Lunch Date

We started out by having grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. We haven't made this in such a long time, but it will always remind me of when we were dating. It was the first time I had ever had it. Daniel used to make it for me when I went over to his apartment to visit. This simple meal holds many memories.

Then it was arts and crafts time. I found this little mug designing set at Hobby Lobby, and thought it sounded fun.
We spent a lot of time tracing out what we wanted on paper first. The markers are totally permanent, so there was no room for mistakes. Thankfully, we found out that pencil would draw on the mugs, so we were able to draw our designs on the mugs in pencil first before making it permanent.

The Front: Daniel's is on the left. It is the logo for Southern College of Optometry. I on the other hand, didn't have very much imagination.

The Back: Daniel will graduate from Optometry school April 2013, and we were married May 2005.

I like that we did something that we can keep forever. It was a fun afternoon.

Pumpkin Roll

About a week ago, I got a craving for pumpkin roll. I don't think I have ever had one before, but we always pass them when we go grocery shopping. The bakery is right by the eggs and cheese. So I decided I wanted to make one. I have never made any kind of roll before, and I didn't think it would be that hard.

I found a recipe online, watched a you tube video about how to roll them (I got nervous after reading the directions), and went to work.

It didn't look the greatest, and I added a little extra powdered sugar over the top to cover up all the cracks, but it tasted so yummy. Definitely a keeper.

At the bottom of the recipe, they gave a little alternate idea instead of the cream cheese frosting for the middle. Vanilla Ice Cream. You spread softened ice cream on the cake, roll it up and stick it in the freezer. We didn't do it this time, but it sounds absolutely amazing!

I love making new recipes that actually work!

Turn it down a notch

For those who don't know, I work at an Optometrists office.

Every now and then, there will be a patient who will come in with a problem or a question. They will come up to the front desk, and talk so loud, that I'm sure the patients in the exam rooms can all hear. It's not that they are shouting or angry, they just feel the need to talk really loud. Or sometimes we will have the person in the waiting area answer their phone, and speak so loud, not realizing (or not caring) that we can all hear. It's disrupting to us at the front desk, to others in the waiting area, and those patients looking at glasses.

It bothers me so much. I know that some of the elderly people talk loud because they can't hear as well, but other people....... sometimes I just want to tell them to shhh!

Maybe they were never taught how to use their inside voices.

The taste of clean

When Daniel and I first moved to Memphis, we realized the water here was yucky! So we found these juice mixes that basically has nothing in it. It was nice because we didn't have to feel guilty about always drinking juice, since it was made of nothing (0 cal).

There are several different flavors, and they are quite yummy.

A few weeks ago Daniel and I were shopping at Target, and as we were walking to the check-out counter, we passed the Brita pitchers. BRILLIANT! Why we didn't think about this earlier, no one knows.

So, we decided to purchase one and try it out. I never realized how clean water can taste. It's even better then bottled water (which I don't believe in BTW). I am now a Brita follower, and happy to be drinking clean and yummy water.

9/11 - 10 years later

What does 9/11 mean to me?

It was the day I made the journey from South Africa to the US. Unfortunately, it didn't go according to plan, and we landed in the US 4 days later. But it is a day I will never forget.

Our trip to Washington

Our long countdown finally came to an end. We have been so excited about our week long trip to Washington to see Daniel's parents. It's hard being in Memphis so far away from home. This was our first trip back since coming to Memphis 2 years ago, so it was a much needed break.

Daniel taking down our last link on the countdown chain.

On the plane waiting to leave. Soooo excited!!

The view from the plain of Mt Rainier in Washington. We flew into Seattle, where Daniel's parents met us. We stayed in Seattle over night, which was great. A little vacation before our vacation.

We went to the Space Needle for lunch. It was really amazing. The restaurant rotates, so you can get a really good look at Seattle as you eat your food.

Danial and I at the top.

We went canoeing one morning on Moses Lake. It was a beautiful day and the water was perfect. We went early before it got too hot, and before all the boaters and skiers came out.

We celebrated my mother-in-laws birthday while we were there. I made a three layered German Chocolate cake for her, and we had chicken taco's for dinner.

We went on a picnic to Summer Falls near this beautiful waterfall. There were a lot of wasps that I didn't really appreciate, but once we were done eating, they left us alone and we enjoyed the waterfall and the surrounding scenery.

We had such an awesome time. It's tough being back. I am looking forward to when Daniel will be done with school and we don't have to be so far away from family.

Modesty

I have been thinking about this question for years, but have never voiced it to anyone besides Daniel. I know that not all people agree with me, which is partly why I have kept my opinions to myself. But, today I feel like voicing my opinions, and welcome any comments.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, as woman, we have been instructed to be modest in our clothing. Yet, every year around summer and Easter, girls come to church in sleeveless dresses. Why is that?? I know that one can make the excuse that they are only babies, or toddlers, or little girls... but when do you start? When do you tell your child that it is no longer appropriate to wear sleeveless dresses? When they enter Primary? Young Women? I don't know.

It just seems like it wouldn't be that hard to put a onesie or an undershirt under that dress. As adorable as they look, wouldn't it be a little confusing to tell them they can dress a certain way until they reach a certain age? I don't get it.

I've never understood it, and it has always bothered me. You can dress however you want at home, but when you go to church, you should be modest in your dress, no matter how old you are. That is just my opinion, and like I said, I know that not everyone agrees, but it's what I think.