Why does everything worth-while always end up being SO inconvenient?

...the first few things that come to my mind are exercise, eating more veggies & far less sugar, and a good, thorough scripture study.

I think I have finally found a way to make these activities a mandatory part of my life. No matter what, I must make time/ find the gumption to do all of them. And so far it has worked very well, it has meant scheduling my days better, getting into good habits, and ridding my apartment of all sweets (or at least making Richard hide them in obscure places). For the past few weeks I have felt so much more productive. My past attempts at this for the past 2 years have never become this successful or flawlessly uninterupted, and so I think I can trust myself at this point that I will keep these habits reasonably intact until I at least reach my goals. My hope is to keep them indefinitely, but goals are still nice so I can reward myself and not get frustrated!

It all started when I had to watch videos of me teaching my 276R class. Sometimes when we look in the mirror it's easy to be in denial that we are unhealthily over-weight, but when I'm watching a video of me moving around, talking, and wearing a horribly unflattering sweater, I can't help but cringe. In the end, it was a very good wake-up call. According to the BMI I am over-weight for my height. And so, it's time for me to take responsibility of this before I let myself get even worse. I think having more control now of my diet than when we were at the beehive home definitely helps, because I am able to plan/ have time to make good meals. I also have found ways to not get bored working out at the gym 1--1.5 hours a day. As a result, I have lost 4 pounds in a few weeks, and am hoping to lose at least 20 overall. When I have more time, I want to list a few things I have learned that have really helped me to understand weight-loss and some surprising dietary facts that Richard has taught me from his sports nutrition class. Basically, my focus is lifting weights and cardio for 1-1.5 hours every day, while eating 1900 calories. (A person who exercises at my height and weight needs 2400 cal a day, and if you want to lose a pound a week, you need to take off 500 cal.) Sounds simple, but I think the hardest part is finding the time to do everything else in my schedule lately.

...more to come

Cooking!

I love how the only pictures I have taken this semester are of the food I have baked. Here are a few:

Whole Wheat Bread

Apple Pie


Raspberry Cheesecake


Peanut Butter Cookies


Tamale Pie



Macadamia-Nut Tilapia (it was tastier than this looks....)

Wow...should I worry that this list consisted mainly of carbs? Hmm....

Other favorites so far include Wonton soup, Clam Chowder, honey-mustard chicken, Carrot-cake cupcakes, and I just can't remember.....but anyway, I love having a kitchen finally! It's so fun!

The new year!

Well, I haven't updated in a loong time. For instance, the dog that you see Mindy holding in the previous post my family ended up being allergic to, so they instead bought a gorgeous black poodle named Ari. She's super cute, too. And Richard even liked her! (I know, unbelievable).

After crazy finals, moving out of the Beehive home, and getting settled into our new apartment, we flew to Indy for Christmas. We had a ton of fun, Richard said he feels like he's fully integrated into the family now that he's been able to spend more time with my relatives. It's weird to think he hadn't seen my family in a year. The good news is that he found out alot of information about IU dental school and that he will qualify for in state tuition!! So now that has definitely moved up to our first choice. 25,000 a year compared to 100,000 a year is a huge benefit. I am so proud of him, I'm very confident that he will get in. He takes the DAT this spring.

As far as for me--I'm just loving having an apartment!!!!!!!!!!
My weakness is that I want to DECORATE everything so badly. But of course, decorations are uber expensive. So far I've limited myself to things on sale at Tai Pan Trading Co. That store is the bomb. I got a ton of clearance christmas stuff there, too. I can't wait for next Christmas already!

Whenever I blog it's usually because I don't want to be doing something else. I am definitely procrastinating studying for my Ochem test tommorow. It's kind of easy stuff anyways, but still, I should probably perfect my knowledge up until the last second. Physics pretty much sucks. I am slowly learning to appreciate/ like it a little, but it's pretty scary. I will never, ever, ever teach it in school because I refuse to get certified in it. Gross.

I am slowly but surely getting used to our new ward. It's kind of frustrating moving around alot at this age--settling down for once will be a great feeling. I get kind of sad when I think about babies, because I really want one. But I will graduate first. Besides, I have an IUD.

Today at church they passed around a clipboard, and asked if all of the stay-at-home moms would sign it as well as stay-at-home wives. STAY AT HOME WIVES? With no kids? That would be AMAZING! I would have time to exercise, clean, and make gourmet meals every day. And if Rich made enough, I could decorate our home and surround myself with pictures of family & fresh cut flowers. I'd practice flute, learn how to play Pride and Prejudice on the piano, and plant a vegetable, herb & rose garden. I'd scrapbook endlessly (about what though?) and hang out with other stay-at-home wives. I'd write my own cookbook. I'd write a book about how to be a stay-at-home wife. I'd write POETRY!

I couldn't help but dream that little dream. Of course, by the time I'm a stay-at-home anything, I will have babies. And that will be great. No really! But lately I've just been dreaming about creative writing. I am SUCH a boring writer. Now that I'm married, I have nothing that interesting to write about. Maybe once we have babies I will. But anyway, I don't have strong emotions of longing anymore, since Richard is back from his mission and I see him constantly. I don't have strong opinions about much, since everyone around me pretty much shares the same views (in one way or another). I am not depressed, so I can't write anything raw or emotional. I'm pretty great. Pretty normal. Just desperate for an outlet other than physics or o-chem. Maybe the lack of TV has helped me feel the need to be productive in other ways.

3 jobs all at once!

I got a job! Woohoo! I am a "research assistant" in the Library of the Music Special Collections department. Basically, its a fancy title for me just scanning & cataloging lots of music in various forms. I also have the job at the MTC watching missionaries clean. What's nice is that I get to choose my own hours, so I don't have to be tied down by an employer like Sam's club that makes you work 5 hour shifts no matter what. The only crummy thing is that there's only an 80% chance that I will get to keep this job next semester. I really hope I can keep it by then. If not, oh well, I'll just start the interviewing process again!

Last night I packed all of our un-opened wedding presents into the car so that today when I get the keys I can just drool over them as I put all our pretty dishes, pots and pans, and other appliances into our new kitchen. I can't tell you how long I've dreamed of doing this. For some reason, that's the most exciting part of this week for me. I couldn't sleep I was so excited. I love to host guests, and to be limited in that respect has been not my favorite.

It's been frustrating, though, because although we are supposed to move in today, the lady who is moving out is supposed to give us the keys has NOT called us or answered her phone all weekend OR today. So I am just a little peeved because I am working 60 hours starting this week and I need to know ahead of time so I can plan when I can drop stuff off. I really don't like getting my hopes up for no reason.

My mom had to give Ginger away because she became allergic to her. :-(

Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers. - Homer Simpson

Today is my birfday! We had a great weekend...I wish I took pictures. This is definitely something we need to work on. I took for granted the fact that my dad is the photo-man. I leave the picture taking up to Richard since he's the one with the camera---but lately I've learned that I need to become the family historian. So I've been trying to write in our little journal on Sundays to update our lives. Time just goes by SO quickly! I just can't believe it!

One of the ladies, Jan, at the Beehive Home made me this cake during her shift! She is so sweet.

So Saturday (yesterday) Richard sneaked around all morning buying me a birthday present/ flowers with his sister Natalie. I thought he was at work. I was in Midvale getting my weddnig ring re-sized for the up-teenth time (sigh). Anyway, he ended up getting me some really soft pajamas, super cute. And his sister gave me a coupon for "sewing help on one project from start to finish". I am very stoked about that! And to top it off his family got me a gift-card for JoAnnes! So I will get to learn some sewing after-all!

Then at night we (Richard, me, Natalie) went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner with Dani & Todd & Nicholette (and Vivian) Millecam and Chris & Kristin Manning & Taylor. That was super fun, I'm so grateful everyone was able to come and celebrate. It was nice to enjoy some STEAK!

My parents had a birthday party at my grandma's today because it's my mom's birthday tommorow. I wish I could have been there, one of my favorite things to do is to go to my Grandma's house to have dinner with the whole family. My cousin Hannah has been in the hospital and I think that she is home now, getting much better. They don't even know what happened yet. Oh! And my parents got a puppy! It's a Cavalier or something strange like that mixed with a Bichon.

This is cute little Ginger. She's ADORABLE.

This week I had a couple interviews, one to be an equipment manager at BYUbroadcasting and another to work at the MTC. The BYUbroadcasting one fell through, but I got hired on-the-spot at the MTC! So I am very excited to be bossing the sister missionaries around and telling them what to clean on Saturday mornings. In the summer I will be doing it every day, but until then just 6am to 10am on Saturdays.
We also got the managing position at our new apartment complex, so this is fantastic! We will get $80 off our rent a month, which will definitely add up. It's only a 4plex, so it's not too much work to begin with enough to justify no rent at all.

The title of this post has to do with one of Richard's video game songs. I thought it was hilarious.

We each have a bajillion tests this week. I'm kind of scared.

Apartment shopping

It feels like we are finally starting our LIVES! (In a way...)
We are getting our 'own' place, and Richard and I are really excited about it. We have only shopped a few days, and some great opportunities have shown up. We are probably going to get an apartment on 750 W 440N ish in Provo, which is near a bus stop that goes straight to campus.
It is really nice, we felt really good about it. We even are the top 'choice' they claim to be the managers of the 4plex. This would make rent $505 a month! That's super cheap compared to other 2 bedroom apartments that we've seen in Provo that are not nearly as good of quality. (Some one bedroom apartments that are old and poorly maintained are at least 640!)
It's bitter-sweet to leave the Beehive home, but I feel like it's time. I am nervous to look for a job that will fit with my school schedule, but I believe I will find one. We have saved enough that if I don't get one this winter, we will survive just fine. I just really need one this spring/summer to save up for the next school year.

So Yay, we will be putting a deposit down tonight via online. We are waiting to hear whether or not we have to pay for the last week in November. I really hope not, seeing as we won't even LIVE there until January! But hey, that's the way things work out sometimes. Finding a place in late December sounds impossible.

I'm so glad we decided not to live in the remodeled victorian home. It turns out to be way too run-down for our taste. But it was quite charming, just needs some fixing up before it can be deemed 'liveable' in my opinion.