Check!

Another item to check off my list!

Ragnar 2011!!!

So much fun - but not too much fun to do it again. Haha

Imagine driving in a van for 33 hours, running ~16 miles in the heat of day and dark of night, not sleeping, and eating peanut butter sandwiches, crackers, etc, and drinking gatorade.

You must be asking why on earth I wanted to do this?

BECAUSE RUNNERS ARE INSANE!!!

I had a lot of fun and actually beat my predicted time in 2 out of the 3 runs.

But then I got quite sick for my third run (yes the 4 mile, 1800 foot elevation gain one)...

And if this picture is any indication, I was NOT enjoying it. Running, not sleeping, and eating in a van does wonders for your digestive system - and I'll leave it at that.

Florida

I am having a heck of a time getting pictures to upload onto this blog! (So Becky, I'm using some of yours - for some reason the ones from your blog work much better! Hope you don't mind...)

Anyway, June 2 began my adventure to Pensacola, Florida! I'm happy to announce that my fear of flying has nearly been cured as I road ALL the way across the country BY MYSELF!!! And I lived!! Haha

Our adventures included:

The Pensacola lighthouse. Yes, I climbed the 177 steps to get to the top!

Beaches, beaches, and more beaches.

WARM water and white sand!

The pier with yachts worth more than my life earnings.

Alligator Alley.

Alligators GALORE!

Sunset dolphin cruises. Yep, we saw dolphins!

Destin. Fun tourist town.

Beach cruiser rides and watching the blue angels practice! Probably one of the coolest things down there!

Florida, you were fun... but next time, could you make it a little cooler and less humid there?

Becky, you're the best!!!

Savers - you have earned your name!

Check out my finds at Savers!!! The pictures don't do them justice, but I swear I'm never buying clothes at full price again - these are practically brand new!!!

Blue skirt from Charlotte Rouse: $6.99

Pink skirt from H&M!! (P.S. H&M is coming here!): $7.99

White skirt (because my other one had a giant hole in it): $ 5.99 (I had to sew it to fit me a little better, but it's as good as new now!)

GRAND TOTAL FOR 3 SKIRTS: $20.97

I know you're jealous...

St. George Round II

Yep, we went back. The unbelievably wet and cold weather in Salt Lake is driving us nuts, so why not head down south where the weather is BEAUTIFUL!? This time we were lucky enough to spend the weekend with the Linthorst clan.

Despite my best efforts to get some pictures, I ended up with only a couple - as always.

The boys (minus Isaac):

The girls (minus Mia):

We had TONS of fun and a big thanks to the Linthorsts for EVERYTHING!!!

P.S. Actual text from Nick the day after we got home, "I miss Baby Mia and the sun, in that order."

(See my previous post? That's baby Mia)

I didn't even make it on the list - granted I'm not nearly as cute as that smiley girl!

Love these kidlets

You are an Ironman!!!

As the athletes crossed the finish line, the announcer shouted, "[NAME] YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!" Although I've never wanted to do an Ironman, I so badly want someone to yell, "Elizabeth Swensen, you are an IRONMAN!" Nick was kind and shouted it for me, but for some reason it just didn't feel real. Haha

We spend the weekend in St. George's 92 degree, not a cloud in the sky weather to cheer on the crazy, insane, but awesome Ironman runners.

We rode bikes from my Uncle's house into town:

Checked out the finish line (at 4:30 hours, no one had arrived yet...)

Watched bikers come in and transition to running. Then cheered on the first Ironman at 8 hours 31 minutes. The crowd was wild! He didn't even look phased after swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles (on the hardest hill course in the world), and running 26.2 miles.

We then went to dinner and came back to cheer on some of the 'normal' racers (ie: not freakish-like guys who finish in under 9 hours!), into the night. The cutoff time was midnight. They started at 7 in the morning and 12 hours later were still going at it! 12+ hours of high intensity exercise - painful!

We spent the weekend soaking in the sun, biking lots, swimming, and wishing we were cool enough (or crazy enough) to be Ironmen!!! For now, I'll just stick with the Ragnar being my Ironman race...

In honor of no sugar May...

Keep in mind it's been 4 days...

Here comes Peter Cottontail

The Easter Bunny found his way to the Linthorst house while I was watching Milo dog for the week!

Somehow he knew I was going to Florida this summer and brought me lots of beach things including a darling hat, beach towel, sunscreen for my poor white skin, a darling tote, and m&ms (just because you always need those!).

He brought Nick some of his FAVORITE Easter candies and introductory diving lessons for both of us (Thank you groupon, although I'm not sure why I bought one for me - that means I've actually got to do it! Haha)

We made Easter eggs for the Linthorst kids to welcome them home:

(Left to right: Owen, spencer, Sophie, Lucy, and Mia)

I thought we looked cute so I had to beg for a picture, but of course we got a bunch of these:

Before Nick decided to smile for real:

(Neither of us are very good at opening our eyes though...)

Happy Easter!

It must be finals week

In the last two weeks I have...

- Locked my keys in my car.
- Been told by 5 different people on 5 separate occasions that I'm looking really thin lately.

1. As for the keys, luckily they weren't lost on campus like I thought, but rather in my own car... in the IGNITION! Oh brother. Good thing I pay car insurance and it was a free service to open it. It took the guy just about 30 seconds to open the dang door - why don't I have those kinds of tools?! Note: in my 7 years of driving, this was the first time I locked my keys in the car. (Well, let's not talk about cadets when I locked the keys in the cadet car while it was running and had to call Rob in the middle of COMMAND meeting, and then listened to an eruption of laughter on the other end)

2. Now normally I'd be happy to be told I look thinner, but I'll tell you why that statement doesn't cause me to jump for joy:

#1. I haven't lost a single pound.

#2. I haven't been working out at the gym like I used to (darn school) so I'm probably wasting away muscle instead of fat.

#3. Between school and people asking me EVERY HOUR when I'm getting married I'm stressed to the max, so my face probably has a sunken look to it.

#4. I just bought some new jeans that look FABULOUS on me - and getting my legs to look thin is pretty much impossible. So I'm hiding behind my clothes.

#5. I work with cancer patients a lot and the hypochondriac in me thinks I have cancer when anything is wrong with me, so then I stress that looking thin is linked to a health condition and of course I go straight to cancer... I know, totally irrational.

#6. All I can think about all day is how my stomach seems to be folding over my pants in larger quantities than ever before... Nick says that's an irrational thought too, but I swear I can prove it!

Anyway, I could go on. The point is, if you read this post and expect to see me thinner next time we meet up, don't. You'll be sorely disappointed and then somehow you having in your mind that I'm skinnier will make me look all that much bigger...

So, Becky, count me in for no molasses May.

Favorites

My favorite shoes EVER... And I am picky. So take this as a hint for any of you looking for new comfy workout shoes. Now, I have not run any races in these, but for everyday working out and walking around they are SUPREME!!! I come from a family of bad knees and usually my heels hurt when I'm standing on my feet all day. So for me to endorse these products means they REALLY WORK!!!

#1. Adidas Kanadias

I have the purple ones:

I want cool colored bright ones like these!!!

#2. Adidas Bounce (the FULL bounce from front to back)

These aren't the best for stability training, so be careful if you're doing any balance work in them. (I still do it and am fine - but people tell me I shouldn't)

There you have it... the best shoes EVER!!! Adidas, I love you.

Testimony

Every time I hear this man speak, I get tingly all over.

I know he is a prophet of God and the things he says come directly from God.

I am grateful for a temple so close and hope I never take that convenience for granted. We have no excuse to postpone receiving our own eternal blessings and providing them for those who can't.

I am forever grateful for and reverence this man who atoned for me and rescues me when I feel like the lost sheep.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way we will ever know true happiness. The Lord loves His children and wants to bless us more than we will ever understand. The Gospel is true. I testify that in His name.

Sunday brunch

For some reason, I've been craving waffles every Sunday for the last 3 months... Not to mention I LOVE LOVE LOVE breakfast foods.

Check this out! I know it's not pretty, but it was simply DELICIOUS! And it took me a total of 10 minutes to make this morning.

2 bananas, mashed

2 cups flour (I use 3/4 whole wheat and 1/3 white flour)

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups milk (reduce to 1 3/4 if you are not using ww flour)

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

Mash 2 bananas in a bowl. Add dry ingredients and mix. Add milk, oil, and eggs. Stir just until blended. Pour batter into waffle iron. Serve with fresh fruit and whipped topping, real maple syrup and walnuts or any way you like it. Enjoy!

***NOTE: I halved the recipe - because I cook for myself - and it made 3 waffles***

I'm all about real maple syrup, but it is PRICEY! So, here's a cheaper version of a little different syrup. It's real maple made with Agave (a natural sweetener). YUMMY!!!

Why have kids...

...When you already have one?

I took this kid to Wheeler Farm to feed the ducks

And he couldn't have been happier,

Until, he heard this:

And now Nicholas talks about goats all the time.

So between Mandy's fainting goats and the Wheeler farm baby goats, I've got one happy kid in my life.

Miss you already

To these sweet angels:

I miss you already.

I'm so glad that friendships are eternal .

You are my eternal sister and friend and I know that being apart will in fact bring us closer together (because it has before).

And for those days when we need each other immediately, I'm so grateful for modern technology. Because there are days I just can't do it without you.

You are beautiful. You are powerful. You are strong.

You are... 'the world's greatest!'

Have fun in Minnesota (but not too much fun without me! :)

Hmmmm

I don't really know who reads my blog, and I often don't put too many personal comments on here, but I can't help myself with this one.

Nick and I went to Pei Wei last night for dinner and my fortune cookie read:

"A small gift of jewelry given or sent will mean a lot to you this week".

I showed him my left hand (jokingly), and he replied, "That's not gonna happen".

BOOOO. Mark my words, I'm not waiting much longer.

I think this girl is a good catch - doesn't somebody want to snatch her up???

The spa

Facials and pedicures. To quote Ashley, "This is the LIFE!"

Somehow, when we asked the lady to take a picture of us WITH our pedicures, she totally missed our feet... How does that happen?

So here are the pretty toes:

Ash, why are you so much more tan and prettier than me? Sheesh.

Our night ended with lots of tears. Why you say? Because in T-minus 6 days, my best friend is moving much too far away from me to this place:

And I couldn't be happier for her. I just hope my life can stay in one piece even with her so very far away from me. Bittersweet. Bittersweet.

Minnesota is now officially on my list of vacation spots... which would never had made it to the list if Ash wasn't moving there.

Love you girl.

Have you been?

To SMASHBURGER??? Well, it's the best hamburger place we've been! So it was very fitting for Nick's birthday din din.

Yumm Yumm

Date night

Spent the evening here:

And went to dinner here:

Best date night ever.

Quarter century!

Happy birthday Nicholas!!!

(2 days ago...)

Happy Valentime's Day!!!

2 years and 1 baby later.........

nah just kidding :)

Here's to two years and lots of craziness with this kid.

Day 6: stuffed pizza rolls

Stuffed Pizza Rolls
Recipe from OurBestBites

1 roll refrigerated pizza dough* (or make your own)
marinara/pizza sauce (click here to make your own)
2T grated Parmesan cheese
1 T olive oil or melted butter
1/2 t garlic powder
1 t dried Italian seasoning
mozzerella cheese, diced or grated
Pizza toppings of your choice: ie, ham and pineapple, pepperoni slices, sausage, etc.

*You can use regular pizza dough, or thin crust.

Preheat oven to heat specified on pizza dough package. Usually it's 400 degrees. If you make your own dough, 400 is usually a good heat as well.

Unroll your pizza dough onto a lightly floured surface. Pat or roll the dough so it's about 12" by 8". You're going to want to cut it into 24 squares, so just eyeball it if you need to. Use a pizza cutter to slice the dough into 24 squares (bet ya didn't see that one comin' did ya?)

Place cheese and desired toppings on each square. (Note that you're not putting the marinara sauce on the dough- it's for dipping after) You guys are smart, right? Just eyeball how much. You just need to be able to enclose the toppings in the dough so keep that in mind.

When all of your dough squares have cheese and toppings on them, carefully lift up each square and wrap the dough around the toppings. Pinch to make sure each ball is sealed shut and then place them seam side down in a lightly sprayed pie pan (or similar sized dish).

Brush the tops of the dough balls with olive oil or melted butter (I've used both and there's not much difference in result) and then sprinkle with the garlic and Italian seasoning and top with Parmesan cheese. (In lieu of the Parmesan, garlic, and Italian seasoning you could substitute this garlic bread seasoning.)

Cook them in the oven for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown on top. Keep an eye on them! Doughs vary, so I'd check them after even 10 minutes.

Serve warm with warmed marinara sauce on the side for dipping.