sometimes...

sometimes I feel like this is the environment I live in.

sometimes I'm tempted to eat something with peanut butter on it for every single meal. and sometimes I give in to that temptation. no shame.

sometimes I smile at perfect strangers just to see what they will do. since I live in Rexburg, this game isn't too exciting, because most everyone smiles back. but some people wink. and then the game ends.

sometimes I stumble on a song I love and I can't stop listening to it. like this one.

sometimes I daydream about April 6th and sometimes I have nightmares about it. Mixed emotions up in herrrrre.

sometimes I have too many thoughts and feelings to be contained in this little brain of mine, so I write them all out in letters which I never send. I have multiple "unsendables" on my hard drive, yo. And that is where they shall stay.

sometimes I wish I could forget about school for a long time and become a bona fide musician. and sometimes I use "bona fide" in sentences even though it sounds funny.

sometimes I surprise myself by how much I bake. I mean for realz, who makes homemade tortillas and homemade pizza crust in one day? Who would do that? Not 2008 freshman Kenzie. But 2012 Senior Kenzie is apparently very self-sufficient. Or just a food snob to the extreme.

(p.s. the tortillas were delicious. recipe here.)

sometimes I watch 15 minutes of The Final Rose before I feel nauseous and have to leave the room before I slap the TV (because I can't actually slap the people on the TV, even though I wish that were possible sometimes).

sometimes I have dance parties in my room, by myself. with the blinds open. ya....

sometimes I wonder what my future self would say to my present self right now. like, "kenzie, stop worrying about everything. it's all going to turn out ok." I'm pretty sure that's what she would say.

sometimes I can't sleep at night so I start thinking about Mexico. And I can't really believe it's almost been a full year since I left that place. What a day that was.

sometimes I don't really care about the movies that are out these days (p.s. I've now seen The Vow and Gone so you don't have to). But can I just say, I am excited to the 1,000th power for this Friday at 12am. To see Peeta The Hunger Games.

so tell me..what would your "sometimes" list consist of?

{inspired by this lovely lady}

p.s. totally changed the blog name. but changing the URL is too messy. /the end/

eleven things

There's this little ditty going around the blog universe, and I figured...why the heck not?

the rules

1) post these rules (check)

2) post 11 random things about yourself (check-check)

3) answer the questions of the person who tagged you

4) create 11 new questions for whoever you tag (that's everybody reading this, p.s.)

eleven things you probably didn't know about me

1) I go through "phases" when it comes to music artists, meaning I'll listen to all of a certain musician's stuff on repeat. Summer 2008: The Beatles. Summer 2011: Mumford and Sons. Last fall: Bon Iver. Recently: Florence+the Machine. They can last for days, weeks, or months.

2) I bake my own bread, pizza dough, pita, tortillas, and make my own yogurt. I'll never go back to the store bought stuff. I think the only processed food I own is Triscuits. What a rebel.

3) I hate dirty feet. Even if I'm camping, I've gotta have some baby wipes with me to keep those feetsies clean. I know I inherited this from my mother.

4) I think it's attractive when the opposite sex isn't afraid to use big words or correct grammar.

5) I have never broken a bone but I have gotten lots of weird injuries because I'm a klutz and a glutton for punishment. I have scars from a snowboarding collision, slipping on ice, falling during a race, falling on tide pools, giving a meat slicer a handshake, and slamming my car trunk door onto my hand.

6) I talk to people in other cars while I'm driving. And when I say "talk" I don't mean "Hey, how's it going?" More like, "Hey, why are you going so slow maybe you should get in the slow lane thanks!" Yeah, more like that.

7) I wouldn't mind living in Mexico or another country down south. Wouldn't mind at all.

8) I'm from Utah, but in my heart, I'll always be a Pacific Northwest girl.

9) I keep every letter/note/card that I receive.

10) I love old movies like nobody's bidnez, and most of my celebrity crushes are dead

(*cough* Marlon Brando)

11) I can play four instruments and am learning how to play a fifth!

questions Brandilyn asked

1. what did you have for dinner last night? A green smoothie.

2. what celebrity would literally bring you to tears if you saw them in person? Marlon Brando, because he's dead, so I'd probably cry out of joy/fear at seeing a ghost.

3. do you like your handwriting? I sure do!

4. how would your dad describe you? He would say, "Oh Kenz. You're something else." At least, that's what he's said to me in the past.

5. what's the last book you read? the last book you loved? Last book I read: Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. Last book I loved: Old Man & the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

6. how many pairs of shoes do you own? I'm going to say 20...

7. how often do you shave your legs? armpits? Legs: hahaha. I don't even know. Arms: at least three times a week. That was kind of fun to answer.

8. what do you order when you go to mcdonald's? (if you tell me you don't go to mcd's i will call you a LIAR!) Okay, call me a liar, but I do not remember the last time I went to Mickey D's. If I ever had to eat there, I'd probably get an egg McMuffin.

9. what's your earliest memory? watching Mr. Roger's Neighborhood on the TV when I was three.

10. have you ever won anything? what? I've won some writing contests/scholarship moolah. Does that count?

11. what is your worst habit? your best habit?

Worst habit: listening to music almost all the time. Best habit: eating healthy.

11 questions for whoever reads this:

1) If you had to live in the mountains or by the ocean, which one would you pick? Why?

2) What is the funniest movie you've ever seen?

3) Taco Time or Taco Bell (if you say "taco bus" I will love you forevah)?

4) If you could be really talented at something, what would it be and why?

5) Tommy Boy or Zoolander?

6) What is your favorite thing about summertime?

7) Favorite Beatles song (if you don't have one...that's a little sad)?

8) If you had to read/re-read one book for the rest of your life (excluding the scriptures, cuz that's a no-brainer), which one would you choose?

9) How do you feel about ugly sweater parties?

10) When was the last time you wrote a letter?

11) What is the best thing you have ever eaten?

Ready, set, go!

heart-shaped plate

“There is no love sincerer than the love of food.”

- George Bernard Shaw

Guys. You know I love food. LOVE it. My roommates have nicknamed me "the granola" or "pumpkin" or just plain old "ultimate chef" (huh?). More than once, I've had a roommate hover over my breakfast/lunch/dinner plate and ask me what I did and how I did it and can-they-please-have-a-bite? Then they ask me what the secret ingredient is. Well, love is always the answer. Duh!.... And..... practice. If you want to like what you eat (and if you want your body to like it, too), you have to practice. Figure out what you like, and eat it. But make sure it's real food. Real food always tastes better. Seems like a no-brainer, but in this world of processed foods, we sometimes forget. Did I just admit to being a food snob? Why yes, yes I did. And I have no shame.

Sooooo anywho, the ultimate foodie, amy mathews kunihiro, has asked me to do a blog about food...specifically food for valentine's day. I do not own a fancy-schmancy camera, nor do I live in a place with great natural light. Therefore, I will probably be breaking some kind of copyright laws when I use pictures from other bloggas. But hey, I'm just sharing the wealth with you all. Here are some deeeeericoius foods I have been needing to make lately. And ones I think you should cook for your lover, if you happen to have one. I set it up by meal, because I'm just that nice.

for breakfast....

pancakes of course. these ones look taaaaaaasty-tasy. joy the baker has a zillion pancake recipes. aka we are breakfast-soulmates. I betcha didn't know that breakfast soulmates existed. Well, guess what, they do.

pumpkin spice pancakes

oatmeal cookie pancakes

buckwheat baby with salted caramel syrup

for lunch...

a yummy soup perhaps? and a roll or some other kind of carb. hey, it's valentine's day. I never said carbs weren't real food. Try these sweet potato muffins..they're flippin' good.

white bean and kale soup.

this sounds like it would be healthy (which it is) and therefore gross (which it's not). I lived off of this for a week...mmm. Really good with freshly-grated parmesan cheese on top.

for dinner...

chicken gyros with tzatziki sauce. homemade pita is optional...but honestly, it shouldn't be. storebought pita=cardboard. whole wheat homemade pita=a soft, nutty pillow of utter and insane deliciosity. OR there's chicken tikka masala. jamie oliver's is da bessst. seriously, favorite meal. or there's italian food. I know someone in Hawaii who is particularly fond of pasta...

spaghetti with lemon and olive oil

dessert must include chocolate. MUST. when you are brave enough, you can try them all. oooh just looking at them makes me esssited.

chocolate cheesecake squares

salted fudge brownies

glazed chocolate cake with coconut flakes

peanut butter pie with cookie crust

(sounds like pure insanity because it is)

what, you aren't full yet? don't worry, here's some nummy-nummy side dishes!

mini cheese tarts with blackberries

sugar and spice candied nuts

caesar salad deviled eggs

sweet potato fries

Alright, I think this is enough to induce a food coma. Happy Valentine's Day to all of you! Love yourself and eat something tasty.

list of happiness (gasp!)

Did you just choke on something you were eating? Sorry! It's been awhile since I did a happy list...I know. And it's not even Monday, for cryin' out loud. That doesn't mean I can't make a happy list, though. Happiness is not limited to one day, young jedi. Make happy list for every day of the week, you can.

1) being in da mood to cook, and I mean seriously... it's like the Food Network up in hur, all day long. In the past month, I made: kale and white bean soup (two times, it was yummy), banana shakes up the wazoo, sweet potato muffins, pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip muffins (ok now inhale), homemade pizza, sixtygagillion loaves of bread, homemade yogurt like a pro (also two times), egg sandwiches, lemon salmon+roasted zucchini, chicken gyros with tzatziki sauce and homemade pita bread (*dead*)...that's all I feel like remembering right now. Would you like to hire me as your live-in cook? Okey-day! (you only get to offer me the job if you're Batman/Christian Bale, aight?)

2) being so zoned out in Spanish class today that when the boy behind me said "Okay McKenzie, let's trade seats" (so we could gather in our groups) I just stared at him for 10 full seconds. And then he said, "Uhhh" and I said "Oh!" And jumped up out of my seat really awkwardly. I'm surprised my head didn't hit the ceiling! Oh wait...no I'm not. I may have amazing reflexes, but I'm still five-two.

3) because of number one (plus good old-fashioned exercise, duh), my clothes. don't. fit. any. more. In a good way. But I'm too stubborn (or is it poor?) to buy new ones. So I just have to pretend that I like my pants to be super-baggy and stuff. There's nothing wrong with wanting to bring the 90's back.

4) re-reading To Kill a Mockingbird for my superheroes literature class. The first time I read it, I was ten years old...so it definitely made more sense to me this time around. It's still just as stupendous as it was back then. Oh, and the movie? If you haven't seen it, stop reading this and go watch it now. NOW.

5) using a thesaurus to find "stupendous" so I wouldn't have to use "awesome" again in that last paragraph. Oh yes I did.

6) the weather, which constantly fools me into thinking it's almost spring. I have gone lots of mornings without my coat because by the time I get home in the afternoon, it's really really nice (okay, probably 35-40 degrees, but still). In the meantime, I freeze my nalgas off. Lovely.

7) a lovely email from student records saying the following:

Mckenzie,

We have reviewed your graduation application and it looks like with the completion of your courses this semester you will be able to graduate this semester. I am forwarding your graduation application on to the Dept. Chair for his approval. Let us know if there is anything we can help you with or answer any graduation questions you might have.

BOOYAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't even care that they forgot to capitalize my K. That's how happy I am.

8) the hot pad I bought to make yogurt, which also doubles as a "make McKenzie fall asleep about ten times faster" tool. The only downside: I have a harder time waking up. I literally feel like I'm buried under ten quilts and man, it is just so niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice under there. I think it might also be making my dreams weirder (didn't know that was possible).

9) when a boy I thought was cute actually dropped the h-bomb today ("let's hang out"), he became ten times less attractive. I was surprised at my reaction. I guess I really am maturing, huh. I wondered when that would happen.

10) automatic cure-all if you are having a bad day: make a happy list for yourself, eat a smoothie or something with pumpkin in it, take a walk/go for a run/just go outside, read from the Book of Mormon, smile at someone, smile at yourself, listen to a good dancing song. And dance to it. I mean really dance.

wish list

I know, I know. School is in session and it's my last semester...and it has been a bit difficult. Hence the take-a-nap-every-day rule I have recently implemented. Sometimes rules are awesome, don't you think? Anywho. Here are some things I have been wishing for lately:

Coachella tickets (aka tickets to a modern-day Woodstock...minus the hippies. I think). Oh, what I wouldn't do to get my little hands on these. What. I Wouldn't. Do!

p.s. I don't understand the clothes-less blue guy in this picture. That's all.

this guy, from this show. what, you haven't watched it yet? for shame!

to think that people with faces like that actually exist!

this cabin in the woods, somewhere for me to get away.

hats, hats, more hats! my roommate Caitlyn said I remind her of this character, anybody recognize him? He was always changing into different hats. That's my life.

to sit on this pyramid again, without any Dramamine in my system. And a water bottle. My new motto: no taking naps at ancient historical sites!

1) for it to be summer and 2) to go tubing

this book would be incredibly useful.

homemade pizza, get in my mouth.

I'm sorry, but who wouldn't want to sleep in this? We're going to exclude any children under the age of eight from that question.

everyday when I get home from school/work, my toes are numb (c'mon, just a liiiitle snow?!). So I obviously wish I had a set-up like this in my apartment.

a road trip to someplace that blows my brains out, it's that cool.

a summery bike ride. my bike has been patiently waiting for a ride since October. sigh...

Enjoy your long weekend!

snacks + music

Sometimes I have to do things to keep my brains from melting.

Things like riding my bike up and down the hill by my apartment.

Things like having mini dance-parties by myself, to get the blood flowing. Yes, by myself. I just admitted to that, who knows why?

Or sometimes I get on this blog and write something partly coherent. But mostly not. Make sense? Didn't think so.

This week I've noticed a pattern...when I get distracted and can't go on any longer, I start listening to a certain artist, and snack on a particular snack. For example...

monday imagine dragons+triscuits

tuesday phoenix+almonds

wednesday death cab for cutie+jamba juice

thursday bon iver+carrots/peanut butter

What does this say about these particular artists? Well maybe Imagine Dragons music makes me want to dance, and that makes me really hungry, and that calls for fiber. Hence the Triscuits. Phoenix is a French band...and French people like almonds, right? I'm starting to get in way too deep, here. Death Cab for Cutie is hipster music at its finest, and smoothies, well, I mean...what else can I say? Bon Iver never gets old, and neither does peanut butter. It goes with everything. So does Justin Vernon.

And that, my friends, was a brain meltdown on paper. Er...a blog.

I've been calamined

The first three weeks of summer have been just what I imagine my perfect summers to be. It makes it hard to want to go back to school in September. However, it will be the fall semester, which many of you know is my favorito.

Would you like to know what I've been doing? Okay...well if you want the pictures, go look at my facebook (unless you are stalking me from a foreign country, which many of you are....then I guess you don't get to see any pics right now. And I'm not really sorry about that. I don't even know you....ok, moving on).

Here's what a summer of mcfrenzy consists of:

• lots of biking (pretty much every single day)
• hiking. I recently decided to do one every week for the rest of the summer. Last week it was Silver Lake/Lake Solitude. This week, I intend on finding one in Twin Falls when we go to the reunion. Who wants to come?!
• cooking, lotsa cooking (thai tomato soup, yes?! YES.)
• running (maybe I'll write a blog about saturday's run in particular...it was like running on the clouds, baby. And someday I'm really gonna know what that's like.)
• walks, walks, mosquito bites (hence the pink paint/calamine lotion all over me right now), and more walks
• collecting more songs for future playlists (listen! listen! listen! listen!)
  
• reeeading. So far I've finished 1.5 books. Sue me. I have a habit of starting 5 at once.
• letting my hair do itself (aka wavy-crazy, just the way I like it)
• more freckles plus a much worse sandal tan than I had in Mexico
• watchin' some good cinema (if you're thinking of the smurf movie, I'm kind of offended)
• using way too many parenthetical phrases (what do you think this is?)

oh..sidenote, something funny just happened. So Ellie came upstairs with some asian cookie thing and told me to try it, which I did. It was yummy (it had chocolate in the middle, hellloo). Then she came back later and said, "Did you like it?" I said, "Yep." "So, you kissed it?" "Wha?" "Well, if you loved it, you kissed it, right?" RIGHT. I like the way you think, girlfran.



adios for now, amigos and stalkers!

my weakness

they multiply like rabbits.

found here:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

maybe i want roasted brussel sprouts with bacon

maybe i want cold blueberries with yogurt and honey

maybe i want pumpkin waffles with cinnamon

maybe i want salsa verde with homemade corn chips

maybe i want asian noodle salad every day

maybe i want to eat an orange and let it stain the cement while it drips all over me

maybe i want chocolate almond butter on a pink lady apple for dessert

headless chicken

I'm sorry for the horrible images conjured up in your mind by the blog title.

However, it epitomizes what I felt like basically all day.

The days/weeks after a long weekend are always kind of skeewompus. It's a bit hard landing back on my feet, and I just need that extra day off to get over my days off. Make sense? Well I knew it was going to be one of those "recovery-without-the-recovery" days when I woke up at 7:50am, ten minutes before my first class, which happens to be fifteen minutes away.

Guhhhhffff.

When the alarm doesn't go off, even when I set it correctly (AM, not PM, for once!), and somehow I am still twenty minutes late to class...oh I just want to throw that alarm. But I have a bad arm. Never been good at throwing objects.

So instead of being all mopey-dopey, how's about I make a happy list and try to feel bettah? Okay then.

1)Nacho Libre. "Get that corn outta my face!" I know you just laughed a little bit to yourself, am I right?

2) Heavy rains pulling into Rexburg, and then sunshine all day today. Maybe spring really is here. Oh wait, it's June. So what season is this, then? Sprummer? {spring+summer can't make up its mind}

3) 500-page wedding magazines that my roommates buy and leave on the counter for me to read while I eat breakfast. Every girl likes ogling at dresses every now and then. And I ain't afraid to admit it.

4)finding this saweet language-learning program on byui's website that is not only free but has probably been there the whole time I've been in school... and I'm just now finding it?!*Facepalm* Don't worry, I'm gonna use it now. I already learned that you only say "Buenos dias" from 12pm-7pm. The whole time I was in Mexico I always wondered when to switch from "Buenos dias" to "Buenas noches." Was it at sunset? When the first stars came out? When the Mexicans start eyeing you like the white girl you are if you use it incorrectly? Usually we went with that last one. Never failed.

5) filling up all of the weekends of June with activities so that this month will sprint by. And then I will be left at the end saying "Three weeks of school left say what?!"

6) planning my schedule for next semester...and you thought this semester's was good. Well now I only have two left, and I made them fun on purpose. Soccer, spanish, soccer, spanish... you get the picture.

7)cheating on that no-sugar thing over the weekend, realizing it was a bad idea when I felt pukey and headachey all the way home, deciding sugar isn't my best friend anymore, goodbye sugar. I'm not even sad. But G's Dairy Delights might be because they lost a customer....who hasn't even been all semester anyway. Doink.

8) coming up with more funny/random ideas for this blog o'mine. I know that little sidebar says I have 26 followers, but really I think I have ten times more, because I keep finding new readers stumbling upon it each day...usually from Panama, Portugal, Brazil, Ukraine, Mexico (all over, not just where I lived), Africa, Iran, etc. Who are you people?! But hey....keep reading my blog. It's usually better than this. I think. Anonymous blog stalkers welcome! (I do it too)

9) Realizing that in 24 hours, I will be on my way to the mountains, far away from papers and discussion boards and grades. And you can bet I'll wear my yellow hat when I go.

10) this song. the best line: "when you run, make sure you run to something and not away from."

la ultima lista de felicidad (en rexburg)

c'mon, learn to love the snow

1. this brand spankin' new FOOD BLOG I just made! Wahoo!

2. not setting foot in the library ONE time today. that is the first time all semester I can say that. sheesh.

3. going inside of the new BYU-Idaho Center to run on the track for my science class....the track is above the gym...which is cool...but seriously this whole building is jaw-dropping. It's so jaw-dropping that I just used a cliché! What up with that?

4. the smell of brownies filling up my apartment (bakin' for the work partay tomorrow)

5. one last FHE with my roommates at TwizlBerry. Tonight we all said something we liked about the person next to us. After that, a girl came over to our apartment and said that she felt like we were really "united." She got that vibe. I got that vibe, too.

6. salsa verde. YUM.

7. wearing my socks all day. and saying socks like "shocks." see, it's fun!

8. watching my roommate Macy turning our Christmas ornaments into earrings. She can pull off anything. It's just not fair.

9. imagining my mom giving me a shoulder massage a week from now because my back hurts so much because i've been sitting here for countless hours doing homework. and that was a run-on sentence, yo.

10. hats with tassles

deliciousness as of late

No, I don't have that food blog up and running yet. Personally, I don't think a food blog is quite the same without pictures. And I don't got no camera.

However, I still have this here blog, and I can still put up my faaavorite recipes. I've been cookin' up a storm all semester, you know.

Some things that I make all the time:

"Bad Breath" Salad-yep, I named this one, but that's because the ingredients are simply black/white beans, feta cheese, red wine vinegar, dry basil, tomatoes, cilantro, and red onions. Try getting a smooch from your luvah after eating this one.

Spiced Butternut Squash Soup-I actually just ate this one for lunch. With some of these deeericious applesauce oat muffins. Try it for an easy Sunday dinner. Or whenever dinner. It's just good, okay?

One-Bowl Brownies-according to one recent taster, these were "the most delicious brownie specimens in the history of brownies." Uh-huh. Direct quote, people.

Bacon-Egg Tomato Sandwich-a Kenzie creation, which is basically one piece of whole grain toast, a little bit of whipped cream cheese, a few f.a.t. slices of tomato, two slices of bacon, and a fried egg w/ fresh rosemary and thyme cooked on top. Oops, I just drooled on the keyboard.

Famous Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies-if you want success in life, all you have to do is make these cookies. 2 boxes of spice cake mix, 1 big can of pumpkin, and 1 bag of chocolate chips, bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes.

Cure-All Smoothie-1 C. milk, 1/2 C. Greek or plain yogurt, frozen blueberries, frozen strawberries, 1 frozen banana, flaxseed, drizzle of honey or agave

Chicken & Black Bean Tacos-I made this one up on the spot last night. I also accidentally added cinnamon to it (chili powder looks like cinnamon, ok) but it still worked! Chop 1/2 red pepper, 1/2 onion, saute in olive oil with chili powder, cumin, and a pinch of cinnamon if you're feeling adventurous. Then add a can of black beans and some chicken breast, cut into strips. This would've probably been even more yummy if I had marinated the chicken before. Then you warm up corn tortillas directly on the burner until brownish, throw the chicken mixture on top, sprinkle with avocado, salsa, and cilantro. DELISH! I made this for breakfast the other day, too, but I took out chicken and added eggs, and I didn't add the spices.

Spinach and Zucchini Pasta-cook whole wheat pasta, saute zucchini and spinach in olive oil with a pinch of red pepper flakes and Italian seasoning. Add your favorite tomato sauce and put it on top of the pasta. Sprinkle with fresh parmesan. Yes, it must be fresh for the sake of your taste buds.

Turkey Chili & Cornbread-I LOVE this turkey chili recipe and it makes a TON. Also, this cornbread recipe is super good and it's from my gluten-free days. Usually I've found that cornbread is crumbly and dry, but these muffins hold together really well and they are moist. YUMMERS.

I guess that's all for now. But I'll be back with mucho mas sabroso foods!

love, kenzie

it's a beautiful day alright

Friday, friday, friday at last.

Today the snowflakes drifted down between science class and nothing. They looked like cotton balls that had been ripped to shreds. Perfect for landing on eyelashes.

I love it when snow gets caught on eyelashes.

This week I have learned a few pretty wonderful things:

Bicycling is better when there's not two inches of snow on the road.

Smoothies are especially tasty after running 3.2 miles (and only 3.2 miles).

Gwyneth Paltrow can sing country music and she has a food blog.

Some people like to trample all over the snow while others like to preserve the pristine-ness of it (like Chelsea Ann). I happen to be in-between.

Just because a box of tomato soup says it is reduced sodium doesn't mean it tastes better.

One of the most beautiful things in the world is a carpet of golden leaves right on top of the blazing white snow.

Blasting this song in the morning is quite amazing.

Sleeping in basketball shorts and a t-shirt, with my fan on and my blankets pulled all the way up to my chin, heater on, it's snowing outside. Perfect temperature control.

The time it takes to fill out mission papers is far too short for my liking.

When my apartment constantly smells like pumpkin, cranberry, and lemon bread, you know there are some lucky guys on this earth who haven't yet met my roommates. Congratulations, mystery men.

People look at you strangely if you say "hi" to them instead of "thank you" when they open the door for you.

Coming home to find Chelsea doing this reminds me of how much I'm gonna miss her come next semester.

Realizing that my job is probably the best job ever and it is because the people I work with..are dang hilarious.

It's a good day when I'm watching the Spanish soap operas inside of the taco bus, while eating carnitas, while the windows steam up, while my soaking wet moccasins get my socks wet, too.

The Merchant of Venice is probably one of Shakespeare's most underrated plays. Drop Romeo and read this, people!

It's Friday.

Tonight: Extravadance. Tomorrow morning: 5K if my calf muscle stops acting like I pulled it....

update: I'm not the one filling out mission papers...Chelsea Ann is. Jus' so ya know.

autumny food and other ramblings

ok, random question: do you say autumn when talking about the space of time between mid-September and mid-November? Or do you take the easy way out and say "fall"? Personally, I dig saying "autumn." I think that it could be an onomotopoeia, if it really wanted to. You know what that means, right? It's when the word itself sounds like the meaning, er...something like that. Autumn sounds like autumn. Are you all in agreement?

I just wanted to say a little somethin' about autumn. Because it's almost October (!!!) and I already miss this time of year. Strange because it's not over yet. It's kinda like in November, right around Thanksgiving time, when you start to miss Christmas even though it hasn't happened yet, because you know that it's going to come and go just like that. Then you'll miss it.

recently I have been perusing my favorite food blogs, and they are full of recipes like roasted vegetable soup, pumpkin waffles, and apple cake. They kinda, sorta, make my eyes water out of sheer longing. Uhh, that made zero sense. But you get my drift, right? My chilly, crisp, autumny drift. Sorry, I just had to say it.

After class today I decided to try my hand at roasting nuts. I've never done it before. Queue (cue?) the sad music. I burnt them. All. Well, all of them that fit into an 9x9 pan. If you know me, you know how much I love nuts. And to sacrifice them to the Heat Miser gods, well, that just made me wish for Friday to come faster.

Friday is the day I go back to Utah. I intend on not only watching conference while eating aforementioned pumpkin waffles/pancakes, but I also plan on taking a drive up Alpine Loop and maybe buying some more nuts (sad face yet again).

How are you going to spend this weekend?
btw, it's hump day. Hump day=Wednesday=halfway through the week.

here's a few of my autumny-eye-candy favorites via the interestingness.

best for last. mmm-hmmm.

road trip with myself

it is 9:40 something

I didn't sleep last night

not. a. wink.

needless to say

I am ready for 3:15

when I depart Rexburg.

besides,

I haven't had a stretch of asphalt

all to myself

in a long time

and i'm about ready for

another adventure

I think I will

roll down the windows

turn up the music

and breathe in summer

see you soon, utah

oh yeah. and i found the solution for my chronic hunger woes.

its name is taco bus.

and it is amazing.

see this little slice of heavenly-ness?

it is called a carnita.

mmmmmmmmmm (to the 10th power)

you don't tell them what to put on it

just let them work their

magic Mexican fingers

all you have to do

is say

"quisiera cuatros tacos con carnitas, por favor."

magic words have new meaning now.

yum.

see ya later, rexburg.

*mcfrenzy*