Only the Side Dish

"What's for dinner?" can cause a meriad of respondes ranging from rolling of eyes, sighing and grumbling. Single people are certainly not exempt from this situation. Lately I have noticed I get started on a dinner such as whole wheat pasta and tomato sauce but get stuck after that, or get so hungry that I don't want to make anything else that could make the meal a little more balanced. Then a roommate would step in and say she had veggies and create something really wonderful like chopped tomato, cucumbers and basalmic vinagrette. Then she would make a steamed broccoli and cauliflower mix. She offered chicken which I cooked with a chicken seasoning I had. Before you knew it, we had a complete meal. Not only was it complete meal with the food assortment, but with the company. I was thinking how this applies to our lives. Individually, we are wonderful but definitely not enough to be a whole meal. Each of us combined make something whole: complete. We need each other's talents and abilities to enrich our own lives and increase our experience. Each of us has something to offer and "bring to the table" so to speak. How thankful I am for the side dishes and entrees in my life. I would be so boring and lopsided if I didn't have these influences.

Jewelry and Sewing Machines

This jewelry is by Lia Sophia. This jewelry is like a Mary Kay or Avon business where a person buys the jewelry then turns around and sells it to people out of their own home. The green necklace in the top left corner is my favorite on this page.

I think this set looks like something you would wear, Mom.

This necklace and earrings is "an Aimee style" as my roommate named it the other day. I can just imagine the outfits that this would go with. Cute isn't it?

Save the best for last. This beauty is called Cinnabar. It is absolutely my favorite piece Lia Sophia sells. I can see someone wearing this with a sleek black dress that has a slight boatneck style and falls right at the knee or shin. Wear that dress with a pair of red pumps and this necklace and a little red clutch purse. That would be a sure combination to stun anyone.

I'd like to introduce my little Magnolia to you. The mailman brought her to me a few days ago. She is a new style made by Janome. She is wonderful!! I love making black, white and red blocks with her. I only have 3 more rows to make with my quilt!! I am so excited!

Marathon of Memories

Ashley came to Salt Lake City to run the KJZZ Deseret Morning News Marathon. The name itself is a marathon to say! This top picture is right before Ashley got on the bus that took her to the beginning of the marathon on Big Mountain. We were trying to find Big Mountain, but they all looked big to us...

After dropping her off, I went and slept for another couple hours, then got up to meet her. I was standing at mile marker 26. She is next to Liz, who accidently found her as she was leaving the parade.

A happy and tired runner glad to see mile 26 completed. The sign says "You are running with angels. Mile 26". I have watched a few races growing up as Dad has raced, but I certainly didn't understand the significance. Runners of all shapes and sizes were in this marathon. Some were running for their loved ones, some were running to gain a victory for themselves. I gained a strong appreciation for those who are so dedicated to complete a marathon.

Ashley came around the last corner and could see the finish line. She started to sprint to the finish line. She told us later, that's when she felt all the blisters on the bottom of her feet burst.
What a sweet victory this finish line was to her. Ash crossed the finish line, and we all hugged. With tears in her eyes she said she finished!

Liz Ashley Aimee

This was a well earned Fat Boy!

Ash went straight over to the medical tent to get her feet bandaged. They did a mighty fine job! Her entire ball of her foot was one giant blister on both feet.

She called our parents and Donny to celebrate the good news!

Way to go Ashley! I am so proud of you! It was such a treat for me to come support you as you ran your first marathon. I know this was one of the hardest things you have done thus far, and it shows the measure of your character. You said you were going to accomplish something and you did...almost completely on your own I might add. I am so proud of you. I will definitely be waiting at mile 26 of your next marathon! :)

WORK HARD, PLAY HARD

Recipe for a good quilt:

stars

circles

skull and cross bones wearing red bandanas

bar codes

music notes

computer keyboards

chefs feet

cow print

swirls

girls riding scooters

girls shopping

manicans with dresses

irons

cats

flowers

trumpets

chinese characters on red fabric to taste

Mix any quantity evenly through the quilt. Savor each block.

Call Grandma Moe to get her opinion several times through the process. Let it stand for days on end sitting on the carpet. Come in during the day and rotate a block or two to please your eye. In the end, leave it just the way it is because it doesn't matter anyway. It will turn out crazy and beautiful with no handling. Drool over the handy work. Enjoy!

June 10, 2009 ::Salt Lake City::

You are now up to date, literally. I hope you enjoyed a little preview of my summer as much as I loved creating it! I can't wait for the next adventure!

July 5, 2009 ::Aurora::

I got up really early the next morning and drove to Aurora. I stopped at my house on the way down to pay for rent (which I wanted to argue because I hadn't been there all month... :) just kidding) My roommates were surprised to see me because I wasn't supposed to be there until the 9th. I was home for a minute and back on the road. I arrived just in time to listen to Jen teach her lesson in Mission Prep. The next few days I played with people down in Aurora. We watched movies, played volleyball, cleaned someone's house without them knowing, talked, and laughed. It was a wonderful trip. I got up the 8th and drove home. I stopped in Provo on the way back to visit a friend of mine who got married while I was out of town and gave her a wedding gift.

Now on to the next adventure...recovering from the adventures!!
Actually, when I got home, my roommates asked where I was going next and when I was leaving. There is no set plan, but if anyone has any great ideas for a quick trip, let me know! I'm all ears!!

July 4, 2009 ::Boise::

We went Angela's for the beginning of the 4th celebrations for a BBQ. It was great. I picked lots of raspberries from the raspberry patch. I went with Ashley and Donny to watch fireworks at Anne Morrison Park. We were RIGHT underneath the fireworks. It was incredible! I loved celebrating our independence with my family.

Now on to the next adventure...going to Aurora to visit Jeni.

June 30, 2009 ::Hayden::

I came to visit Grandma and Papa. It was so good to be here. It has been over 5 years since I had been to Grandma and Papa's house. We looked at quilts, watched movies, ate strawberries and peas from the garden, looked at quilts, ate chinese food, cuddled with quilts, talked about family, and talked about quilts. It was so great! The highlight of the trip, besides just being able to spend time with my grandparents, was going parasailing! I don't have the picture to post yet, but I'll post it soon. It was so fun to be there.

Now on to the next adventure...back to Boise for the fireworks!

June 26, 2009 ::Boise::

It was sure fun to visit my family in Boise. Dad extended his trip an extra day so I could see him. It was good to all be together. Ang, Ash and I figured it had been over two years since we were all able to be together except for wedding, and Christmas. We stood in the kitchen talking about finger nail polish colors. We all stopped and looked at each other and said we had never done that before. By the way-Ang, thanks for the plum colored nail polish! I love it!

Yummy cheesecake!!

Now on to the next adventure...driving to Hayden to visit Grandma and Papa!

June 15, 2009 ::Virginia::

I got home from Zion's the 14th late at night. I unpacked from Zions and packed for Virginia. I flew into NC and enjoyed every minute since arriving! Highlights: I visited Keith and Debbie Horne. They had fun toys to play with!! I especially loved riding the bike!

I hiked the Cascades with the Frazier family.
I was able to visit the Passic family. Bishop Passic was bishop when I was serving in VA.
Right before I went, they announced a branch was being opened in Floyd VA. This was such beautiful news to hear! This is the building they will be meeting in. Currently they are meeting in a the home of the branch president. They should be able to move in by September.
Riding in the convertable with Keith.

I can't believe all the fun I have had here. It is now on to the next adventure! I arrived in SLC around midnight. I unpacked and repacked then went to bed. I got up the next morning and drove to Boise to see my family!

June 12, 2009 :: Zion National Park ::

Angel's Landing is the hardest hike at Zion National Park. It is a total of 2.5 miles up to the top. Seems simple, but there is an increase of 1500 feet in that 2.5 miles. The last half mile is nothing but rock and sheer drop offs on either side. Chains have been put in place to help you climb up the mountain. I love it!!

I drove down to Aurora to meet up with Jen and a few friends from her ward to go hike Angel's Landing in Zion National Park. These pictures are a little out of order. This was taken from the top. We listened to music while we ate our sandwiches before climbing back down.
This was part of our group.
A little furry friend we found on our way up the mountain. I'm not sure if he was awake for his photo shoot or not!
See where the trees are on top of that mountain? That's where we were heading. It was pretty intense. If it was safe to take pictures of the chains I had to hang on to get up the mountain, I would, but it wasn't. :)
The sign at the base of the scariest part of the hike. Can you tell Jen was nervous?
We sat down part way through the incline. She hung on for dear life!
We made it!!

Now on to the next adventure... fly to Virginia!

June 11, 2009 :: Lagoon ::

I have had an amazing summer! It all started when a friend of mine, Sarah, went to Lagoon with me. We were supposed to have a big group going, but weathermen predicted rain. Rain it did. Did that stop us? Not one bit!

It turns out the weather men were right. Go figure. Some of the rides closed down during the short shower burst, but the really fun ones were still open.


This is a video of the Rocket Ride. It shoots you straight into the air extremely fast. The other Rocket ride free drops hundreds of feet. I wasn't much of a fan of that one, but I did like the other one.

Today was great! I felt like a kid again. Now on to the next adventure!