June 3rd: Hands

My hands say a lot about me:

• I am not a high maintenance chick and I rarely, if ever, do nail polish.
• I usually have yard dirt I am cleaning from under my nails.
• I am related to my mother.  I always used to run my fingers along her veins when growing up, and now Aspen does it to me.
• I've had too much sun for my own good over the years.
• I bite my cuticles.
• I am a hard worker.

Day 18: A favorite recipe

Chicken Enchiladas:

Crock pot = EASY 

Easy is good...

I made this recipe up in a pinch, and it is one of our favorites.

4 chicken breasts (whole)

2 cans diced green chilis

Cook in crock pot on low for 6-8 hours.

Mash up chicken (it should pull apart easily at this point)

Stir in 1 cup cream cheese.

Add enough water to get mixture to a mush consistency.

Fill tortilla shells with mixture.

Roll and place in sprayed 9x13 baking dish.

Top with cheese.

Cover with foil and bake 325˚ for 20 minutes.

YUMMY!!

Easy!

Taken for Granted...

 "You don't know what you've got til it's gone"  Joni Mitchell.

This week I have become keenly aware of certain things that I am blessed with.

Things that I have a new appreciation for, since having to exist without them.

talking (always helpful with a 3 year old or with 250 twelve year olds)

teaching (this is where talking is always helpful)

running (yes, even at 5am)

sleeping (coughing does not help)

hot water (shower, dishwasher, laundry)

nice weather (3 days with it makes putting up with 4 inches of snow hard to do)

a drive-able car (mine is not because of a 6 car pile-up on the freeway)

safety (we are all ok... our car is not)

just a nice normal, regular day as a healthy person

Day 17: Favorite band or artist

Being a lover of music, I have lots of favorites. 
To pick my favorites I figured out which ones have music I love, and which I would definitely have on my MUST SEE concerts, when they make it even close to SLC.

In no particular order:
Blue October (seen them 1 time)

 Kenny Chesney (seen in Vegas once)

Train (seen 3 times as train, 1 time as a solo artist)

Pink

Live (seen twice)

Day 16 — A favorite food

Pick?

Just one?

Not possible.

I'm not a big sweet lover, but these two things offer me more temptation that I can often bear.

Apple pie caramel apple from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory &

Cream cheese brownies from Walmart.

Day 15: A photo of my family

I year or two old... but I love this picture

Day 14: An old photo

I have been scanning old pictures this past week, so this was an easy one for me.  Funny (and sad) how fast time goes.  Hard to believe that my teenage-independent-"moving on to adult-hood" children once were the cuddly toddlers in my pictures.  

Day 13: Something I want to buy

I have put this post off for awhile, trying to think of something I would want to buy.  I couldn't think of anything.  How spoiled does that mean I am?  Pretty spoiled.

So... I'm changing it to "something I wish I could find".

3 individual earrings that are irreplaceable that I can't find the mates to.
My old Depeche Mode t-shirt.
A Snow College football sweatshirt.
A handmade sweater that went missing during college.
A Lionel Richie piano book.
$20
An old journal from high school.

Day 12: Something I bought recently

My dog has recently taken to chewing things.  His most recent destruction was my favorite, most comfortable pair of shoes.  They were a pair of Terrasoles.  These every day shoes are seriously more comfortable than house slippers.  Unfortunately for me, however, my size, style and ANY color of my dead shoes were no longer being made so I had to make another selection (but they are still Terrasoles).  Still just as comfortable, and these even match more outfits.

Another purchase was this fun little book.  Can't wait to try some of the cool little jewelry pieces in this.

Day 11: Photo of me recently

I am usually the person behind the camera, so pictures of me are few and far between. 

Gotta love cell phones.

One... and done.

Day 10: Picture of myself from more than 10 years ago

40 years ago

16 years ago

10 years ago

Day 9: Pet Peeves

Pet peeves...

Not many.

1. The word: ANYWAY... it does NOT have an "S" on the end.
2. People who are late (or do not show up at all)... or don't call and let you know they are running late.
3. People who drag out meetings with pointless questions (that have already been answered the previous 15 times they asked them)
4. Not knowing how to say THANK YOU
5. Slow drivers... and crazy fast drivers.

Day 8: Something I crave

 

If we are talking food... then it would have to be these little morsels of orange goodness.  Not sure what it is about these things that makes them so delicious.  I really try to not eat an entire box... even have to hide it from myself sometimes (out of sight-out of mind SOMETIMES does work).  I tried the lower-fat kind.  Yeah... not the same.

As far as something other than food... I just crave SPRING.

The smell of OUTSIDE, playing with Aspen at the park, going outside (without a coat), taking dogs for a walk, using my super-duper yard blower, and working in the garden.

Oh... not to mention, running in 60+ weather.

Day 7: Favorite Photo

 

 I have always LOVED this photo.  

Partially because I took it, 

but mostly because it just sums up  

ASPEN.

My animal chasing-

table climbing-

outside lovin'-

full of attitude-

easy-going-

mischievous- 

happy-go-lucky girl.

Day 6: A fun fact about me

I once entered a pageant once (twice, actually)... and actually won (once).

Shocker, I know.

I had entered with a friend who had suggested that I play the accordion (yes, I once knew how to play the accordion) and she would blow bubbles as our combined talent.  Our version of Lawrence Welk.
Thank heavens the pageant I did win did not have a swimsuit competition, otherwise that might have changed the outcome of the entire thing.
The best part was being able to go to the Jr. Miss pageant on the state level... that and the nice little scholarship from Utah State.

Day 5: A favorite Quote

One of my favorite quotes comes from John Greenleaf Whittier.

For of all sad words of tongue or pen,

The saddest are these: "It might have been"

I watched a video many years ago of my wedding reception.  People came through my line, and I hugged and loved on many friends and family.  My grandpa came through, and unbeknown to me at the time, I shook his hand and turned away from him looking for the next person in line. 

I cried watching this clip.

My Grandpa was not a hugely affectionate person. He had a stern personality, but I never wanted to lose him without his not knowing how much I truly loved him. 

I made it up to him before died.

I visited more often.

I hugged and kissed him each time I saw him after that. 

But what if I hadn't seen that video?

At one point in my life I had 3 young children, ages 6, 3 and a newborn.  Life had boiled down to a series of tasks.  Laundry, dishes (with no dishwasher), vacuum, baths, diapers, mow, dishes (again), garden, dinner, etc.  

I just wanted an hour to myself to sew or whatever. 

I wished they would be old enough to entertain themselves for an hour.

Well... I wished, and my wish came true.

They were toddlers no more.

Fast forward 14 years.

I have a 3 year old, and I see remnants of the toddlers that I once took for granted. 

Every day that passes I breathe her in.  

I smell her hair. 

We cuddle.

I tickle her face.

We read books. 

I hold her in the shower.

We sit on the heater and watch movies.

Sometimes my laundry gets to wait while I love on her.

Dinner sometimes gets to be made from a box so we can play blocks.

I do my best to make up those moments with my kids... but its a bit more difficult with a bunch of teenage boys. But we cook, play games, and spend time together that would have gone unnoticed had I not had a 3 year old to remind me what I took for granted.

I mourn the days that I lost with my little ones because I was too caught up in "being productive".

I won't let "what might have been" haunt me.

I've been trying to intervene.  

To find things that I might regret someday and make a difference now.

I'm sure there are things I'm not aware of... I'll tackle those as they come.

Day 4: Favorite Book

Yeah... I was prepared to be consistent with my 30 day blog posts, but the power went out last night.
So today... Day 4 and Day 5.

Favorite Book:
To be honest... I don't have tons of time to just sit and veg with a book.  I'm lucky if I get in this months Runner's World before the next one arrives at my house.  I still love books, I just, well... cheat a little.
My cheating = BOOKS ON CD!
It's amazing how much I get done (or how many miles you cover) when listening to something as captivating as a good book.
So... that being said...

Picking out a favorite book is like picking out a favorite actor, or a favorite candy.
Is that really POSSIBLE??
I have books that stand out.
I have authors that I love.
But a favorite??

My first author I fell in love with: Victoria Holt.
My mom got me started on her books, and I have been a fan ever since.
I've read pretty much anything she has written (under her pen-name of Victoria Holt, anyway)
Favorite V.H. book:
On the night of the seventh moon.

Other stand out books/authors:
Kite Runner
1,000 Splendid Suns

Anything Dean Koontz (with the exception of a few strange ones).
J.A. Jance.
and my most recent read? (which I loved, by the way)

Day 3: Favorite TV show

Favorite TV show
How do I pick just one? 
The past 2 years, Hayden and I have never missed an episode of FRINGE. 
Great actors... well, amazing actors. 
Not sure how to describe this show:
A mix of science fiction, parallel universes, and mystery and suspense.  Definitely a show I would recommend.

Others I also love:
I've watched all the seasons of Grey's Anatomy, and love them.
Law & Order (any/all).  Been an avid watcher for almost a decade.  Never gets old.

Day 2: Favorite Movie

Day 2: favorite movie

This is a close one for me... Between Princess Bride and Man From Snowy River.
Princess Bride is a fun movie that I can quote almost word for word.
Fun actors.
Great story.

Man From Snowy River, however, is a movie that is just ME.
It has :
Horses. 
Interesting family dynamics.
An underdog hero.
Music I can play on the piano.
Australia.
A bit of attitude, with a great ending line.
"He's not a lad, brother.  He's a man.  Man from Snowy River"