Hunsaker

New Blog

2010-09-26T21:54:00.001-06:00

Hi, everyone! I've got a new blog, so I won't be using this one anymore. Please check me out here, and don't forget to add me to your lists!

Pooped but Proud

2010-06-12T11:00:00.006-06:00

I did something awesome today, guys -- something I've always wanted to do but wasn't sure I could.

I ran the Provo Riverwoods 10-miler. 10 MILES! I've never run that far before!

I feel like the queen of the world.

Half-marathon, anyone?

Perhaps the best part of this is that I did it with my cute friend Andrea B. I told her about a week ago that I was chickening out and wasn't going to run, but she talked me back into it.....then using my unrivaled powers of persuasion, I convinced her to join me. We were both massively intimidated by the prospect of completing a 10-mile race, but we make good cheerleaders for one another.

This morning I WAAAAYYY overslept and it was pouring rain when Andrea came to get me. That almost did us in.

But we're not sissies. So we went for it.

And look how happy we are.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go ice my knees and sleep for a week.

Progress

2010-05-28T22:39:00.004-06:00

I've had a project haunting me for months. I'm not sure what compelled me to take it on in the first place -- I guess I'm not happy without at least a half-dozen things to work on -- but now it's time to get a move on. It's as though I've left four old friends stranded in the kitchen, desperate for attention since October. Today, we played for the entire afternoon.

I can't wait to show you when they're done!

Fabulous Friday

2010-05-01T02:22:00.005-06:00

Today I....

....embroidered a whole bunch of bags for tomorrow's primary activity....

....then spent the rest of the day with this girl, who's going on a mission to Brazil!

Together, we went here.....

Where, after an agonizing two-and-a-half-month wait, I finally got this...

Then we watched a movie and ate a whole bunch of these:

Today was a great day.

This is really, really gross...

2010-04-25T23:39:00.004-06:00

We discovered recently that we have some (most unwelcome) visitors in our apartment -- termites. Yuck! And, what first seemed to be a minor problem now threatens to be quite the ordeal; we've got at least 3 dozen holes in our bathroom wall, and multiple others in the bedroom, office, and living room (thanks in part to Colby, who spent a little too much time obsessively picking at the paint where it was caving in). Some of the holes are huge and you can see the little track marks through the sheet rock. I am so grossed out. If our rent wasn't so cheap I'd probably want to move. Or torch the place. Or both. The Orkin man's coming back on Tuesday to send those little buggers to their poison-y termite graves. Then my heebie-jeebies will go away, and I won't have to drink so much to keep myself calm.

Looking Up

2010-04-14T14:42:00.002-06:00

Despite my best efforts (or so I thought), I've been kind of a downer lately. I don't think I realized it until last night when my sister, via Facebook chat, said, "Rachel, has anything good happened lately?"

Oh, how embarrassing.

Let me apologize, then, to anyone who's seen me in my figurative sackcloth-and-ashes. Life's crazy and complicated, but it's not that bad. Actually, there are lots of good things going on:

The sun is out again.
I'm going to Boise this weekend.
I found two great pairs of pants at the mall on Saturday...and got them for $15 each.
Someone left a plate of warm cookies on our doorstep last night.
I got a perfect score on my "secret shop" at work last week, and now I get $100 (hello, new running shoes!).
I paid off a loan last week.
Last night I played my piano for over an hour.
Tonight is Zumba night!

There, that feels better; I'll try not to let my personal raincloud get out of control anymore.

What good things have happened to you lately?

Kids, don't try this at home...

2010-03-28T10:21:00.002-06:00

....that is to say, NEVER wash all of your dirty clothes when you have no intentions of folding them right then. Otherwise, they become a massive and daunting pile upon your bed, which haunts you while you are awake and drowns you while you sleep.

Take it from me.

Someday I'll be on top of things.

On a completely different note, THANK YOU to the anonymous benefactor who so kindly paid off our credit card. It was completely unexpected but so appreciated -- you've lifted a huge burden. And since I've no idea who you are, I'm throwing this out to the universe, hoping it gets back to you that we are super-grateful!

Coupons

2010-02-20T13:22:00.010-07:00

Do any of you hate grocery shopping? I do, in the worst way. The mere mention of, "We're out of bread," transforms me into a grumpy giant -- a condition reversible only by a pint of Ben & Jerry's and an hour-long back massage. But alas, an empty fridge will never fill itself, so off to the store I go.

You know, this is a chore I've never loved, but it seems my anxiety over the task has grown over the past few months after I began "couponing." Each week I spend waaaay too much time clipping and sorting coupons from three copies of the Sunday paper. Then I get on my computer and spend what feels like an entire morning making my grocery list on this website. Then, of course, by the time I'm actually able to go shopping, I can't find half of the things I want because the other five thousand coupon-clippers in Utah County got to them first. Consequently, Smith's is always the worst with this -- they have great sales on lots of different products but you have to buy them in increments of ten. Of course I can't get everything on my list so my cart never fills up that evenly; I then wander the aisles dejectedly, searching for something that I have a coupon for and might use, just so I can get the super-sale price on everything else.

I currently have a year's supply of barbecue sauce, aluminum foil, and chili con carne.

I've only been at this a couple of months but the other night I decided I should quit. This isn't worth the time, right? I should just burn all my coupons and tell Smith's where to stick their "10-for" sales--what a liberating thought!

I was ready to do it.

But then I got to the register and something magical happened: I spent $60 on $100 worth of groceries. That reminded me of the time I spent $40 on $100 worth of groceries. And the fact that I've cut our grocery budget way down while building a pretty impressive food storage.

I think I'll give it a little longer.

Am I mental?

Some new faves

2010-01-30T23:08:00.005-07:00

I've lost the cable that connects my camera to my computer, and now I've little desire to blog. I had so many things to show you: Rachelpologies at Christmas. The Dashboard Confessional Concert. The ugly old chairs I'm fixing up for my kitchen. The fantastic bruise on my right knee from slipping on the ice last weekend.

You'll just have to picture this all in your head for now.

While you're doing that, here are some amazing discoveries I made this week:

1. Ruche [shopruche.com ]. It's like a smaller, more affordable Anthropologie. They have lots of cute stuff, and their shipping is really cheap. I'm in love.

2. I bought a new shower curtain liner at Wal-Mart on Thursday. When I put it up I realized it has little tabs on the edges with suction cups so it sticks to my shower walls. Amazing. No more stepping out onto a splooshy bath mat. Whoever came up with this is my new hero.

3. These bad boys:

No waistband=no rolling, no strange lines, no muffin top. No kidding. These nylons are so comfy I'm tempted to wear them to bed. They have changed my life.

What discoveries have you made lately? Please share!

Any Good Ideas?

2009-12-12T13:33:00.003-07:00

I'm working on a Christmas present for my 16-year-old brother, and I could really use your help. Can you please tell me.....

What are the best/most creative dates you've been on?

What creative ways do you know of to ask/answer a date for a dance?

Do you know any fun group games?

Just leave a comment or throw me an e-mail....I really appreciate all of your help! In fact, for the friend who gives me the most ideas there just might be some sort of reward. A Rachelpologie, maybe?

Thank you!!

Twisted Sisters and Tasks Completed

2009-11-04T23:23:00.006-07:00

What is this? This is my to-do list from today. I know, I know, it's really blurry and you can't read what any of it says....but look how much is crossed out! For some reason, knowing today was my only shot at productivity really lit a fire under me; I haven't accomplished this much in a long time! I even hung a few pictures and squeezed in a Twister death-match with my sister.

We are hard-core.

Halloween

2009-11-01T00:03:00.004-06:00

Lauryl, you are such a smart (cute) pregnant lady....I was Medusa for Halloween!

Andrea and I had the most fun last week making our Halloween costumes -- we are so crafty. :) We made her "corpse bride" dress from what must have been an angel costume, which we found at Saver's. I trimmed and tucked, added trims and a sash, then she went at it with the scissors, dye, and dirt to make it look like she'd been buried in it. I tried to make my dress look Grecian, modeling it after some costumes I found online, and using the colorful iridescent fabric because I thought it looked maybe a little reptilian. My hair was supposed to sort of resemble this:

But of course it's a lot shorter than that, so I went a little wilder with it. It was all nasty and ratted, with little braids and almost two dozen snakes weaving in and out. I only wish I'd gotten better pictures of it. In fact, for future reference, never ask a Harmon's employee to take pictures for you. This one would have been my best shot with my co-workers, darn it:

I learned my lesson, and had Kara shoot Andi and me; now all I have to blame is my non-photogenic-ness....

Happy Halloween!

I think fall is my favorite

2009-10-29T22:55:00.004-06:00

I tend to get really excited this time of year. The changing weather is exciting (as long as it's not too nasty), and I love the warm, rich colors of the changing leaves. I think fall brings out the domestic diva-wannabe in me, too. The rich, warm colors are my favorite for decorating, and the chilly weather gives me an excuse to make soups and breads to my heart's content.

Halloween, for me, is the perfect kick-off to all of this. I guess I'm just a kid at heart, but I get really into this holiday. I love to dress up -- mostly, I think, because I enjoy making cool costumes. I'm actually a little self-conscious to wear them in public, but I really love to be creative so I bear with the awkwardness. My costume this year is no exception to that -- in fact, I'm probably a little more apprehensive of peoples' reactions than usual, because it may seem a little out of character for me. Still, I'm pretty excited to be a little crazy for a day. I just finished my costume tonight; I won't tell you what it is, but here's a little clue:

Anywhere but here....please!

2009-10-14T21:45:00.007-06:00

Well, I don't get sick often, but when I do -- ka-BLAM! I've been lying on the couch since Monday, just going crazy. Colby's been so sweet and attentive, but seriously....I've gotta get up or I'm gonna LOSE it! Hehe, I definitely have a hard time "wasting" time. But the doctor says until I've gone 24 hours without a fever, I'm stuck like this.

So here I am. I think I've now seen every ANTM episode ever shot, and have eaten a whole bag of menthol cough drops. Spurred by the delirium from my unrelenting 102-degree fever, I put on my makeup at 9:30 tonight....just to feel human. Tomorrow I may attempt to shave my legs....or at least bathe. I wish I was anywhere else, doing anything else.

Like maybe here, loving the incredible view and the most amazing lightning storms every night....

Or here, Latin dancing with the locals in the Pto. Vallarta town square....

Or enjoying a random pirate ship and sand sculpture of the Virgin Mary from the boardwalk...

Or playing with the most adorable orphans I've ever met....

It's sad that it's taken this long for me to write about my trip to Mexico; it was so long ago it hardly feels like I ever went. By looking at my already pasty-white skin you'd never guess I'd gotten the nastiest, blisteriest sunburn ever, and Colby's still got a beautiful golden tan. Ha. There's too much to write in just one post, though, so I guess there'll be more to come. I'll post some videos, too, when I can get them to work.

As for right now, my nighttime cold medicine is kicking in and I'm going cross-eyed. I'm going to cuddle up with my hubby and sleep some more.

Reconstructive Surgery

2009-09-20T14:55:00.015-06:00

I have a confession: There is a box under my bed, full of clothes that no longer fit me. Old pairs of favorite jeans, the green argyle sweater I got for Christmas in 2006 -- why do I do this to myself? I pull them out occasionally, gaze longingly at the beautiful fabrics, and try to will myself to be ten pounds thinner. Still, with great agony I am gradually emptying the box; I'll let go of all the clothes soon enough, and some lucky bargain shopper will pick them up at the D.I.

Just let me keep these pants...puh-leeze!

I can't give them up. Never mind the fact that they're a smidge too short, and a leetle tight around my thighs. They've managed to avoid the thrift store fate on multiple occasions, and will likely remain in my tender care forever.

Of course, since I can't wear them anymore they will have to find another purpose in life. Too many episodes of Project Runway, and I'm suddenly an aspiring fashion designer....my favorite pants are chopped to pieces; what have I done?!

Ta-da!

That was fun; what else is in that box?

My Little Missionary Man

2009-09-14T11:01:00.006-06:00

I missed Swiss Days this year, and I was really bummed. I've only been once since we moved to Utah, and I was really looking forward to it. Other than that, I hadn't planned to go during Labor Day weekend; I really just wanted to hunker down in my apartment and sew. I didn't end up doing that, either. What I did do was way more awesome....

Andi and I took the world's shortest road trip to Boise so I could hang out with this dude:

My awesome little brother Matt postponed his temple appointment so I could be there with him; it was an amazing experience. He's leaving in two weeks for his mission, and I think I might die -- I'm going to miss him so much! I guess that means I will have to send him a lot of packages -- anyone have any good ideas?

I Heart IHC

2009-09-02T23:10:00.013-06:00

Today we got a 60-page print-out from the pharmacy, listing all 274 of the prescriptions we've filled there in the past 16 months. Time after time I've waited, dejected, in the Walgreen's drive-through for the little boxes and bottles I've come to loathe. Thus I was acutely aware that they'd cost us more than $5300 -- nearly as much as we pay for 16 months' rent. What astounded me, though, was this: Since May 2008, our insurance company has actually saved us $46,081.05.

Whaaaa--?

Wow, what was I complaining about? And how much does IHC hate us? Because I don't hate them, I love them. They are my new best friend.

How do people survive without health insurance?

Vacation Numero Uno

2009-08-29T21:58:00.006-06:00

Summer passed so quickly, didn't it? Anyone feel just a little bit robbed. Of course, I shouldn't feel that way; I did plenty of loafing around, and even went on two family vacations. The first was a trip to Lake Tahoe, and thought it was over a month ago, I've been dying to share it with you:

On my Lake Tahoe trip I.....

....enjoyed driving most of the way so Mom would keep reading Beauty to Steph and me.

....celebrated Jared's 16th birthday with BTS cake and presents wrapped in socks.

....took some of the most beautiful and scenic hikes ever, and some halfway decent pictures to capture that beauty. You know, Colby and I went to Tahoe on our honeymoon five years ago, but somehow I don't remember the scenery that well...

....played in the lake with my big little bro's. The sandbar must have been nearly half a mile long; I could wade out that far before I was even up to my neck in water. Then Matt and Jared gave me piggy-back rides and had fun freaking me out, pretending they couldn't touch the bottom anymore.

....fished in the Carson River with Mom and Jared. No one else around us caught any fish, but we got a ton of them. Jared caught at least 10 of his own. I only caught three, but I had a lot of fun and also hooked a nasty sunburn...

....made cute jewelry with Mom and Steph. I even helped Jared make some earrings and a necklace for his little "friend" Kara. :)

....took the grand prize in a hilarious game of "Sardines," in which I squished myself into the cupboard beneath the bathroom sink and no one could find me until my leg started to cramp and my toes popped out of the cupboard door. In the end, I almost couldn't get out of the cupboard and nearly had to spend the night there.

....basked in the quiet of our secluded resort, and enjoyed every minute of my family's company. It's amazing how valuable that time becomes when it is available so infrequently.

In a Hurry

2009-08-06T20:00:00.005-06:00

Here's a quick update, just so y'all know I didn't fall off the face of the earth....

I just got back from a fun little road trip to Lake Tahoe. It was the first time I'd been on vacation with my family, so even though some of us were missing it was wonderful. We caught lots of fish in the Carson River, and played a ton of games....who could ask for a better time? I'll have pictures to post a little later.

On Tuesday I had lunch with my dearies Teann and Lauryl. It was so fun to visit and catch up on each others' lives. I can't believe how amazing these girls are; I've missed our little barbershop quartet so much! It was a good time for all, little Jaron's toe-biting incident aside.

I also had a date with my dearest Vanessa last night. Ahh, I love that girl. So does Joshy; they're getting married on my anniversary (five years already?!?!)....I am so excited for her!

I'll have more time to share pictures and stuff in a couple of weeks, but right now I've got to jet. I'm on my way out the door....to go to MEXICO!

See ya.

Kind of a Disaster

2009-07-15T18:04:00.008-06:00

I gave Colby a haircut last night (coughing nervously).

It's not my fault it turned out that way!

Though I managed to salvage it okay, this is undoubtedly the worst haircut Colby's received in our five years of marriage. After oiling my electric clippers, I forgot to replace the attachment. I shaved a 6" strip up the back of his head before I realized my mistake; I almost swore. It took over 40 minutes of careful blending and snipping to recover my blunder and produce a semi-decent-looking, military-short new 'do.

The huge bald spot only shows when he turns his head to the side.

They should put a warning label on those clippers.

A Week in Review

2009-06-24T22:34:00.005-06:00

Last week was a bit of a nutter, and I'm still trying to catch up.

First, I made a whole lot of this....

Then, I helped a little with this.....

Colby and I also took a little trip to Boise (our first this year), where I spent some quality time with Grandma, playing this:

While in Idaho, reckless abandon with the hair-cutting shears resulted in drastically new 'dos for many -- including myself. I'll expound on that another time. Right now I am too bugged. I just caught up on the Bachelorette and am a tad upset: how is it that the sweetest guy gets the boot, while the jerk of the world gets to stick around? Wes has already gotten the publicity he wants -- I hoped he'd man up and bow out of the competition, but no such luck. In my frustration, I unwittingly inhaled half a bag of Sun Chips....and now I'm really mad.

I'm going to bed.

A Big Accomplishment

2009-06-07T16:41:00.007-06:00

Yesterday was a big day for me -- I ran my very first 5K! About a month ago I joined a group of church friends who'd been training for the race since April. Coming in late, I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to keep up. I hadn't had to run since middle school, and even then I was a sissy and usually walked half of the required weekly mile. My kickboxing class must've kicked my butt into shape, though, because I've definitely held my own.

1627 -- my new favorite number! Sadly, they were out of my t-shirt size. When I picked up my race packet I got a shirt two sizes too big! It went halfway down my thighs and made me look huge....not very sexy....

My cute running friends. I've discovered that it's much more fun running with other people. We've gotten to know each other better, and have definitely pushed each other to work harder.

Crossing the finish line....

My proud little sis came to watch me, along with my brother and his girlfriend.

The race was harder than I'd anticipated. The huge hill in the first mile nearly killed me, as I hadn't trained on hills and didn't pace myself very well. A couple of times I almost stopped running, especially as people around me slowed down to walk. I just couldn't bring myself to quit, though, and I managed to finish in less than 30 minutes with only a couple of stroller-pushers beating me to the finish. I was a little disappointed with my time, as I'd completed my last practice run in 24 minutes. I guess that means I will have to keep training, so I can do better at my next race!

A Little Free Time

2009-05-27T08:04:00.005-06:00

Thanks to all of you for your encouraging comments. The search for a hygiene job is still on, but I've got my third and fourth interviews this week and should be hearing back very soon about last week's working interview. Hopefully something pans out quickly; I hate job-hunting! In fact, if I had my choice I probably wouldn't work at all -- not in the traditional sense, anyway. I could keep myself plenty busy just sewing, crafting, and decorating, with only occasional breaks for food and water. I guess I'll just have to enjoy the extra time right now while I've got it. I'm working on some new blessing dresses and would love some ideas of where to sell them. Someone suggested to me that I put them in hospital gift shops, which I may do. My Etsy shop will be up and running soon, as well.....I hope. In preparation for this, Cassidy took some beautiful photos of my finished gowns. I've been dying to share them with you:

Hygienist For a Day

2009-05-20T22:15:00.002-06:00

Today I had my first working interview for a job as a real hygienist...I was SO stressed this morning, but it ended up being lots of fun. I spent the day at an office near my apartment, treating patients and trying really hard to impress the doctor. Having come straight from hygiene school (where we have 3 hours to treat a patient), I felt a bit frenzied at times trying to squeeze everything into 50-minute blocks; at the end of the day I was proud of myself for finishing only 10 minutes behind schedule.....and I got to give someone an injection -- one of my favorite things.

I won't know for about another week whether I'll get this job, but either way it was a good experience. I've got an interview on Friday at another office; keep your fingers crossed?

Done!

2009-05-15T23:29:00.006-06:00

I know it can be bad to just wish time away, but sometimes I can't help it. I'm really grateful that the last few months have flown by, as with their passing has also concluded two of the most stressful years of my life. I'm finally free, and am soon to be Rachel Hunsaker, RDH! Although work at the credit union still takes up a lot of my time, I'm thoroughly enjoying no homework, no bedtime, and full days off -- luxuries I haven't had in a LONG time. Here's what I've been up to lately:

In the past month,

I graduated......

.....I passed all of my dental hygiene boards.....

(Here I am looking not-so-hot, but oh-so-happy.)

......and I started training for my first 5K!

I'm really serious about the 5K this time -- shin splints aren't gonna stop me! Last week I joined some friends in the middle of their 9-week training program; surprisingly, I've had no problems keeping up. I'm really excited about this, because I've already set some personal milestones in preparing for the event and have discovered that I actually enjoy running. One of the girls in my training group is using this 5K as a springboard for training for a half-marathon; call me crazy, but I think I might join her!

Ahhh, I'm so glad to be done with school (for now, at least), though I'm really gonna miss my girlies....

.....now I just need a job.

Happiness Is.....

2009-04-11T23:40:00.008-06:00

....a new friend. Seventy-five bucks and the muscles of half the Elders Quorum can buy a girl a whole lotta awesome!

Playing Catch-Up

2009-04-05T22:38:00.005-06:00

Well, my written boards are over -- thank heaven! I won't know until May-ish whether I passed, but I'm just thankful to be done with that part of my life. Now I'm just praying that I'll make it through my anesthesia and clinical exams. Since the conclusion of the exam, I've let my brains turn to mush. School's not done yet, but I'm finding it hard to study any more. Instead, I've been much more agreeably occupied, working out like a madwoman and catching up on missed episodes of ANTM. I've also made about a dozen pairs of earrings for one of three upcoming Etsy shops and am dying for more time to be crafty.

Perhaps my biggest triumph lately has been the completion of Whitney's Christmas present. I wish I could say this is her present for next Christmas, but no; today I finally finished the coat I started for her 4 months ago. Fortunately for me, it snows in Rexburg until mid-July, so she'll still get some good use out of it this year.

Also, Cassidy just brought me her pictures of my christening gowns. She did a fantastic job on them, and I'm so excited to share them with you. I'll post previews sometime this week; I hope to have that shop up and running by mid-May. Can't wait!

Stress-case

2009-03-04T22:42:00.003-07:00

I'm so stressed, I think my brain is melting! Coming up quickly I have the first of three huge tests for my dental hygiene licensure, and I think I'm starting to have a nervous breakdown. Whenever I try to study I turn into a complete zombie.....nothing's sticking....room's spinning....starting to panic.....

Pray for me, okay?

Lunch With An Old Friend

2009-02-19T22:55:00.003-07:00

I am sentimental and love to keep in touch with people, so today I was really excited to meet up with my cute friend Mary Ellen. We were in a singing group together at BYU-Idaho several years ago, and really haven't seen each other since. We had a fun little lunch date at Mimi's and got all caught up.

Apparently, I am unable to smile like a normal person....

Good thing seriousness is lost on her, too!

I'm not hurling, just really enjoying my orange...

Ahh, how I've missed Mary Ellen -- she is such a crack-up! I am really excited to have her nearby so we can play more often!

Tidbits

2009-02-15T13:35:00.004-07:00

It seems as though I'm always thinking of things to blog about, but I can never find the time to just sit down and write. Then, of course, I miss the opportunity....who wants to read about something I cooked three weeks ago or sewed for my sister last March? I'm going to be better -- if only to document my life for posterity, and at the risk of upsetting those already acquainted with my long-windedness -- starting with some random thoughts from this week:

First, one of my biggest fears about becoming a dental hygienist is that I won't be able to talk to my patients. Sure, I can scrape stuff off your teeth -- I'm getting pretty fast, too! But I get so awkward when it comes to talking to people about important things (smoking cessation, nutrition counseling, even brushing and flossing technique have me tongue-tied on occasion). I had a good experience with a patient this week: a single mom of a low-income family, whose entire life revolves around her three small children. She works so hard to give them what they need, but neglects herself in the process. Though she has a seemingly decent attitude about her situation, I just wanted to hug her and cry. I even thought about copying her address from her patient chart so I could leave money on her doorstep, but figured that the HIPAA people would frown upon that. Maybe it was because of my feelings of personal empathy towards her, but with this patient (unlike any other patients) I was able to address my concerns about her health, explain what is happening to her, and teach her how to take better care of herself. I think she got it....I even think she'll do it. Suddenly, I became a hygienist.

Secondly, today was awesome. For the first time in what seems like months, Colby came to church with me! I sometimes worry that our neighbors think he's gone inactive, when really he's just sick in bed most of the time. Sundays always seem to be the worst. Needless to say, I was thrilled that he made it through 3/4 of sacrament meeting before he was too sick to sit any longer. I came home after the block to find him snuggled up in bed with his oxygen on; he must have been really ill this morning. I'm letting him sleep for a few more minutes, then we're going up to Kaysville for the holiday. Colby's little brother gets home from his mission tomorrow!

And finally, I got my taxes done -- woo-hoo! Happily, we are getting about twice the refund we got last year, though my income was roughly the same. Sadly, most of our refund will probably be applied directly to our credit card.

A Welcome Distraction

2009-02-09T21:56:00.007-07:00

I think Colby likes it when I'm bored, and today I was. I seriously sat around all day, studying tobacco cessation and watching WAYYY too much TV. Finally, around 5 o'clock, I decided I couldn't just sit any longer. Inspired by the culinary wizardry of my Food Network friends, I whipped up something tasty for my sweetie. This was a bit of a challenge for me, as I'm on the tail-end of the low-carb torture stint from Hades and have been battling the flu, but I've really missed cooking and desperately needed to do something productive. Plus, I've felt this crazy need to "make up" for last week's tasty-but-ugly homemade lasagne....I made up my own recipe, and Colby really loved it; however, its glaring unattractiveness necessitated its omission from my blog.

For dinner, I made an Italian chicken pot pie, a slight adaptation on the Barefoot Contessa's recipe. I didn't have all the same vegetables, so I used potatoes, corn, and asparagus. I added about 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese and a packet of dry Italian dressing mix to the sauce, then sprinkled a shredded Parmesan/Asiago mixture on the crust before baking it. I think it looked pretty; Colby said the cheese made the crust a little crunchy. He really liked it, so I guess I will add that to my list of regulars. I may have to invest in some smaller oven-safe dishes, though; I really like Ina's suggestion of making individual-sized pies rather than one large one. I actually ended up with a lot of extra crust and am not sure what I'll do with it.

Dessert was a batch of Tyler Florence's Amaretto Chocolate Brownies. I substituted slivered almonds for the walnuts, and used 1 teaspoon of almond extract in place of the amaretto. I wish my picture looked prettier. When I watched Tyler make these on his show today, his were all huge and chunky....mine looked perfect when I pulled them out of the oven, but as they cooled, the middle caved in. Does anyone know how to prevent that? Either way, they smelled good and were ultra-tempting to me. Colby said they were delish, so I will have to attempt these again as soon as sugar and flour are legal again.

So, it was a fun diversion and only made a little bit of a mess. Hopefully it'll keep Colby from complaining that "we don't have any food" for at least a few more days. Unfortunately, I still feel like dirt. My throat is killing me and I sound like I swallowed a bag of nails. I have to go to classes in the morning, but I think I will skip out on my early-morning weight training class so I can get a little extra sleep before my DH4 test...

Sick Days

2009-02-08T14:24:00.003-07:00

Right now I am curled up on the couch in a blanket, watching Nick Arrojo work his magic on a school teacher's froufy fro. I feel like poo. My head hurts, my body aches, my back is killing me. My throat hasn't been this sore since I had mono in the eighth grade. And, seeing as this is the position I've assumed since Friday morning, I am excruciatingly bored. I wish that I felt well enough to do something productive, but as it is, all I want to do is sleep. I keep forgetting that with my DV-R, I can fast-forward through commercials now. I think I've seen the Kaboom! commercial 3 times in the past 40 minutes...man, that guy bugs me!

I think it's gonna be a long day.

Entertain me?

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Rachel

2009-01-21T22:32:00.001-07:00

Okay, first of all, you guys are awesome....I've never had so many comments in one day on my blog! Thanks for making me feel special. :)

Now, if you'll indulge me for just a moment, I'm feeling the need to brag...but just a little. I am taking a kickboxing class this semester -- both to fill my schedule so I can get more financial aid, and to aid myself in my skinny-and-sexy goal. This class is not what I thought it'd be. I was expecting a Tae Bo-imitation with a perky instructor, like the classes I'd taken at the gym with friends. I almost dropped the class when my teacher, a jiu jitsu champion, said we'd be sparring with each other. What? I have to buy shin guards, a mouth guard, and boxing gloves? This is hard-core, and I really don't want to lay the smack-down on any of the cute little girlies in my class. I'm sticking with it, though, and I think I'll be glad.

Today was something of a triumph for me. We were learning some new sparring techniques that were a little tricky. When I fight, I feel absolutely ridiculous. I giggle incessantly with a silly grin on my face, even when I'm really going at it. So, I was surprised when the girls in my class kept asking me for help...my teacher even used me as an example for the class. Woah, maybe I'm gonna be all right. Maybe Clint Eastwood will make a movie about me. I'll be doing flying-double-twist-jump-roundhouse kicks by the end of the semester.

Move over, Jackie Chan...I'm the next martial arts master.

A Quick Update

2009-01-20T22:26:00.000-07:00

School is once again off to a running start. I think if it wasn't my last semester, I might be losing it already, but somehow I am managing the insanity with a fairly cool head. At this moment, I am bundled up in bed with my lappy (affectionately known as "Hugh"), enjoying a reprieve from the madness and missing my sister...

Andrea dearest came down last week in great hope of finding a job here. We've been hoping for her to move to Utah for months; a hope spurred by the apparently lousy job market in Boise and a desperate need to play Pinochle. Unfortunately, nothing has panned out thus far. She was offered a job in Boise today, which she accepted. I'm happy for her; she's been searching fruitlessly for employment since her graduation in April....still, I'm secretly wishing that some Utah company will offer her a fantastic position, and she'll dump her lousy Boise boss and come play with me. Now, I normally wouldn't condone that kind of irresponsibility, but after last week's Tai Pan trips and Sister Movie Date Nights, I've remembered what I'm missing...I am in despair.

Fortunately, I've got a lot right now to distract me from my woes. My national board exams are quickly approaching, and I am stressed out. When I haven't felt like studying (which has been most of the time), I've busied myself cleaning and reorganizing my entire apartment to make room for our new addition...yes, that's right. We bought a couch; a couch and a love seat, actually (what did you think I was going to say?). They are used and slightly worn, but they're leather and infinitely prettier than our previous scruffy-hide-a-bed-and-crumpled-slipcovers look. Yay for new-old furniture and awesome KSL bargains!

Miss Me?

2009-01-07T00:17:00.000-07:00

Hello again, from the world's boringest blogger. I swear I've become just a blob lately as, Christmas presents aside, I've failed to exert an ounce of effort towards anything productive. It's been really nice, though. I spent the last two weeks working in Ogden, setting up hundreds and hundreds of mortgage files for the credit union. The work was a little monotonous, but I enjoyed the mindlessness of it. Plus, we got to stay with my in-laws for nearly the entire Christmas break, which made it really feel like a vacation. We played games every night and ate all kinds of rubbish. Whitney and I discovered our true calling in life: rock stars. Well, guitar heroes, actually...we really tore it up on the Wii. Pretty impressive for two girls who don't like video games. I also enjoyed whipping up some sweet Rachelpologies for Christmas, like the jacket I made for Andrea:

And now I'm back to school. Blah.

Confessions of a Busy Woman

2008-11-21T23:55:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about fall weather is that I can wear my tall boots again. I've got black ones and brown ones, pointy-toed with high heels, important essentials to my cold-weather wardrobe. I can wear them with all of my cute skirts, and I've enjoyed doing that at least once a week since it started to cool down. See, I love skirts, but I LOATHE nylons, and to be perfectly honest....*sometimes I'm too busy to shave my legs.* With my tall boots and calf-length skirts, I don't have to worry about either! Not usually, anyhow.

Today I had a bit of a mishap. After hitting my snooze button for an hour, I finally got up to get ready for work. In the shower, I contemplated shaving at least my calves and knees, knowing that the skirt/boots combo was in the forecast. Unfortunately, with my lazy morning I hadn't left myself much time for anything beyond the essentials. I hurriedly finished glamourizing, then ran out the door, counting on my stylish ensemble to cover my shamefully hairy legs. As I ran, I realized how swishy my skirt was, and that it was shorter than I'd remembered, so when I sat down I had to kind of slump forward in my chair and twist my legs funny so no one would notice my prickly knees! I spent the whole day hiding behind my desk, or smoothing my skirt down and standing in strange, contorted positions so that other people wouldn't see...

I am shaving my legs in the morning.

Whew!

2008-11-18T23:17:00.000-07:00

Well, it was a long weekend...in one respect, anyway. I had to wait until yesterday to find out whether I'd passed my loan officer test. Once I'd taken it and it was out of my hands, you'd think that I would just let it be, but no. I was so worried about it, that I found myself (all weekend) asking Heavenly Father to, "please let Camille understand why I made the decisions I did on those loans, and please help her to agree with my logic so she will give me a passing grade on my test." Silly, I know. But I guess it worked, because I passed!! Yep, that's right...at this moment you are witnessing the joy and immense relief of America First's newest loan officer. Sweet.

Having learned of my success yesterday morning, I spent most of the day in a pretty good mood. That was topped off by a surprise visitor at closing time -- my dearest Vanessa came to congratulate me, flowers in hand! Vanessa's are awesome...everyone should have one. :)

Thanks, everyone, for being so excited for me -- I'm excited, too!

BAH!

2008-11-14T20:41:00.000-07:00

Anyone else had a mad week? I mean, like crazy, strange, exhausting...?

First there was clinic; now, I know that all of us are SO done with clinic. I think I was half-asleep during my appointment yesterday -- I flat-out forgot to clean the "away-from-me" surfaces on my patient's lower anterior teeth and consequently lost a good chunk of my grade. What about the Periodontology test? We'll just say that I've spent a lot of time on Facebook this week when I should have been studying -- I just can't concentrate!!! Needless to say, not my best work in that class. I'm sure Mrs. Knight got a good laugh out of my essays...I had no idea what I was talking about.

The craziness culminated today with the arrival of my loan officer test (dun, dun, dun...). I've been preparing for this for months, all the while dreading its coming. Wanting to feel my best for the big day, I woke up early this morning and got all "dolled up." I wish I'd taken a picture, because I looked and felt pretty cute! That feeling only lasted about an hour, though. After staff meeting I realized that my time had come, and almost hyperventilated all the way to Sandy.

The test was every bit as nerve-racking as I'd expected, and took almost the entire day. I began at 10 a.m.......seven hours later I emerged -- test completed, brains fried, hair totally flat and experiencing an unfortunate case of static cling.

I will probably be bruised from the hundreds of times I banged my head on the table in frustration, and thinking about loans now makes me a little queasy. But the worst part? I still had to go back to my branch and finish the day there...I almost fell asleep the minute I sat at my desk!

I will find out on Monday if I passed, so I only have to suffer for a couple more days. Oh well, at least it's over. Can't wait until I can say the same about hygiene school...

If I Had a Million Dollars...

2008-11-08T22:21:00.000-07:00

I realized today that it's been weeks since I've looked at Anthropologie's website....how could I let that happen? So, tonight, with my Periodontology book & notes on my lap and every intention of studying (in just a few minutes), I reacquainted myself with the random cuteness and amazing detail that is always to be found there. As I did so, I thought to myself, "Man, if I had lots of money I would buy all my clothes from Anthropologie!" Then I realized that I'd really rather just have lots of time to create a whole wardrobe of my own home-sewn knock-offs.

Yeah, man.

Here are a few of tonight's finds that made it into my extensive gallery of "someday" projects:

So, What Else is New?

2008-11-04T22:21:00.000-07:00

I'm sick of school.

The End.

Santa's Workshop

2008-10-26T11:41:00.000-06:00

It's officially 59 days, 11 hours, and 2 minutes until Christmas...but who's counting? Besides me...I am so excited for the holidays that I went to Robert's the other night and bought my Christmas trees (a couple of little artificial alpines). They are still sitting in my trunk, but since I can't decorate them until December I will probably try to work them into my regular decor until then.

Most of my Sunday afternoons this month have consisted of me barricading myself inside my sewing room so I can work on my Christmas projects undisturbed. I've completed a couple, but I've always got at least a dozen extra ideas that I never get around to...it's hard being so busy! Still, I am quite pleased with my finished products thus far. I can't post all of them, because I don't know who all reads my blog, but here's one. This is the jacket I made for Steph:

It's a Rachelpologie, of course...someday I will learn how to design my own stuff, instead of just copying everyone else. I did make some of my own adaptations (Stephanie doesn't like 3/4 length sleeves), and used a slightly different pattern. St
ill, if you compare it to the original, I think I did a pretty good job:

Yay for Christmas!

Ghouls Night Out

2008-10-24T22:31:00.000-06:00

So, I am sitting up late tonight, wondering where the last hour went...I was going to go to bed with Colby a while ago, and then I got sucked into the infinite vortex that is on-line Christmas shopping (I think I may single-handedly solve the economic crisis with my holiday purchases; you can all thank me later). But before I "hit the hay," I wanted to share just a smidge about my Fall Break...

I went to Boise!!

It was so wonderful to see my family, especially since I only make it up there a couple of times a year. Holly was so wonderful to let me have the weekend off (seriously, I owe you big!), and I got to ride up with Dave, which was awesome. Friday night, my dad and brothers went to the BSU/Hawaii game, so I stayed home with Mom, Andi, and Steph for a "girls' night." We watched "Hairspray," swooning over James Marsden and Elijah Kelley and gave each other pedicures. I also copied Sarah's fantastic fingernails and gave my sisters Halloween manicures:

I wish I'd gotten some better pictures; I was trying to get the details in while showing all of my little paintings in just one or two photos. I wish you could see the little witch on Steph's thumb...she was really cute! But, since I still don't have a digital camera, my crappy cell phone pics will just have to suffice.

Winter Weather

2008-10-14T00:08:00.000-06:00

I really like Christine's Halloween background on her blog, so I decided to follow suit and decorate mine for the season, as well.

Speaking of the season....even though Saturday night's snowfall shouldn't have caught me off-guard (because it was in the forecast all week), I was still a bit shocked as I looked out the window Sunday morning, torn between disappointment and excitement. While part of me screamed, "No, NO!! It's only October!!" the so-excited-for-Christmas-cuz-it's-just-around-the-corner side of me could barely be contained. (Consequently, that side of me was in charge today...I didn't study at all. Instead, I vacuumed my apartment and finished two Christmas presents.)

When I walked to church Sunday afternoon I was still in awe of the snow. I think I kind of forget how cold it is, the way the sky looks, and how it smells when it snows. It's so pretty, even when it's gray and cloudy outside.

I Guess It Serves Me Right

2008-09-21T22:29:00.000-06:00

Let me apologize for the perfectly crummy mood I was in this week. I mean, I still feel that I was completely justified in being a "grumpy giant," but sometimes I wonder if I complain too much. I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable; I just needed to vent (and yes, Angie, it was..."the mean one" -- if, indeed you are referring to the one who seems to have a special place in her pit of meanness reserved especially for Rachel)...

Aside from that, I had kind of a funny/ironic/creeeepy experience this week. Brooke was in the darkroom a few days ago when I heard her scream. She had discovered a spider on the counter, right next to her. Well, I hate spiders just as much as the next girly-girl, but I decided to be heroic and save Brooke from the venomous monster. Okay, so it turns out that it was an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny spider (no yellow polka-dots, even). I smooshed it with a pair of scissors and threw it in the trash. I kind of laughed to myself, because seriously -- it was a nothing of a spider. Maybe I shouldn't have thought her so silly, because you know...what goes around, comes around. Thursday night, I got home late from visiting with my family. It was really dark outside, but when I opened my front door I could see that there was a spider on the ground, just outside my apartment. And not just any spider...a huge black widow! EEEEEEEEWWWWWWW!!!!! I was wearing flip-flops, so I practically jumped over the threshold to avoid it. I knew I had to kill it, though, so I ran and put on some tennis shoes, then jumped around my living room shrieking for a couple of minutes or two (I think the shrieking helped me summon my courage). I finally managed to send that big ugly bugger to its cobwebby grave, but I had the creepy-crawlies all night long. I was jumping and jerking around in bed all night because I SWEAR I could feel things crawling on me...

This week I am spraying down my whole apartment building. I already have all the stuff to do it, and I'm not taking any more chances. I've learned my lesson, too: I promise not to laugh at any of you ever again if you freak out over a little, tiny spider.

Some Chain Maille Might Have Come in Handy...

2008-09-16T22:05:00.000-06:00

If you all will indulge me for just a moment...

Today I encountered a beast of epic proportions. She appeared as one of my clinical instructors and reared her ugly head at me over and over again. I nearly melted from the heat of her fiery breath (or maybe just from embarrassment) as she publicly harangued me; I had not made any serious errors, at least not the ones she was accusng me of, nor did I deserve such a severe tongue-lashing in front of my patient and my peers. I was so upset I contemplated walking home, just to blow off steam. I decided, though, that since it was nearly four miles, I would likely be more agitated by the time I got here for having used up my whole afternoon. So instead, I rented a Rug Doctor and shampooed my living room carpet. Perhaps a strange way to deal with my indignation, but it was pleasantly cathartic. In fact, although a couple of "mystery stains" still haunt the floor in front of my couch, it looks almost a million times better. Plus I found some sick, secret enjoyment pretending I was dumping her down the drain along with the ten gallons of thick, grey water that came out of the Rug Doctor...

And now, I'm a bit exhausted from my venture into the grimy depths of ancient apartment floor coverings, so I'm all nestled up in bed with my lappy. Colby is down at the hospital tonight doing a sleep study, so I think I shall sleep quite soundly -- providing I don't have nightmares about monsters in lavender scrubs.

Holiday Fever

2008-09-03T22:08:00.000-06:00

I don't know what's come over me, but I am suddenly obsessively excited for the holidays! A couple of days ago I went into Roberts to get some stuff for a school project. They had all of their fall & Halloween decorations out and I just about lost it! I'm like a little kid all over again, or maybe like Martha Stewart -- or maybe Martha Stewart as a little kid, because all I want to do now is hang things and wrap things and make costumes and buy a huge, cute bowl for our Halloween candy. Yikes! I've become a monster! A monster who can't wait to put up her Christmas tree...I even started my Christmas shopping. Yep -- last week at Swiss Days I purchased a present for...well, for someone...I can't say who, even though she doesn't read my blog. But, let's just say it's something that needs a mat and a frame. Unfortunately, I didn't realize how expensive mats and frames are, especially when you have to have the mat custom-cut because the gift in question is a funny size. I decided after checking prices at Roberts and Michael's that I will probably have to sell my soul to the devil to afford the rest of this Christmas present. Oops! Well, at least I won't have to worry so much about my Halloween costume...just don't be scared if you notice my eyes are glowing red or my voice is a little bit raspier. I will be a happy little Christmas demon, and that is all that matters!

Another "Sunday" Project

2008-08-28T17:01:00.000-06:00

I finished this shirt a week or two ago. It's another of my "Rachelpologies" (Anthropology knock-offs made by moi). I'm wishing I had a picture of the Anthropology original, just for comparison. It looks kind of big, I know...it's not very form-fitting, but it is very flattering. I still haven't decided whether my favorite part is the fluttery sleeves or the big ribbon bow, but I love it so much I've worn it like three times. It's super comfy!

Happy Anniversary!

2008-08-19T09:25:00.000-06:00

Today is our fourth anniversary! Since it is so fun to reminisce about the beginnings of our relationship, I've copied Katie's idea and written down some of those memories for all of you to enjoy.

1. Where did you and your husband meet? We met at BYU-Idaho. He and Lauryl were in the same ward, and they were pretty good friends. In fact, I didn't really pay attention to Colby until after our first date, because I thought he and Lauryl liked each other and I liked someone else.

2. First thing said: Probably, "hi." Actually, I first met Colby in passing the semester before we really met. I'd gone over to some guys' apartments with my barbershop quartet to show off some of our new tunes. Colby was just getting home as we were leaving his building, and Lauryl introduced him to the rest of us. The thing I remember most about him is thinking he had a funny last name and poufy hair, but that he was really friendly.

3. First date: Our first date was to the BYU-Idaho Sweetheart's Dance in February 2004. I'd actually liked another guy that semester (and thought that Colby and Lauryl liked each other), but I was too scared to ask him. So, with Lauryl's encouragement I asked Colby. The afternoon of the dance, we went to the park with all of our friends to play in the snow. We played "Three-Legged Lava Monster" on the playground toys, and he gave me a piggy-back ride on the way home so I wouldn't get my new tennis shoes dirty in the giant puddles. He was just so comfortable to be around -- just like a big teddy bear! On the way to dinner, we held hands, and I guess that was it. We were together every day from then on.

4. First kiss: We kissed about five days after our first date. The debate still stands as to who kissed whom, but either way it was really nice...even though we didn't kiss again for almost two weeks.

5. When "I love you's" were first said: Colby told me he loved me after we'd dated for just a couple of weeks. It totally caught me off guard! Even though I really liked him and knew I was more comfortable with him than I'd been with any other guy, I wasn't sure I loved him yet. So I simply said, "Thanks!.....and, um, is it okay if I don't say it back?" Poor Colby thought he'd ruined everything...I think I finally told him I loved him around the time that we got engaged.

6. Long or short courtship/engagement? I guess it was fairly short, even though we were in Rexburg. We started dating in February, and got engaged in April. That was a rough summer -- Colby's cell phone bills were really high for the first couple of months until Whitney gave me her phone so we could use mobile-to-mobile minutes. We probably talked five times a day, and Colby came to Boise almost every other weekend. We were relieved when August finally rolled around and we could just be together all the time!

7. Where did you get engaged? We got engaged at my in-laws' house. Holidays and traditions are a huge deal for Colby's family, so they invited me down for Easter to share some of those traditions with me. Colby and I had already been ring shopping, but I wasn't expecting a proposal for at least another month or two. In reality, my ring was already waiting for me in Kaysville. He'd had it custom-made, and Ilona and Whitney had hand-picked the stone...a bigger one than I'd expected. It was neat to have his family in on the secret, and fun that it was a surprise...such a surprise, in fact, that I couldn't even say, "yes." I just nodded my head.

8. Where were you married? We got married in the Logan temple. Even though it was a little out of the way, it's been a bit of a family tradition to get married there. Colby was the third generation in his family, and I was the fifth in mine, to get married in the Logan temple. Plus, it's huge and beautiful like a castle!

9. Where did you go on your honeymoon? Lake Tahoe

10. Where did you make your first home? Our first apartment was in Rexburg, about four blocks from the BYU-Idaho campus. The apartment was all right, and I tried to decorate it as nicely as I could, though the ugly blue carpet in the kitchen was hard to overlook. It was in a large apartment complex, inhabited mostly by young marrieds like ourselves, so our ward was really awesome. We made lots of good friends there, and were sad to leave when we moved to Utah almost two years later.

It's funny how quickly time goes...I can't believe it's already been four years! Colby still has a funny last name and poufy hair, but he's still just like a big teddy bear...and I love him as much as ever!

I Must Be Crazy...

2008-07-27T11:20:00.001-06:00

This past week I spent a lot of time working on scholarship applications, hoping to earn some last-minute financial aid before returning to hygiene school. One such application involved writing a series of silly short essays, and induced an epiphany that I just might be certifiable.

About two days ago, I put some chicken on the stove to boil, and sat down to write a scholarship essay. What I came up with was a blurb about vegetable rights activism ("Love vegetables -- don't eat them"). Andrea laughed out loud when I read it to her; she also suggested that I add a link to a fake website "in case people want to make a donation" to my imaginary vegetable rights group. I took it one step further, and found myself actually creating a website called "The Virtues of Veggies." I got so sucked into it, that all of the water boiled out of my pot on the stove, and the chicken on the bottom of the pot burned to blackness...

Now I suppose I must redeem myself by reminding you that this website is not to be taken seriously. I did not found the ASPCV. I do not believe that harvesting green beans means we're "kidnapping the plants' children." I really do eat vegetables...all the time. In fact, I love them. I just occasionally get caught up in fantastic, crazy whims and don't know when to put them down.

Dawn Is Breaking In...

2008-07-10T10:51:00.001-06:00

Get this widget!

Aaaahhhhh!! My heart is fluttering!

A Week In Boise

2008-07-04T22:02:00.000-06:00

I have to apologize to the three of you who read my blog...I have had a busy but fairly uninteresting summer, and my blogging (or lack thereof) shows it. The highlight of my summer was probably this last week, which I spent with my family in Idaho. I'd been looking forward to it for weeks, and I believe that the anticipation made the first half of my summer creep by; now that I am home, I fear that school will come altogether too quickly.

It was so wonderful to see my family. Although my mom and sisters were just here last month, I had not been home since Christmas. That is WAY too long! The week started with two late nights of "Sister Movie Night," which consisted of Steph and me cuddled up in Matt's big bed with my laptop, watching "The Wedding Planner" and "Spider Man 3." Unfortunately, about halfway into "Spider Man," my laptop exploded (and I think I may have lost everything on it)...that kind of put a damper on our movie nights for the rest of the week.

I got to spend some time on Saturday and Sunday playing Pinochle with Grandma Brookhart before her open heart surgery, which she had Tuesday morning. I hear she is doing well, though I think the whole family has been holding their breaths with nervousness. My time with Grandma was precious. Even for an 87-year-old woman, she is exceptionally sharp -- especially when she sits down for a hand of cards.

On Monday, Andrea and I went to Anthropologie!! They have a new store in downtown Boise, and both of us were just in heaven! Boy, if I had money, I would definitely be tempted to shop there regularly (at least for the stuff that I am too lazy to copy). While we were there, we each made our first Anthropologie purchase ever (and actually picked the same item): a cute, cute, green sweater that only cost $20. I think my favorite part, aside from the price, are the big wooden buttons that have butterflies and flowers painted on them. I later looked at anthropologie.com later on, and the same sweater costs $40 on-line. What a bargain we got!

Also on Monday, I got roped into doing Jared's hair. He asked me to put highlights in it, which my parents (and Colby) were less than thrilled about; however, he agreed to my mom's stipulation that he also have his hair cut, so I think my parents felt like they got the better end of the deal. His hair was getting very long. I did the highlights before cutting his hair, and snapped a picture with my cell phone. I guess I've never seen a guy getting a weave before. I thought it was kind of funny.

All in all, I had a wonderful week with my family. My dad and I had some time alone to visit, which was very nice, and my mom and I hit an excellent sale at Mervyn's. We made out like bandits, while saving over $200. It was so hard for me to leave on Wednesday, as it always is. But, hopefully I will get back up there again before school starts next month. I think that will make the semester bearable!

Arts and Crafts With Ilona

2008-06-01T19:46:00.000-06:00

I am finally home from my mortgage training, and it's kind of nice to not be living out of a suitcase anymore. I had a lot of fun staying with Marty and Ilona. I am really grateful to have in-laws that I get along with so well. Ilona and I discovered that "Ticket to Ride" is really fun with just two people. In fact, you can play more rounds of it because it goes a lot faster. We got a little carried away, playing about 20 times. :)

We also had a lot of fun raiding all of the bead and craft stores in Layton. For Ilona's birthday, I had made her a really cute bracelet. She liked it so much that she wanted another one. I wanted one, too, so we went to town! This is what we came up with:

Alone Time

2008-05-27T18:31:00.000-06:00

This week and last I have been in Ogden for a mortgage training. Since I didn't want to spend three hours in the car everyday, driving between Ogden and Orem, I'm staying with Colby's parents in Kaysville. I've missed Colby (and he is bored to death in Orem), but it's been fun to visit with Marty and Ilona. Admittedly, I find myself enjoying a little "alone time," as well. Ilona serves in the Bountiful temple every Tuesday night, so Marty usually works late. That leaves me with the house all to myself this evening. The minute I got home from work, I was at the piano, singing Eva Cassidy at the top of my lungs -- a luxury I rarely get to enjoy since I don't have a piano at home, and my neighbors would hate me if I did. I also fumbled through George Gershwin's three "Preludes for Piano." Man, oh, man -- it's been a long time since I've played those, and I hadn't realized how much my piano skills have deteriorated! I guess I will have to find a way to practice a little more. Next, I am going to finish "Eclipse" for the second time (dare I start the series again?), and I'll probably do some sewing, too. I'd better be careful -- I think I am enjoying this too much!

On a side note, I decided last week that I had shin splints, which put a bit of a damper on my 5K training...after a couple of days of rest, ice, and ibuprofen, my legs feel a lot better, but I'm worried that they will return. Does anyone have suggestions for me?

Couldn't Help Myself

2008-05-18T22:26:00.001-06:00

Dearest friends, I realize you already think I'm a little crazy, but I just had to do it: I've compiled my favorite "Twilight" cast pics and made them into a slide show for everyone's (or at least my own) viewing pleasure. I tried to keep the pictures relevant to the "Twilight" movie, rather than random photos of the actors themselves; however, most of the pictures I found were of Edward (Robert Pattinson), with only a few including Bella or other cast members...but who's complaining, really?

The Loan Side...

2008-05-18T21:45:00.000-06:00

...is not the same as "the Dark Side," though sometimes I am just as scared of it. I recently became a loan interviewer for America First Credit Union; though I am really excited, it is definitely out of my comfort zone. I've been a teller for almost two years, and though I may still sometimes get to do that, I think I will miss it. Friday was my first day off the teller line -- I spent the whole day in the loan office! It was a slow day, but both of the members I helped seemed confident that I knew what I was talking about. :)

After we closed for the night, I put Vanessa to work with my cell phone and her exceptional photography skills to help me commemorate this exciting day...

"You'd like to apply for a loan? I can help you!"

"Would you prefer the fixed or variable rate?"

"I'll need to see verification of income..."

Don't I look official? I'll be even more official after I finish my two-week mortgage training, which starts tomorrow (*gulp*). If my brain doesn't explode, I'll be a lot more knowledgeable -- look at me go!

Bad Weather Blues

2008-05-12T11:58:00.000-06:00

Last week I started running again. I am training to run a 5K -- not a specific one, necessarily, but I am following this awesome training program called the "Couch to 5K Program." It takes 9 weeks, and you can basically go from not running at all, to running about 3 miles a day. I've been really excited to start training, but it's really challenging and so I've struggled to stay motivated. So, seeing as I was all geared up to get out and run this morning, I was naturally frustrated when Colby didn't want me to go. Not a huge, deal, though -- he had to leave for a doctor’s appointment. As soon as he was gone, I put on my shoes and headed out the door, only to find that it was hailing. DANG it! The hail continued for probably 30 minutes then turned into rain. I’m still hoping it’ll let up soon so I can slip Colby some Benadryl and sneak out to run while he is fast asleep. In the meantime, I’m feeling a little bit bored. My apartment is basically spotless because I scrubbed it down last week. Our water might get turned off temporarily due to construction on our street, so I can’t shower, do laundry, or load the dishwasher. My mother-in-law called me, but only to get a phone number. So, I guess you could say I’ve got the “Bad Weather blues.” I would sing them, but I don’t have a piano…

To occupy myself, I’ve decided to work on some quilt blocks. My Relief Society has these focus groups, and Sister Goodman has been begging me to come to her quilting group ever since she learned I made my mom a quilt for Christmas. I was finally able to go last week, and am excited to participate. But, since they do a new block each month, I’m already several blocks behind. And of course, being me, I decided that 12 blocks won’t make a big enough quilt to be useful. Since I don’t have enough projects already, why don’t I make two of each and turn it into a queen-size quilt for my bedroom? I am actually really excited to do this. I found some fabrics that I really love, and I’ll be stretching the project out over the year. Of course, I still wonder why I do this to myself. Still, the quilt blocks they’ve chosen for the focus group are WAY easier than the Double Wedding Ring I made Mom, so it shouldn’t be too hard. I finished four blocks this morning already, so I just have four more to get caught up. Here are the ones I’ve done. The two on the left are called "Album," and the two on the right are called, "Balkan Puzzle."

My favorite "Album" block....

...and my favorite "Balkan Puzzle."

I am a little scared to get too "into" the whole quilting thing -- I already have too many irons in the proverbial fire. However, I think I will have fun with this. I'll finally have exactly what I want to finish my bedroom (I've been on a real decorating kick lately), and I'll get to know some of the other ladies in my ward. Hopefully it'll keep me from going crazy while I'm stuck inside on rainy days like today, too...

D.I. Deals

2008-05-07T21:15:00.000-06:00

I ordinarily don't post twice in one day...or one month, for that matter. In fact, I was explaining to Vanessa earlier today that I seem to get too busy for my blog and let things pass without writing about them. But, I decided that since I'd written a novel today about my mad obsession with Twilight, I should post some pictures of what I did actually accomplish this past week to compensate.

Last Thursday I had the day off, so while I was out running errands I stopped by the D.I. in Provo. I go there occasionally to look for night stands, kitchen chairs, etc. -- things that I might be able to paint or re-finish to make my apartment a little cuter. In the past month I have happened to get lucky twice in the "picture frames" aisle; Thursday in particular, I was really excited to find a small picture frame that matched a larger one I already had displayed in my living room. For a long time I had been wanting to rearrange this particular wall grouping, and having hit the D.I. "jackpot" I did just that. Here is my old grouping.....

And a couple pictures of my new one...

Ahh...doesn't that feel better? I may have done nothing else all week, but I still feel like I've got a brand new living room!

A Girl, A Vampire, and A Zombie

2008-05-07T10:58:00.000-06:00

Those of you who know me well and have spoken with me in the last week and a half know EXACTLY who the zombie is....last week, I started reading the Twilight series, thinking it would be a fun diversion in between work and homemaking. WRONG!! (well, I mean, it was fun, but it kind of took over everything....) It had been SO long since I've read for pleasure, and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I started Twilight on Monday night, and was instantly sucked in. I don't think I went to bed earlier than midnight any night last week -- most nights I was up until 1:30 or 2:00. Colby noticed my erratic behavior and became concerned, but I think he could tell he was better off not getting involved. By Wednesday night, I'd finished book one; I promptly flipped back to the beginning and started over. On Thursday I remembered my Barnes and Noble gift card Aunt Susan gave me for Christmas, and I rushed over to buy New Moon and Eclipse. Of course, I was once again so enveloped in Twilight that I had to finish it before moving on. I began New Moon on Friday. Although it's much different (and not quite as romantic) as the first, this book managed to keep me occupied (and frustrated,and crying) all night long...literally. I finally went to sleep around 4:30 a.m., but that didn’t stop me from starting Eclipse on Saturday afternoon. By Sunday night, just before midnight, I’d finished all three books. I finally emerged from my alternate universe and realized that, for an entire week, I had truly become one of the “undead.” My apartment was a disaster – I hadn’t bothered to cook, clean, or do laundry for days. My poor husband was feeling lonely and neglected, and was very worried about my sleep deprivation (even though I didn’t feel its effects until Monday night).

Things are mostly back to normal now. I spent the first part of this week playing “catch-up” on all of the things I neglected last week. I even managed to decorate a little, and finally finished organizing the office. I still don’t feel quite “settled,” though – even though I know there is a fourth Twilight book coming soon, and most of the existing conflicts have been resolved, I found myself beginning the series again last night. Hopefully I’ll be able to pace myself a little better this time. :)

Before starting Twilight again, I visited Stephenie Meyer’s website. My sister had told me about a project of Stephenie’s related to the Twilight series. On her site is a rough-draft manuscript of Midnight Sun, Chapter 1, “First Sight.” It details Bella’s first day in Forks, but this time from Edward’s perspective. It is FASCINATING! (Click here to read it.) After I had read this and began Twilight again, I felt like I understood Edward perfectly – the strange, frustrated looks, the hate in his eyes during Mr. Banner’s biology class, etc. I only wish there was more; as I moved on to Chapters 2 and 3 I suddenly felt blind because I could no longer hear what was in Edward’s mind. Even still, I am giddy with anticipation of what I already know will come again in these first three books, and even more excited for the fourth book to come out in August. I will be the first in line at Wal-Mart!! I kind of feel like I am in junior high again…

Now, moving on to something EXTREMELY important – Twilight the movie. It is currently filming in Portland, I think, and will be released on December 12. Yikes!! I am so excited (again with the silly junior high-ness)!! I hope they keep it fairly true to the story, and don’t change anything too much – I hate it when that happens! In my eager anticipation of the film I’ve spent some time on-line googling cast pics, video clips, anything I could find. At first, swayed slightly by some of my friends’ opinions, I was disappointed in some of the casting decisions (namely, Edward). However, I’ve now changed my mind. So, Sarah, I am going to go out on a limb and say that I think Robert Pattinson will make a very good Edward.

Consider display #1:

And if that doesn’t do it for you, here’s #2:

Now, truly – that screams “hunky vampire!”

Finally, the Twilight movie trailer. Check it out here. And thanks for not thinking I’m crazy – I must’ve just been bitten or something….

Sunday Project and Summer Vacation

2008-04-26T00:06:00.001-06:00

Ahhhh....it's finally summer vacation! Well, kind of. Aside from the Class III patient I have to finish in the morning (SATURDAY morning; I guess I'll have to wait 'til Sunday to sleep in), and the light dusting of snow we had yesterday, I'd say I'm off to a cushy start. I only worked three days this week, and without five days of class, I spent the whole week thinking it was Friday -- mahvelous!

One of my favorite things about summer is working on a "Sunday Project" every week. Whether it be a birthday gift or an Anthropologie knock-off ("Rachelpology," Andrea calls it), I love to wind down with some homemade project. Last week I finished this skirt. The colors don't show up the best because I took the picture with my cell phone (REALLY gotta get a digital camera!) -- it's kind of a turquoise color with dark brown grosgrain ribbon. I'm really excited, because I used to have a skirt just like it...but, you know how marriage can cause spontaneous waistband expansion, and I gave that skirt to my best friend, Lacey. Fortunately, I had enough fabric left over to make another. This time I made it easily adjustable...hopefully I'll be adjusting it down, though, and not up!

Tagged!

2008-03-22T00:22:00.000-06:00

Three names you go by:
1. Rach
2. Cocoa or Cocoa-bear (only by my mom)
3. Bambi (only by friends from high school)
Three things you are wearing right now:
1. Polka-dot pajama bottoms with my name on the bum
2. My old, faded Harvard t-shirt
3. Pearl earrings
Three of your favorite things to do:
1. Sing
2. Sew
3. Step Aerobics
Three things you want very badly at the moment:
1. A piano
2. No more school
3. Time to go running
Three favorite pets you have had/have
1. Ginger (Colby's dog)
2. Perky the Werky (my cat...named by my little sister)
3. Seng-Chi ("mouse," but she's really a cat)
Three things you did last night:
1. Loaded my new dishwasher!
2. Studied for my Psychology class
3. Stayed up too late watching old episodes of "Gilmore Girls"
Three things you ate today
1. Dried pineapple
2. String Cheese
3. Chinese coleslaw
Three people you last talked to:
1. Colette
2. Dave
3. Andrea
Three longest car rides:
1. Rexburg to Las Vegas
2. Oregon to Kaysville
3. Bus ride from Boise to San Francisco (high school choir tour)
Three favorite holidays:
1. Christmas
2. Thanksgiving
3. 4th of July
Three favorite beverages:
1. Diet Dr. Pepper
2. Water
3. Home-bottled grape juice

Now I tag... Vanessa, Christine, and Kara

Hooray for Spring Break!

2008-03-15T22:02:00.000-06:00

Ahhhh....well, I guess it wasn't much of a "break," but hey -- I'll take what I can get!! I had Saturday off from work, which was sooooo wonderful. Colby and I took full advantage of my one day of freedom and went to Kaysville for a few hours to visit his parents. I was sad we couldn't stay longer, but we had time to play one game of "Pollyanna" (in which I creamed Colby's dad after the Hunsaker family tradition), and "Settlers of Catan" (in which I lost miserably to Colby's brother, Bryce). Ilona and I had tons of fun playing with our blogs. I scanned a ton of scrapbook paper and uploaded it to my Photobucket account and we both updated our blog designs. It was really easy, so for those of you who are wondering, it is possible to make your own "digital" scrapbook paper...and, after a little R&R I think I can now make it through a couple more weeks of my crazy schedule.

My Cutest Patient

2008-02-25T22:29:00.000-07:00

This is Keelie, my patient from last Tuesday. She has to be one of the cutest little girls I've ever seen! She is four years old, and nad never been to the dentist, so I felt like it was up to me to make it a pleasant experience for her. She really liked my chair, I showed her how it could go all the way up ("Does it go up to the ceiling?"), and my suction (or "Mr. Thirsty," as many of us know him). I also made up names for my instruments -- Spike, Curly, and Chuck -- and spoke in funny voices for each of them. She especially liked Spike and would ask me to make him say, "Mmmm, Sugar Bugs! Gimme some more!" as he scraped the plaque off her teeth. She was so cute and giggly, that I got permission from her dad to take a picture with her. Working with her makes me wonder if I'd like working for a pedodontist. She was so much fun!!

2008-02-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I found this website where you upload a picture of yourself and it shows you which celebrity you look like. I had fun playing around with my dental hygiene friends' photos, and here's what I found:

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities

Sarah's and Erin's might be kind of a stretch, but fun, huh?

Schizo-Blog!

2008-02-12T20:16:00.000-07:00

So, Angie, wonderful friend that she is, showed me how to upload digital scrapbook paper and edit the html on my blog to create my own backgrounds and stuff! I am having so much fun playing around with it, but I will have to warn you all: you will probably see my blog change like a million times while I am playing around with all of these cute patterns!!

2008-02-10T22:38:00.000-07:00

I LOOOOOOOOOVE the BBC version of "Pride and Prejudice." I love it so much, in fact, that I put it on tonight for the fourth time in a month! It started out as my "background noise," something to listen to while cutting out my "Sunday Project". Before too long, though, I found myself parked in front of the couch, squealing like a little girl at every longing look exchanged between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett. What a sexy man, that Mr. Darcy! (Sorry, Colby)

About two hours into the film, Colby wandered into the living room and sat behind me on the couch. As is sometimes the case in the Hunsaker home, he began to complain about my entertainment selection: "What is this garbage you're watching?!" "This is stupid!" "I think I am losing brain cells!" "Doesn't anybody die?" Even with all of his whining, I am still convinced he found the show somewhat interesting -- he watched it for almost an hour!

Only at Harmon's...

2008-02-02T22:07:00.000-07:00

I am discovering the true excitement of working for a credit union inside a grocery store. Not only do I have the antics of the comedic "Officer Tight-Pants" to amuse me (more to come on that one), but I never cease to be entertained by the goings-on of the Harmon's universe. Today, for example, I was sitting at my teller window gazing off into the jungle of cheesy Valentine's Day decor that currently entangles the store. All of a sudden, a giant hippo wearing a hot pink tutu waltzed by in front of me!! I thought it was so funny, I snapped a picture with my cell phone so everyone else could enjoy it, too.

This is one of my favorite clips!

2008-01-26T22:07:00.000-07:00