Roasted Artichoke Salad

I have to say I'm enjoying Ms. Barefoot Contessa. I need to make more of her recipes, but everything I've tried of hers so far I LOVE. I made this Roasted Artichoke Salad yesterday for lunch and it was goooood; today I'm eating the leftovers and it's maybe even a bit better. Cool!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/roasted-artichoke-salad-recipe/index.html

Note: I used the artichoke hearts from Costco (the ones in the big jar) instead of frozen ones, and I used a fresh bell pepper instead of jarred ones.

Yay!

Ever have a low self-confidence day or two, only to get a compliment that picks you up and makes you set for about the next two months? That was me this week, only to have my boss tell me that I'm the "best employee ever"--I'll take it! Thanks, G!

Kerry would be so proud!

I've finally lifted my Shopping Embargo which I've had in place for the last year-plus. I needed a couple new suits for work with all these conferences we attend (as much as I love my black suit, I was so sick of it by the third day of the NY conference!).

But the part that would make Kerry so proud? I increased my pants collection (I'm including jeans in this) by 33%! I had six pairs of pants, and now I have EIGHT! People, for me, that's big.

Now I just have to get them hemmed . . .

The Truth

I had a killer headache for a few days this week, so I scooted on in to my chiropractor to see if I could get some relief (and I did--yay!). I hadn't seen her in 3-4 weeks, and she asked, "Have you lost weight? You look a little slimmer."

"No, I don't think so."

That's a partial truth. The whole truth? I very well could have, and I'd have no idea: we don't have a scale, and I don't remember the last time I weighed myself. I only weigh myself when I'm at a doctor's office and I have to, or I'm at a gym and I'm just curious what I could be, but let's be honest . . . it's been a long time since I've been to the gym.

So, basically, I have no idea if the weight listed on my driver's license is accurate or not. I don't even know what I listed on there. Maybe I should check . . .

I'm also attributing the possibility that I looked slimmer to the fact that I wasn't wearing black, which is a rarity.

I'm Giddy

Check out where we're staying and conferencing, all expenses paid by the conference host, near the end of October for work:




Almost makes the last few weeks of usually working until 11pm or midnight worth it . . . =)

Sleepovers

Our a/c broke, and Mom and I have been camping out in our bonus room, which has its own a/c. Too bad I don't fit under the pool table anymore like I did when I was little. It was my own personal fort.

Anyway, you can imagine it's been a riot, having these sleepovers every night.

Last night she wanted me to be her own personal clapper. She'd clap (and wouldn't just *clap* but would SAY "Clap, Clap" AS she was clapping), then say, "Can you shut the door?"

Then a few minutes later, clap and say, "Can you shut out my light?"

Thanks, Wendy!

I've got Boyz II Men songs stuck in my head.

I blame Wendy.

And this is a good blame, because it's been a fun blast from the past. I've got "End of the Road" stuck in my head right now. This is sort of a random stuck-in-the-head bit because it's been about three weeks since I was playing Nintendo in Wendy's living room in Orem and listening to Boyz II Men's Greatest Hits, a CD her awesome husband so kindly bought for her.

From the Woman Who Doesn't Want A Dog

Mom: Is this just not comfortable? It’s kind of small; Kobe has to turn too much. He needs just a really big mattress. (About one of his mattresses)

Mom: You’re not layering his food right. It needs to be rice, then turkey. Mix that up, and then put the raw veggies on top, because he likes to chew his veggies.

Mom: Oh! I want to go make him some (organic) celery with (organic) peanut butter!
Me: You really don’t have to do that; I made him a big dinner.
Mom: I know, but I bought the organic celery just for him!

And she says she doesn't want a dog . . .

Officially A California Girl

It's only taken 20+ years and a nudging (kidnapping? ha ha!) from LittleSister to make it happen, but I think I've finally made it through the Official Californian Rite Of Passage. I got a pair of these:

How Did Aubrey Know?!

Regarding my last post, Aubrey made some comment about breathing, eating, and dreaming work, or something along those lines.

HOW DID SHE KNOW?!

I've been doing some crazy hours lately, 60-70 hours a week sometimes, and I think maybe it's become a bit much, because last week I had three or four WORK DREAMS. I haven't remembered a dream in months, and now I'm remembering work dreams?

I told my boss the other day, and he just said, "Oh dear. I'm sorry."

I don't mind, though, because I love my job. =)

(but I swear I CAN talk about other things!)

I'm A Slacker

I'm a slacker and haven't blogged much lately. Or maybe it's more than I'm working an insane number of hours and just don't really want to blog about work any more than I already do; as much as I love my job, I'm not sure anyone else wants to hear about it all the time.

I did get to go to New York this last week and that was pretty much awesome. My boss and I checked out Max Brenner (thanks again for the recommendation, Maggie!) and LOVED it. Here's why:



We went on Monday night, and Tuesday morning right before his presentation at the conference, he said something like, "We could go back to Max Brenner again today." Pause. "I'm not really kidding." Okay! So we packed up our suitcases and schlepped them into Max Brenner for one more meal, even though we were pretty short on time.

Other cool things on the trip? Networking parties on hotel rooftops. Pretty cool, and also my first experience hanging out with drunk people! Since I'm new to this hanging-with-drunk-people thing, my boss came up with code words he'd throw into the conversation that would alert me when folks we were talking with were a little (or a lot) tipsy. Turned out to be helpful for me, and now it's a running joke. But check out this place!




Sadly, we were so busy with work stuff that I didn't really get to sightsee or see any of my friends who are out there (or even my aunt, uncle and cousins who were visiting right as I was). But we'll be back soon enough . . .

More Mom Funnies

On Monday night, we were planning on hitting a BBQ for a friend's 40th birthday. Mom came home from tending Jack and said, "How about we take your car?"

I paused for a second and thought it through . . . what could be the motive . . .

A HA!

"Is your car out of gas?"

Silence.

Then she busted up laughing. "I just think it would be nice to take your car."

Mom HATES filling her car with gas. Thinks it's such a waste of time, so stupid, and THAT's the reason why she almost got a hybrid--not because it'd be good for the environment; no, because it'd mean fewer trips to the gas station!

The other funny from getting ready to go to the party: "I hate gifts." Now that's not quite Jo-level ("I HATE friends! I HATE fun!"), but it's getting up there.

Note to Self:

Always wear a bra when taking out the trash at midnight. You never know when your neighbors are going to be outside and will want to chat for 10-15 minutes.

Ah well.

"What was I saying? Oh yeah, that I'm a terrible person."

Last night I got a call from Brooke (a roommate while I was up at the Y), recounting the hilarious details of her date with the Celine Dion-listening, MoTab-loving, heavily tattooed--sleeves and all--Mormon truck driver. I was preparing my Sunday School lesson when she called, so the blue piece of paper that held my notes for the lesson turned into the blue piece of paper that held Brooke's awesome one liners. Here are some classics:

What was I saying? Oh yeah, that I'm a terrible person.

I'm trying REALLY hard to not be a snob.

I was so happy he swore.

I was laughing so hard . . . like, in my head. Then I couldn't hold it in, so I just started laughing really loud.
(upon seeing her date's Celine Dion and MoTab CDs)

That was kinda bratty, but . . . also my true feelings.

These stories will never die; I will be able to tell them forever.

I think I came off as a really nice person.

And my personal favorite, from an email before said date:
is it wrong that i secretly want to make out with him just so i can say i've made out with a tattooed truck driver? it could be an ice breaker at mormon parties "hi, i'm brooke. i work with crack whores in the ghetto and enjoy making out with tattooed truck drivers!"
(used without asking for permission, so Brooke can hunt me down if she hates it . . . hey, trip to CA for Brooke!)

I *Heart* Little Sister

I was seriously craving some chocolate chip cookies tonight. MAJOR craving. I mentioned that to Mom after dinner tonight (I made a Thai Beef Salad!), and she said, "Oh yeah, [Little Sister] and I had a discussion during Relief Society about what kind of cookies she was going to make after dinner." Little Sister bakes cookies just about every Sunday.

For the uninitiated and uninformed, Little Sister is a dear friend of mine from the LH3, was a Beehive when I was a Laurel, and was a freshman when I was . . . still up at BYU. I couldn't stand the thought of her eating cafeteria food every night, so she and I started a Tuesday night tradition where we'd make dinner (or go to PF Chang's) and watch Gilmore Girls. Then we added gym fun. Cafe Rio. Tucano's. Yoga. Great Wall of Chocolate. Etc. When she would have dorm roommate drama, she'd come over and study. She's awesome and I love the girl! She's also amazing with the baking, from lasagna to cookies. She makes the BEST cookies ever; I'm not exaggerating at all. I'll take her cookies over anyone else's or any Mrs. Fields or Paradise Bakery.

So I sent Little Sister a little message, asking what she was going to make. Turns out I ruined the surprise: She was planning on bringing over cookies! So at 10pm, Little Sister and her mother came over and we chatted and ate cookies until just before midnight. We had a BLAST!

HONEY!

That's the new phrase. Yummy cookies, and so dang much fun. The four of us have a blast together. We did PF Chang's a few weeks ago, but clearly hanging out once every few weeks is not nearly enough. Love 'em!

(p.s. Brooke, Little Sister is dating a cute boy! Three months!)

Seriously?!

I'm doing some major trademark lookups for work right now, and I came across the most random trademark for Old Navy including these, and only these, goods and services:

"aprons and underwear"

Seriously?! How random is that?

Registration number 2055346 if anyone wants to look it up and see for themselves. http://www.uspto.gov.

The Bachelorette

Anyone else having fun with The Bachelorette? I'm Team Reid/Ed/Jake/Kiptyn, with a dash of Michael thrown in there for fun, and yes, in that order. Wes makes my skin crawl. But at least Dave, the curser and girl's-shirt-adjuster, is gone! That guy, with his crazy beady eyes, is SCARY. But Reid. Blessed Reid. Be still my heart, in those glasses you are all kinds of hot.

Anyone else see a Tanner P/Sean Hayes resemblance? Just me?

Kobe Keeps Stealing My Place!

Apparently, I can't go inside for even a few minutes if I'm working on a towel of any sort and have any desire to get back on it and work again.

Seriously, though, I think it's the cutest thing when I go inside, look out, and he's taken my towel. What can be cuter?

Santa Barbara, Baby!

I really should have taken more pictures of Santa Barbara than this dinky one from the car, but I slacked, so this is all I've got. My boss and I did a quick day-trip up to Santa Barbara to do some presentations to 35-40 account managers at a company called Commission Junction. CJ is the largest affiliate network around, and we've been working with the Publisher Development Team at CJ to get our name and message out there. They've been phenomenal in helping us and having fun along the way.



After presenting, G was like, Okay, picture time! So we snuck out into the hall and snapped this so I could have a record of my first, real-world business presentation! After the presentations, he said something like, "How was your first real, non-case-in-Business-School, non-Relief Society lesson, non-Sunday School lesson . . . thing?" Pretty dang sweet. Granted, it helped that he's the expert in all this and he did maybe 2/3 of the presentation. But it was all a pretty great experience.

Afterwards, our two hosts took us to this amazing French restaurant about a mile away from their HQ. How I didn't take a picture, I don't know, but three of the "walls" were glass windows, along with the roof, so you had this amazing view of Santa Barbara all around you. Add to that great food and the most amazing Julienne veggies I've ever had, and you're good to go.

Yay for CJ!

And, just like S.F., I can't wait to go back. Looking like September right now. I'm LOVING these work trips!

My Life is Boring

I got my hair cut on Thursday, and we LOVE our hair girl. Bennie is the biggest riot and I'm dying for her to have her own reality TV show. But we're both sitting there, going, Okay, our lives are so boring that there really isn't much to update each other on in the last six weeks.

SERIOUSLY.

How depressing is that? I work, I take care of my dog, I do a social thing here or there with some friends, I eat, but really, what else, other than that? My days run into each other; I'm often asking people what day it is, because heaven knows I can never remember.

So, thinking about this days-running-into-each-other thing, I thought, "Is this what it's like when you're a stay-at-home mom?" I hear about the sometimes monotony or drudgery of the same thing every day, changing diapers, making food, cleaning everything up, etc. Or is it just life in general?

So what do you do to break up the monotony? Honestly, it doesn't feel too bad living it, but I'm sure it's boring to read about! Sorry 'bout that.