To pass the long hours...

I wish I had some great, exciting updates to share but let's be honest, my life is boring. And because I don't even have an exciting job, it makes things a bit more dull. So I thought I would share with you a few of the things that make my day a bit more exciting (maybe exciting is too much of an exaggeration...)
I know I have talked about this blog before, but I love it! My friend Mark is a fancy-smancy photographer living in NYC and I honestly just live vicariously through him! And you can even order his prints online right from his blog if you'd like (check it out!)
I know that most online games are silly, but I have found some joy playing Ellen's Word Roundup! Unfortunately, there is only one new game per day. Another great game that I have recently discovered is TBS's Cubicle Warfare. You get to pick your weapon--stapler, rubber band or paper clip. And then, you get to flick post-it notes, phones and your co-workers! ( I generally play this when I am frustrated with all the guys I work with! )
I'm also reading Stephenie Meyer's new book The Host. I'm not sure who I feel about it yet so I'll post you on that a little later...And occasionally I write blog articles for this guy, but I have kind of been a slacker lately! There you go--that's the excitement for my day. Hopefully SOMETHING remotely exciting will happen soon so I can blog about that!

The Biggest Loser-Cardio Max!

Let's just be honest here--ever since I graduated and started working all the time, I have been lazy. Because I don't walk to class or to my house or anything, I haven't been exercising like I should! And I sit down all day--8 hours a day. Just sitting here. Yeah. Last week I was chatting with my boss Mark who recently moved back to Utah and is working for himself. So he bought a push--no motor--lawn mower! I thought he was crazy but he said it is feels so good to just get out and do something physical. So where am I going with all of this? I needed something to do. But the treadmill/elliptical bore me and it's been so windy and cold outside to go jogging. So I started looking at Amazon.com for some videos. I'm not a big fan of work out videos actually either. I bought a Tae-Bo one a while ago and it is just not for me. (I know, I' m being picky here...) And I also hate how you get videos of people who weigh like 12 pounds each and don't sweat...Really? I've never watched The Biggest Loser but I've heard about it and it just seems so real. So I found this video on Amazon.com and thought I would give it a try. I figured for $8, you can't go wrong. And if I don't like it, I'll sell on the internet. Well, I LOVED it! It lets you customize your workout by picking a warm-up, and between the levels of cardio work outs and then a cool-down. And there are REAL people on the tape! Ben Harper really pumps you up and they are normal exercises. And I love how you can work at your own pace. It can get discouraging if you pop in a 60 minute video and can't complete it because you are out of shape (like has happened to me before..) But with this video, you can work up to the full tape. And you don't have to skip or fast forward to get to the cool down--it just does it for you! So sweet! Okay, I'll get off my plug for this video. But if you are looking for a customizable, do at home, great workout--check it out. There are other Biggest Loser DVD's too so look around!

Mis sobrinos

As I look through all of my friends blogs, they are full of pictures of their adorable children. I love to look at them all, but at the same time, I never have any fun stories to tell about my own children. So, I decided to post some of my favorite pictures of my three ADORABLE nephews! I love these little guys more than anything else! And how could I resist?! Seriously...
Marcus Alan--don't you just want to kiss him all over?!
Jackson will probably hate me someday for posting this picture but I couldn't resist! This was my last night in Lancaster with them and we had gone to Rita's (my favorite place in the whole wide world!) and Jackson DEVOURED his ice cream cone! Oh I love this guy!


Blake was like a little kid on Christmas morning playing with the balloons I got for graduation! I have never seen his smile so big! What a sweetheart!

More Oregon...

Before my trip I had to get a new camera because my old one died...So I got a Kodak Easy Share 10 MP V1003. I LOVE it! My pictures have turned out great and it is seriously so easy to use and switch from modes. But one of my favorite options is the Panaromic Mode--I became obsessed with it in Oregon (hence the pictures above!) These are from the coast and the river we went to. And don't worry, in the top one, Emily, Cali and I are all jumping in different spots! Amazing, isn't it? So, for your viewing pleasure--here are a few of my favorites!

Oregon and the Sea Mist

I had a great time in Oregon this weekend! It was kind of a random, spontaneous trip that I took with my old roommate Emily to Eugene, Oregon to see her family. While we were there for the weekend, we got to see a lot of fun stuff like the coast and some rivers. We drove all day Friday and got to Eugene about 2 am. So we snuck into Emily's house because this was all a surprise to her parents! Saturday morning we went into Eugene to the Saturday Market. It's like a big sidewalk sale of artists and veggies and who knows what else. I've never seen so many hippies in one spot! At one booth, there were some horns attached to a headband and I was about to say something about it when I noticed the girl sitting at the booth was sporting a pair. (She must have been a Mormon!) We also went out to one of Emily's favorite spots where there is a lovely covered bridge and a forest by the river. On Sunday after church, we loaded up a lunch and with the whole family to the beach! We went to Heceta where there is a really pretty lighthouse and area to picnic, and stick your toes in the water. It wasn't too cold but we sure didn't take our swimming suits! We had a really great trip and even the 12-hour drive wasn't TOO bad!

I know what you are all thinking--another cooking post! But I don't have kids to write about so this is about as good as it gets! When I was back east with Alan and Amber, Amber made me this yummy Eggplant Parmesan. It was sooo good that I decided to make it for my friends! So there you can see the ingredients--eggplant, pasta, bread crumbs, spaghetti sauce and Parmesan cheese. You take the eggplants and slice them up and dip them in beaten eggs adn bread crumbs and fry them up! And then layer in a pan with eggplant, spaghetti sauce and cheese and pop it in the oven! I thought it was pretty good!! We had to do too different types--with gluton and without but I think it was okay! And it makes you feel good because it is all good for you, right?!

New Hair!

Okay, so I wanted some change in my life and I decided that I needed to stop being a blond (okay, I just had some highlights for like 2 months...not really blond!) So I hopped on over to a beauty school that shall remain nameless (EVANS! It was EVANS!) and I thought I would give it a try. I told the girl I wanted a chocolate brown all-over color and "just a trim". I left with dark, almost black hair...well, what was left of my hair that is! It is definitely shorter then what I wanted and darker but I guess all in all, it's just hair and it will grow back, right?! I just wanted to look good for my trip this weekend to OREGON! Stay tuned for pictures...