Blackjack and Wedding Cake

A couple things...

• I bought our tickets for the Miranda Lambert concert in Vegas!! WOOHOO! I'm so excited! I can't wait to see Ran in concert again. It's going to be a big, fun girls weekend in VEGAS! I just wish it were time to hit the road!

• "We got three big weeks ahead of us. It's wedding season, kid!" WOO! Yeah...not really. If only wedding season were as fun as they make it out to be in "Wedding Crashers". I'm in the midst of baby showers, wedding showers, bachelorette parties, and weddings right now. I really don't mind. It's always good times to see friends and family, but I'll be happy when I'm not making a weekly trip to Target to buy gift cards!

• The cousins are in town this weekend for TRACI'S BACHELORETTE PARTY! We're headed to Wendover on Saturday night for some good 'ol debauchery! Yeah! I'm hoping to hit it big this time. Riiight. Anywho, always happy to hang out with the cousins!

• I went to my weekly Weight Watchers meeting last night. Four pounds! YAY! I'm officially karate-chopping weight's ass right now! HAHA! Viva La Resistance!

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend. Blackjack and wedding cake wishes for all!

Whole

Well I up and joined Weight Watchers last week. This is my first time doing the program, but my aunt has done it and looks amazing so I thought I’d give it a try. In fact she’s doing it again with me, along with my mom and one of my friends. WOO! Truth is…I have felt like crap lately. I haven’t been sleeping well, I’ve been tired throughout the day (even if I got an extra hour or two of sleep), my skin is gross, and my mood in general has just been “blah”. I have no idea why I let myself go like that, because after only TWO DAYS of eating well, I feel AMAZING! I’ve slept great (and less!) the last couple nights, I have mucho energy and I’m happy! I’m always a pretty happy girl, but when I’m eating well and managing a little exercise, I’m bouncing-off-the-walls-in-your-face-giggly-HAPPY! LOL! :D

I don’t have a specific goal right now. I found out what my ideal weight is for my height and I have ideas about accomplishing a couple different physical tasks, but right now I’m just focused on sticking with it for a while and seeing how things go. I’m going to Las Vegas in October (MIRANDA!!!) and Christmas is just right around the corner so it’d be nice to lose some weight for those events, but I’m in no rush. Losing weight fast would be awesome, but I’ve done that before and well…here I am…again. Honestly, I’d just like to change my life. HAHA! It’s so easy to write, but we all know how difficult it really is. I know I’ll never be one of those skinny girls that bikes up American Canyon “for fun” on Sundays and craves tofu burgers, but I’d like to reach a place where I feel…whole. I’d like to find that place where I’m happy and healthy and my weight isn’t ALWAYS at the forefront of my thoughts. Anyway, I lost two pounds when I weighed in for my second meeting last night! WOO! The other girls did well too. I’m so happy to have them going and doing this with me. Sometimes just knowing you’re not in this fight of life alone makes it all the better. I think my mom is a little skeptical still, but I have a feeling my bouncing-off-the-walls-in-your-face-giggly-HAPPY attitude is gonna get to her – either that or ANNOY her into it! HA! Love you mudda!

Viva La Resistance!

It's Good to be Home

Lola and I are all moved into our new place. YAY...and...WHEW! I was able to move in on Friday afternoon, and with the help of Katie, Dustin, my brother and Clay, we got pretty much everything moved by about 10 PM that night! I spent the weekend unpacking, but I still have a little left over that I'm slowly working on.

The new place is just lovely. I really like the location - being only 15 minutes from work RULES! There have been some strange noises to get used to on both Lola's and my part, but I feel pretty safe there. I'm looking forward to living on my own for a bit and getting to know the surrounding area. Oh and MSN rates the area as an 89 for "Walkability" - meaning everything I need and might like to do is in great walking-range. Thank goodness for that! ;)

Going Electric

Trading sides? Going to the dark side? Hmmm...

I started playing the guitar again a couple months ago and have been going to lessons pretty much every week. I feel like I've definitely improved, but I was still getting really frustrated and discouraged that I wasn't able to play more complex guitar chords. It turns out that my guitar needed work! The action (or the distance between the strings and the fret board) was really high, so essentially I was using all of my finger strength just to push the strings down and not really hold them down. My guitar teacher, Guitar Mat, tried to play and was even having a difficult time - and he's been playing for 17 years!! Anyway, I took my guitar to an awesome little shop called Local Music downtown and the nicest guy ever (Tom) said he could fix it! YAY! On a quick side note, I ended up spending an hour at the shop talking with the owner about interesting guitars and their stories - even if you're not interested in music, Local Music is one of those cool little downtown rarities where you can just go chat and spend some time staring. Anyway, my guitar is still at the shop so I used one of Guitar Mat's electric guitars for my lesson on Monday. It was my first time playing one.

Coolest. Thing. Ever. EVER!

I am a loyal country music fan. There is nothing I love more than a sad, twangy country song with a beautiful acoustic guitar being strummed in the background. I love it! BUT...the electric guitar was AWESOME! I have resisted even looking at an electric guitar because I almost felt like I would be betraying the sound I love so much. I have changed positions, though: I'm going to start saving for an electric guitar & amp. I was amazed at how easy it was to play and how beautiful it sounds. Don't get me wrong...I totally dig rock music and wailing guitars! (Can anyone say, "Def Leppard, 'Rock of Ages'"?!?!) But, I just never figured I myself would play anything other than an acoustic or classical guitar. Anyway, I’m excited! I want an electric bad now! I’m pretty sure if I find one in pink or lavender, I’ll have a freak-out of excitement! :)

For the love of 'Ran!!!

Yes...Yes...YES!! I just found out this morning that Miranda Lambert will be performing at the Arizona State Fair in October...AND I'M GOING!!!! AHHHHH! I just talked to my lovely mother and we're gonna go and stay with my grandpa that lives in down there and go to the concert! Miranda hasn't been to Utah in a couple years and I've been trying to figure out a way to go see her that wouldn't cost a small fortune! I'm so excited!! So excited that I don't care that this entire post is filled with nothing but exclamation points!! LOL! MIRANDA LAMBERT! YAY! YAAAAY!

UPDATE: Turns out that she'll be in Vegas the next night so now we're going there! YAY! I'm supposed to go to Vegas in November too, but can you really get enough?? LOL! Hopefully we'll meet up with Uncle Eddie for awesome country fun when Miranda's there performing!! :D

It's that time...

Moving time is finally here. YAY! It seems like I've been packing for months! I guess I won't complain since it's been easier, but I'm excited to get into my new place and out of the boxes! Lola and I will officially be re-locating on Saturday (Friday, if we get lucky)!

If anyone that feels like doing some light grunt work in the cool weather should call me! BUWAHAHAHA! I'm funny, I know. Seriously...what person moves in JULY?? Oh well...

Hugs & Kisses for all! :)

I shall know but one country.

• "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty." -John F. Kennedy


• "I shall know but one country. The ends I aim at shall be my country’s, my God’s and Truth’s. I was born an American; I live an American; I shall die an American." -Daniel Webster

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Fourth of July! I hope it's fun and safe for all! Don't forget when you're eating your hotdogs in the sunshine on this Great Day to remember those who have fought and still fight to this day for our Freedom and Liberties. I am forever grateful for your service. I am proud to be an American and I truly love this country and my fellow citizens. Happy Fourth of July!

Gobbley Goop

My lovely friend Sarah who I used to work with back in the day (and miss terribly) posted THE cutest pics of her baby girl eating Goobley Goop! Awww...love it! For those of you who don't know, Gobbley Goop is a cheesy dip you eat with tortilla chips. It's a secret family recipe that's been passed down generation to generation...dating back to ancient times...back before refried beans had even been fried! It's so guarded that in order to posess this recipe, one must know the sacred dance and chant...which is just basically the "Truffle Shuffle" followed by a stirring rendition of "I Like to Sing-a", but either way! HAHA!

I hope Sarah doesn't mind, but this is her little girl enjoying the delicious-ness! The Gobbley Goop Gods have smiled upon her! :)