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