Me: "Would I like him?"
T: "Well you know how you want a man who will teach your kids Book of Mormon stories? Well he could take his shirt off and act them out."
Me: "I'm going to need this man to call me."
I was sitting on the couch with my friend Scott. He got up to grab some food from the kitchen and while he was gone I started a conversation with the guy on my other side. When Scott came back I reached over without looking and put my hand on his leg.
Not inappropriate, but what any girl might do to her boyfriend to acknowledge his return without breaking the conversation. I just ran my hand down his leg then kind of rested it on his shin and gave him a little squeeze.
After I had my hand on his leg for a minute or so with no response I thought it was odd so I turned to make eye contact with him, when I realized someone else had taken Scott's spot. A super nerdy kid I didn't know who just got back from his mission.
How do you recover from that? You don't. So I just smiled at him and went back to my conversation. When I found Scott still in the kitchen, we had a good laugh about it.
This is more of a list for myself than anything else. Because we are ALWAYS sitting in my car saying where do you want to go to dinner and no one wants to pick, and no one has an idea, and there are SOO many good places to eat around here!
SLC:
The Blue Plate
I love the atmosphere. Everyone has crazy hair and tattoos and are the sweetest people you have EVER met. I love the corn cakes and the corn beef hash. Oh wait they did a DDD on it. The hollandaise is amazing, so order anything Benedict and you won't be sorry. It is a very casual and tasty place to hang out.
Settebello Pizzeria
I am actually friends with their head chef so a trip here also means a free hug! They specialize in authentic Italian pizza. It is delicious and my friends who served missions in Italy say it is legit.
Charlie Chow's Dragon Grill
This is favorite of Wade and myself. It is a little shady and maybe the parking garage is crumbling a little but we love it. It is an all you can eat Mongolian Grill. It is great because if you don't like what you concocted go concoct something different.
Chicken Express
For 5 dollars you can get more Greek food than you should eat. But trust me you will want to keep eating. The food is amazing, and even the Baklava is perfection.
Moochies
How long have I been in search of the perfect cheesesteak? Since I left Jersey... and I found it. If only SLC had a beach I would be content to never leave... and maybe less snow. This one was on DDD too.
East Coast Subs
The Italian hoagie hear is almost perfection. Again find me a beach and I'll be set.
The Pupsaria on North Temple
You WILL be the only one in the restaurant, and some of your food will come out with plastic silverware, and if you order a salad they will bring you the jumbo Costco size ranch to your table. But you won't find a better pupusa or tamale.
Canton Village
The rest of the food is average chines but the egg roll is as big as your face and I want to eat 3 of them. Seriously. It is an egg roll that is also battered and deep fried. So so good. Trust me.
The Mediterranean Cafe
Another one the guys at work introduced me to. They are only open for lunch but they make delicious Panini's and hot sandwiches. Also tried the stuffed banana pepper or cannoli's when they have them.
Cafe Anh Hong
My boss introduced us to this one. He lived in China and says it is the most authentic he's had in the states. Everything I have tried here was very good. Try the dim sum on the weekend. I love dim sum and their's was VERY good.
Sawadee
My FAVORITE Thai place ever. Kyle and I have a few dishes here that we love a lot but we like to try new things to and have yet to be disappointed.
Davis and Weber County:
Empire Chinese in Centerville
It is just delicious. I also love their Singapore noodles and they have VERY fast service and lots of variety.
Rooster's Brewery in Ogden and Layton
I enjoy the Ahi wrap quite a bit and used to always order it until I realized that I could easily fill myself up on the fries. So I started ordering just that. As a side they are called naughty fries and come with a side of Gorgonzola cheese sauce. Drew also introduced me to their bread pudding.
Tona's on 25th in Ogden
Just delicious sushi, and great atmosphere.
Sushi-Ya in Clearfield
All you can eat sushi for 20.00 and good sushi. We like to sit at the bar with the cute sushi chef and just order roll after roll. They are good rolls too and they are more than happy to make you something to order. Or maybe that is just for us because we wink at him.
Cache County:
Cafe Sabor
I know the owner from college and if he happens to be there, he is also good for a hug and a shared memory of linds. Then we both laugh and I enjoy a plate of Pollo Durango. One of my favorite things EVER! Their fish tacos are delicious especially when the fish of the day is Salmon. Oh how I miss college burrito night at Sabor.
The Bluebird
The bluebird chicken is basically sesame chicken with a twist and it is delicious. But what I always order is Chicken Louis. Who is surprised? You should be because it is a chicken breast piled with seafood, cheese, and hollandaise. Oh my goodness. Can I make one for myself right now?
Formosa
We all know how I love this place. My favorite Chinese ever. EVER! It is the best no matter what Zac or Snubs say. They must like it a little because they always went with me and they would meet me there again in a heart beat if I was in town.
Sweetly Divine
Is a pastry shop. I love the swans, blackberry tarts, and creme brulee. They also make a roast beef sandwich with jalapeno jelly.
Did I miss one that you know I love? Let me know and I will add it. Is there one you think I have missed and haven't tried? Tell me about it and I will meet you there for lunch!
No I don't actually carpool to work. I work in south Salt Lake and commute from Davis county every weekday. I actually enjoy the commute, it has improved greatly since you had to do it for school Dad.
So everyday same time... I have started to realize I drive to work with the same crowd every morning. Some are easier to spot than others. Like the green Camry who's entire antennae is covered in smilie face antennae toppers, or the white Corolla that's license says "ICBONES," or the white Jaguar driven by a little old lady that says "UNDERCOVER." I wonder what she is doing under cover?
Some are more subtle like the guy in the silver Civic that is always on his phone, the super dirty white VW with Ute plates, and some times the black VW who's plate says "gravy." Do you think any of my carpool friends are familiar with the green Corolla with a big pink Phillies decal, that is driven by the girl who is always intently singing to the radio, (it's always Keith Urban) while wearing her super sexy J-Lo's?
I think things in my life are bad or stressful and every single time the Lord reminds me how good I have it. So many of the people I love are going through MUCH harder things and really my life is great. Last night I was helping to set up a stage and I broke my nail. It shouldn't be a big deal but it ripped half way down and half way across and it hurt.
Jake and Joey were the only ones I could get any sympathy from until girls started to show up. While I was sitting there showing my "very serious wound" to a friend of mine she showed me the arm that her son, the orthopedic surgeon, was working on. Um... YIKES! It was hanging on by a little bit of skin and maybe a little tendon. I am going to be sick just thinking about it. I thought well I have my arm... both of them actually, and I just sat there and kind of stroked my own arm for a minute so grateful that it was there and intact.
How crazy is it that there are people out there who can put an arm back together that is only held on by a little bit of skin. Guys this arm was torn up and nasty and She said that the guy actually had feeling in his hand yesterday. Modern medicine is a miracle.
Oh and of course we know everything was better after Kyle sang to us some Johnny Cash.
Couldn't be more true! Thanks to my friends who listened so well to what Linds always calls "the friendship spirit." Amazing how when you need them the most your friends just appear out of nowhere to cheer you up again!
I was chatting with my Papa and Step Mom a few weeks ago. On our way out to The Robot's cafe actually. I mentioned that finding a man who will marry me in the temple is just not going to cut it anymore. Let me explain. Do I want to be married in the temple? Absolutely, it won't happen anywhere else.
That, however, is now the minimum requirement. I don't want a man who is simply temple worthy, I want one who LOVES the temple, makes it a priority, returns with me regularly, and recognizes it's incredible power in the lives of our family. Which means I want more than a temple wedding. I require a temple marriage.
I feel sometimes as single women in the gospel we feel a need to pretend like we don't want to be married and we are perfectly happy being single. Which in some ways is true. I am single and I am happy. That doesn't mean that when I see a woman screaming at her little man in the Wal-Mart that my heart doesn't ask why she gets to have one and not me. Or that I am not sad that the amount of babies I want to have has been drastically reduced by the years I have spent not having them.
I was sad/worried enough about it a few years ago that I decided I was just going to ask The Lord why I was waiting. No need to be subtle with Him. He answered me as directly as I asked him and my heart was calmed. I am content, even excited to wait now. In college I heard this little quote and have tried to live by it.
"Stop thinking of
the man of your dreams,
and become the
woman of his."
Simple, but in my mind powerful. I have a friend who is upset with me for not working harder at finding a man. I feel that by working hard at perfecting myself, I am doing everything I need to be doing to find him. I don't think it needs to be hard or that I need to be "on the prowl." It just isn't me. I think that as with any true friendship when the right person comes along it won't be hard at all. I think it will just click. Have you worked hard to make friends with your very best ones? I haven't. One day they are just a part of your life and you realize that you want them to always be.
I found this on Pinterest this morning. Randomly, when for some reason I was not logged in.
I want this to be me. Not the woman who is throwing myself at a man because I don't like myself enough to be alone. Once I logged into Pinterest, I searched by Maya Angelou so I could find the above quote and pin it, and I also found this one.
I am not just trusting life. I am trusting The Lord who knows ALL things. I am living my life the best way I know how, working hard at becoming a better woman, and one third of a future eternal temple marriage. When life changes I am prepared for it. Until then I am happy to be just me, Annie Hall.
The Beins family is basically part of my family. They have two sons Flower (Joe), and Robot (Jon). We nickname everyone, really no lie. We now call the whole family the Robots. Bill is Robot Senior and Anne is Sister Robot. Well they recently sold their home in Kearny, NE and bought a restaurant in Arapaho, NE, about an hour away. While we were home Dad and Melane were sweet enough to take us out there to sample the cooking and visit with the Robots.
We started at the counter for breakfast. The restaurant is buffet style. We had bacon, and Robot Senior's special recipe breakfast sausage, while he continuously brought us ham steaks. Which we fought over until they were gone. Delicious.
Not to be ones to miss out on delicious food, we then took a break and headed over to the local grocery store.
I loved these shopping baskets that have to be antique.
My little monkey is modeling one for us here. I spend a GOOD amount of time looking at each and every tractor, car, truck etc that he wanted for Christmas from now until he is retired. Good thing boys never get tired of such things. In true small town Nebraska style, this was a general store carrying clothing, food, toys, crafts supplies, etc. I found a tackle bag I felt I almost needed but I walked away. Dad however could not walk away from the smoked turkey he purchased and made for Christmas Dinner. Thanks Papa it was very delicious!
Then back to the Robot's Cafe. I think they should name it that, just sayin'.
This is Dolly. She came in, curlers and all, to see if they had any lasagna left over from the day before. To her great disappointment they did not. She was full of pep and sass, but sadly not lasagna as today was seafood day. Did you know that I LOVE seafood, Shrimp and scallops especially. But after sampling The fried Chicken that Robot Senior made I didn't touch another piece of seafood the rest of the time we were there. I don't like "on the bone chicken" and typically, in my opinion, the flavor is all in the skin and the meat isn't so delicious. THIS chicken was one of the best things I have ever tasted. The skin was perfectly crisp and delicious, and the amazingly moist meat had all the PERFECT flavor of the skin. Oh my goodness!
Robot Senior in the Kitchen.
I seriously have dreamed about this chicken twice since we went there. Why oh why do I have to wait for another trip home to sample it? Life is certainly not fair from time to time. Perhaps, though it is a blessing in disguise to keep me skinny.
Why do I spend ALL my spare time
on Food Gawker when I am dieting?
You would think I would be kinder to myself.
* * * * *
I have been studying the concept of cellular memory
and it is fascinating.
Do you know scientists are discovering that
our heart is like a mini brain?
That it stores memory and influences
our thoughts and actions?
It is way more involved, interesting,
and cool than I am going to make it sound here.
I'll send you a link to an article or two if you are interested.
* * * * *
I cried three times yesterday.
Once in front of my boss,
once at the Maverick,
and once in the parking lot of the Comfort Inn in SLC.
Needless to say I was an emotional mess.
Not even Keith Urban was helping.
Then I spent the evening with one of my BFFs Lolly.
Who made it all better by just being there,
and making time for me.
By the time I drove home I was all smiles.
* * * * *
For those of you who saw last night's Facebook status.
The one stating that I was almost certain,
I was Telestial Kingdom material.
Don't worry it had everything to do with
what happened at the Maverick.
And my guilt had everything to do with why I cried
at the Comfort Inn, and why I went back,
braving 5pm traffic to make it right again.
I haven't decided yet if I am going to share the story.
It is funny, in a way.
At the time it was simply stressful, crazy, and a little terrifying.
* * * * *
I am really so so grateful to Lolly.
I really needed a friend last night,
and she and Katy were miraculously there
to laugh with me about it,
and made sure I didn't feel too bad.
Then we went hot tubbing.
You guys are the best.
Do you know what this adorable kiddo is doing in this photograph, to be preserved for years to come? Picking the popcorn texture off his ceiling.
All day I have been missing this kiddo.
Yes I took this picture in church, don't judge me, but he was letting me cuddle him and it happens so rarely.Well that is a lie, it just has to happen on his terms. Like sitting on the arm of the couch and slowly leaning over until he is laying across me. He thinks I don't know what he is up to, but I do.
In fact I miss all my siblings when they are far away.
Which makes the time I get with them so precious.
In the above picture I have captured two of my favorite things:
My dad's cooking, and naughtiness in my siblings.
I think you can tell from this picture that this kiddo could use a real good squeeze. And you can see Madi in the background getting ready to blow us all away with her Christmas story. Seriously, we were all remembering Santa gifts from years past and that little princess brought us all back to the true meaning of the evening. I was impressed
Oh look another picture from church and another adorable sibling who has also recently decided she wants to be a cuddler.
My Logan boy is reaching that age where he can enjoy hanging with the adults which is fun for me. But also is still a big kid which the little ones sure enjoy. Truth be told kids of all ages enjoy playing Mario Kart and watching me fall off cliffs every minute of so.
We were able to talk with Jarom for awhile on Christmas.
We each had ten minutes which wasn't even close to enough,
and Jake and his wife spent Christmas in California with her family.
I just miss all of them. Except Kate. Because well, I see her every day.
I had a temple shift on Kyle's birthday, (new Kyle for those who know both), then left the first thing the next morning for home. I almost forgot his birthday post.
My favorite Kyle quotes:
"I can't tell what that is. Must be a turkey or a deer or something."
"Of course I'm a good shot, do you know how many Louis L'Amour books I've read?"
"Your house isn't messy, you just have a LOT of shoes."
"Did you bring your adventure pants? All MY pants are adventure pants!"
P.S. I think he liked it when I told him how sexy he is in front of his parents. I couldn't help it, the man read Louis L'Amour to us by the campfire while camping in the Uintas, and sang "Tougher Than the Rest" while playing guitar. He is single and I think someone should fall in love with him. He also has a VERY sexy voice, and is handy with a saw.
