A Few "Wow" Moments, and Other Randomness

Well, I guess its about that time again. I'm way overdue for a post, but lately I just have not felt like blogging. I'm not sure why. Anyway, instead of trying to do a big catch-up-for-the-last-three-months super post, I would just like to point out some of the highlights...

First, Meet Silas:
Silas is a Mini Daschund that I got from a family here in Snowflake. I'm not usually much of an animal person, but I fell in love, and my dad thought it would be good for me to have something to nurture and care for-- so he bought him for me. I'm so spoiled.

Second, Etsy:
I have finally opened an etsy shop! I've been busy this summer sewing and making jewelry and such, had no success selling it at boutiques or the local Farmer's Market, and am hoping that exposure to a larger market will prove profitable. Anyway, if you want to check it out, its: artfulepicurean.etsy.com If you like it, tell your friends!! A few "Wow" moments:
* A few weeks ago, Angela and I were substituting my mom's Sunbeam class. The sharing time lesson that day was about Joseph of Egypt, and the teacher asked for a bunch of boys to come up and act it out. When it came to the part where Joseph and his brothers are herding sheep (right before Joseph is thrown into the pit) the teacher whispered to the boys to act like they were herding sheep... well, thanks to decades of Americans exercising poor elocution of the english language, the boys thought she said start "hurting" sheep, and they all began to punch and kick the air as if they were beating the poor sheep to death! The poor lady was so confused, and Angela and I just laughed and laughed.

* I have taken to calling Trinity "Little Miss Chatterbox" on occasion, because I don't think I've ever met a four-year-old who had more to say than she does. Don't get me wrong-- I love talking to Trin. She is so intelligent and has such a large vocabulary, that I often forget she is only four. Yesterday, I was working on a project, and she contented herself with chatting about anything and everything she could think of. I would reply every now and then with a short sentence or two, and she would go right on talking. At one point, in her little sing-song voice, she said "I just like to go blah, blah, blah, all day long!" To which I replied, "Why is that? Why do you like to talk so much?"
She responded, "I just NEED to talk!" and paused a moment before saying, "I think Heavenly Father needs to hear my voice."
I couldn't come up with a better explaination if I tried.
* Ever since I got Silas, I've seen a lot more sunrises (a puppy's bladder waits for no one...). I love the Arizona sky, and feel like every sunrise and sunset I get to watch is a blessing. In those still, quiet moments of the morning time stops. It gives me a chance to realize all of the beautiful little things I've been taking for granted, and I can start to put things back into perspective. Unfortunately, I usually go back to bed after the "buisness" is done, and those feelings disolve into my pillow. But I am grateful even for those small moments of reflection and peace.

*Eliana-- Need I say More??

* My last "Wow" moment is from my grandma. I know what you're thinking (well... those of you who don't know her) and she is not your typical apron-wearing, cookie-baking, smells-like-a-rose-garden, silver-haired grandmother-- she is as feisty and sassy as they come, with a biting sarcasm and cynicism that (to her frustration) only makes her more endearing. I absolutely love my grandma, and wouldn't trade her for anything.
A couple weeks ago we had lunch with her, and she was so entertaining! Out of the blue she started talking about how she wasn't going to blow-dry her hair anymore, because she's pretty sure she's cooking her head when she does. Now, this could very well be one of those "had to be there" moments, but I'm pretty sure Tay will get a laugh out of it... I know I laughed so hard that I got written out of her will. She then went on to talk about "loofah soap" and how she believes that it acutally works(!), and scrubs off all her dead skin. I responded to her that, yes, that is the whole point of using an exfoliator, to which she excitedly replied that loofahs could be like the new weightloss thing-- because you can scrub off 10 pounds of dead skin every time you shower. I'm pretty sure my horrified expression and the little "eww!" that escaped me absolutely made her day.

Okay, well... thats it for now. I thought I had more to write, but the writing bug is just not there for me lately. I love you all! Don't give up on me-- I'll still try to keep you "posted" from time to time. Ha ha. Bad? Okay... I'm done.

A Parting of the Ways

Another semester has ended and, as is generally the case, change is happening-- whether I'm ready for it or not. This stage of life is so crazy, and often hard for me, because everything seems so transient. I go to a new place, I miss my old place and my old friends, I start to make new friends, and just when things start getting fun and exciting, we all have to move on with life and go our seperate ways. This occurs far too often for my liking. Don't get me wrong, I think that change is good because it helps us to grow. I just wish things didn't have to change for me so frequently; it gets old. Anyway, sorry for the self-pity. There are plenty of things to be excited about too. For example, I'm going home for the summer, and will get to spend plenty of time with my family! As soon as my finals are over this week, I'm out of here! I have to admit that it will be nice to have a change of scenery and say goodbye to Provo for a while. Every new adventure offers great opportunities to learn and grow and experience new things, and I'm anxious to see what this next phase will bring to me.

Last Sunday our friend, Chelsea, was kind enough to take pictures of my roommates and I. Here are a few of my favorites:

These girls are so great, and I will really miss them. I love you guys!!

Please get Elton John out of my head!

Anyone who knows me knows that I love good music. True, I am pretty picky about what I listen to, but I feel like its worth it because I have good taste. I am under the impression that the general population also believes that THEY have good taste in music too. Which leads me to question-- if EVERYONE has such great taste in music, then why are there so many lame songs out there? It seems to me that the worst ones are either the most popular, or at least the tunes with the most radio airtime.

I am sure you all have experienced --at one time or another-- hearing a song on the radio on your way to work, in the grocery store, at the gym, on your iPod (heaven forbid!) that absolutely irritates you, but subsequently gets stuck in your head for the rest of the day. Here are three of my least-favorite:

I guess thats why they call it the blues by Elton John

The chorus says something creepy about rolling like thunder under the covers. When I worked at Jason's Deli that song would come on without fail every single day. And guess which part always gets stuck in my head? HATE IT.

Just Dance by Lady Gaga

This is just one example of why pop music has taken its toll on me. Its getting almost as ridiculous as country these days...

"Where are my keys? I left my phone"-- Are you kidding me?!? I think these must be some of the most un-creative and downright stupid lyrics OF ALL TIME. Seriously. How are these people even famous? I could write better lyrics transcribing papyrus scrolls into dutch in my sleep.

Oh, and you'd better believe that, if I did write such a song, there would be actual SINGING in it too. Imagine.

All I Want For Christmas by Mariah Carey

Is there even an explanation needed? I think this is the WORST Christmas song ever written, and every year when the little bells start chiming I cringe and try to go to my happy place; a place where Bing Crosby is crooning "White Christmas" as colorful-sweatered people hang sparkling ornaments on a freshly-cut Christmas tree, and a chubby little grandma is putting gumdrop buttons on each smiling gingerbread man.

It doesn't really work. By the last, shrill note I tend to turn into a pre-Christmas-spirits Ebeneezer Scrooge. Bah, humbug!

What song do you wish you could erase from your memory?

The Festival of Colors~ A Welcome To Spring

Last weekend I was able to attend the Hare Krishna "Holi" celebration (aka, The Festival of Colors) for the second year in a row. The celebration was a great way to usher in the spring. Hmm.. maybe all the snow this week is my punishment for participating in pagan rituals.

I know, I know...

"Hmm, I wonder when Kalli will post again?"
"Probably never. I'm pretty sure she fell off the face of the earth."
"Yeah, that sounds about right."

Wow. Lately life has felt like it is flying by at a break-neck speed, and its all I can do to keep up. Not that its bad; on the contrary, I feel like things are going quite well in spite of all the demands on my time and sanity. School is keeping me very busy, but I'm loving the things I am learning, and the more I learn the more excited I get and want to share it with everyone around me. Ironically, the class I'm having the most trouble with is my pottery class, and thats just because I'm a perfectionist and it takes me ten hours to make something that I'll actually be satisfied with. I've been spending a lot of time trying to get caught up, but have taken a break the past few days due to my having dropped the teapot I was nearly finished with on Tuesday. I will start fresh on Monday.


Okay, I guess that is the (lame) update of how the last week has been. The preceeding weeks were a bit less frustrating, and far more adventurous.

• I went to Las Vegas for work the last week in February. Our company was chosen to cater a large event for other caterers at a large convention at the Hilton. Unfortunately, I don't really have any pictures of my experiences, because we were working the entire time. We pulled some long hours (one was a 17 hr day without a break!!) and I felt completely broken and worn down by the end, but it was such a great learning experience and the event turned out fantastic! I really should try to get some pictures; it was the kind of party you always see in "chick flicks" but don't think that people ever have in real life. Anyway, I'm so glad I went, but I'm also glad it is over. As a result of being over-worked and under-slept, I ended up with a cold that I'm pretty sure turned into brochitis. But I'm better now.


• The week after the Vegas trip, we didn't have any work (things have been slow, off and on) so I decided to skip a day of school and drive home for the weekend. I must say that I felt pretty proud of myself for making the trip alone... I almost feel like an adult now. While I was home I got to see Matti perform in the SHS production of "Oklahoma". Of course, she was one of the cutest ones on the stage. I also got to spend some quality time with my best little buddies, Trinity and Eliana, and the rest of my family as well. I am so grateful for my family, and I realize more and more all the time that they truly are my best friends. I had fun spending time with Tatton and Rachel, shopping with Dad :), going to the "White Chair" with mom and getting spoiled, having lunch at a new little tea shop with the whole family, and getting some much needed r&r. There are pictures below for your viewing pleasure. Ps: If there seems to be a shortage of pictures of Eliana, that is because she never holds still!


• My journey back to Utah was, for the most part, uneventful. I maintained my sanity thanks to Shannon Hale and Audible.com, by listening to an audio book to pass the time ( the book is titled "Book of a Thousand Days", and I HIGHLY recommend it). I was making good time and was certain that I would get home early enough to write a two-page paper that was due the next day, when suddenly-- about 45 minutes from Provo-- I turned a corner and found that the sunny spring day directly behind me was mirrored by a raging blizzard in front of me. I bravely forged through the whiteness for about ten miles, using the "braille" bumps in the middle and edge of the road to know where I was going. I literally could not see the hood of my car, and just when the snow was freezing solidly to my windshield in spite of the defrost being on High, and just when I was pretty sure my hyperventilation was going to turn into a seizure, I spotted a tiny little gas station on the side of the road. I quickly pulled over and tried to start breathing again while I waited out the storm. An hour later, nothing had changed, and it was getting dark. I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to be spending the night in my car, which is exactly what I did-- despite the protests of my dad, roommates, and others who did not think it was safe, and who believed I would freeze to death. However, I was pretty sure if I tried to venture out again, I would drive to death; so I opted for freezing. Really, I wasn't worried at all, I had my huge down comforter with me (which was such a blessing) and I kind of thought it would be fun. At least more fun than sliding off the side of a canyon road. I was perfectly warm, perfectly safe (there was a highway patrolman there for most of the night, stopping cars without 4-wheel drive/chains) and in the morning I woke up and drove home on the freshly fallen (and melting) snow. All in all, I quite liked that I had such an adventure, though I don't wish to repeat the experience any time soon. I am just very grateful that I was safe, and had the things I needed to stay alive.

Other than my adventures, I've just been busy with work, school, and other responsibilities. Things are going well, and I am excited for spring! I always feel like, when spring comes, I am thawing out and coming back to life, just like the world around me.

Who knows, maybe my blog will come out of hibernation as well...Blowing bubbles with Papa

Yesterday, the girl teaching our relief society lesson said "Self-defecating" where she should have said "Self-deprecating"...

Just had to get that out there.

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for...

Drum roll, please... I am finally blogging again! Wait, is anyone there? I think I hear an echo...echo...echo...
Okay, it comes as no surprise to me that I probably don't have any blog followers left... except maybe my mom, who always has hope. So mom, this one is for you. Thanks for always believing in me (haha).
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, two months should elicit at least 20,000 words from me, but since I don't have time to write a complete biography, I'm just going to let the pictures do the talking. Here is a little bit of what I've been up to the past couple of months:

Enjoying a Christmas party with friends
Making cupcakes with Trinity

Christmas Day

A gathering of old friends

The many faces of Eliana

Trin playing with the little forest animals we made together

Eating ice cream on "the best day ever!!!"

Is there any question that I am the luckiest aunt in the world???

Other highlights from my trip home:

• Relaxing
• Making and eating great food
• Singing Christmas carols
• Fresh oranges from Mesa
• Staying up until the wee hours of the night playing "Clue" with my parents and Matti
• Playing "Speed Scrabble" and winning (usually...heehee)
• Having heart-to-heart talks with Angela
• Falling asleep at 10 pm on New Year's Eve and realizing that, when your brother wakes you up at five till midnight and shoves a glass of Martinelli's into your hand, you'll drink it even though it doesn't taste very good with your current degree of halitosis...
• Hanging with Tatton and Rachel
• Wrestling sunbeams with my mom
• Chasing Eliana ALL OVER the place 24-7
• Being a ballerina with Trin
• Jumping on the bed with Trin
• Helping my dad shop for my mom's Christmas presents, and getting it all done in an hour and a half
• Seeing great friends
• Watching "Its a wonderful life"
• Trinity jumping up and down while they mix sprinkles into her cotton-candy ice cream, then becoming intoxicated by all the sugar and saying the most hilarious things.
• Trinity giving my dad a big hug and saying, "Papa, this is the BEST day ever!!"
• Eliana consuming all of my mom's dark chocolate ice cream.
• Spending time with my family and feeling so much love.

I really enjoyed the Christmas break, and the time I was able to spend with family and friends. Now its back to the grindstone, but I find myself still feeling happy and grateful that I am so blessed.

By way of update: I am officially DONE with culinary school, and it feels great to have achieved that. However, I can't seem to get enough of school, and am now working on finishing my bachelors degree with a different major-- Community Health. So far I am loving my classes and the things I'm learning, and everything just feels right. I am still working for the catering place I've been at since May, and feel really blessed to still have a job in this economy. I love my co-workers and the work I am doing, even if it is exhausting. I am thankful for this new year and all of the possibilities that come with it. Hopefully I will be able to make it my best one yet!