Attitude of Gratitude - Day 17: Talents.

I thank my lucky stars for all my wonderful talents. I know that I have been abundantly blessed with the amazing talents I have. I'm not trying to brag, at all. Tonight, as I was painting some items for a colleague's baby shower, I couldn't help but think of how another colleague just handed me a box of items and basically said, "Work your magic! I trust you! I've seen your skills!" It's way awesome that this colleague thinks I'm just as talented when the whole office knows her as the creative one.

She gave me the colors & theme and I started to go to town. I've got several more pieces, but I love the starfishes! 

I owe a lot of my talent to my Mom! Seriously, I wouldn't be the talented person I am today if I didn't have her challenging "encouragement". She taught me how to sew when I rather have played outside, when I was a kid. My friend & co-worker Tina ran into a bind when she needed some help with her Halloween costume. With her measurements, 1.5 yards of red fabric and black & white paint, I was able to create her costume. Not too shabby for just free handing it!

I guess my colleagues were convinced that I was talented when I came up with the idea for our Halloween decorations: 

I must admit, I loved the lil paper fences and the trees, the best! People thought I bought the fences, but they were just cut out by hand. I don't know where this idea came from, I just drew it up as I saw others decorating their cubes. Everyone loved our decorations and my cube mates really enjoyed it! That made me so glad! I also loved decorating my pumpkin for the office competition :

It was so hard for me to throw it out after Hslloween!! 

I'm glad my talents don't end there! When I became the Relief Society President, a couple years ago, I found myself cooking A LOT! I developed the talent to make soups! Oh how I love that talent and the joy of soups! In the course of one summer, I found myself cooking for a few regional and several ward acrivities! It was hard work, but I LOVED feeding my ward family! I still love to feed people, especially friends and family! I love the genuine gratitude they have when finishing a meal and their "Thank you! That was so good!" that they exhale as their waist band gets tighter!

^Thid was some Tongan food I made on Sunday, it's called Lu Puaka and the Taro root is in the background. Man, it was so good!! Have I mentioned how much I LOVE to cook?!? 

Now that I am married, I've tried to develop my baking skills. This was the first Apple Pie I've ever made:

I've got say, it was perfection!! Seriously, I couldn't have made a more perfect pie! And my husband loved it! That's AWESOMENESS in my book!

So I've gotta say, I'm so truly grateful for the way I can make my little corner of the world a happier, enjoyable and more colorful place to live. I will never cease to thank my God for the way He's blessed my life! My cup runneth o'er!

{Matthew 5:14-16}

"Because I have been given much, I too must give...." 

Baked.

I'm not really one to bake.  It's not something I particularly enjoyed because I'd always burn myself. NO BUENO. For the last several years, I've taken a great liking to cooking.  I love cooking because you get instant results.  If something doesn't taste right, you can change it, right there and then. BAM! 
As of late, I've found some easy breezy recipes that I've enjoyed baking, like Lion House Banana Bread. I LOVE this banana bread! It's so dang delicious!!  And the chocolate chips make it SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better!! 
Plus, it helps having someone who enjoys my baking.  During Christmastime, Levi and I were suppose to do some baking but just got so busy and wrapped up in the holidays.  We've got so many bags of chocolate chips & Butterscotch chips, and I feel like they're just begging to be used!  Last night, I had a couple of free hours, so I thought I'd bake some Butterscotch & Heath Bar Cookies! OH MAN!  So dang yummy!!! Seriously, I could probably go eat a few more, but my hips do not need that!  :)
I think what I enjoy the most about baking, as with cooking, is doing it for others to enjoy.  I'm so so so grateful that Levi enjoys my cooking & baking...that warms my heart to no end.  I look forward to cooking for our future family, someday.  
Ok I'm gettin' choked up..... Happy Thursday!

Oh Thursday, I love you!

My Thurday started off with a morning phone call from this guy I've been talking to. [It's nothing serious so he doesn't get a nickname yet]  Oh he makes me smile. 
Around noon I had lunch with Mr. Red.  As always, it was a very lovely chance to be friends with him in real life ("real life", that's what I call spending time with someone "in person"), I've truly missed just being able to talk and laugh with him.  It was very nice.  Now that he's busy with his girlfriend and her kids, times like that will be few and far between.  
I was able to find the Mason jars that I've been searching high and low for! I was able to fill them with all my legumes! YUM! Looks awesome! Also did some "Thrifting" in the afternoon--so much fun! So many great treasures! Found two chairs for the kitchen for $15 (for both)--total score! 
Last night, I went to play Volleyball with my ol' YSA ward.  Oh I've missed them all so much! I love all my ol' friends so dearly! It was just a great ending to a terrific day! I love when Thursdays shape up to be the best days ever! Love it!

The "1am, I should be packing" post.

The Good:  I bought a Crock pot today.  I don't think I know ANYONE who buys a Crock pot.  I've only ever seen them acquired at bridal showers.  Dang it.....yet another reason to get married! :)  Also, a friend gave me two tickets to Island Divine!  It's very similar to Taste of Hillcrest, but all in one place and not stretched across several city blocks.

The Bad: I've only packed about 1/6 of my room and need to get it all out of here by noon tomorrow (Saturday).  ideally by 9am would be better.....we'll see. By the way, it is NOT fun getting lost in Ikea.  EVERYTHING looks the same, so even though you think you're getting closer to the check out, you're actually just walking by the same section for the 5th time. 

The Ugly:  I went to Taco Bell 3 times today. 
1. I hadn't eaten all day and desparately needed something to eat (2 Chulpas & Cinnamon twists)
2. Driving home around midnight, I needed some caffeine for my looooong night of packing.(Diet Pepsi)
3. After picking up some tickets from a friend's house [about twenty minutes ago], I was REALLY craving the crushed ice at TB.  It would be awkward to just ask for a cup of ice, so I ordered Cinnamon Twists.  When I got up to the window, the employee was pretty dang cute!! Blonde, blue eyed, tall & cuddly (ie: not a skinny mini).  I was on the verge of saying "You're cute!", (which I'm sure would have totally made his night) ............but, I look pretty haggardly tired, not wearing a bra under my hoodie & driving my Mom's mini-van.  Nothing about it would have been impressive, and I barely wanted to look at the guy.  Even as I type this, I'm tempted to go back and tell him..........but really, who does that?  Besides, I swore off men & dating, this month.

HEY MAY!

*Here's a lil video of my bike ride with Liz.  It was a great ride to Coronado, but on the way back, we were biking into the wind--which makes it very tiring and difficult.  So yes, we're out of breath, but trying to laugh and have a good time!  Can I just say how HARD it is to bike with one hand, let alone trying to take pictures and record a video!  And in case you never knew, biking and laughing is VERY hard to do as well! Makes for a very wobbly ride.

My sister made the BOMB biscuits on Sunday. Yep, just like the ones they make at Red Lobster. Oh man, they were DELICIOUS!!  I think I ate a dozen......or very close to it.  I'm starting to love Sunday/family dinners again.  For a very long time they were hard, but now, due to the SCRUMPTIOUS food we've been having, it makes it so enjoyable. 

*I met up with Freshman15, the other night.  Well, it was fun, but I think it just reaffirms my desire to take a break from guys & dating.  He was way cute, but, we want two very different things right now.  Besides, I'm going to be VERY busy because...

*I'll be moving this week.  It won't be far, at all. {plus side, I'll only be 2.2 miles from the beach! AWESOME!!}  But I'm just tired of moving.  I never had to do it before my mission, then in the first month of my mission, I did it 4 times.  After my mission, I did it about 4 times within the first 18 months of being back {college}.  Then in Dec. 2010....and now, this week.  I hate packing, as is...so moving, to me, is "PACKING x DEATH".  Ok, maybe not that extreme, but I just can't stand it! Which is difficult because....

*My Meniere's has been pretty bad lately.  Not only has the "whooshing" in my left ear increased, I'm dizzy a lot more.  I just hope it doesn't get worse, to the point of falling because of extreme light headedness.  Just the thought of moving is already mentally tiring and I haven't even started packing. 

*Be positive Ehu.... Change can be good, remember?  

For now...

my weekend:

p.s. I really REALLY wanna go to Utah. I need to get the hell outta San Diego for a few days! I miss my cousin Kenikeni's cooking! *sigh*

Menu!

Can I just say how crazy/excited I am for tomorrow night!!
 I've FINALLY decided on a menu!!

Appetizer: Prosciutto & Cantaloupe

A VERY delicious combination! Plus it'll remind him of his time in Italia!

 Dinner: Crab stuffed Salmon!!

I've been craving these for several weeks now.

Twice Baked Potatoes!

Sauteed Asparagus!

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Now, if only I could figure out what to have for dessert.......

Maybe, Banana Ice Cream since it's his favorite?

However, I did think about:

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My beloved Viking!!

We'll see.........

 Let's just hope Houston likes it...and likes me even more because of it! :)

Nervous....Excited......with one week to go!!

So I asked Houston out on a date, for February 29.  Somehow it turned into me cooking him dinner.  For the last couple of days I've been racking my mind as to what I should make!  I have NO idea!!  Seriously, everything and anything I can make, just doesn't seem to add up. I mean, it's not exactly a "romantic" type of meal.  My nephews were saying I should make one of my soups. But soup isn't exactly what I want to make him just yet. I make "meal" types of food...  not "dinner-for-two" entrees. PLUS! He wants to watch me cook.  Oh man, I'm even MORE nervous!  Besides the fact, that I'll be cooking in his kitchen.  AHHHHH!!!!  I'm happy, excited, nervous and scared!! I would be more comfortable making homemade frijoles (beans), rice and enchiladas. Grrr.......we'll see what happens.  In the end, I think we'll both have a very enjoyable night.  

What's cookin', good lookin'!?

I started reading "Like Water for Chocolate" last night.  I've always LOOOOOOOOVED that book!  I'm 70% done with the book. Oh Tita y Pedro...

But now I just want to make everything under the sun!! 

I've been craving my Peruvian bean & chicken soup.  I NEED to make that.  Oooh I miss it so! I feel like it cures a sad heart and cheers a good day.  Yup, it's really that good.  

Oh I don't know what I want to make...but I feel like I want soup. However, I miss eating soup with Mama McK's homemade bread.  

In essence, I miss Mama McK.  I miss her a ton.  Oh my heart could use one of our wonderful Tuesday conversations in the kitchen.  

But for now, I will attempt to make my soup and send good thoughts her way.  I miss her so. 

DIVINE!!

OH MAN, I KNOCKED THIS ONE OUTTA THE PARK!!!

I made Peruvian bean & chicken soup from scratch.  It tastes MAGNIFICENTLY DIVINE!!! There is no way I could even try to be humble about this dish! I feel like this just thinking of how delicious it tastes!!     

 

I'm SO EXCITED to have my family taste it tonight and for Mama McK to try it tomorrow!!  

Who loves to cook?? I DO, I DO!!!

One word: STOKED!!!!!

DINNER TIME!!!

OH MAN!! I'm not gonna lie (or even try to be humble about it) tonight's dinner & dessert are probably my BEST creations EVER!!! 

I made like a  Tortilla soup, but I made it with Pork Chorizo & Pinto beans.  It's been simmering in the Crock pot all day and it smells so warm & welcoming.  I love it when a house smells like that! I stewed some fresh tomatoes--I LOVE peeling them!  Added some chopped onions, green bell peppers & corn.  As I've been tasting it through the day, it just gets better and better!! I thickened the tomato broth with a roux and set the Crock pot at warm.  I'm seriously so excited to eat it and to have my family partake of it's goodness as well!! 

I chopped up some Cilantro and I can't wait to top my soup with it!! I love the fresh aroma of Cilantro!!  It reminds me of how blessed I am to live in San Diego and grow up around the Mexican culture.  

For dessert, I made a Strawberry Mango cobbler!!! Oh man, right now as I type this the house smells HEAVENLY!!! My mouth has been watering all day!!  I SERIOUSLY can't wait til dinner tonight!!!

Thank you Mama McK for making the best foods for me to recreate and tweek a bit!

Manana!

I'm making a Chorizo Soup for dinner tomorrow.  I'm pretty excited to make it! I've got the pinto beans soaking, I'll cook up the Chorizo tomorrow and stew the tomatoes then, too. I hope it turns out GREAT!!  And I wanna make some corn bread because I'm cravin' some honey butter!!  (My inspiration for this meal: Mama McK's lunch today!)
I'd also like to try making some Peruvian beans soon! I found a recipe that looks soooo good!!

I. LOVE. TO. COOK.!!!

And as usual, I spent the afternoon with Mama McK.  I love my Tuesdays with her.  I learn so much from her.  I love learning her recipes.  That's how she'll continue to be with me once her mission ends and she heads back to Idaho with Papa McK. Oh I will miss them so dearly.  If only I could make fresh bread like she does!  I would love to cook and bake like she does.  She's like Wonder Woman when it comes to the kitchen!! Martha Stewart ain't got nothin' on her! One day I'm gonna cook just like Mama McK!