Best presents ever. Maybe.

Recently I noticed that my gifting habits tend to follow patterns. Based on the gifts I've given the past year or so, I'd say my latest pattern is one of safety and maybe a little paranoia. Last year, for example, for Christmas I got everyone Life Hammers. If you have never heard of a Life Hammer, it's probably on my list of Top 5 Inventions Ever Made. It's a seatbelt cutter/glass breaker for your car in case you go careening into a body of water and can't get out. (My worst fear and the subject of multiple recurring nightmares.) This year, I'll be giving everyone little fire extinguishers. The inspiration for that came after a recent mishap with my little grill (eyebrows grow back, right?) So sorry family, if you were expecting something fun from me in the near future, it probably won't happen!

It's all about survival now!

The Yearly Update

Sometimes I just feel like writing a blog post. It's not that often though because I already write ALL. DAY. LONG. So here are a few things I've been up to...

Ran another half marathon. I was faster than last year which is shocking because I hardly trained for it. I took the advice of a friend though and downed some ibuprofen before and that helped a lot. Combined with a little cocktail of a few other supplements, I was hardly sore at all :-)


Put wood floors in my downstairs. I think they turned out pretty nice!


Went to Hawaii for a lot of work and a little pleasure. I was kind of bummed though because it was my first time going there but I was so sick the whole time. The first 5 days were pretty much nonstop work, then the second week was vacation, as much of a vacation as you can have when you're sick. I also got a horrible sunburn the day before we left (don't ever get the 99-cent "sunblock" ) and couldn't even go out in the sun. In Hawaii. I'm making it out to be a miserable experience but it was actually really fun!




Started lifting lots of weights and stuff. (Shameless self pic, i know, but it shows progress)


Well I can't think of anything else now. Ciao.

My rip-off report

I have come to the conclusion that car shopping as a single woman is not fun. I've done a lot of "guy jobs" on my own (thanks to a patient Dad who let me watch him fix things and also showed me how), like change my car brakes, caulk a bathroom shower, fix a broken VCR back when people actually had "tapes"...I even have a tool box and can name all of the tools in it :-) I enjoy being independent, but not when I feel like I'm being taken advantage of. I'm not saying everyone I've dealt with is out to rip me off or is lying. I like to believe that most businesses and their representatives are for the most part honest. But here are some of the claims I've come across in the past couple of weeks:

Salesman: "The check engine light is on? Oh that's weird. They must have bumped the switch when they were detailing it."
Me (in my head): "Does he really think I believe there is a check engine light switch?"

Salesman: "This is your out the door price ($3500 over the asking price). It only includes tax, our doc fee, and title and registration."
Me: "Then what's this $400 fee?"
Salesman: "Oh, that's required by law. It registers the car with the police in case it gets stolen."
Me: "What law is that? I have insurance if my car gets stolen."
Salesman: "Oh, well I don't know. I'll ask my manager."
Me: "Ok. Well what's this $150 fee?"
Salesman: "Oh that's the maintenance fee. I guess I can scratch that."
Me: "And what's this random $300 fee?"
Salesman: "Oh, that's required by law too."
Me (in my head): "Tax, our doc fee, title and registration, and over $1000 in bs fees."


Salesman: "We're actually losing money on this car at the price we listed."
Me (in my head): "Really? So you're just giving cars away now?"

Salesman: "Utah tax is 7.5% for cars."
Me: "Really? The DMV said in this county it's 6.75%. How are you charging extra tax?"
Salesman: "Oh, that includes our doc fees."
Me: "So that's a separate doc fee from this other $300 doc fee?"
Salesman: "Let me ask my manager."

Sorry shady salesguys, I've done my research! It's funny to see how they respond when I actually sound like I know what I'm talking about. They always have to "ask their manager." Oh well. Until I find something at the right price, I guess I'll just have to show them that blonde and female does not always equal stupid :-)

New favorite talk

Occasionally I get on lds.org at work and read the First Presidency Messages. Last week I stumbled across this one by Elder Uchtdorf and I have to say it's exactly what I needed to read and I highly recommend it!

http://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/07/always-in-the-middle?lang=eng

This is my favorite quote from it:

"Being always in the middle means that the game is never over, hope is never lost, defeat is never final. For no matter where we are or what our circumstances, an eternity of beginnings and an eternity of endings stretch out before us. We are always in the middle."

I love that idea!

Don't judge me, but...

I've been taking Zoey to day care.

I just feel horrible leaving her alone all day when I'm at work, especially since the commute adds another hour and a half to the amount of time she's by herself. When I move I can go let her out and play with her during lunch, so it won't be bad then, but for now I've been dropping her off at Ruff House in Orem on my way to work. (The picture is one they took of her and put on their facebook page.) I was nervous that she'd be miserable because she has such separation anxiety when I leave the house, but she LOVES it! She loves playing with all the other little dogs. It's so cute when I pull into the place she immediately starts jumping around and getting excited. She doesn't even look back at me when I drop her off! Then when I pick her up she falls asleep on the way home because she's had fun playing with her little friends all day. It's worth every penny to me to know she's not lonely and bored all day long and is having fun and socializing with other dogs. I know how this probably sounds, but what can I say? She's my baby :-)

First Half Marathon!

So for a variety of reasons I have not really posted much (or at all) lately but I have had a lot going on that would be fun to document, so I will get started. I did my first half marathon in June! It was a lot of fun! We had to be at the buses at 5:30 AM and I was so worried I wouldn't wake up in time that I kept waking up in the middle of the night. Anyway I made it no problem and it was so much fun! I'm so glad I did it. I hadn't done a ton of training so I was just concerned with finishing but I was proud of myself that I didn't even stop to walk until the 10 mile point, and then it was just for the length of a song. Anyway I'm glad I did it. Next up is the Halloween Half down Provo Canyon, so I'll need a costume!

Self Defense!

So, Trent taught a self-defense class for his ward and it was really interesting! He did a great job and I learned a ton! I learned how to get someone off of me from a full mount, avoidance techniques, getting out of a headlock, gouging eyes, shopping for a taser, etc etc. Just things all women should know!

Longest. Week. Ever.

Easter was just a week ago but it feels more like a month! It was fun though...I wish I had taken some photos. Trent and I went to my Aunt Stephanie's house, and it was fun to catch up with all the cousins and aunts and uncles and see my grandparents. I do miss my family but I love having extended family around. Then we went to Trent's parents' and had an Easter egg hunt with his cute nieces and nephew. His family really does make me feel like one of them. They are all so sweet and a lot of fun! This has been such a long week. I think partly because we had our big yearly conference at work, which meant very long hours. The plus side was that it was in downtown SL this year, so I didn't have to drive 40 minutes like I usually do. It was actually pretty fun...I was in charge of writing a few of the executive speeches, so I had to make sure their presentations were set and make any changes to the speeches as needed. We were working long hours getting those set up but it was fun. It was also fun to see all of the different cultures that were there. Next year it will be in Hawaii! Woo hoo, can't wait. I really feel blessed to have the job that I have!