Brownie Points

First, I would like to make a confession. "Hi, my name is Liz and I am a brownie-aholic."

I love brownies. I met someone once who did not like brownies. It was fortunate that I already liked this person before I knew they were anti-brownie.

I love brownies: brown brownies, blond brownies, mulatto brownies. I have no prejudices against brownies. They are all one big happy family to me. May the world have lasting peace through chocolate gooeyness.

So you are probably wondering, hmmm this girl has fallen off the weight watchers bandwagon which she only mentioned one post ago. No, never fear dear reader. I have found empowerment from a brownie. Yes it is true. So the first Thursday of random months is our staff meeting; seriously it is random, but I digress. Always at said staff meeting they produce yummy chocolaty brownies. I know this. It happens every time. Okay I think once they decided to get some other type of treat and there were riots in the halls. So I prepared, saved, planned so I could eat a brownie. And I ate one. It felt great to eat a treat I love AND to know that it is not going to set me back. Not going to hurt my life long goal of being healthy. Strange how planning to eat a brownie could make me feel so capable of reaching my weight loss goals. Nevertheless and not withstanding that was the feeling produced. Then I ate salad for lunch and fruit. Yummy fresh pineapple and watermelon.

So I learned a great lesson today. I can eat what I want (albeit it sparingly) if I want it bad enough. Empowered by a brownie, who knew.

A Weight Watcher's Way of Life

So a couple of weeks ago I jumped on the Weight Watcher's bandwagon. I decided it was far past time for me to do something about my weight. Yes, 'my' I possess it or rather it possess me. I decided that when I started to loath family events, refused friendly get togethers that it was time to change something. Okay perhaps loath is too strong a word but worry, despair, embarrassed. Those are appropriate words. I have done Weight Watcher's before and was moderately successful. So here is to a second try.

I tried Metafast first. I think it could be a good program. I was enamored by it and I even coerced a friend into trying it (who was very successful at it by the way) but I just could not stand the bland food. Give me some flava' please. I liked the flavored water, even when I found out it was packed with caffeine (Yea, I know that was probably why I liked it so much). But the program just did not work for me. I felt hungry all the time and the food I did eat was yucky.

So on to Weight Watchers. So far so good. I have lost 5 pounds. I am pretty excited about that and it motivates me to keep at it. I am connected by the hip (or the tips of my fingers rather) to the computer so I check the points on everything. I'll think to myself, hmm really how much could a Blizzard cost me. Yea. I took one look at the amount of points I would loose for a Reece's Blizzard and decided I would probably never have one again. There are so many things I would rather ingest, for less points and would probably keep me far more satisfied. Even Sam is getting into the whole points thing. When I eat anything he'll say, is that in your points. Most of the time I think it is cute and helpful. It is only when it isn't within my points that I get a bit frustrated that he asked. He has been very supportive and encourages me to work out. That or play Wii but he does try to be supportive.

So the journey has begun. I have tried this journey before and lost but I think it is because I tried doing it alone. So that is why, embarrassing as it may be, I am reaching out to you my friends and family to support me in this journey. I want to be a healthy person. I don't need to be a supermodel (but honestly have you seen me? I am pretty hot!). So here I go, onward and downward.

Puppy Luv

Sam and I went to visit a friend whose dog just had puppies. You see below Sam with Zeek - the daddy! And what a daddy. He is a huge mass of muscle but a sweet kind BIG dog. Sam loved Zeek he wanted to take him home. Sam loved this puppy. He said it was his. Too bad he was already sold. Not that we could have taken a puppy home anyway because we can't have dogs at our apartment not to mention the fact that I am allergic to the cute little pups.

Just look at Sam's face. Pure love and excitment is what that is. Pure. He played and loved and played with those dogs for hours and then slept all the way home. He does not take naps anymore, naps are for babies says he, but he was so tired he zonked right out. I think before we even left their driveway.

Sam is loving soccer. His little team is getting their act together and they have stopped running around like a swarm of bees. He loves being the 'defender' there is no goalie in his league so they call it the 'defender' instead. We may have a future goalie on our hands.

Sam and I went to the zoo on a teacher work day. It was crazy fun and a bit cold. The two thumbs up is his new thing. Can't wait for summer and more zoo trips.

Women's Conference

Women's Conference = Windows of Light

This past weekend I attended a local women's conference. I was really excited to hear Sister Kristen Oaks speak. She talked like she was speaking to friends. Although the room was filled to capacity she made me feel like she was talking to just me. (and from comments I heard from others they felt the same way too - that is talent!)

I wanted to share a few thoughts I had from the conference. One of my favorite things she said was to 'immunize yourself by knowing God's voice'. I thought to know God's voice you have to hear it. To hear it you have to listen through scripture reading and prayer, even singing or listening to Hymns. She said, 'negative thoughts are not from God, He may tell us hard things but in a loving way'. I knew that, I know that but sometimes I get caught up in the negatives. It is important to remember God loves us and chastises with peace and love, never chaos, confusion and anger.

Another thought she shared that I love was a quote from I believe it was Elder Holland but don't quote me on that! "Salvation is not a cheap experience." Meaning Jesus Christ's life was not easy, his suffering was not easy, even his preaching the word was not easy. Why then would life be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him. Sometimes I want things to be easy. Life, love, relationships but in reality life is not easy it is how we live that makes life enjoyable. I believe that Christ was a happy person not because His life was easy but because he choose to be. It also relates to a workshop I went to on being happy she said something like 'deeper sorrow contours a place for greater joy'. Experiencing the hard, the sorrow, the pain grinds out valleys in our hearts for love, joy, laughter to resonate. I actually thought about this nature show I watched about the creation of valleys, created either by glaciers grinding away, or volcanoes bursting open, or earthquakes tearing things apart. Not an easy process but look at the beauty that is left behind.

She spoke about many things but the last thing that really struck me was she told us that we must 'never disconnect ourselves from the real world'. She said she loves the Internet and movies and books but relationship with friends and family over a hot meal (or a cold one - everyone laughed) are really important. I love my friends and family and honestly most of the time because of long distance we can only connect over Facebook or blogs or emails but I hope that I am capable and willing to leave the virtual world and live in the real world too.

Then I went to three workshops. I will give one or two of my favorites parts from each:

First I listen to Ann Madsen she has been teaching Old Testament at BYU since 1976 (which is almost longer than I have been alive!). For the past several years her focus has been on the teachings of Isaiah. She also lived and taught at the Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies. Talk about a women with amazing experience.

She talked about studying the scriptures saying 'once you know, the Spirit will help you remember'. She spoke a lot about the scriptures being an 'anchor' and I thought about the storms of life and how I need to remain anchored.

Then I went to a photography class. Which is ironic considering the fact that I do not own a camera but here it to hoping. There were three things that stood out to me. First was change your perspective. The second light, light and more natural light. And finally, observe and find the beauty. (she also gave several hand outs about actually taking pictures)

I thought those were not only good tips for shooting pictures but living. Sometimes I just do not understand circumstances, other people but by changing my perspective I can perhaps see. She talked a lot about light, she said, 'sometimes we get too caught up with the background ... and we don't pay enough attention to the light'. Sometimes I get caught up in the background forgetting the really important things. And lastly observe. She said, 'there is so much that can go unnoticed in everyday life that is worthy of your attention'. She, of course, was speaking of photographs but I was thinking about the little miracles that happen all around me and that I would feel more peace and find more joy if I just took the time to notice.

Finally, I went to a workshop on Humor, the title of the class was "Finding Humor and Peach through Lives Journey." She said we have to have in our arsenals humor at the ready. The quote on the picture says, "Never in recorded history has housework been finished." So true, so true. So we have to find the humor in living. She was a very funny lady and I hardly took any notes because I just kept laughing but I learned that we have to laugh, laughing makes me feel better. And anyway, it is much better to laugh than to cry. Although I did hear that crying is great for the complexion (after the redness and swelling go down that is...)

Really I learned three things: 1. God loves me. 2. There are wonderful women (and men) around me that lift me up. 3. Laughter is a good thing. (oh and I really want an camera)

My Super Star = Sam

2005 Birthday = We had just moved into our new apartment - literally I think that day or just a couple days before his birthday. I just love how he likes to cuddle and sit next to me on the couch, even to this day he is a snuggler and I love it.

2006 Birthday = Sam loves superheros, especially Spiderman and Batman. He is my superhero. He is always willing to help clean the house or run errands with me. He is a great helper.

2007 Birthday = Sam has a wonderful sense of humor. I love to hear him laugh it is contagious. He tells wonderful stories and has an amazing imagination.

2008 Birthday = Sam is a Lego Master. He can build anything. He is so patient sitting there building, he could do it for hours and hours. He likes to follow the directions, once; and then he likes to build and create and imagine his own things. And doesn't he have the best smile!


2009 Birthday = Sam loves anything green. And if it is army green that is even better. He wants a green car, a green house, green clothes and if it were possible a green dog, however, he will settle for a regular dog ASAP please.

2010 Birthday = The night before his birthday my friend, Kacy, brought over balloons and stuff to surprise him but he was still awake. He was so good staying in his room. He knew something was going on downstairs but he was obedient. When I went back up stairs he was sitting in his room in the dark. He said he felt like it was Christmas. Then he said you got me a snuggie and I couldn't help it I smiled. He said, "I knew it, I just knew it." He really wanted a snuggie. Sam is my best boy. He is bright and funny, loving and cuddly, head strong and energetic. I am so glad he is my son.

Happy Halloween

Halloween was fun. Sam was Luigi and I was supposed to be Princess Peach but I couldn't find a princess costume that was peach or even pink. So I was a blue Princess Peach. We had so much fun.

Here is Sam with a few of his buddies from C Street. It was fun to see old friends.

The cutest Luigi EVER!

The stash!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween.

NaNoWriMo 2009

Well it is just about that time again. I was very seriously considering not doing it, considering the fact that the last two novels I have written during NaNo are not finished. And just as I was about to scrap the whole month and just work on the stuff I need to finish I got this idea. This little glimmer of an idea that I really want to explore. So here goes nothin' (yes my grammar is immaculate). This is the least prepared I have ever been for the National Novel Writing Month. But I do have two weeks to try and do some world building, character development, a few sub-plots and a twist or two.

My last year NaNo which was a high fantasy (elves and all) is still yet to be named and is in the final draft phase. My co-worker has read the first eight chapters and has been bugging me to finish. She wants to know what happens. I am guessing that is a good thing.

I reworked my two years ago NaNo The Forbidden Art a techno fantasy. I changed the beginning almost completely. I am very happy with it. The same co-worker as above says the first chapter is creepy. I hope in the this-is-a-great-hook-and-I-would-read-the-rest kind of way not boy-this-is-really-creepy kind of way.

This year I am using a working title of Time Escape. Should be interesting to see if I can pull it off.