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

I love this quote!

I just read this awesome quote by Sister Marjorie Peay Hinckley.  I loved it and wanted to share…

“I don’t want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk’s lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor’s children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone’s garden. I want to be there with children’s sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.”

“Eyes hurt…Eyes hurt!”

My adorable niece, Brylie, is one of my most favorite people.  I have said that many times before but it is definitely true.  She has the capability to bring complete sunshine in my life.  I love her hugs and kisses—which I get lots of them…all of the time.  She is my hero.  She has suffered with so many things in her 3 1/2 years of life but she continues to be one of the most happiest people that I know.  I love spending at much time possible with her. 

Tonight, Jess and I were making dinner at Mom & Dad’s house.  Jess, Brylie and I were at the island preparing dinner.  I was chopping onions.  The onions that I was chopping was so potent…tears were running down my face.  Tears were running down Jess’s face.  It was crazy.  I don’t think that I have ever had to chop an onion that was so strong.  UGH!!   Anyway, we were laughing because we looked like we were crying.  All of a sudden we hear, “Eyes…hurt!  Eyes hurt!”  It was Brylie.  She had tears running down her face.  Oh, the poor thing.  I was so worried about my eyes and how they were hurting that I didn’t even think of how strong they were to Brylie’s.  We grabbed her a towel to wipe the tears off.  We tried to have her go in the other room with her dad but she would not have that.   She was there to help prepare dinner and she was not leaving.  Oh, she is such a trooper!!  Brylie…you are the best!!  I love you tons!!

~Michelle

Vieve to the rescue!

I have an amazing friend, Vieve. We are awesome friends and I know that we will do about anything for each other.  That is what true friends do…right?  I am glad that we have the type of friendship that we can laugh, cry, vent, and or scream at each other and neither one of does any judging.  I know that when I tell her something…it stays with her.  I think that we have come to each other’s rescue more than once-in fact, I think that it has been many many times.  I love spending time with Vieve.  She is awesome!!  Plus, we  always seem to have an adventure when we are together…no matter where we are or what we are doing…it is an adventure. 

Let me share with you this interesting adventure that we recently had.  Vieve and I go for a walk almost every day.  We walk from work to the bridge, touch the sign, turn around and walk back to work.  Since the day was beautiful and we had some extra time, we decided to go on what we specify as the “long” walk.  Our long walk takes us along the Provo River. 

As we were crossing the bridge, my badge falls through the railing into the Provo River.  How did it happened…I have no idea.  I was not touching it nor was I playing with it.  We watched as it floated a little ways down the river We kept screaming, “STOP”.  Hmmm….like the badge has ears. Ha Ha

Finally, it lodged up against a rock.  Might I add…this badge is very important.  It unlocks the door to get into my office building and it controls how many hours I work a day.  Yes, it is extremely important. 

Vieve, being the awesome friend that she is, ran to the edge of the river, rolled up her pant legs and waded to where my badge was sitting.

 

  Aw…Vieve to the rescue!  Thanks so much!!  You are awesome!

Michelle