Retail Therapy

Civilization is a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessaries. ~Mark Twain

I am so trying to become a better person and not rely on material things to bring me happiness, but sometimes they really just hit the spot. My favorites lately to help me beat the winter blues?

1. Creative Nail Mango and Coconut Lotion: Smells like the most amazing mix of beach and pina coladas it leaves me itching to jump on a plane to anywhere warm. I catch a whiff of it halfway through the day and brings a smile to my face.

2. Rob's Party Mix (Cloverfield iMix), Chris Walla (drummer for Death Cab for Cutie) and Yael Naim music downloads. So good---have actually enjoyed sitting in snowy traffic in my car listening to all this good music.

3. Harmon's Salad Bar: Seriously, can't find a better salad bar ANYWHERE. Fresh edamame, awesome spinach and the most perfect raspberries ever. Another thing that will make me walk through a snow covered parking lot for. Yum.

4. Marc Jacobs handbag: I am bidding on the most beautiful bag on Ebay right now I just can't even stand it. It is on a little virtual consignment shop and I may be the lucky winner this weekend.

5. The Appeal: John Grisham's latest. Oh, just so good. Can't get enough:)

What are you faves out there right now? Let me know:)

Fun Family Home Evening

I found out one of the great things about buying the front loading washer and dryer is that lots of people like to come over and use it for comforters and sleeping bags that won't fit inside their washers. My brother in law was heading to a campout over the weekend, and needed to get his sleeping bag washed and ready. We ended up making a night of it, and threw in dinner and family home evening. This was a really cute idea that Richard and Joey came up with. You string rope into a little course for the kids to hold on to, and try to tempt them off the course with treats. They need to see if they can hold on to the Iron Rod. At the end of the course, they were rewarded with an even bigger treat. Anyway, the kids thought it was great, and it was cute seeing them try to refuse the little treats. I asked Mack if it was hard to say no to the little treats (trying to lead into a discussion about saying no to the little things in life that seem so easy to say yes to), and he immediately said no. A little bit of pride swelled into me until he followed up that response by saying he doesn't really like Peanut M&M's too much so it was easy to say no:)

Happy Birthday Jay and Stacey!

Just wanted to throw a quick shout out to my brother and sister in law who are having birthdays today and February 3rd. Some of my favorite things about them:

1. Jay is the living version of Consumer Reports. No need to compare or research brands--he has probably bought it, used it, or knows enough about it to supply you with the goods:)

2. Jay is probably one of the nicest people I have ever met. Do you have that handful of people out there that if something really bad happened (needed a flat tire changed at midnight, a ride to the airport last minute, etc) would probably bail you out? Not that we have leaned on him too much, but kind of comforting to know he would probably help with anything in a pinch.

3. Stacey has this really cute sense of style about everything. Decorating, clothes, etc. Love seeing anything new she is sporting or remodeling.

4. Stacey is at the more liberal end of the spectrum than I am (environment rights, animal rights) so the focus is usually off me in the political discussions that arise in the fairly conservative Matheson family. I think I am now probably the most liberal person in my own family, so nice not to have to take the heat on those Sundays:)


Okay, so one of my goals this year is to get to know them both better! Crazy we have been in the same family for 10+ years and we don't really talk all that much :( Happy BDay to you both! Love ya!

Still alive:)

I felt like I haven't blogged in forever. Work and Primary have taken over my life for the last few weeks, but I feel like I am making my way out of that overwhelming stress that took me over. A million thanks for Amanda (for feeding me, taking care of my child, printing off all of my Primary stuff over the weekend,telling me how to fix my printer, and for the Fruit Gem), to Tifani for making me laugh and feeding me and Mack last week, to Joey for the yummy dinner on Sunday and lunch yesterday, and also a big apology to my Mom for ripping her head off on Sunday. Love you forever Mom--thanks for dealing with my moods:)

I am optimistic 2008 will be a wonderful year! Can't wait to share it with you:)

Yummiest Homemade Pizza

Our fun friends the Gunderson's had us over for dinner last night. I think I have decided it is the ultimate luxury for someone else to cook you a homemade meal. They made homemade pizza--and it was just so good I asked for the recipe. So, here is a little gift I am passing along to you courtesy of Amanda. Thanks again guys!

French Bread-Bread Sticks-Pizza Dough

Loaves:

Dissolve 2 T yeast with a little (1 tsp.) sugar or honey in ½ cup warm water

In mixing bowl place: 1 T salt

2 T oil

2 T honey or sugar

2 1/2 cups hot water

Add 5 cups flour. Mix together then add yeast mixture. Mix. Add 3 more cups flour. Blend 5 minutes. Let rise twice. Split in two for two large loaves, or 4 equal parts for 4 smaller loaves. Form into loaves. Score diagonally, brush with beaten egg white, sprinkle with sesame seeds, let rise. Bake at 350F for 25 minutes. Brush with butter while warm.

STICKS:

Roll dough into rectangle, Cut in 4x6 pieces. Cut three or four fingers ¾ through lengthwise. Bake at 400F for 15 minutes. Brush with melted garlic butter with sweet basil added. Serve warm

PIZZA (makes 4 pizzas):

Make ball of dough approximately the size of your fist. Roll into circle to fit pan. Place dough on pan, spread with pizza sauce sprinkle with cheese and add meats, vegetables, etc. Bake 375-400F for 15 minutes.

Happy Birthday Ashley!

Just wanted to give a shout out to my sister who's birthday is this week. Here are my top five reasons why I think Ashley is just fab:

1. She is just gorgeous. Her eyes, her hair, her smile. You could look at her all day and never get bored.

2. She is so kind. She really always tries to see the best in everyone and totally discourages gossip.

3. She is really goal oriented. Once she says she is going to do something, she usually sticks with it.

4. Growing up, she kind of had a little mean streak in her. We haven't gotten in a physical fight in many years (thank goodness!), but she was the strongest one of us all. I always thought that was impressive:)

5. She is just fun to talk to. She loves US Weekly, traveling and eating out just as much as I do, so we normally have loads to talk about all the time.

Love you tons Ash! Have a wonderful year!

Friendship

Wednesday was like a little bottle of happiness for me. I was totally spoiled and had the chance to go to lunch with my friend Amber and then dinner with Tifani. It was so fun catching up with Amber--she is like the reality of my adult life--knowing me when I was older, being involved in my career, talking about all those adult issues of marriage stuff, kid stuff, etc. that crop up. I am so grateful for her friendship. She is one of those people that just gets me--when it seems like a lot of people just don't:) Such a treat to see her whenever I do. Have fun in Hawaii Amber! I am jealous:)

Then, I got to see Tifani. Tif was my best friend in high school. We weathered all those teen years together through boyfriends, cheerleading, Spanish--the list could go on and on. We have kind of lost touch over the years. Neither of us could really figure out how or why, and I kind of just chalked it up to the last few years that it just kind of happens. But, through the magic of blogs (he, he) we found each other again. Tifani was my girl soul mate--we could talk about any and everything--and we usually did in her basement, sleeping out on the tramp or driving around in La Bamba. Seeing and talking to Tifani again made my so sad we have missed out on years of the kind of chatter that just fills your soul somehow. She is another one of those people that just gets me--the real me--that loves being kind of crazy and doesn't quite fit the perfect mold. As cheesy as it sounds, some little part of me got put back together finally on Wednesday night. I have my friend back, and it is a wonderful feeling:) So, Tif, thanks for the fun memories of our ceramic ballet shoes to Mr Nielsen, the jicama, and dedication songs on the radio. Love you to death and hope our new friendship is just as fun (and of course meaningful) as our last was.

Thanks to both of you for listening to my grouchy Christmas attitude. I think this weekend will do just the trick to get me feeling more merry:)