Mini Cheesecakes with Fresh Fruit Topping

I'm finally getting around to posting the yummy treats I made for the Fourth of July. Chris and I went to Mammoth and met his parents and family friends there for the long weekend. We were also celebrating his mom's birthday which was a couple weeks prior. SO...I made gluten-free mini cheesecakes, which were a HUGE hit!

I used a mini cheesecake recipe I found on MarthaStewart.com, and made some revisions to it. First off, I wanted to make them in ramekins; and secondly, I had to make it gluten-free. Instead of a traditional cheesecake crust, I used gluten-free gingersnaps from Trader Joe's. They were PERFECT for the job. Since we were at a high altitude plus using ramekins, I don't remember exactly how long or at what temperature I set it...I just kept my eye on it. Then I just topped them with crushed fresh strawberries (tiny bit of sugar added) and blueberries for a festive look.

See how beautiful they turned out?! I just took this photo on my iphone, but I think they look pretty darn scrumptious! I could have eaten 4 more :)


Here's the recipe from Martha Stewart:

• 3/4 cup crumbled gluten-free ginger snaps
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 pound cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• Pinch of salt
• Fresh fruit for topping

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. (I omitted this part and baked in ramekins.) Mix cookies and 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sugar in a bowl. Stir in butter. Press 1 tablespoon of mixture in bottom of each cup. Bake until set, about 7 minutes. Let cool in tins on wire racks.
2. Reduce oven temperature to 275 degrees. Beat cream cheese with a mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, then vanilla. With mixer running, add eggs slowly, scraping down side of bowl. Add sour cream and salt. Pour batter into muffin cups, filling almost to the tops.
3. Bake until sides are set but centers are wobbly, about 20 minutes (maybe longer if using ramekins, which are larger than muffin tins). Let cool in tins on wire racks. Wrap tins tightly with plastic, and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
4. Spoon some fresh fruit on top of each cake. I mashed some strawberries with a little sugar, then added a few blueberries on each cake.

Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday: Sittin' Pretty

A Dream Shattered

Someone has finally managed to photograph the pot at the end of the rainbow. Wouldn't you know it!

Teaching my 2-Year-Old Niece How to Stamp

I posted this on my craft blog first, but thought it was appropriate for this blog as well :)

A couple of weeks ago I visited my family in San Diego. I'm itching to be able to craft with my niece, Madison, but she's still just a little too young. But she always shows an interest in my crafting supplies (in addition to my makeup), so I thought she would have fun learning how to stamp. She loves animals, so I got out the Life's a Jungle stamp set, a few colors of ink, and a plain white sheet of cardstock. I demonstrated for her a couple of times, then she went to town! She totally got the concept of tapping the stamp onto the ink a few times, but then every time she stamped the image onto the paper she did the same thing--tapped it a few times. So she always had at least 3 (usually partial) images on the paper. It was adorable!

She loved picking out the animals from clear sheet of acetate that the stamps come on. Then I'd put the clear stamp on the block, and she'd have at it. Once I cleaned a stamp to use a new one, I let her put it back on the sheet. It was like a puzzle for her...a good learning activity :)

At one point I stamped the lion on her hand. Then she wanted it on her other hand. Then she proceeded to take her sandals off and wanted her feet stamped. I used the fishy from the new Hot Diggity stamp set on her feet.
She is at an age where she loves copying. So she added more stamps to her hands and arms. And instead of stamping her feet, she simply added the acrylic stamps right onto them! She's so funny. This girl was covered in ink and had a giant smile on her face when we were finished. Mom may not have been too happy, but Auntie and Maddie sure had fun!!

CLEANING TIP: Madison leaned into the ink pad a few times and got ink on her cute little shirt. We used a combination of Zout and Shout stain removers, let it soak, then scrubbed w/ a toothbrush and the ink came out of the fabric after it was washed.

Here's a pic later that day of Maddie loving on her baby brother, Connor. She still doesn't quite get the concept of "gentle," so her loving usually gets interrupted quickly by Mommy :)

How to Begin a Gluten-Free Lifestyle and Stay on a Budget

I have spoken with many people lately who were either thinking of going gluten free, needed to be gluten free, or have kids who needed to be gluten free. Some have found out they have Celiac Disease, some that their kids have allergies, and others are doing it for health benefits. It has also been suggested that children with autism can benefit from a gluten-free lifestyle.

Whatever your reason for a gluten-free diet may be, I hope I can help shed some light on the subject. I've been gluten free for just over 3 years, so I'm happy to share all this information that's been rolling around in my head for so long. It's definitely a more expensive lifestyle, but it's often healthier than your current way of eating and you can still stay on a budget.

A little info about me first. I am gluten intolerant. There are hundreds of symptoms for gluten intolerance and Celiac Disease and they manifest themselves differently in each person. I got severe migraines several times a week for many, many years and was also always tired. When I was in college I’d take a nap every day when I got home from school…and not just because I was a college student. It was out of the ordinary. Once I saw a nutritionist and cut gluten out of my diet, I not only stopped getting food-related migraines, but I also had more energy and felt better all around.

I remember feeling extremely overwhelmed when I found out I couldn't have gluten. It’s a hard transition, especially since it's not just temporary. It's a whole lifestyle change. I didn’t even know what gluten was and what I could or couldn’t eat at first. But however overwhelmed you may be right now at the beginning stages, I PROMISE it gets easier! It must be especially hard when it's your child who can't have gluten—you just want them to be “normal.” You want them to be able to have a sandwich for lunch at school and a cupcake at a friend's birthday party. I’m here to assure you that your child WILL fit in and be "normal."

If you are not sure what gluten is, the simple explanation is that it’s a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Here’s a general guideline: anything with flour has gluten. Breads, baked goods—anything that is made with traditional all-purpose flour because flour is made from wheat. Of course there are many exceptions to this because gluten is in wheat, barley, and rye, and hidden in things you’d least expect. Like soy sauce—it’s made with wheat. But you can buy Tamari wheat-free soy sauce at any health food store, and even your local grocery store now. You also need to watch out for malt flavoring. Most of the time it’s made from barley. For example, most granola bars and cereals use malt flavoring (but not all). It doesn’t say wheat or barley or rye or gluten, but you just have to know that malt is made from barley. You need to learn how to read labels, and read EVERY label.

On that note, the book Living Gluten-Free for Dummies was a LIFE-saver! The author, Danna Korn, has a son w/ Celiac Disease and she started a Celiac foundation for kids. She's hilarious and makes the transition so much easier. I promise. Buy the book. (I’m not endorsing it, I just know how much it helped me!) She gives a background on gluten and what it does to a body that can't process it, tells you what to look for on labels, shares recipes, and lots more. If you’re on the fence about going gluten free for health reasons you should read it…she covers that topic as well.

Another must-have is a good baking book, because you can’t just go to the bakery and grab some cookies or cupcakes anymore. I recommend Gluten-Free Baking Classics. It has not let me down. It includes cookies, cakes, breads, scones, and everything in between—and everything I've made has been fabulous! The beginning of the book explains alternative gluten-free flours. I won’t go into detail because Annalise explains it so well in the book—but basically you can make an all-purpose gluten-free flour by mixing brown rice flour, tapioca flour, and potato starch along with Xanthan gum (the binder since you don't have gluten). These flours are more expensive than regular flour, but they're becoming readily available at many grocery stores now, as well as health food stores. If you have an oriental market near you, you can often find them pretty inexpensively. And if you want to buy in bulk, Amazon carries them—Bob’s Red Mill is one of the more well-known brands. Arrowhead Mills is another. Rule of thumb for GF baked goods: they go bad faster than "normal" baked goods—homemade or store-bought. Freeze what you can.

If you’d rather not bake from scratch, Betty Crocker has 4 gluten-free mixes now—chocolate cake, yellow cake, brownies, and chocolate chip cookies. All are yummy. If you live near a Trader Joe's, they also have a good brownie mix and pancake & waffle mix.

Trader Joe’s is my personal favorite place to do my grocery shopping; they have lots of GF options. If you just go in and ask, their staff is usually very helpful and can point you to a lot of options. Some staples in my house include:

• Brown rice pasta—it’s inexpensive (I also like corn or quinoa pasta but TJ's doesn't carry them and they're more expensive—Amazon carries them in bulk though, and now some chain grocery stores have them). Any GF pasta is actually going to be healthier than plain ol' spaghetti—and the whole family will enjoy it. Edited to add: TJ's now has corn pasta and it's less expensive than brown rice and is delicious :)
• Onion & chive corn crackers—great with cream cheese, hummus, or plain Edited to add:I have not seen these in a while :(
• Ginger snaps—try as the crust for cheesecake!
• Cheese puffs—less fattening that other brands
• Corn chips—I like the blue ones, but they’re all good. A general rule of thumb is that corn chips are gluten free, as are corn tortillas.
• Gluten-free granola
• Black bean and cheese rolled tacos—freezer section. Chicken rolled tacos are also GF, but I like the black bean ones better. (Careful—the beef ones are not GF!)

Some other gluten-free foods worth mentioning:

• Target has Odwalla bars in the vitamin/health bar section that are GF. I like the mixed berry. Edited to add: I have not seen these in quite some time.
• Most Clif bars are GF and they also make a kid's size. (These “health” bars are on the expensive side though...they're a special treat for me!)
• Sometimes Costco has Naked Nuggets. I haven't seen them at my Costco but my sister has gotten them for me. They're chicken nuggets without the breading. Very tasty, and much healthier than McDonald's!
• If you have Fresh & Easy by you, they have a lot of gluten-free foods.
• I love Glutino crackers—they are similar to Ritz. They're a little pricey but I’ve found cheapest at Fresh & Easy. I’ve found anything from Glutino to be good.
• Glutino also makes pretzels, but they're about $7 a bag! When I first found them just a few months ago, however, I didn’t care how much they cost—I was just excited to have them after 3 years! 
• Udi bread is the best GF sandwich bread I’ve found (I've tried lots). This is what I mean when I say your kids can be “normal.” You can still make them sandwiches for lunch at school and they’ll look just like the other kids. (Just make sure they don’t make any trades!) I get it at Whole Foods.
• Rice Chex and Kix cereals are naturally gluten free! I just saw Honey Nut Chex for the first time at Target that is GF also. But not ALL Chex is gluten-free, so be careful! It's labeled clearly on the box. Edited to add: Cinnamon Chex and Apple Cinnamon Chex are new gluten free cereals now.
  
• Whole Foods has TONS of options—including ravioli(!), but they're very pricey. When you want to splurge go there.
• PCC is in my area in Seattle, they're another great spot for lots of GF options if you have one near you. They have the best price on Udi bread that I've found.

You'll find that many foods you are already used to are gluten free, such as beans. This is one of my favorite chili recipes. Not all chicken stock is GF, so make sure it’s labeled. Costco carries GF chicken stock in boxes. Many recipes that may not be gluten free can often be adjusted to become gluten free. Here are all my favorite GF recipes that I've posted on my blog. Corn meal is safe and a great way to “bread” things instead of using bread crumbs. You’ll see an example in the popcorn shrimp recipe. You can also make your own bread crumbs by putting pieces of gluten-free bread in a food processor, then freeze or dehydrate the breadcrumbs to store for future use. Trader Joe’s carries a gluten-free bread (a small loaf in pink packaging). It’s good for breadcrumbs, however I don’t like it for sandwiches—it’s too dense. But it does toast well for breakfast.

Lots of restaurants are now recognizing the demand for gluten-free menus. Some that I enjoy are: PF Chang's, Pei Wei and Old Spaghetti Factory (they sub corn pasta). Most Mexican food is safe because they usually use corn. Thai is another good option too—lots of rice noodles. You can buy rice noodles inexpensively at an oriental market and make your own Thai food also. Just be sure that whenever you go out, be sure to mention to the waiter/waitress that you can't have gluten, and he/she should know what it is and can make sure what you are ordering is safe. If you go somewhere like Thai food where they may not speak the best English, ask if there is soy sauce...that is usually the culprit in their cooking. I love Thai food, especially Pad Thai...it's GF about 3/4 of the time. Better to be safe than sorry!

I still have moments where I just want to be able to get a pizza at a restaurant, but I've just gotten used to not being able to. However, I have found a few restaurants that offer gluten-free pizza. If you are in LA, Pizza Fusion is great. And if you are in San Diego, Borrelli’s is by far the best gluten-free pizza I’ve had. My family lives in San Diego, and whenever I visit I stop in and buy some of their pizza crust if they can spare it (if you do this, I suggest letting them know in advance). I also sometimes make my own pizza dough (this is my favorite recipe). You’ll find that with gluten-free baking, the dough tends to be stickier than normal dough. When making your own pizza, you will probably have to spread the dough onto the baking tray with a spatula. Edited to add: You can often find gluten-free pizza crust at health food stores, including Whole Foods. Check the freezer section. Also, more and more pizza chains are offering GF pizza. In Seattle, where I live, Garlic Jim's and Luciano's recently added it to their menus.

It's always hard to find gluten-free options when traveling—it can take a lot of research ahead of time. But you will get used to it, you just need to know what to look for. I have found several bakeries, restaurants, markets, etc. by Googling "Gluten Free [city]." If you have a smartphone, download the Yelp app. I usually just type in “gluten free” and it will find restaurants nearby that have gluten-free options (if there are any). I can usually find something on any menu that I can eat…it just may not be the first thing I’d choose. Salads are often safe, but you do need to watch out for salad dressing. Flour is often used as a thickening agent, which is why you always need to ask when eating out. You can also get burgers without the buns, but be sure they don't use breadcrumbs as a filler. Also watch out for blue cheese—it contains wheat. (I used to often order blue cheese burgers!) I personally like cooking myself so I always know what I’m eating, plus I enjoy it…but I do like going out to eat if I know what I’m getting is safe.

I hope this information is helpful for you. If you'd like to share your own tips to living a gluten-free lifestyle, please add them in the comments below so we can all benefit.

Good luck, and let me know if you have any questions. Welcome to gluten freedom!

Tamara Lowe at Christ Fellowship

This motivational rap will take less than 2 minutes of your day, and it's totally worth it!

A Tribute to Coach Wooden

“There is a choice you have to make in everything you do. So keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make, makes you.” — John Wooden

This video tribute is from the Pyramid of Success blog. Please also check out an article in the Ventura County Star on John Wooden and the release of his tribute book in July. The Senior Editor mentioned in the article, Steve Lawson, is an awesome guy...he was one of the first people to introduce himself to me when I started working at Gospel Light, and he was a good friend of John Wooden's. What a blessed man to be able to call Wooden "friend"!

You will never be forgotten, Coach. May you rest in peace with the love of your life, Nellie.

San Francisco: Celebration, Graduation & Food Poisoning

Which part of the title of this post doesn't belong? Yeah, I didn't think so either. Last weekend my husband graduated from grad school...a day I've been looking forward to for 2 years! It was a lot of fun, but it didn't turn out exactly as I had planned...

Chris went to the University of San Francisco at their SoCal campus, but the actual ceremony was in SF so we flew up on Thursday afternoon.

Flashback: 2-1/2 years ago Chris decided to follow his passion and do whatever it takes to make sports his career. He researched a bunch of grad programs and found a few Sport Management ones. Long story short, he ended up at USF, which became an amazing blessing.

One of the blessings of this program has been the friends he's met. This is Gabe. AKA Brown Keanu. Chris has two "best" friends in his class...they used to carpool to class in Orange County when they all lived in San Diego. The 3 of them all call each other Keanu as an inside joke...I don't know the details. But I do know that it's self-explanatory why this is Brown Keanu :)

And this is Brian, AKA Directionally Challenged Keanu. He moved to LA a little before we did, and then started working with Chris at UCLA. He and Chris then carpooled to class, and even after 2 years, Chris still has to tell him how to get to class sometimes. Thus, his nickname.
So, that Thursday night Chris and I went out with a bunch of the guys from his class to CELEBRATE. We went to dinner and a couple bars, and had an AMAZING night!! I was the only girl for most of the night and fit in pretty well. All these sports junkies know how to have fun, and are also gentlemen and truly great guys.

This is Abe, another one of Chris's good friends.
And here's Daniel (with Brian). (You can thank him for a lot of these pictures.) He went to grad school right after finishing his undergrad. Whew...now he can breathe. He's a smart kid, and a great basketball player, too!
Here is more evidence of our super fun night. Chris and Brown Keanu can get a little close to each other sometimes...but I wouldn't let them get too close :)
Me posting pictures of Abe on his Facebook page...
This is Henry, Gabe's friend and roommate (not in their class). He drove up from San Diego.
I'm so glad Daniel had his camera and was good about getting pictures, because I certainly wasn't! (I know, can you believe it...me, the scrapbooker!?) That tends to happen when I have a few drinks. Here are all of us together...so cute.
The next day was the guys' graduation. I was so excited. I even refrained from drinking too much because I wanted to feel good! (Notice I don't even have a drink in any of these pictures.)

I woke up at 5:30am with a slight headache so I drank a bunch of water, took some Advil, and went back to sleep. We slept in until 9:30, when our families arrived at the hotel. I kept feeling worse and worse and thought I may have a slight hangover. I kept drinking water but couldn't keep it down. I couldn't let my family see me like this! Especially Chris's family...they're very conservative.

Well, I didn't get better and I couldn't hide it, so I had to tell them I went out with the boys and was moving a little slow. I pulled myself together, put on the cute new dress and shoes I had bought for the occasion, and we worked ourselves down to the lobby to meet our families. We had a nice reception for the Sport Management program to attend at noon.

As if I didn't feel bad enough, our crazy cab driver was a maniac on the road and made my nausea worse. I had to throw up...but didn't have anything to do it in! I had my purse. My new purse. I held it in my lap and was horrified at the thought of ruining it. Then my mom saw that Chris's robe was still in its packaging. They ripped the plastic off and gave it to me just in the nick of time.

We finally made it to the reception, and I tried to put on a happy face but it didn't work too well. I was embarrassed because at this point I thought it was a hangover...even though I didn't know how. I found a place to sit, and was completely out of it. Luckily Chris's friends had seen me the night before and know that I really am a fun person :) Here's my attempt at a picture with Chris's family. I really tried...
Still thinking I just needed to get hydrated, I kept trying to drink water. Well, this resulted in a few minor embarrassing moments. At one point I started feeling better for a little while, but it didn't last too long. But I did take a few pictures. And my mom took a few as well. Here's the outside of the church where the ceremony was held. Beautiful!
This next one was taken the day before the graduation when it was sunny and no people around.
And the inside was beautiful as well.
My mom caught this picture, just barely!
And me trying hard to get a good shot with Chris. I'm so bummed I don't have any good ones from this special day :( But at least Chris was very understanding and had fun. Even when we did think it was a hangover he said, "It's okay babe, we had lots of fun last night!"
My handsome graduate.
My mom went back to our hotel with me right after the ceremony, while everyone else celebrated :( I was in bed the rest of the night. I reflected on the night before with my mom and we realized I hadn't drank enough to really even be hung over (even taking into consideration that I'm a lightweight), let alone for this long and not even able to drink water! We determined it had to be the stomach flu or food poisoning. Can you believe it...the last time I was in SF I got food poisoning, too!! I guess SF doesn't like me.

I was really sad to have missed the grad night festivities and hanging out with Chris and his friends again, but I am very glad I was able to spend time with family and to have had the awesome night out on Thursday. I'll remember that night as my time spent in San Francisco, and the time I really got to know Chris's friends/classmates as friends of mine as well. Love you guys!


What's next, now that Chris is done with school? I'm glad you asked! He was hired at Fresno State in the Development department of their Athletic department...exactly what he wanted! He began as an intern in Academics and Marketing at USD when he first started grad school. After a year he was hired at UCLA, also in Academics and Marketing, but on a much bigger scale (and at his dream school). And there, after speaking with MANY people, he realized he wanted to get into fundraising, so he applied to many schools and was hired at FSU, which has a growing, well-respected athletic program. It's another internship since it's a new department for him, but hopefully the last. It certainly helps that Fresno's cost of living is much less than that of LA!

Chris's start date at FSU: June 7
Our move date: June 12
I can't wait!

Ashley and Connor

How cute is this photo?! Look at those big blue eyes! I thought you, my lovely readers, would enjoy a recent photo of Connor, and it just so happens you get a recent one of Ashley, too :)

TRUTHS FOR MATURE HUMANS

I received this in an email forward. I wish I knew the author so I could give credit, because frankly, they're brilliant. I think I nodded and smiled at just about every one. Enjoy!

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blu-Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this - ever.

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice mail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

20. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

21. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

22. I would rather try to carry 10 over-loaded plastic bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

23. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.

24. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

25. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

28. Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber and dumber every year?

29. There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

30. As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate bicyclists.

31. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

32. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet my ass everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

I Admit, I'm Addicted to my iPhone

I wrote this piece as an sample of my work for eCopywriters.com. They are an online copywriting service, and given that I have a degree in writing, enjoy writing, and am good at writing, I thought it would be fun to be a copywriter for them. I still plan to submit it once I've perfected it, but I still don't feel I'm at that point yet. So I thought I'd post it for you to read and give me any feedback you might have :)

Writing prompt: A product or service you simply cannot live without.

Calendar. Notes. Calculator. I’m not talking about your run-of-the-mill office products; these are iPhone apps. Apps that have played a part in revolutionizing the way I use my phone. I am more organized, more responsible, more productive, and more entertained than life without it.

I used to write my grocery list on a post-it note. I’d keep a running list and stash it in my purse for “safe” keeping. Most of the time it ended up crinkled underneath my wallet by the time I actually needed it. iPhone to the rescue! I now have an app called “notes,” which comes standard. I can keep multiple lists going, and can even email a list (with the touch of the screen) to my husband to see if he has anything to add to it.

I also used to write doctor appointments on post-its. My computer monitor was framed in these brightly colored pieces of paper. I would get so used to seeing them that I wouldn’t even notice them anymore. But wouldn’t you know, the iPhone comes with an easy-to-use calendar, so I no longer forget an appointment. I simply add it to my calendar, set a reminder alarm, and I’m done. Now, there’s nothing wrong with post-its, especially pretty colored ones. I have them all over my desk at work. But they’re not as efficient, and certainly won’t beep at you until you remember to go to your chiropractor appointment.

I no longer fear the put-it-off-another-day type of errands thanks to my multi-tasking abilities. Bring on the DMV and oil change; I can respond to email and stay in-tune with what’s going on in the world through the email and twitter apps, all while sitting in a waiting room. And, of course, I can stay in touch with friends through Facebook and Words with Friends.

Finally, one of the most important reasons why I cannot live without my iPhone is the FM 94/9 app. I recently moved to Los Angeles, and this app allows me to still listen to my favorite radio station in San Diego via my phone, connecting me back home. Sure helps ease the pain of my hour-long commute to work.

I have hardly begun to express how much my iPhone participates in my day-to-day life. To find out for yourself, take a trip to your local Apple store and purchase yours today!

Thankful for the Ordinary

The pitter patter of rain hitting the roof...
The aroma of food coming from the kitchen...
The sound of my dog howling at sirens as they go by...
My husband breathing (and sometimes snoring) as he sleeps...

I’m thankful for it all.

It is easy to say thank you when things are going your way, or when you receive something unexpectedly great. But we often forget to thank God for the everyday. So many things in our lives go unnoticed, but they’re certainly appreciated.

The rain we’re getting—albeit it’s not a lot—is appreciated, because here in Southern California we’re in a drought. We need to be thankful for every drop of rain we get. But it’s more than that…hearing the rain outside means that I have a home to live in. My home keeps me dry. Even though my apartment is (much) smaller than I’d like, it’s cozy, and it’s home, and it’s perfect for right now.

I love to cook and I love the different smells that fill the house when I make dinner. We are fortunate to have a healthy meal on our plates every night. I appreciate my ability to cook and to be creative and be able to whip something up even when I haven’t gone to the grocery store for a while. God has given me a means to provide for my husband, and someday, my family.

One of my favorite things is when my dog is sleeping in front of the couch and all of a sudden a siren goes by and he howls. It never fails to make me laugh. It reminds me that I have a dog who is like a child to us, depends on us to take him to play and exercise (well, my husband), to feed him, and to give him a loving home. I can’t imagine my life without the energetic bundle of joy that is Oslo!

Sometimes Chris tends to breathe heavy or snore when he sleeps. It usually doesn’t bother me because I can just give him a little tap and he’ll stop. But it reminds me that he is by my side no matter what. I am married to a wonderful man who I love, and who loves me, and who I am so happy to be sharing my life with.

There are so many more things that I could talk about, but most of all I am thankful that God gave me the grace to realize that it's He who has blessed me with these things. Without Him I am nothing.

So praise God for the mundane, the ordinary...along with the extraordinary, because it is the same God and the same grace that provides it all.

Family Portraits

Way back on Thanksgiving my parents had family portraits done by my very talented friend, Lauren. My mom ordered a bunch on CD, so here are a few.

This first one of just the girls cracks me up. Maddie was eating a banana and wanted to show the camera.
This one is classic Chris and Jayma. He's got a funny face and making me laugh. I don't know what's up with my praying mantis arms though.

And here's the whole family. I love how this turned out. Too bad Connor wasn't born yet to be in it!

Mammoth March 12-14

Chris and I went to Mammoth last weekend. I didn't take too many pictures this time because I always take tons and am up to my ears in snow photos! But here are a few to document this trip.

We left LA around 9pm Fri night and got to Mammoth at 1:30am. We were WIPED after a day of work, a funeral, and family dinner on Friday. But this was the only weekend we could get away for a while so we made it happen.

When we arrived it was snowing, and by the time we woke up on Saturday morning there were 11" of new snow on the ground! That means lots of fresh powder on the mountain! It was a little windy, but the skies were clear and beautiful. We headed to Chris's favorite area of the mountain...chair 25. It was a bit crowded because the top of the mountain was closed to blast the new snow to prevent avalanches, but still fun. The snow was so deep that it was hard to turn and made for quite a workout.

On our way down the mountain we stopped for gas. Chris pumped the gas, then all of a sudden realized our tire was COMPLETELY flat. It had happened in a matter of minutes, because we would have noticed if it were this low while driving. Luckily we were already at a gas station w/ a service station. They found TWO nails in the tire, and were able to fix it in a matter of minutes. Whew!
Since it was such a beautiful day, I sat outside on the porch when we got home and ate my lunch. Oslo joined me, and enjoyed playing in the snow that was left from the night before.

Sunday was even better than Saturday because the runs had been groomed. We headed to the other side of the mountain, my favorite, chairs 13 & 14. Bluebird skies, no wind to speak of, warm (in the 40s), not crowded, and the snow carved like butter. My absolute perfect conditions.

It's always sad to say goodbye to Mammoth, especially after such an amazing, beautiful weekend. This shot was taken from the car just after getting on the highway down the hill. There's no place like Mammoth...I love it.

Recent Photos of Madison

I haven't posted any pictures of Maddie lately, so here are some that Ashley has sent me recently.

This first photo was taken a few weeks ago, when I was in San Diego. Here's the backstory: I was hanging out with Melissa before going to my parents' house. Ashley and Justin dropped Maddie off at Mom and Dad's while they went to Costco, and asked my mom if she could give put her down for her nap. My mom gave her a bottle, which she drank, but of course when it was time to go down, she didn't want to because she had just gotten to Gramma's and wanted to play! My mom tried several times, but Maddie just wouldn't sleep. Then Ash and Justin came back, and I came over, and she had even more people to play with. Needless to say, she skipped her nap. When Maddie gets tired, she gets cranky, which finally happened, so Ash and Justin took her home. As soon as she hit the car seat she fell asleep.
These next 2 pictures are ones Ashley texted to me. It makes my day to get pictures messages of Maddie! Keep it up, Ash! And send pics of Connor, too!
Playing in the sprinklers...

This Happens to Me All Too Often

Orphans in Need

The video below is absolutely heart-breaking. My friend Amy has been coordinating with an adoption organization called Reece's Rainbow. Amy and her small group of high schoolers choose one child from Reece's Rainbow to raise funds for and pray for. The first child they prayed for, Anna, was adopted! But many of the children with disabilities are not so fortunate. Many of them, if not adopted by a certain age (usually age 4), are sent to a mental institution. This video shows a mental institution in Serbia that is absolutely horrifying. Watch for the grown man sleeping in a crib, and the 21- and 15-year-olds who are the size of a 4-year-old and just skin and bones. Many are tied to their cribs and not let out, and their muscles have atrophied from non-use.

If you feel led to join Amy in praying for her small group's chosen child, visit her blog to read the latest. And if you feel led to donate, she has information on her blog...as of the date of this post the child they are praying for and raising funds for is named Jacob. You can see her post about Jacob here.

Hug 'O Gram

Yes, this is a real commercial. You're welcome for sharing.

Connor Bradley and Ramblings of my AWESOME week in San Diego

The long-awaited arrival has finally come! My nephew, Connor Bradley Evans was born on Friday, 2-12-10, at 7:50am...right on his due date! What a punctual little guy. Here is a picture of him with my sister, Ashley.
And here's a picture of me with Connor once they got home today. He's such a sweetie, and a great sleeper!!
My niece, Madison, is 19 months old and doesn't quite understand what's going on yet. She thinks he's one of her baby dolls and wants to hold him. She also gently kisses his head. It's pretty darn cute. But I'll tell ya, my sister and Justin have their hands full...Madison is VERY active and is getting to that age when she likes to say "no" to everything.

Last week was such a great week, and it's continuing into this week! In addition to a precious new nephew, I also have a new job! On Wednesday I was driving from my house in LA to my see my family (and was hoping a birth too) in San Diego. On my way down, I got a call from Gospel Light Publications, a company I had applied to work at. (They publish Sunday school curriculum, church resource books, and other Christian books.) Well, they let me know they'd like me to work for them on a temp-to-hire basis to try things out...in a marketing position that is perfect for me!!! I started on Tuesday and so far I LOVE IT! My co-workers are all so welcoming and nice. I am SO ecstatic! When I lived in San Diego I worked for Christian Ed Publishers/Warehouse, and I worked closely with Gospel Light as a Marketing Coordinator, so I already had a relationship with them. They were probably my favorite publisher that we distributed for, so I'm really excited to be working for them now!

Here's a little background info in case you have missed the past 7 months of my life... Chris and I moved to Los Angeles from San Diego in July. He is in grad school for Sport Management and got an internship in UCLA's Athletic Dept (his dream school), so we made the move (although I miss SD immensely). I got a temporary job at Disney for a special project, but that ended Dec. 31, and they're not hiring right now, so I have been part of the 10% of Americans unemployed for the past 6 weeks. Although I am a CTMH Consultant, it is not a full-time job for me, and since I recently moved and do not know many people in LA, it has been hard to get it going again (although I have still been holding CTMH workshops in San Diego and have been keeping my craft blog up-to-date). I had originally applied at Gospel Light back in July when we first moved to LA, but they were reorganizing their Marketing dept and dragged their feet, then I got the job at Disney. Once I contacted Gospel Light again in January, they were fairly quick to act, and didn't even call me in for another interview...they just offered me the temp-to-hire job! Woo hoo!

Ok, another reason I had such a great week is because I have new teeth. I know this sounds really weird, so for those who don't know, here's a little explanation: When I was 7 years old I knocked out the bottom halves of my 2 front teeth. When I was in high school I got porcelain veneers. They lasted for 12 years, and one night in June they just decided to pop off. (Good thing I was sitting at home when it happened...I was mortified even for my husband to see my teeth!!) I went to my dentist first thing the next day and was fitted for new veneers. They do things much differently now than 12 years ago...they're supposed to last 20+ years now! Then I had to go in 2 weeks later to have them put in. BUT the new veneers were not made correctly. They were ok, but not perfect for the huge amount of money they cost! My dentist wasn't very happy with them either. So he wanted to re-do them, but I had just moved to LA and he is in SD. This was a series of 2 more 2-3 hr appointments, so I said I'll do it in a little while, I'm burned out on dentist visits. But then I got a job and didn't want to take any days off to go to San Diego when I was trying to impress them, so I had to wait until now to get my new veneers again. And this time they're PERFECT! :) Phew.

To top off my week, I won $20 from a lotto scratcher. I went to 7-11 with my sister the other day so she could grab something (before having the baby), and she got us each a scratcher just for fun. My little scratcher put an extra $20 in my wallet. Thanks, Ash!

And so far this week is going great, too, because I'm loving my new job! The commute isn't the most fun (1 hr), but it gives me good time to think, and in the morning, wake up. And it's pretty, so it's not too bad.

Well if you've gotten this far, I thank you for reading my ramblings!

BREAKING NEWS

Nate Kaeding, in a press conference today, expressed his apologies. Apparently, a few years back, as a prank, the team told him the big yellow poles were antennas and had nothing to do with football....so he just aimed for the "big net" every time. "It sounded easy enough..." Kaeding said. "Now that I finally know what the big yellow poles are for...that changes EVERYTHING!!" -Associated Press

I got this from a friend's Facebook status :)