tomorrow might entail and I came to a conclusion.  I really do not like days off from work.  I like to work.  I like to be busy.  I love to be needed. 

Anyway, I started a list of things that could possibly render the fact that I have many hours to accomplish a great deal of items.  The problem with that is that my list keeps growing and growing.  Will I get all those things accomplished?  Probably not.  The reason why…there isn’t anything really exciting and adventurous on the list.  Just things that I SHOULD get accomplished since I will have time on my hands. 

Maybe, I will wake up in the morning with some sort of adventurous plan.  Hmmm…maybe I will fill my gas tank up in my car and go on a mini vacation…the possibilities are endless.  I guess I will just have to wake up in the morning and see what happens?

What do you like to do on your days off?

Goodnight!  Hope your day was simply MARVELOUS!

~Michelle

My little buddy!

 

A little over a year ago, my adorable niece underwent surgery at Primary Children’s Hospital.  The picture of her above is taken shortly after surgery.  Don’t those brown eyes melt your heart? They do mine.  She had accomplished so much during the past year.  I am so proud of her.  She went from not talking to…well…let’s just say…she doesn’t stop.  Lately, my favorite thing to ask her is, “Bry…who is your best friend?”  She always responds, “Ma Hell!”  Aw…I love my little best friend!!!  She has brought so much sunshine into my life and to the those lives that surrounds her.  I love her so much.

 

Today, my thoughts and prayers are with her.  She is at Primary Children’s Hospital today under going tests.  For some reason, I am a little bit more anxious than normal.  I am a little bit nervous…more nervous.  This is little girl is so important to me.  I love her so much.  She has filled my heart with so much joy.  Brylie, I love you so much and you are continually in my prayers!!  I am so glad that I am your best friend. :-D

~Michelle

 

I am grateful for quotes!

Yesterday, my dear friend, Vieve, said to me…”Hey, I have a quote for you.”  She knows that I absolutely love quotes.  I am always looking for a great quote to write down or to share.  The quote that she shared with me has stuck in my brain for the past 24 hours.  I have found myself thinking about it more than any other quote.  It said, “I may not be the most important person in your LIFE…I just hope that when you hear my name you smile and say THAT’S MY FRIEND!” 

Like I said above, this quote has been on my mind.  I hope that when people hear my name…they can say that with a smile.  I worry about that a lot.

Have a tremendous day!

~Michelle

Chill out…sympathy…are you serious?

Have you ever opened up to someone about an opinion or about your feelings?  I mean really open up about something. You share with them things that you normally wouldn’t share with anyone.  So, while you are talking with them, you start to feel like they are understanding what you are expressing.  It is a great feeling inside.  You start to feel like this is the type of person that you can share such personal things with…then, the BOMB drops.  They tell you to either chill out about it or they tell you that you are just wanting sympathy.  Seriously?!  Chill out.  Sympathy.  Are you serious?  Did I just hear what I thought I heard?  This has happened to me several times.  To me, when I hear those types of expressions, I can just imagine fingernails scratching against a chalkboard.  I get these chills that creep me out. 

First of all, I am not the person that goes out and seeks sympathy.  If I share something that is personal with you…I really mean it.  These are my feelings.  This is how I think.  I am not out seeking sympathy.  If I wanted sympathy, I wouldn’t go about it sharing my inner most feelings nor would I go out parading my weaknesses around to everyone.  I just will not do that.  I never want anyone to feel sorry for me.  I do love for people to listen and offer advice, but feel sorry for me…it is not my way of thinking. 

Second of all, why would you ever tell someone to chill out?  If they have just shared with you their inner most feelings…what on earth gave you the power to tell them to chill out.  Are you perfect?  Do you make every single decision correctly?  I don’t think so.  I witnessed this today.  It really was like listening to fingernails being screeched across the chalkboard.  It is not right.  The feelings that people have are their feelings.  Their very own.  They are not your feelings.  You have no right to judge how they feel.  You have no right to tell them to chill out.  UGH!!! 

For some reason, these thoughts are on my mind tonight.  Why can’t we all be a little bit more sensitive to other people? When people are sharing their feelings with you, show some respect.  Hopefully, they will respect you, too!

Night!

~Michelle

It is Hallmark time!

Aw…I love this time of year.  Hallmark has already started playing their Christmas movies.  I love it!!  So, I am going to put on my pajamas, grab my favorite quilt and pillows, turn on the fireplace and watch until my heart is full of delight!!  Sorry…no serious blogging tonight!

Have a SNUGGLY SWEET night!

~Michelle

(amended) P.S.  It is now 5 AM…I think that I should go to sleep.  I have to be to work in a couple of hours. AW…I love Hallmark movies.

to eat or to drink?

Today I was thinking that if I had to choose between eating or drinking…I would choose drinking. I am not a fan of hot drinks but cold refreshing drinks…they are the best.  Everyday, I have to think of what I am going to make for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I am not a fan of thinking such things.  I think if I had to cook or bake for someone other than me, I am sure it would be a lot more fun. 

But…to decide what to drink.  I just want it all.  I love ice cold milk.  White. Chocolate.  It doesn’t matter.  I love milk.  I love juices.  Apple. Orange. Grape.  I just love juices…especially if they are ice cold.

I love diet coke.  Yes, I know that it is not the best for someone who suffers with a sad kidney but…I do love diet coke.  I love to have it with crushed ice and with a delicious lemon. Cold. Delicious.  Basically, I love anything that fizzes.  HMMM…deliciousness!  I love smoothies.  All types.  Cold refreshing smoothies.  I just do.  It is just the thing I love!!

So, if I had the choice to eat or to drink…I choose drinking.  Definitely!

Have a REFRESHING day!

~Michelle

…fabulous things Friday…cold cereal!

One of my most favorite things is...

cold cereal!

Yes, I love cold cereal!  To me…cold cereal is a comfort food.  I love cold cereal.  I can eat cold cereal anytime of the day.  I can eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I never get bored of it.  If I am not very hungry, cold cereal is the food that I grab.  If I want a little treat…cold cereal is the perfect little treat.  I love cold cereal!  I love having all types of cold cereal in my pantry.  The choices sometimes are endless.  It is awesome!!  So, yes, one of my most favorite things is cold cereal. 

Have a delicious bowl of cold cereal…I know that you will love it!!!

~Michelle

A peaceful indescribable day!

My sweet friend, Lauralie, attended the temple today for the very first time.  She has worked really hard for this very day and it finally arrived.   I am grateful that I had the opportunity to be apart of this awesome event.  It was amazing and peaceful.  I am so excited for her.  She truly is one of the greatest examples in my life.  I have been so blessed having her as one of my friends.     

While I was at the temple, I had one of the most amazing experiences.  It wasn’t this huge profound experience, it was simple and so perfect.  But, I can not explain it.  Have you every had an experience that you are unable to describe how you feel because it is…indescribable?  That is the type of experience that I had…an indescribable experience.  I cannot even express the amazing experience that I had.  Each time I think of what took place today, my heart feels up with the most  amazing gratitude for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I wish I could completely describe how I felt but…it is too indescribable.  I did not have any profound answers to the questions that I have.  I did not come away from this experience knowing that I can conquer the world.  I just had an amazing indescribable experience.  My heart is filled with so much peace.  I am so grateful for that peace. I am grateful for all that I have.  I am truly grateful for this very special day!!

Have an awesome day!  I did!

~Michelle

 

A gift of peace!

Have you ever received an email or a letter that you were not expecting at all and what is written is exactly what you needed to  read at that very moment in life?  Today, I did.  I received an email from a very dear friend.  It touched my heart in away that by the time I finished reading it…tears were running down my face.  Not because it was sad or mean…in fact, it was the complete opposite. It truly was a gift…a gift of peace.   I know that she was truly inspired to say the things that she said.  It was touching and tender.  There have been so many times in my life when this has happened.  I know that these letters and emails are a result of friends acting on promptings.  Thank you so much!  I am so grateful that I have the friends that I do.  They truly bless my life. 

I hope that you have a very special day!!

~Michelle 

…a little bit of sunshine

I have a box of things that I treasure…little notes, little pieces of paper, cards, letters…just things that when I look through my box of things brings me many warm fuzzies.  I love it.  It is a box when I am not feeling the greatest can usually let the sunshine in.  Tonight, I was wanting a little bit of sunshine.  I opened my box and started to read and ponder.  I came across this quote…

“A friendship can weather most things and thrive in thin soil; but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls and small, silly presents every so often - just to save it from drying out completely.”

I love this quote because I feel that it is so true.  Friendship can weather most things…but we need to do our part to keep if from ‘drying out completely.”

Have a sensational day!

~Michelle

magical shoes?

 

Last night when I finally retired for the evening, I wanted so badly to have a pleasant dream.  I had had a rough day and I was tired of all the things that were swimming in my head.  I gathered all my pillows and placed them perfectly on the bed, pulled the blankets over me and curled up with my favorite quilt…I was ready to sleep.  Sleep?  UM…sleep?  Hello, sleep..where are you? I kept thinking to myself, I would really love a pleasant dream.  I didn’t want to be woken up in the middle of the night in a panic or scared…I just wanted to have a pleasant dream.  Waiting patiently for sleep, I kept thinking of all the wonderful things to dream about…but all I wanted was to have a pleasant dream.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, I drifted off to sleep.  Dreamland finally came. I found myself at a friends home.  We were laughing and giggling over random things.  Eventually, it was time to leave.  I looked down at my feet and I had no shoes.  In my dream, I was trying to remember if I wore shoes to her house.  Hmm…I could not figure it out.  But, that was okay because my dear friend had gone shopping right before I arrived at her home and she had purchased several pairs of shoes.  Guess what?  They were the perfect fit.  As I grabbed a pair to put on…they turned into slippers.  Warm. Comfy. Slippers. 

But, it did not stop there, as I went outside, they turned into flip flops.  Bright. Orange. Flip Flops. Interesting?  Well, it did not stop there.  Apparently, I had magical shoes.  Each time I looked down at my feet, I had a different pair of shoes.  They kept changing depending on what I was doing. 

I have thought a lot about that dream and wonder what my brain was thinking.  Do you have any insight?  I don’t seem to at this moment of time. Oh well…my dream was pleasant…that is all I asked…maybe tonight I will be more specific!

Have a MAGICAL night!!

~Michelle

Curling up like a bear…sounds delightful!

Have you ever had one of those days that you would do anything to go into hibernation like a bear?

I did today.

Enough said! 

The thought of finding a quiet place and curling up for the winter with no worries in the world…sounds peaceful and pleasant!!

Have a PLEASANT day!

~Michelle

Aw…what a great day for a football game!

Aw…what a great day for a football game!  Diane invited me to go to BYU vs. UNLV football game today.  Thank you Diane!!  It was an awesome game!!  Not only was the weather perfect…so were the many touchdowns that the COUGS made.   The stadium was filled with fans wearing blue & white…showing their school spirit.  The fans were pumped up.  The players were ready to give it all they got.  It was awesome!! They worked hard and they conquered!  It was great!  Aw…it definitely was a great day for a football game!

Have a GREAT day!!

~Michelle

Are you unstoppable?

 

I love attending any type of sporting event.  Maybe it is a result that I grew up in a family of all boys and a mom that absolutely loves any type of sport. So, that is probably where I developed the love for any type of sport.  I admit, there are some that are a tad bit boring for me to watch but for the most part, I love them. 

One thing that I love about any sporting event is the adrenalin that is present amongst the players and the crowd.  Anyway, last night I attended a basketball game. Fort Lewis College versus Brigham Young University to be exact.  It was a great game but it was sad at the same time.  Usually, I would be screaming for joy that BYU pulled off the win but I am kinda partial to the team that they played.  See…it is more fun to watch a game when you know one of the players.  I happen to know one of the talented players (#4)  on the Fort Lewis team…so, I went against all I have been taught and rooted for a team other than BYU.  They all played great but BYU started out a little bit more aggressive than them and they could not catch up…no matter how hard they played.  They played great and they played hard!  It was a good game.

Like I said above, I love the adrenalin that is present.  I love it when the crowd gets into the game.  I love it when the screaming is so loud that the players are pumped up.  I love that feeling.  Well, last night, the crowd was pumped especially when #4 was on the court. It was great!!  When she made a basket, the crowd came alive…as if she just won the NBA play-offs or something.

Anyway, a great number of the crowd had played ball with #4 and they were all wearing shirts that stated that they had played with her.  It was awesome!  She, individually, had a great amount of support.  It was definitely present in the actions and what people wore to the game.  So, I was thinking…wouldn’t it be awesome if everyone gave that much support to everyone around them.  I really think that our lives would be much different.  If we had our own cheering section cheering us on to victory in everything that we did, we would feel that we were unstoppable.  I am sure that life would even be that much greater!   

Have a unstoppable day!!

~Michelle

**picture taken from Vieve’s iPhone**

Oh, how I love Minnie Mouse…but definitely not when I have to share her voice.

I woke up this morning as Minnie Mouse.  No, it isn’t by appearance but by sound.  When I get sick for some reason, the virus attacks my vocal cords.  As a result, my voice goes extremely high…kinda like what you would imagine Minnie Mouse sounding like.  This usually is not a problem, I usually limit my talking. But, for today…it is definitely not a good thing.  We have clients that have flown in from all parts of the country this week to participate in our annual conference at work.  So, talking to them and directing them to the appropriate places is not an easy thing when you sound like Minnie Mouse.  People usually start laughing…which I am glad that I can make people laugh…or they tell me that they are sorry that I am not feeling that great. No matter where I go or who I see, I get all sorts of comments about my so-called Minnie Mouse voice. 

Today as I was sitting at my desk, I started thinking about my voice.  I like my voice.  I really do.  Then, I started thinking about my Mom’s voice.  She has a nice voice too.  For some reason, my thoughts turned to my sweet grandma’s voice.  I have never heard her talk .  She became very sick when she was 18 months old and as a result, she became 100% deaf.  My sweet grandma didn’t talk like other grandmas did, she used her hands.  I have had a lot of thoughts that have focused on my grandma lately.  I wonder what her voice sounds like.  Is it similar to mine or is it similar to my mom’s? I cannot wait until I see my sweet grandma again.I know that I will be excited to hear her voice and of course, receive one of her tender hugs.  I love my grandma.  She is amazing!!  One thing that I am grateful for is that she gave me my mom!

Have a super-fantastic day!!  I know that I will because I am Minnie Mouse for the day!! 

~Michelle

Is it really that treacherous?

I love technology…that is probably why I enjoy my job so much.  I spend all day on the computer and never grow tired of it.  The phone rings and I have the capability to solve a problem within minutes because I have all the information right at my finger-tips.  I love that if I want to talk to someone, I just have to pick up the phone and dial.  I love that I can text someone and receive an answer back almost immediately (if they are in the mood to respond).  I love that you can send an email and receive a response much faster than that of a letter through the US Postal Service.  I love technology.  I love instant gratification.  I have grown a custom to it.  I would say that I am a pretty patient person…but could I be more patient? 

Well, this morning, I was at the post office waiting in line.  I was in a hurry and did not want to wait in line…I had places to go, people to see and things to do.  All I wanted to do is pick up the mail and go about my day.  As I was standing there, I was listening to this lady in front of me.  She was talking to the guy in front of her.  She had two screaming children and it looked as if they had just woken up. I am sure that her little ones were hungry or something to that affect.  She was commenting to this guy that she was so used to instant gratification that standing in lines are treacherous for her.  She kept saying that she thought that going to the post office would be easier than this.  I kept thinking to myself…Are you serious?  Is it really that treacherous?

All day long today, I have tried to be a more patient person…guess what?  It is so difficult.  I will keep trying.  I don’t want to ever get to the point that I think standing in lines are treacherous! Life would not be fun if it got that point.

Have an stupendous day!!!

~Michelle

Lost? Where are you sweet little plastic of mine?

  Have you ever lost something or misplaced something?  UGH!!  I strongly dislike that feeling.  I love to have everything organized and right where it is suppose to be.  So, when my debit card was not located in the slot inside my wallet where it usually hangs out…I started to get nervous.  REALLY NERVOUS! I kept telling myself that it is probably home on the entertainment center in my bedroom. 

Finally, I arrive home. I check the top of the entertainment center. It is not there.  I check my night stand, my bathroom counter, the inside of my car, I dump my purse out, I look through every slot and pocket in my wallet, I look through my laundry (maybe it is in one of my pockets)…no such luck.  Inside I am starting to panic. I can not find it anywhere.  I retrace my steps.  The last time I remember using it was a week ago at Subway.  I check with the clerk at Subway.  He checks the cash register and the safe.  No card. 

Now, I am really freaking out inside. I am trying to remain calm on the outside but inside I am freaking out.  I check my account balance.  Nothing has been purchased since that day.  YIKES!!  After looking everywhere and retracing every step that I took last week…I decided that maybe I should offer a prayer.  A simple prayer to ask for help.

After my simple prayer, I went to my closet and checked one of my sweatshirts.  No card. UGH!!  I was still feeling sick. Then, I noticed one of my sweatshirts that I had thought about wearing last week.  I do not remember even wearing it…that is why I think it was a thought.  I checked its pockets…there was my card!!  I love it when prayers are answered.  I love it!!!  Probably, should have started my search with a prayer.  Why do I always do things the most difficult way? 

Have a fantastic night!!

~Michelle

I am in a baking craze!!

I love to bake.  I love to try out new recipes.  I love to share recipes and ideas with others.   The only problem is that when I bake…I am usually the only one that gets to eat it.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner can get quite boring when you eat the same thing every meal, every single day of the week. So, I don’t find myself baking too often. 

Anyway, for the past couple of weeks, I have been in the baking craze.  I love it! I have had so much fun baking and baking and baking.

A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled upon an awesome recipe blog. While I was looking through all of their delicious recipes, I came upon a recipe for delicious popcorn.   It is called Cinnamon Caramel Corn with Pecan & White Chocolate. It looked heavenly and I knew that I had to experiment with it.

It is delicious.  Simply delicious!!!  The only thing that I changed on the recipe is that I added milk chocolate.  You can’t have enough chocolate…can you?

I ended up making 8 batches of this past week and handing it out at our Stake Auxiliary Training.    It is so easy. Let me just add one thing…it is addicting. Very addicting!!  But, oh, so delicious!!

Cinnamon Caramel Corn with Pecans & White Chocolate
Recipe by Our Best Bites

12 C popped popcorn (about 1/2 C kernels)
1 C pecan halves, roughly chopped
1 C brown sugar
3/4 t cinnamon
1/4 C karo syrup (or honey makes a good substitution)
1 stick real butter (1/2 C)
1t vanilla
1/2 t baking soda
3 squares almond bark (about 4 oz)
Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

Place popcorn and chopped pecans in a large bowl and set aside.

Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a 2 liter capacity microwave safe bowl.  Mix well.  Chop butter into chunks and place on top of sugar mixture.  Pour corn syrup over the top of everything.  Microwave on high for 30 seconds and then stir to combine.  Return to microwave and heat for 2 minutes.  Remove and stir and then microwave for 2 minutes more.

Remove from microwave and add in vanilla and baking soda.  Stir to combine.  Mixture will foam and rise.  Pour caramel mixture over popcorn and pecans and stir very well so everything is well coated. 
Spread popcorn mixture onto a foil-lined jelly roll pan.  Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and spread out on a large piece of parchment, waxed paper, or foil.
Melt almond bark according to package instructions.  Drizzle over popcorn mixture.  When almond bark is hardened and popcorn is cool, break into chunks and enjoy!

Hope you have a delightful night!

~Michelle