tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52554801361011616902024-02-18T22:38:47.102-07:00Blah Blah BlahCaitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.comBlogger286125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-9805714871280508822015-04-15T13:11:00.003-06:002015-04-15T13:11:58.628-06:00Thai Chicken Soup<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have made variations of this recipe 100 times and I really really like it. CJ is not so much a fan of Thai curry, and I am a HUGE fan...so we compromise. This has all the flavors of curry but in a soup format which some people might enjoy more.<br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
veg oil <br />
2 chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized chunks<br />
2 potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-sized chunks<br />
2 handfuls baby carrots, cut in half<br />
1 bell pepper<br />
1/2 an onion<br />
(you can really use any vegetables you want!)<br />
red curry paste<br />
1 T brown sugar<br />
1 T fish sauce <br />
1 14oz can coconut milk<br />
2 14oz cans chicken broth<br />
2 limes<br />
cilantro (optional)<br />
<br />
Cook the potatoes either on the stove or in the microwave until they just start to become tender. Do not overcook because they will continue to cook later in the soup.<br />
<br />
Add enough veg oil to cover the bottom of a large stockpot. Brown chicken until no longer pink.<br />
<br />
Add carrots, onions, and peppers and sautee. I always add the carrots first since they take the longest to cook. <br />
<br />
Once the vegetables are barely soft, add your curry paste. I usually use a lot, 3-4 tablespoons but it just depends on your tastes and how spicy you like it. Then throw in a bit of brown sugar and stir to coat the vegetables and chicken.<br />
<br />
Let the flavors marry. Cook everything together for about 3-5 minutes. Add the coconut milk and chicken broth and stir. Stir in fish sauce.<br />
<br />
Bring to a boil then simmer covered on the stove for 20-30 min.<br />
<br />
Add the juice of two limes and serve. Garnish with cilantro if you'd like.<br />
<br />
Serves 6</div>
Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-31936209713840451252014-05-15T22:38:00.001-06:002014-05-16T14:56:50.434-06:00FOOD<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">So it seems like lots of peeps have lots of advice about where to eat when in New York. Sometimes it can be hard to siphon through all the yelp reviews and top ten lists and guides and figure out what's actually amazing. Trust me, this happens to me every Friday night. One person says "this is the worst food I've ever had!" and the next person says "this was a transcendental experience!" How does anyone come away from reading yelp reviews without feeling like they have deep seated trust issues????</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I'm here to help. By this blog post you shall know the truth of all the really good food I've eaten in the city. (sorry if that's blasph)</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Disclaimer: I don't eat at Michelin star four star whatever the term is restaurants. That's a scene I'm not really interested in tapping into yet...partially because I have a hard time choking down a $60 tab let alone $120 and partially because I'm truly completely satisfied by everything else. </div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">OK.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Pizza:</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Keste Pizza and Vino, West Village-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Neapolitan style pizza. This is my absolute favorite pizza in the city, period. There are a lot of pizza joints I haven't tried yet but this one would be soooo hard to beat. Don't bother with the caprese appetizer. My favorites are the Margherita and the Ricotta e Noci. I also love the Keste.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Joe's Pizza, West & East Village-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">My favorite quintessential NY slice. So so good but make sure to say "not too hot" or you will burn all the skin/gums/tongue in on and around your mouth. Don't bother with toppings. PLAIN SLICE, B.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Patsy's (all over the city)-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This is one of our go-to spots. The one we frequent is on the UWS but we've been to one in Chelsea and one in Midtown East. This place gets a lot of flack for being a chain but it's like, whatever...the pizza is good.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Juliana's, Brooklyn Bridge-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Everyone wants to go to Grimaldi's under the Brooklyn bridge. It's very important that you DO NOT go to Grimaldi's. There is a lovely pizza place called Juliana's right next door and everything about it is better. Go there!!! Meet Patsy Grimaldi himself and he can tell you the story of Grimaldi's, Patsy's, Juliana's, etc etc etc. Hint: pizza in NY is insane and every pizza place is separated by like, three degrees. About Grimaldi's...there's no air conditioning (killlllll) the service is horrible and one time I waited AN HOUR AND A HALF for my pizza. I wish I still had the picture on my phone because my face is 100% HANGRY. It's also very crowded and you have to wait in a line to get in. Just...please no. Also you should read an article about Grimaldi's/Juliana's before you go. There's a bit of a feud there and you don't want to miss out. </div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Side note: Walk across the Brooklyn bridge! It's cool! Walking from Brooklyn to Manhattan is very pretty but both ways are awesome!</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Ice cream:</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Brooklyn Bridge Ice Cream Factory-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Ok this is probably my favorite ice cream in the city. Cute, old-fashioned...they only have like 6 flavors, it's absolutely perfect. My fave is chocolate chocolate chunk and CJ likes the strawberry. Brooklyn Bridge Park is gorgeous!!</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Sprinkles Ice Cream, UES-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Need I say more?</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Gelato in Chelsea Market...that's all there really is to say. DELICIOUS GELATO!</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Odd Fellows, Williamsburg BK-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Crazy and delicious ice cream. Flavors like raspberry peppercorn, olive oil, browned butter, pb&j, burnt marshmallow...very inventive. The English toffee flavor is to die for but they are making up new flavors all the time! I think you can check fb or twitter before you go to see what flavors they are offering that day. My mom's absolute fave. This is the only thing she specifically asked we do when she came to visit. Lol!</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Desserts:</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Chocolate chip cookie pudding at Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery, LES-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Just. I mean...I have trekked to the lower east side JUST to get this pudding. Homemade butterscotch pudding with chunks of chocolate chip cookie and globs of whipped cream...perfection. And CHEAP!!!!</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Macarons at Laduree, UES & SoHo-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">My favorites are vanilla, pistachio, caramel, and chocolate. CJ loves lemon, vanilla, and raspberry. Don't bother with the other macaron places...</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Magnolia Bakery, all over- </div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Don't get cupcakes here, get the banana pudding! Peanut butter cookie is also good. CJ loves the key lime pie cheesecake. I REPEAT: NO CUPCAKES!</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Sprinkles cupcakes-UES</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It's Sprinkles. Competes with all the great cupcake places in the city and probably wins them all too.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Molly's cupcakes-West Village</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">One of my favorite cupcake places! I love the Cookie Monster...it's a choc chip cookie dough cupcake. I haven't been in a while because one time I tried to use their bathroom without buying a cupcake and they basically bullied me into buying one and it was mortifying.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">CRONUT @ Dominique Ansel Bakery (this is everything), SoHo-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">You already know! I left my apt at 4AM to get one of these puppies last summer...and it was WORTH IT.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">1/2 lb cookies from City Cakes, Chelsea-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This place is (literally) a hidden gem. Easy to miss because it's at the basement level. The sugardoodle is my favorite! Their choc chip is soooo good too but loads of chocolate chips. If you're not a fan of a reallllly chocolatey cookie, go for the sugardoodle! Ps I like these better than Levain.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">DOUGH donuts (original is in Brooklyn, opening one in Chelsea SOON)- </div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The best donut/thing I have ever eaten. This is the donut perfected. My favorites are the cinnamon sugar and coconut...I like the lighter flavors because the actual dough part of the donut is so incredible...I think gobs of frosting overpowers it! CJ likes the dulce de leche...I think that's what it's called. Idk it has a tan-ish glaze with slivered almonds on top. They sell these at smorgasburg and the Brooklyn flea!</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Momofuku Milk Bar (crack pie), LES-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Crack pie is impossible to describe, but it is very delicious. I think this remains one of CJ's absolute favorite desserts in the city. There is also a location on the upper west side!</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Junior's for cheesecake after a Bway show- Because it's close and the cheesecake is good. Don't go out of your way for it though. Please only consume after a show!</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Baked by Melissa, all over-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I take back everything bad I've ever said about this place. The cookie dough and cinnamon cupcakes are my absolute fave. They're mini and they're stuffed and they're perfect. Amen.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Food:</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Best brunch @ La Petit Abeille, Union Sq-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Good prices, delicious brunch, really cutesy Belgian atmosphere. I love love love the baked eggs...I forgot the French name but it's eggs, gruyere, goat cheese, tomatoes, and bacon. HI. CJ really likes the Croque Monsieur!</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Shake Shack, everywhere-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Sigh. I have so many feelings about shake shack. It does not live up to the hype. It's not better than in-n-out. I only ever get the shroom burger which is very very delicious. I have had a shake once and I felt very meh about it. Really the reason it's on this list is because I CRAVE that damn shroom burger all the time. And you're going to go anyway so I may as well help manage your expectations.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Ippudo ramen UWS & Union Sq-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This place can have a wait of two hours or more but I LOVE IT. The food is awesome, the atmosphere is delightful and the service is on point as well. I looooovvvveeee the pork buns, so does CJ. Akumara Modern is the ramen we usually get! There was also a steak app last time we were there that was really really good too.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Jacob's Pickles, UWS-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">NOM NOM NOM. Biscuits, fried chicken, pickles. Brunch is really good, but don't eat dinner the night before and you also won't need to eat at all for the rest of the day. The plates are huge and all the food is so heavy. But SO GOOD! We even went here for our thanksgiving dinner! They also have like specialty root beers on tap if you're into that.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Mighty Quinn's BBQ, LES-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Always a line. $8-9 for dinner is a steal and the brisket is soooooo yummy. Chrissy Teigen was there once when I wasn't there and I was like wahhhhhhh.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Pommes Frites, LES-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">YUM. Big fat crispy soft hot french fries. With endless flavors of sauces. I looooove the mango chutney and jc likes the Parmesan peppercorn! The servings are huge too!</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Vanessa's Dumplings, LES-</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">My dad loved this place. Absolutely loved it. The dumplings are like one dollar and they're delicious and the veggie sandwich is also practically $1 and delicious. The best dumplings I've had. Don't go anywhere else!!!!!!</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Los tacos #1, Chelsea Market-</font></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">The best tacos in the city. The best food in the city. We found Mexican in a hopeless place.</font></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Cafe Habana- SoHo</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">THAT MEXICAN CORN WITH THE MAYONAISSE AND THE CHEESE AND THE LIME AND THE ETC. Amazing. Long wait usually. Tiny and cramped. Very delicious. If you *just* want the corn they have a little walk up window! The Cuban is good and so are the enchiladas!</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">DON'T BOTHER</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Amy's bread cupcakes</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Magnolia Bakery cupcakes</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Georgetown cupcakes</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Pretzels from food carts</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Donut Plant (sorry)</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Sarabeth's</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Grimaldi's (see above)</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">CHAIN RESTAURANTS (srsly if I find out you went to Olive Garden...)</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Most places in Little Italy</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Most places in Times Square</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">I don't claim to be an expert, and I certainly haven't tried ALL THE THINGS EVER. These are just some of my favorites! Every weekend is a food adventure and that's honestly one of my favorite parts about living here.</font></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">XOXO,</font></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Gossip Girl</font></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Jk. Or am I.......?????</font></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-81980023303974615802014-03-10T19:35:00.001-06:002014-03-10T19:35:00.414-06:00Sacrament meeting talk (2/24)<div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Well this week was a lot of the same. Really hot, lots of walking, teaching, trying to get our investigators married, ect. But everything is going good.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We got two more missionaries in our Ward, Elder Mejia from Honduras, and Elder Bernal from Mercer Island, WA. I actually had met Elder Bernal once or twice before the mission because he plays lacrosse and transferred to play at BYU the semester after I left. Crazy that out of all the wards in the mission we´re both in the same one! So this week we helped buy all the stuff for their house, beds, kitchen supplies and stuff which actually took forever and was pretty boring, but oh well, you got to have a bed. And also we spent a lot of time showing them around the area.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On Sunday I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting and was pretty nervous but it went well! It was about prayer and trusting in God´s blessing and time table. I did however use the wrong word for time table a few times, I said horario, which I thought was just like saying schedule or time, but it´s actually more like a work schedule, so it sounded like I was saying God only answers our prayers according to his work schedule, as if there were hours when he wasn´t working or hours when he doesn´t bless us. Öh well haha luckly yet unfortuneatley none of our investigators came to church to hear that.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I actually feel like my Spanish got a lot better this week! I can be pretty impatient with myself sometimes and I asked my family to pray for me last Monday and I could DEFINETLEY feel the extra help of those prayers and my Heavely Father this week. A lot of people asked me how long I have been serving in México and told me my spanish was very good or noticed I have improved a lot.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Also I was not sick at all this week so that has been awesome!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I hope you keep me and all missionaries in your prayers, we really do have a Heavenly Father who knows, hears and loves us!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ustedes son los mejores,</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Elder Mitchell</span></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-33542198190959981742013-12-02T09:52:00.001-07:002013-12-02T09:52:55.801-07:00Thanksgiving<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday, and I pretty much wrote it off this year because we wouldn't be with our family to celebrate. I am very happy to say that I couldn't have been more wronger. This was one of my favorite Thanksgivings ever. Also, I fell in love with New York a million times over. I always say CJ dragged me here, but he is also going to have to drag me out of here. Kicking and screaming.<br />
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On Wednesday night we went to see Romeo and Juliet starring O R L A N D O B L O O M. The Channing Tatum of my generation! (Okay, maybe Channing Tatum is the Channing Tatum of my generation but YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.) It was so good! I have always really liked Shakespeare but I still have a hard time following it word for word on stage. The set and music were incredible and I mean...Orlando Bloom. Bye.</div>
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Then we were on the train home and started talking about whether or not we wanted to go to the parade...aaaaand neither of us really wanted to. Ha! Too cold and too many people! So we split-second decided to hop off at 81st street and see the balloons live and in person all ready for the parade! It was so cool and they are so much bigger than I thought. Did you know Macy's is the country's second largest consumer of helium?? The first largest is the government...figures.</div>
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Hannukah in our apartment lobby...LOLZ. So many variations of tile. Just imagine...this is one small corner of the lobby and you can see four different types!!!</div>
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This is the<a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/11/pumpkin-cream-pie/"> pumpkin cream pie </a>that I actually SLAVED over just for the sake of making something for Thanksgiving. I wish I could properly express the labor that went into this pie, mainly four different grocery stores and a trip to Bed Bath and Beyond. And then I had to actually MAKE IT. But it was so so so so good. Thanks again, Pioneer Woman. You are everything.</div>
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This is my hubsband at our Thanksgiving dinner. We went to a restaurant called Jacob's Pickles on the UWS and it was so delicious. They typically serve delicious southern fare like fried chicken and biscuits, cheese grits, etc. so I mean...we knew it was going to be good.</div>
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The first course was pickles (they are fms for their pickles, hence the name) and a deviled egg which I loved because I'm hood like that and CJ did not love so I ate his. The second course was this lovely potato soup with leeks and bacon and probably lots of butter and cream. And it was served in a mason jar and it was delicious. When I saw how small the soup was I was like "WHY SO SMALL" but I later realized that they were just looking out for me because...five courses.</div>
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Good salad with rocquefort and beets. I love beets.</div>
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THE MOTHERSHIP. Course four...a turkey leg (makes me feel so barbaric), stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy. Perfection. And yeah I had a diet coke...</div>
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Cannot even attempt to explain the eyebrow/squint situation happening here but I promise I did not get botox.</div>
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I know what you're thinking...chicken nuggets with honey mustard sauce? NOPE.</div>
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Deep fried oreos with pumpkin spice creme for dipping. Currently salivating...heaven help me. I will probably crave these every day for the rest of my life.</div>
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After dinner we went to Hunger Games at a move theater with recliners and let me tell you. I don't typically love going to the movies but recliners are a game-changer. 100%. I suggested we go to the movies probably 5 times this weekend because I liked those recliners a lot.</div>
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This is my train to work Friday morning. My morning commute is usually body-to-body sardines packed onto the train! It was like I was the only person in the whole city going into work on Friday. Oh wait, I was.</div>
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On Friday night we ended up doing A LOT of shopping and it was really fun which is weird because I usually hate shopping. We bought these little elephants from the Bryant Park holiday village. They were hand-carved in Kenya and I loveeee them. Elephants are my favorite animal besides bears. We also bought some handmade pillow covers from India and a bunch of stuff from the home section of Anthro.</div>
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CJ trying to take a picture of me at Persian dinner...and I did not like it.</div>
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But I eventually kind of complied. Kashk Bademjan is like, my favorite food at this point.</div>
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The pumpkin cream pie two days later...I was afraid we wouldn't be able to finish it by ourselves. Understimation. CJ got me this pie dish with matching rolling pin from Anthro for my birthday.</div>
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Saturday we began our apartment hunt. Our sublet contract is *finally* up after December so we'll be in a new place by Jan 1st!! ...or homeless. Whichever. PLZ SEND UR GOOD VIBEZ. This building was actually not that pretty but I'm still not over all the art deco that's rampant in this city. I LOVE IT.</div>
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Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-46056809283407144872013-11-25T12:26:00.000-07:002013-11-25T12:26:20.317-07:00WEEKEND UPDATE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Went to the mall by CJ's work to look at the stars. And J. Crew.</div>
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Trekked down to the LES for the pudding from Sugar Sweet Sunshine that I like with all my heart. (I am trying not to say "love" about things because one time in testimony meeting this guy got up and said something about what a kid must think when he hears his dad say "I love you, son" and also say "I love fishing." SO THOUGHT-PROVOKING I CAN'T EVEN.)<br />
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This is a candy store that has every candy you can imagine including all the retired candies and old-fashioned nasties like Necco, Circus Peanuts, and those foam saucers with the little balls inside. So gross. We got sour tape! Which we ate in Spain all the time.<br />
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I saw this in SoHo and nearly cried because POOR DROSE!<br />
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We went to Crate and Barrel because we had some time to kill before we met up with friends. We sat on pretty much every couch in the whole place which is why C&B is the best place to go in the city in the winter when you have time to kill. It's warm and there are couches. Don't know why I thought we would leave without buying something???? P.S. I like this picture of CJ because he is making the SASSIEST face! Haha!<br />
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We ate Korean BBQ with our friends Chelsea and Russell. I don't like Korean food that much.</div>
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And then we went to karaoke. No trip to Koreatown is complete without a round of karaoke!<br />
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Sunday was the Primary Program and I cried pretty much the entire time. They sang all my absolute favorite songs...this was my year, you guys. Plus CJ is a primary teacher so it was even bettahhh. They hung this banner in the hallway and the kids wrote how they know they're children of God.</div>
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My cousin Kai was born and he is the most adorable thing I have ever seen.</div>
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On Sunday CJ cleaned the whole apartment while I did nothing. See? There's me being useless. On FaceTime. These are the only pictures you will ever see of our current apartment so really let them sink in. That's our bed........and it has always been like that. And we sleep on it.</div>
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I will never have a stainless steel fridge because I absolutely love magnets and hanging things on the fridge. Maybe tacky, I don't even care.<br />
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As I was sitting on the bed while my husband buzzed all over the place cleaning E V E R Y T H I N G I realized that it had been 6 months since our wedding. And I started to cry because I have the best husband and I am not always the best wife...like when it comes to cleaning. I AM the best wife when it comes to cooking though. You win some, you lose some.</div>
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Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-56801723156881088672013-10-31T08:58:00.002-06:002013-10-31T13:26:34.403-06:00YOU DO YOU IMMA DO ME (uncensored)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Something keeps coming up that really bothers me.<br />
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People my age, "twenty-somethings" or "milennials" as they are fondly called, really LOVE the idea of """""dream jobs""""" and """""doing what you love."""""" They say things like:</div>
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<i>"I was in Grand Central Station around 9AM </i>( SIDEBAR, oh so YOU were the raggamuffin standing in everyone's way during rush hour. Two things: MOVE and YOU SUCK.)<i> and I looked around at all the people in suits with their briefcases rushing around looking so unhappy and I was like THAT'S NEVER GONNA BE ME."</i></div>
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<i>"I was offered a $45,000 salary for an entry-level position and I turned it down because THE MAN DOESN'T OWN ME."</i></div>
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These people talk about happiness and dream jobs and how they never want to work in a job that they don't like and how the man doesn't own them blah blah blah. Well guess what, smartypants. The man does own you. Because you bought into the lie (courtesy of THE MAN) that your job will determine your happiness and that you are DEFINED by your job.</div>
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This whole topic really gets me flustered because I am an awesome, talented, hilarious person and I work at a desk job for a bank doing things that will probably be outsourced to robots in 100 years. YEAH I GAVE IN TO THE F--ING MAN. They made me an offer I couldn't refuse, it was the only job prospect I had, and I had been feeling completely useless sitting at home all day for a month. I live in MANHATTAN, I can't just wander around pondering shit and expect to pay my rent every month. So I took it. And some days I whine about it because everyone around me is like "dream job dream job dream job money doesn't matter dream job follow your passion miley cyrus money isn't happiness." I wonder if I am wasting my time and talent by working this job and I think about all the other millions of jobs that would be more "fulfilling." But guess what? I'm happy. I love the people I work with and I feel really lucky to be able to help provide for myself and my husband. I don't buy into the idea that the people I work with who have been with the bank for 30+ years have led unfulfilling, disappointing lives because they work a "stuffy" corporate job. They are wonderful, talented, happy people. They are parents, grandparents, friends, and coaches.</div>
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EARTH TO EVERYONE: The world WORKS because people work jobs they don't like. Got the late night munchies? Sorry, McDonald's is empty because NOBODY is passionate about being underpaid to shake the salt on fries. You want to go downtown? Sorry, the trains aren't running because NOBODY is passionate about middle-of-the-night shifts doing repairs/construction in the million degree grime that is the subway. You need to open a bank account? S-O-L because NOBODY WANTS to open your bank account. Unfortunately everyone is busy pursuing their passion and the whole world has gone to hell in a handbaket and NOTHING IS WORKING.</div>
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I'm really glad there are people who are willing to have little to no stability for the sake of pursuing their passions, otherwise we wouldn't have a lot of the amazing literature, art, music, theatre, innovations, etc. we have. I don't want to downplay the contribution of dreamers to society because they are a totally essential and awesome portion. But they are a small portion. Look around you. LOOK OUTSIDE OF YOURSELF and really think about what you imply when you say that a life working a lousy job is not a life worth living. There's people all over the world working horrible jobs, and you're trying to tell me that their life is worthless? That they could possibly find fulfillment in life because they aren't working at an awesome job? That sucks. That really sucks.</div>
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I hope someday that I will be able to find a job I'm a little more comfortable in. One that's a little more me and a little less finance because WUT? And, full disclosure, I do think it would suck to work a job you hate every day for your whole life until you retire. That would actually suck. But most of the people I know don't hate their LIVES just because they hate their JOBS. So cut the enlightened moral high ground crap. Stop making people out to be depressed corporate drones who can't think for themselves, and stop making yourself out to be some holier-than-thou open-minded free spirit. Like, keep following your dreams and everything but don't be such an asshat about it, ok?</div>
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*See also: #whitegirlproblems and #firstworldproblems and #SLOPPYFREAKSHOWBABIES</div>
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**See also also: #wordvomit and #howtotalklikeababyboomer</div>
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Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-25181941907567160772013-10-09T15:09:00.002-06:002013-10-09T15:09:42.548-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"Sometimes we may ask God for success, and He gives us physical and mental stamina. We might plead for prosperity, and we receive enlarged perspective and increased patience, or we petition for growth and are blessed with the gift of grace. He may bestow upon us conviction and confidence as we strive to achieve worthy goals. And when we plead for relief from physical, mental, and spiritual difficulties, He may increase our resolve and resilience."</span></i></div>
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-Elder Bednar, October 2013, "The Windows of Heaven"</div>
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Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-80522903896077166302013-09-09T09:29:00.001-06:002013-09-09T09:29:44.357-06:00The fabulous and excellent grand LES food tour 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On Saturday while we were at the MOMA* CJ and I decided, on a whim, to take a food tour** of the Lower East Side a la <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/emofly/bad-day-foods-nyc">this BuzzFeed article</a>. We don't really frequest the LES so it was fun to explore a new part of town. (We also stumbled upon Babeland which is a really tame, non-embarrassing, classy sex shop for mature adults but even so I turned around and left pretty much as soon as I walked in because I felt I might faint. Basically I suck the fun out of everything.)<br />
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The first stop (after taking world's biggest detour which involved me swearing and a bus full of 100+ y/o Chinese people) was Vanessa's Dumplings. Last weekend we went to Korea Town and got dumplings that were really good and cost about $8 for 8. These were even better than those and we paid TWO DOLLARS for 8. This place is magic. We sat next to some people who ordered 50 dumplings (apparently you can buy them frozen...genius) and they paid only $9!!! The ladies who work there are all kinda mean and there is always a line but it's like WHO CARES.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdNWW_b-Y6pL365xpNtduiMpw92jROrRxS7yB6F2qZVWH1sIzvr56zlIOowqsKOKvTaByDX5kaCjyNQ_NWa4lKdeKB4mLZUuSiejWWnDkl7isgdPZhpLcG24TXJDMZMP798KAeFYOBss/s1600/vanessa's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdNWW_b-Y6pL365xpNtduiMpw92jROrRxS7yB6F2qZVWH1sIzvr56zlIOowqsKOKvTaByDX5kaCjyNQ_NWa4lKdeKB4mLZUuSiejWWnDkl7isgdPZhpLcG24TXJDMZMP798KAeFYOBss/s320/vanessa's.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I want these so bad right now and it's 10:30 AM.***</td></tr>
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Next we braved the weirdo-ridden streets of the LES and walked to Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery. We got the Chocolate Chip Extravaganza as per the BuzzFeed article and even though it looked so weird it was nothing short of divine. Smushed up chocolate chip cookies + butterscotch pudding + whip cream all mixed/mashed together= heaven. And they have cupcakes for $1.75. I dare you to find a bakery anywhere that sells cupcakes (NOT MINI) for that cheap.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtW69PGd5ZQhCnOOPut-wYBlxGvEq_vZ-poc7oLGDnXjw7Ne5u5azGxrvFnHz5CoErRa66z5va2wigeiVhB6PyjqmsglkBQwqqySPd3BHb0aXMd2dq3H2JiW_xPGQkz-72nGF6nwiOZo/s1600/choc+chip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtW69PGd5ZQhCnOOPut-wYBlxGvEq_vZ-poc7oLGDnXjw7Ne5u5azGxrvFnHz5CoErRa66z5va2wigeiVhB6PyjqmsglkBQwqqySPd3BHb0aXMd2dq3H2JiW_xPGQkz-72nGF6nwiOZo/s320/choc+chip.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">droolz</td></tr>
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Then we decided to walk to Joe's for <strike>a slice </strike> the best slice in the city, and we accidentally ended up in the shop where CBGB used to be (Hollaback Rufus and Lily!!) and that was cool but neither of us really care about punk music so...not that cool. Anyway we took our time strolling to Joe's and then we saw Mighty Quinn's BBQ (^__^) and we were like OHHHHHHHH now I know where we are! And I saw a guy come around the corner with a cone of them Pommes Frites and I said "WAIT CJ NOT JOE'S, FRIES" and he said "YES FRIES FIRST JOE'S AFTER" and so we found the fry place and those were also delicious. But I did not like them as much as the frites at Bruges, my one true Salt Lake love. And we didn't even go to Joe's after 'cause now we were too full.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we did not get cheddar cheese as pictured we got parmesan peppercorn dipping sauce.</td></tr>
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We did all of this for only $12!! We didn't even need dinner after, it was all sooo good. And then we were like, what are we going to do when we live in California and we really want Vanessa's dumps? Cry? Then we laughed about how when we grow up and have kids and bring them back to New York they are going to think we are crazy because we are just going to be running all over town stuffing our faces with the best food in all the world.<br />
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At the end of it all CJ said "Today was really fun" and I said "Yeah" and he said "Would have been funner with friends though..." and I said "Yeah..." BUT then Sunday came and now we have some friendships in the works so STAY TUNED.<br />
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*We both get into the MOMA for free because of our jobs. On Saturday the woman at the desk said to me, "You can actually bring guests for free too, just so you know." Which I take to mean I can bring 20 guests for free if I want. So if you come visit we can all go to the MOMA for FREEEEE.<br />
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**I use this term pretty loosely. We only went three places, after all. If you come to New York I will take you on a for realz food tour.<br />
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***Yes, I took all these pictures straight from BuzzFeed. Yes, that is incredibly lame. You can criticize me for not taking any pictures ever once I have an iPhone, okay thanks.</div>
Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-45865481216976598912013-09-05T15:29:00.000-06:002013-09-05T15:29:18.086-06:00you know new york, you need new york, you know you need unique new york.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have lived in New York for three whole months now and I have blogged about it twice.<br />
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That is TRULY shameful.<br />
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I have drafted probably four or five blog posts but I don't want to whine about living in New York because that's stupid, and I also don't want to be overly hunky-dory about living here because...that's annoying and also stupid.<br />
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The truth is, living in New York is both terrible and amazing. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's probably the best AND worst place I will ever live. So the dichotomy makes writing about it hard...but right now I can smell the remnants of a donut I just ate from my favorite donut establishment, Dough, and if I walk five feet from my desk I have the bombest view of the Manhattan skyline.<br />
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So for today, donuts outweigh all the crazy strung-out people and pee smells I'll encounter on my way home.</div>
Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-71670473397353165612013-07-11T08:34:00.000-06:002013-07-11T08:34:36.352-06:00DC TRIP<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We started our 4th of July at the National Archives where we saw the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Magna Carta. COOL! I signed the Declaration! We waited in a long line for this but I thought it was cool to see the original docs. The handwriting was so pretty!</div>
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Then we went on a tour of the Capitol. I never knew but during the war of 1812 the British set fire to the Capitol and burned a lot of it down. There is also a statue of Brigham Young in the Capitol because each state gives a statue of a person to display in the Capitol so Utah naturally chose BY. There is also a portrait of Joseph Smith in the National Portrait Gallery and a sunstone from the Nauvoo Temple in the Smithsonian Museum of American History soooooo IDK.</div>
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Then we took the tunnel/secret passageway (!!!) to the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building which was probably my favorite thing we saw in DC! I hadn't been before and it was just gorgeous. We learned a lot of fun little facts about it from the tour...we always try and take a tour if it's free because you learn so much more! The building was absolutely beautiful. Bury me there, plz.</div>
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Then we traipsed over to Capitol Hill for the "Capitol Fourth" concert on PBS. It was pretty cool..........I thought Barry Manilow was pretty terrible. The best part was when Neil Diamond sang Sweet Caroline and all the drunk Americans + me were like "BAH BAH BAHHHHHHHHHH." I embarrassed CJ by dancing a lot and getting really into everything. Honestly if you ever go to DC for the 4th skip this though because you will not be able to see the fireworks. How lame is that? We only went because we assumed it would be the best place to watch the fireworks from. Not so. We ran out once they started and got down on the mall where we could actually see them.</div>
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The next morning we went to Old Town Alexandria which was honestly probably my favorite part of the trip. We ate at The Majestic and it was sooooooo good. That fried green tomato was to die for, best cheese of my life. I also had a BLT which is my favorite food basically and it was just divine. I recommend this place if you are looking for a cute classic place to eat but we paid a little more than we usually would for lunch. ANYWAY. The whole town was just so adorable. For example, this house with the 13 original colonies flag...I die! We also visited a beautiful Episcopal church which George Washington and Robert E. Lee both attended and that was very cool. Much of it is original which was awesome. Also, Queen B on Queen street.</div>
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Then we went to Arlington. Not much to say about this except that CJ and I got into a heated discussion about when war is justifiable and when it isn't and how I hope my kids never join the military and if they try to I won't let them, etc. Beautiful trees, this is just one example.</div>
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For the evening we headed up to U street to explore and eat at Ben's Chili Bowl! This is a historical black neighborhood where Duke Ellington got his start as well as many other jazz greats. Ben's Chili Bowl was fun, all I ate was a milkshake because I still wasn't very hungry. Ben is a smart man because chili is basically the cheapest thing you could ever make and he charged $5 for a bowl. </div>
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CHA CHILI CHING. You have to go though. For the experience. CASH ONLY.</div>
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Lincoln Memorial! I don't particularly love Abraham Lincoln as a president (not going to elaborate..ha) but nevertheless this is a very historic site. March on Washington, anyone??? Not to mention it's gorgeous at night and you have a great view of the national mall.</div>
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The next day we went to brunch at Founding Farmers. YUM. Dat bacon doe....I wish I could express how delicious the bacon was. Recommend but you have to make a reservation.</div>
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We went to the White House. I told CJ that when I'm president he will be known as the First Gentleman. Don't think he liked that title much. The cool thing though is that across the street there is like this little peace camp set up and it has been there since 1981 as a protest against nuclear arms. Led by a woman named Conchita who has been carrying on the longest continuous act of political protest in the United States. Go, girl.</div>
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This is probably my favorite piece of art we saw. It's called "Electronic Superhighway" by Korean-born artist Naim June Paik. I loved all of his work but this one was soooo cool as the TVs in each state represented that state. So for example in this picture you may be able to see the potatoes on the screens in Idaho or the Golden Gate Bridge in California. Pictures really don't do it justice because the screens are constantly changing and I just love the depiction of American culture. After this we went to the Smithsonian Museum of American History which was soooo crowded but we did see the ruby red slippers and Kermit.</div>
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Then we went to Geogrtown. So adorable but we were sooooooo exhausted as it was the last day of our trip and DC involves a lot of walking. Sometimes the thing you want to see is like a mile away from the nearest metro stop which...I don't think I have ever been a mile away from a metro stop in NYC haha. We got a cupcake at Baked and Wired which was sooooooo good. I didn't want to go to Georgetown Cupcake because we have one in SoHo and I think their cupcakes are dry. Sorry not sorry.</div>
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P.S. I am really proud of myself for planning this trip because CJ is the master trip planner (he planned our trips to Paris and Lisbon and he is really good at picking out what to see and do) but I did it this time since I have way more free time than him right now. And we had fun! And ate good food and saw a good balance of touristy and not so touristy stuff. YAY ME.</div>
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Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-88903968362774975852013-06-19T08:55:00.000-06:002013-06-19T08:59:07.986-06:00TREATZ on TREATZ<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am constantly bopping around the internet to find great things to eat here in the city so I thought I would share the treats we've eaten so far! And what I thought was wonderful and what I thought was overrated. OK. These are not in any order.<br />
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Actually, I think I shall start with CUPCAKES.<br />
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<u>Sprinkles</u> YES<br />
We all know I love this place. Make sure to read their tweets and go on a day when they have a secret code that you "whisper" to buy one get one free. Ate ours in Central Park. Bliss. Tried the lemon coconut one, it's a sham. I have found that most coconut cupcakes are a sham as they are vanilla/lemon/chocolate cake with vanilla/lemon/chocolate buttercream and covered in coconut flakes. The flakes being the only coconut component. HELLO. Flakes aren't even the best part about coconut!! So don't get that one unless you have a bizarre affinity for coco flakes. Strawberry is still my favorite.<br />
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<u>Molly's</u> YES<br />
Started in Chicago and now she has an adorable little shop on Bleeker Street. Cannot beat the ambience here. But be careful if you use the bathroom because the lock does not work and someone will walk in on you. Molly's schtick is that her cupcakes are all filled! And delicious! CJ and I got the Cookie Monster one and it was really good and it has cookie dough inside so obviously it's the best choice. The frosting on it tasted like straight butter and befuddled me for a while. CJ can attest that I did not stop talking about it. "How do you think they make this?????" Side note: I have had the PB/chocolate one before too and it is also delicious.<br />
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<u>Georgetown Cupcake</u> NO<br />
We kind of got off on the wrong foot because I noticed that they charge you for the box if you buy several cupcakes. That is morally wrong. I like this place because it's in SoHo and because everything is pink. I do not like this place because their cupcakes are dry. And kinda tiny. The end. Maybe I will give it another chance but probably not since I have about 100,000 better treats to try.<br />
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<u>Baked by Melissa </u>NOOOO<br />
Another cupcake I am feeling a little bitter about. Melissa's schtick is that her cupcakes are ACTUALLY bite-sized. As in ONE bite. Two if you're lucky or splitting it. This is an adorable idea except for the fact that each of them costs A D O L L A R. Is it just me or is that a little ridiculous??? I'll let u have a bite of my cupcake......FOR A DOLLAR! No, thanks. I had to try it for the sake of trying all the cupcake places and they actually are really yummy. I think the tiny size helps to keep the ratio of frosting to cake just perfect and the cake itself is REALLY moist. But I will not be purchasing any more of her teaspooncakes because...personal ethics. I tried Cinnamon and Cookie Dough, CJ had Mint Choc Chip.<br />
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OTHER TREATS<br />
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<u>Crack Pie from Momofuku Milk Bar</u> YES<br />
Listen to me. Eat this. Don't share.<br />
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<u>Cereal Milk soft serve from Momofuku</u> NAH<br />
I just had to try this for myself, but I do not recommend unless your favorite pastime is drinking the milk out of your cereal bowl after eating corn flakes.<br />
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<u>Ice Cream Sandwich from The Good Batch in Brooklyn</u> NAH<br />
We stumbled upon this delicacy at Schmorgasburg, a food fair in Brooklyn that takes place every Saturday in the summer. They had a few different flavors to choose from and we chose the Goodwich: vanilla ice cream drizzled with fudge and sandwiched between two oat chocolate chunk cookies sprinkled with sea salt. I thought it was really good but it was TOO SALTY. I understand a little bit of salt (a "sprinkling" you might say) for contrast but this was too much for me. Either way we ate the whole thing and I mostly enjoyed it but the salt left a bad taste in my mouth (literal and metaphorical.)<br />
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<u>Frozen Hot Chocolate from Serendipity 3</u> YEAH SURE MAYBE<br />
Get this. But not if you have to wait very long. And don't plan to share it because there is an $8.50 minimum per person at this joint. It is noted in a corner of their mess of a menu in world's smallest print. I think if I knew that before I went I would be less put-off by it but whatever. This frozen hot chocolate, which will cost you about $9, is delicious and I think you should definitely spring for it. Plus it's one of those novelty NYC things that you "have" to do...but seriously if you have to wait like an hour or something just don't go and it's really not that big of a deal. Dunkin Donuts has frozen hot choc, too.<br />
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<u>Cheesecake (Creme de la creme Cream Cheese Cake, as they call it) from Serendipity 3</u> NO 3X<br />
No, no, no. CJ only got this because of the aforementioned minimum of $8.50 per person, and I didn't think it was very good at all. It doesn't come with anything on it except whip cream, I didn't like the crust, and it just wasn't sweet enough for me. Tasted like a bite of a brick of cream cheese to me. But CJ liked it so whatever. Just no. Get the frozen hot chocolate, do not get anything else.<br />
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<u>Banana Pudding from Magnolia Bakery</u> YEAH 3X<br />
REALLY yummy. $5 for a cup but you can definitely split it between two people because it is so rich. CJ and I could barely finish. If you are going to Magnolia, this is the thing to try for sure!<br />
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I am in sweet sweet love with this city.</div>
Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-11654078319434904922013-06-05T13:31:00.000-06:002013-06-19T08:55:43.134-06:00Days 1, 2, & 3 in NYC or "A Series of Unfortunate Events"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yes, we made it to the Big Apple! If you have texted me over the past few days and asked me how everything is going I probably said GREAT, and it is great, but that's not the whole story.<br />
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It all started on Sunday when our flight was delayed an hour...and then another hour...and then another hour. Landing us at JFK around 10:30 PM. Fortunately the journey via the subway to our apartment went without any major incidents. Little did I know that hauling 3 suitcases through the subway would be the easiest part of the week!<br />
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As soon as we arrived we were basically starving since we hadn't eaten since about 12PM, so CJ headed down the street to our neighborhood McDonald's. Obviously. I took it upon myself as queen supreme wife to put our new sheets on the bed while CJ was gone. Everything was going well until I climbed over to the bottom right corner of the bed and CRACK CRASH BOOM BANG the entire bedframe came crashing down. I could have died...I felt like the worst wife of all time. CJ came home and I had to tell him that I broke the bed. It's about 1:30AM at this point. LOL!!! So what did we do? The mattress is connected to the bed frame by tubes (it's some fancy air mattress thing that is not very comfortable) so we did not have the option to move the mattress to the floor. So we fixed the bed and right as we were putting the last piece in it broke again. So we went through the whole process again and didn't put the last piece on and slept on it without incident. We finally went to bed around 3:30AM.<br />
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CJ woke up about 4 hours later for work and there was a rather curt note from the neighbor on the door giving us some "friendly New Yorker advice to not unpack and refurnish the apartment at 2 or 3 in the morning while our neighbors who have to work early in the morning are trying to sleep!!" Thanks, bro. Cool advice. Trust me, I wish we could have slipped quietly into bed when we got home!<br />
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Monday was one of the worst days ever. I slept so late because of the time change and everything and I was too scared to leave the house without CJ. I know, I am a dummy but I am pretty much over that fear by now as I basically traipsed through the hood yesterday while the old men kept saying "EY MAMA EY MAMI." And it was fine and I made it to the subway.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I cleaned the apartment and unpacked all of our stuff and waited for CJ to come home. Also, our internet was down so there was actually nothing to do and I couldn't google how to get places etc because I also don't have an iphone or anything like that. McKay called me in the middle of the day and I just sobbed to him about all my problems and worries and told him he was the first person I had talked to all day. My sweet brother calling was one of the best parts of my day. Then CJ got home from work and I was so happy. For FHE CJ and I got a treat and CJ dedicated our apartment. It was wonderful.<br />
<br />
On Tuesday I finally left the house! Dropped CJ's pants off at the tailor and went to the grocery store where pretty much everything is 4.99. BUMMER. Then I realized that my key to our apartment building doesn't work! HOW COMICAL. So I am standing by the door hoping someone comes down to leave when I think to buzz the neighbor. Yes, the same ones who had written the note. We told them what happened and they felt really bad and told us that they are in our ward and can help us if we need anything, etc. so homegirl buzzed me in. Then when I came up she asked me to return the favor and watch her baby for five minutes. So I did and now all is well with apt 614.<br />
<br />
Then I traipsed through the wrong side of the barrio to get to the subway and this abuela helped me find which way to go. Good thing I speak Spanish! I was headed downtown to put our names in the Wicked lotto and meet CJ after work. You have to pay for the tickets with cash if you win so I hauled booty through Times Square to get to an ATM and that was pure misery. I hate tourists.<br />
<br />
Alas, we did not win the Wicked lottery but we still managed to have a great night. We walked over to Sprinkles for buy one get one free cupcakes and ate them in Central Park...what a dream! Then we headed over to the High Line for dinner and the free stargazing that happens there every Tuesday night...amateur astronomers of NYC bring their telescopes, it's cool! We got tacos from Chelsea Market (LOVE) and ate them at the park while we watched the sunset over the Hudson River. I LOVED High Line Park and definitely recommend it to anyone visiting the city!<br />
<br />
We came home and were looking forward to watching Arrested Development all snug in our bed when it BROKE AGAIN. R U KIDDING ME? This time it was 10:00 so I didn't feel as bad for the neighbors but we basically just took the entire thing apart instead of trying to fix it again and our bed is now ON THE FLOOR inside the bed frame.<br />
<br />
FFW to this morning after CJ left for work as I am sitting at the computer desk and I feel something crawl up my leg. I look down...the biggest cockroach I have seen in our apartment yet! I was so panicked that I didn't even think and I swatted it away. GREAT. Now it was loose in our house right by our bed. Fortunately I found it later and sprayed it with a vengeance.<br />
<br />
Just some of our adventures here in Manhattan. Now I am off to meet CJ at the Gershwin Theater and put our names in for the lottery for Wicked tix. Basically my life is nothing like Friends or Gossip Girl or whatever but I DON'T CARE I LOVE IT.</div>
Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-20557649986739104812013-04-03T18:38:00.000-06:002013-04-03T18:38:48.310-06:00new york state of mind<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
unfortunately i am having a really hard time focusing on school. unfortunate because right now is what some people like to call "crunch time" or "running through the finish line" but i just like to call it "procrastination station" or "my personal hell."<br />
<br />
i really do love school, but not the part where i have a billion assignments in each of my classes all at the same time. the real problem here is the fact that frankly, i have other things on my mind.<br />
<br />
i'm graduating in like 20 days, going through the temple the day after that, and then getting married and moving to new york. (and by moving to new york i mean leaving every person i have ever loved except the one i love the most to go to a wackadoo place where i imagine spending my days being yelled at by strangers. "get outta my way!!!!" they will say.) how does anyone expect me to think about school??? and yet, here we are. i had a bad day and life ain't about to cut me any slack.<br />
<br />
i know i made fun of a girl the other day for babbling on and on about how her class getting cancelled was a "tender mercy" but my wedding shoes coming in the mail today was actually a tender mercy and i don't care who makes fun of me for saying it.<br />
<br />
now time to write my paper(s) and start throwing away all my useless belongings.<br />
<br />
p.s. tried the no-caps thing and i actually hate it and it makes me cringe so, not going to do that again. ok.</div>
Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-27254593227926382362013-03-26T13:15:00.000-06:002013-03-26T13:16:03.527-06:00How to Doubt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">I've been feeling really stressed out lately about EVERYTHING. Graduation, my wedding, moving to New York City, feminism, gay marriage, etc. I have been asking a lot of questions about what I believe and how I can know God's will for me. </span></div>
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</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">Last night before I went to bed I read <a href="http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-relief-society-meeting/2012/09/is-faith-in-the-atonement-of-jesus-christ-written-in-our-hearts?lang=eng">a talk from the last General Conference by the Relief Society President, Linda K. Burton.</a> I've found that reading about Jesus Christ to reconcile these issues brings me more peace than anything else. I really loved her talk as she focused on the Atonement of Jesus Christ and asks the critical question of whether or not it is <i>written in our hearts</i>. One of my favorite parts of her talk was a quote from Elder Dallin H. Oaks that says:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">“Our needed conversions are often achieved more readily by suffering and adversity than by comfort and tranquility.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I thought about that as I was falling asleep and what it means in my life. It seems to me that the fact that I am thinking about so many things that I have never thought about and doubting a few things which I have never doubted in my entire life right before I am going to go through the temple and get married (two of the most important ordinances in the Church) sucks. It's not ideal, you know? Sometimes I find myself thinking, "Why couldn't this have happened like a year or two ago? Then I could have at least talked to Abby about it. And maybe I could have resolved everything by now."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">This time has been both intensely spiritual and extremely confusing. But when I read this quote I realized a few things. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">1) I NEED to be converted again. I have been converted before, but I believe conversion is a lifelong process that should happen continually throughout our lives. A change of heart is not a one time thing. I think if it was, there wouldn't be that whole "endure to the end" bit. Alma said, "...If ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?" (Alma 5:26)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">2) My needed conversion is NOT going to be comfortable. It's not going to come through attending a testimony meeting in my singles ward. It's not going to come through watching a single Mormon Messages video. It's not going to come by just relying on my testimony from years past. Despite this I know that it will come. It will come through communion with God, and a deep commitment to Him and to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Asking him sincere questions and having the faith to receive an answer. Having the faith to accept God's will for me and my family. Like Elder Oaks said it will likely be through suffering and adversity, but I have decided that if that is God's plan for me and if it's going to make me a stronger, more faithful person then so be it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: small;">A few weeks ago I read a talk from Terryl Givens, a Mormon scholar and professor of literature and religion at University of Richmond who also wrote the book <u>The God Who Weeps</u>. The talk is called <a href="http://terrylgivens.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Letter-to-a-Doubter.pdf">"Letter to a Doubter"</a> and it was give at a fireside to a single adult stake in Palo Alto, CA. Read it. Seriously. He writes so beautifully. Here are a few quotes from it that I love, most of them are not his words but are cited in the talk.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">"Finally, find solace in what I have called the fellowship of the desolate. With <b>Mother Teresa</b>, who said, 'I am told God lives in me and yet the reality of darkness and coldness and emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul.' … 'Heaven from every side is closed.'"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">“I will tell you that I am a child of this century, a child of disbelief and doubt. I am that today and will remain so until the grave. How much terrible torture this thirst for faith has cost me and costs me even now, which is all the stronger in my soul the more arguments I can find against it. <b>And yet, God sends me sometimes instants when I am completely calm; at those instants I love and feel loved by others, and it is at those instances that I have shaped for myself a Credo where everything is clear and sacred for me. </b><span style="font-size: large;">This Credo is very simple, here it is: to believe that nothing is more beautiful, profound, sympathetic, reasonable, manly and more powerful than Christ.</span>" -Fyodor Dostoevsky</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“God allows spiritual peaks to subside into (often extensive) troughs in order for ‘servants to finally become Sons,’ ‘stand[ing] up on [their] own legs—to carry out from the will alone duties which have lost all relish… growing into the sort of creature He wants [them] to be.’” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;">-C.S. Lewis </span></span></div>
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Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-71498944503604469712013-03-21T13:42:00.000-06:002013-03-21T13:46:43.791-06:00BOOKS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
If there is one thing I love more than food it's books. What's your favorite book?<br />
<br />
For Valentine's Day I bought CJ <u>East of Eden</u> because I knew he hadn't read it and it's one of my favorites. I can't wait to read it again because I feel like I missed a lot the first time. I decided that I'm going to give him a book every Valentine's Day (and maybe something else too if we have any money) and once we have kids I want to give them a book for Valentine's Day, too.<br />
<br />
CJ and I have often talked about what we want our home to be like and how we want to raise our kids. One of the things that is most important to me is that my home is full of good books. I have always loved reading and one of my favorite things to do as a kid and now is to lose myself in a book for a couple of days...The fact that I know my mother loves to read has had a huge impact on me. I want my kids to know that I love to read, and that I love it because I love learning, discovering, exploring, and imagination.<br />
<br />
In my communications class we have been talking about the "price we pay" for certain media. The price we pay, as a society, for television. The price society paid way way back in the day for literacy. The price we pay for a society that is bombarding us with images. Anyway, one of the chapters in my textbook is completely devoted to two top communications scholars going at it in intellectual discussion: TV vs print, and the price we pay for both. One of these scholars is Neil Postman (he's the pro-book one) and I've LOVED reading his scholarship. He is a cultural critic and he does not mince words when it comes to the price we pay for all the images and media we indulge ourselves in on a daily basis. (Like blogs, for example. I'm a hypocrite.)<br />
<br />
Anyway, Postman has reaffirmed my commitment to make sure that reading takes over my home instead of mindless media and new technology. He is a genius. If you are familiar with <u>1984</u> and <u>Brave New World</u> (Dad), you should definitely read and think about this quote. Even if you don't know those books you should still read it. I know I am probably shooting this blog post in the foot by including such an enormous quote but...I'm okay with that.<br />
<br />
Is Postman right? Has our society been reduced to passivity and egoism? Do we adore the technologies that undo our capacities to think?<br />
<br />
“We were keeping our eye on 1984. When the year came and the prophecy
didn't, thoughtful Americans sang softly in praise of themselves. The
roots of liberal democracy had held. Wherever else the terror had
happened, we, at least, had not been visited by Orwellian nightmares.<br />
<br />
But
we had forgotten that alongside Orwell's dark vision, there was another
- slightly older, slightly less well known, equally chilling: Aldous
Huxley's Brave New World. Contrary to common belief even among the
educated, Huxley and Orwell did not prophesy the same thing. Orwell
warns that we will be overcome by an externally imposed oppression. But
in Huxley's vision, no Big Brother is required to deprive people of
their autonomy, maturity and history. As he saw it, people will come to
love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their
capacities to think.<br />
<br />
What Orwell feared were those who would ban
books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a
book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared
those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would
give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism.
Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared
the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we
would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial
culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy
porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New
World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on
the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost
infinite appetite for distractions". In 1984, Huxley added, people are
controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled
by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will
ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us.<br />
<br />
This book is about the possibility that Huxley, not Orwell, was right.”<br />
<br />
-Neil Postman, taken from his book, <u>Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business</u> <br />
<br />
P.S. Here's an awkward picture of me and CJ and books. BIBLE.<br />
<br />
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Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-40614875300077626132013-03-15T16:52:00.001-06:002013-03-15T16:54:45.473-06:00LISTEN UP AND LISTEN GOOD<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As you all know, I am approaching college graduation. I am ecstatic! My experience has been better than I could have imagined and I have grown so much, intellectually and otherwise.<br />
<br />
HOWEVER. I've started looking for a job and I'm finding it fairly difficult. My degree is in American Studies and my minor is Spanish, and I don't really want to know what I would like to do as a career. Obviously with a major like mine that does not lead to a specific career path, I have a lot of options open to me. When I was choosing a major my freshman year, I didn't really think I wanted to have a career at all, a job maybe...but I pretty much planned on going on a mission, coming back and finishing school and getting married to a wealthy man and having babies. And then I realized that having a career might actually be fun and cool and fulfilling, and I also became a feminist so. Now I do want to have some sort of career.* And this is where we get to the part that, frankly, is starting to get really old.<br />
<br />
I REALIZE that my job search would be much easier if I majored in a different field like math or science. I REALIZE that by choosing a Humanities degree I put myself at a disadvantage in a world where business, science, and technological career opportunities are abounding. Don't worry, I have kicked myself plenty of times and thought, "Damn, I should have done Accounting! I could have a job in two seconds!" So I really don't need anyone else to tell me how foolish my decision was. The jokes about how Taco Bell is hiring American Studies majors are not funny anymore. I can joke about it if I want to, and if I feel discouraged and regretful about my major choice, that's my prerogative. But it's really not anyone's place to make me feel like my degree isn't worth anything.<br />
<br />
I would be a lousy accountant. And probably super crabby because I don't like math and I'm not good at it. Sure, I could have gone into Computer Science, but I probably wouldn't have cried TEARS OF JOY in class as many times as I have, or felt like I wanted to shout what I had just learned about humanity and culture and feminism and love from the mountaintops. For some people, Computer Science does it for them. Not me, sir.<br />
<br />
THE THING IS I AM A DAMN GOOD AMERICAN STUDIES MAJOR. I know it, I live it, I love it. You know why I hardly ever skip class? Because I LOVE CLASS. I enjoy coming to school and I enjoy writing my papers and I love working with my professors. The things I have learned about myself, the world, and America have forever changed the way I think about everything. LITERALLY EVERYTHING. My education is something really important to me that I will treasure forever. Also, I'mma take it with me to the next life where they probably don't have taxes and probably do have art and literature and people and music and language.<br />
<br />
The other thing is that I am good at pretty much everything required to be a valuable employee. Working with a team, being nice, hard-working, dependable, good communication, writing skills, not stupid, innovative and creative, leadership, bossiness, getting shiz done, etc. So hire me. Teach me how to do that technical thing that I don't know how to do, and I'm your gal. Employee of the year!<br />
<br />
My point is, shout out and a big hug and kiss to all the people who have always supported me in my decision to study America (which is mostly everyone), and a big middle finger to all the haterz out there on their high horse telling me to give McDonald's another shot.** DON'T NEED U.<br />
<br />
Haven't written a post like this in a while. Feels good. I would like to close my talk with a quote from Beyoncé, Queen of America.<br />
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*Not trying to say that you can't be a feminist if you don't have/want a career.<br />
**I have interviewed at McDonald's twice (in desperation during my teenage years) and been turned down both times.</div>
Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-62106568583313120562013-03-12T15:11:00.000-06:002013-03-12T15:11:40.820-06:00My Symphony<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;">To live content with small means. <br />
To seek elegance rather than luxury, <br />
and refinement rather than fashion. <br />
To be worthy not respectable, <br />
and wealthy not rich. <br />
To study hard, think quietly, talk gently, <br />
act frankly, to listen to stars, birds, babes, <br />
and sages with open heart, to bear all cheerfully, <br />
do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never. <br />
In a word, to let the spiritual, <br />
unbidden and unconscious, <br />
grow up through the common.<br />
This is to be my symphony. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">William Ellery Channing </span></div>
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Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-65804481920895609742013-02-28T13:11:00.000-07:002013-02-28T13:11:11.185-07:00Shish gets real<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last night CJ and I were talking about moving to New York, and I said something about how poor we are going to be or whatever. And he said, "Well I guess we can just move to Richland instead!" and I said "YAY YAY YAY!" and then I started SOBBING because I knew he was kidding. SOBBING. Because that was the first time that I realized that I am going to be moving really really really far away from MY MOM (and dad), my siblings, my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends...EV ER Y ONE. And I just wanted to crawl into a hole.<br />
<br />
I thought about how I would feel if one of my grandparents dies while I am living so far away.<br />
<br />
How I would miss playing with all my little cousins, or seeing new ones right after they are born.<br />
<br />
No more summers lounging and drinking black pop at Indian Springs, watching my mom do her annual back flip off the diving board.<br />
<br />
I won't be able to walk down to Gran's to borrow a book, or go to my Nana's on a Sunday morning to eat homemade biscuits before church.<br />
<br />
I'll miss my house being filled with 25 kinds of pies and 2,500 people on Thanksgiving day.<br />
<br />
This list could go on and on but I will just start crying at work and the people around here don't need another reason to think me mad.</div>
Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-79016535993325920342013-02-07T19:56:00.000-07:002013-02-07T19:56:29.620-07:00Queen of New York<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
CJ took an all-expenses-paid trip to New York this week (HOLLA) to like have interviews and network so he can get an internship and job once we graduate! We don't know where we'll end up yet, but New York is definitely a possibility. And even just the smallest chance has got me going craaaayyyy thinking about how exciting it would be to live there! HELLO.<br />
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Just kidding. Kind of. But I really am so proud of CJ and happy that he is such a motivated and adventurous guy...life will be so fun with him.</div>
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Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-49913014255894148722013-01-26T15:31:00.000-07:002013-01-26T15:38:34.426-07:00COMPROMETIDOS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here's the scoop, y'all.<br />
<br />
We actually set our wedding date about a month ago because my mom wanted to make sure we could get the venue and photographer we wanted for the reception, etc. etc. I dragged my feet but with a little loving pressure from mama I picked the date. So to me, I was already engaged. It was just the logistical matter of getting the ring and making it official.<br />
<br />
My mom offered me her first wedding ring since she got a new one a few Christmases ago and it was pretty much exactly what I had been looking for myself. It was so nice of her to let me have it and I feel really thankful...over the break we took it in to get resized and cleaned and tightened and everything so I brought it to Provo and gave it to CJ when we both got back from school on January 6th. You must know that pretty much every day after that I was expecting to get engaged. I would wake up and think "This is the day!" But it never was...haha. I was so glad he waited a bit longer to do it though because I was completely surprised! After about a week or so of my psycho-ness I started to relax about the whole thing and I wasn't thinking about it and anticipating it as much.<br />
<br />
OKAY SO. I was not expecting to get engaged this past weekend AT ALL because CJ was really busy getting his portfolio ready and I thought he would be working on it all weekend. And just based on some other things he told me like "Don't look at my phone for the next few weeks" I thought it would be this week or this upcoming weekend. SILLY ME. So a few days before he proposed CJ told me that his sister Shannon (who we hang out with a lot) didn't have to work on Monday and was wondering if we wanted to do something fun with her and her husband. He told me he didn't know what we were going to do but to just keep my afternoon and evening free. I was really excited for a fun day with Brian and Shannon but I was honestly not suspecting a thing!<br />
<br />
Then on Monday afternoon a little before we were supposed to leave, CJ texted me and told me that Shannon had been called into work so she and Brian wouldn't be able to come to Park City with us like we had planned. I was super bummed but he asked if I minded if we just went by ourselves...obviously I didn't mind. So we started heading up to Park City. I have only been a few times, and I thought maybe we were going the wrong way but I didn't know for sure and I didn't want to say anything. Then we got to this place that had some sign about "Sleigh Rides Horseback Riding blah blah blah" and at that point I started to get a little suspicious. CJ was like, "So I know I've been really busy this week so today I have a surprise for you." I basically knew what was going to happen but I also was feeling like maybe I didn't want to get my hopes up if it wasn't going to happen, etc. etc. internal conflict. <br />
<br />
I was super bundled up but I decided not to wear a hat. Well, it was too cold to not wear a hat so I just grabbed an extra one that CJ brought in his car. Hence the hat that doesn't match my outfit...haha. Anyway, as soon as I saw the sleigh I pretty much knew that he would propose. I was SO excited I felt like I was in a fairytale. That sounds SO dumb but that really is the only way to describe what I was feeling. We had to sign some papers and I was paying attention to CJ's hand to see if it was shaking with he signed the waiver but it didn't so I guessed that he wasn't very nervous.<br />
<br />
We got on the sleigh and our sleigh driver was named Skinner. Oh, Skinner was quite the character...he was talking to us pretty much the ENTIRE TIME! He started off with fun facts about the valley we were in, the hot springs near by, the natural crater, BLAH BLAH BLAH he really would not stop. I could tell CJ was a little put off by the chatter but he was a good sport! I snuck a word in when I could but then I made the mistake of asking Skinner about his life and he just went on and on. He's from Canada, was married for 3 days just to get US citizenship, joined the circus when he was 16, sews custom shirts, and plans to cross the country with 3 mules and a covered wagon visting every hot springs in the US. It will take him 3 and a half years...that's Skinner in a nutshell. Just a few tidbits from his 30 minute ramblings. (I really don't hate Skinner as much as I'm making it sound like I do.)<br />
<br />
Back to the good stuff though. As we were coming back around to the beginning of the loop, Skinner stopped the sleigh and finally shut up. The sunset was so beautiful and so I told CJ he should take a picture. (I am such a dummy! He is about to propose and I'm like, hey CJ you should take a picture of the mountains LOLZ) He did, and then Skinner tried to take a picture of CJ and I but he doesn't know how to work an iphone. It didn't seem like a big deal at the time but I really wish he would have been successful at taking a picture! Oh well. So then CJ said the sweetest little speech...I might have cried but my smile was so big that my cheeks were shoving the tears back into my eyes. He got out of the sleigh, got down on one knee and asked me if I would make him the happiest person in the world and marry him.<br />
<br />
I was absolutely giddy, and acting like it, too. I nodded. Then I said "Yeah." Then I realized how STUPID that was and then I said "YES. DOUBLE YES." and I realized the double yes thing was stupid pretty much as soon as I said it. I can't be held responsible for my actions though because I was practically not in this world.<br />
<br />
Then CJ got back in the sleigh and we were hugging and kissing, Skinner decided to impart some wisdom to us which I did not really care to hear but it seemed kind of charming at the time. Or something like that. Then I whispered to CJ "I want pizza" because that is just the way I am, I suppose. So we get off the sleigh and I scream "I'M ENGAGED!!!" at the people waiting in line for a ride...thanked Skinner, talked to the other guy who was working inside, and then I went to the bathroom. I came out and CJ was like, Okay I found a pizza place in Park City we can go to so let's just head up there. I was like wow could my life get any better now I get to eat PIZZA.<br />
<br />
So basically I thought that I picked the restaurant but CJ had another surprise up his sleeve. We got to the restaurant, Maxwell's, and I was like "CJ! Oh my gosh, I have had the pizza here before and it's so good!!" So at this point we were both feeling pretty great. We started walking to our table and we turned the corner and all of our closest friends were there. CJ made arrangements ahead of time for everyone to come to Maxwell's. I was SOOOO surprised!! I was not expecting it one single bit, especially because I thought that I had picked to go there!!! I felt a little silly because I had been texting all of them ever since we left the sleigh ride being like "I just got engaged!" and they were like "OMG NOOOO WAY" but they were actually sitting around together probably laughing at me! I was so happy and I felt so loved that everyone came up for me and CJ. It was perfect. And I got delicious pizza.<br />
<br />
We ate dinner together and then some of us headed down to Park City Main Street to look for celebs and just enjoy the sights. We took some pictures too and it was so much fun. I saw Ben Savage (Corey Matthews from Boy Meets World) so that was my celebrity sighting for the night. So basically D-list celeb..haha.<br />
<br />
I really do feel like the happiest, luckiest girl to be marrying CJ. We have had so much fun over the past year first as friends and then as lovers and I am so so so so so thankful to God for guiding me to make the decisions that led me to CJ. (seriously) (that's another story though). Thrilled to spend the rest of my life with him!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The guy taking the photo made me do this hand thing and I really didn't want to but I wasn't going to be like "NO."</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(not all friends who came pictured here)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May 24th, Columbia River Temple. See you there!</td></tr>
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Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-11816197928114030712012-12-07T12:49:00.000-07:002012-12-07T12:50:16.320-07:00The end of an era<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Just kidding. It's only the end of the semester, but for some reason people are acting like it's the end of the world and being all weird.<br />
<br />
"WHERE DID THE SEMESTER GO? HOW CAN THIS BE HAPPENING :("<br />
"Last Fall semester before I graduate :(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( TEARZ"<br />
"OMG no...it can't be the end of the semester......:_("<br />
<br />
This is how I feel:<br />
<br />
-My brain is totally fried. It's actually, like, scrambled to bits. And I still have 3 tests and a presentation next week. HA. <br />
<br />
-Christmas is making me low on funds. My biggest weaknesses as far as spending goes are gifts and baking treats and we all know Christmas is high-time for both of those things! Not to mention all the bridal showers I've been going to...eesh kapeesh. OHHH and then there's this thing called winter break where I don't work for a month. HAHAHAHA bye money.<br />
<br />
-This semester did not feel short. It was about 4 months long. And it feels like it's been 4 months.<br />
<br />
-My roommates have been going absolutely bonkers decorating for
Christmas and I just feel like "MEH" about the whole thing. I care that
Jesus was born and I like sparkly things but other than that...don't
care. <br />
<br />
-Since I am almost done with college I have been pretty retrospective and I figured out that I am like way different than I was when I first got to school. For example, feminism. I have also realized how not different I am. For example, partying when I should be studying. For another example, not patient. For another example, still love pizza so much.<br />
<br />
-Diet coke is the lifeblood pumping through my veins. I feel fine about it.<br />
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-I can't wait to go to California next weekend and be with my one true love.......SPRINKLES. <br />
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(JUST KIDDING. I meant CJ. LOL.)<br />
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Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-37398542929444204302012-11-29T09:48:00.001-07:002012-11-29T09:48:24.467-07:00A quick thought<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This morning I was reading Elder Craig C. Christensen's <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/an-unspeakable-gift-from-god?lang=eng">talk</a> from the last General Conference when I stumbled upon this quote:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead, and, as such, like God the Father and Jesus Christ, He knows our thoughts and the intents of our hearts. <u>The Holy Ghost loves us and wants us to be happy. </u>Since He knows the challenges we will face, He can guide us and teach us all things we must do to return and live with our Heavenly Father once again.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">For some reason I had never thought of the Holy Ghost as someone who loves us and knows us just like Heavenly Father and Jesus, although it makes perfect sense. Amazing! I am so thankful for the gift of the Holy Ghost and the blessing it has been in my life.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Have a wonderful day! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div></div><br />
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Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-77460208624271914502012-11-14T15:51:00.002-07:002012-11-14T15:51:38.461-07:00STRESSORS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was going to make a list of everything that is stressing me out, but I think that would just stress me out even more. So I won't make a list. But maybe to give you an idea of the extent of my stress I will let you know that one of the things I am stressed out about is my children dying prematurely in freak accidents. So, there's that. I would like to internalize the following quote from Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw. I haven't seen the show but Pai always told me that I am the Mormon version of Carrie Bradshaw so I guess I will take that for what it's worth.<br />
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On the bright side, I am going to dinner with mis Amigas Cheetahs* tonight and I am so excited. Also, we are going to Zupas and I haven't stepped foot in that place since I stopped working there so...wish me luck. On the not bright side, my Mom has not texted or tweeted me back today and I am fearful.<br />
<br />
I hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday (if that is even possible
because Wednesdays are world's worst) and that you are so stoked on the
Twilight premiere tomorrow night that nothing can bring you down.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*My girlfriends from my Study Abroad who I named after the Cheetah Girls song from Cheetah Girls 2 when they go to Barcelona. Obviously.</span></div>
Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-16616690725460630962012-11-07T14:37:00.001-07:002012-11-07T14:37:42.499-07:0050 things about me at age 21<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Got this idea from my dear friend Jaimie.<br />
<br />
1. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"i
no longer believed in the idea of soul mates, or love at first sight.
but i was beginning to believe that very few times in your life, if you
were lucky, you might meet someone who was exactly right for you. not
because he was perfect, or because you were, but because your combined
flaws were arranged in a way that allowed two separate beings to hinge
together."</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2. I actually love California after spending a lifetime thinking it was world's worst.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">3. I eat out all. the. time.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">4. Cracked an egg in my Ramen for the first time a couple of weeks ago and it changed my life.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">5. CJ and I have been reading the Book of Mormon together and it is always one of the best parts of my day.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">6. God has been more gracious to me than I could have ever imagined.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">7. I am losing steam in school. I don't like it.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">8. I'm not as excited for Christmas as I usually am.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">9. Diet Coke, I just can't quit you.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">10. I tried Weight Watchers for about 2 months but it just wasn't very fun. SEE YA.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">11. I am convinced that Heavenly Father has sent this beautiful weather just for me because He knows my life is hard right now and He knows the sun makes me happy.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">12. Politics=suck. I would like to thank the USA for making me world's most optimistic cynic.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">13. My best friend is leaving on her mission and I don't know what I will do.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">14. I don't care much about what most people think of me.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">15. The people whose opinions of me mean the most are my parents, CJ, and McKay.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">16. I am sick of people asking me if I am going on a mission. Have you met my boyfriend? Hello.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">17. I don't have a smart phone. Well, I did for one day and then I took it back.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">18. I LOVE Twitter.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">19. I cry a lot. Out of sadness, happiness, gratitude, and sometimes for no reason.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">20. My favorite part of music is when a song has clapping in it.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">21. I have mostly stopped biting/peeling my nails.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">22. I don't love my tiny fat hands but I like them more when my nails are long and painted.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">23. I hate taking showers. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">24. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">25. I am obsessed with X Factor. It's stupid.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">26. One of my favorite things to do is replace song lyrics while singing along to the radio.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">27. My body wakes itself up every morning before my alarm.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">28. I have a Costco card thanks to my Mom.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">29. I would do anything to live closer to my family.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">30. I wish I had unlimited funds for Christmas gifts. Buying things for the people I love is my favorite.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">31. Pinterest is boring.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">32. I love shrimp and it doesn't make me sick anymore.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">33. I think I was Brazilian in a past life.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">34. I love writing in my journal.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">35. CJ's iPhone is the best.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">36. Some of my favorite music ever has come out in the past year.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">37. I don't know what to do about my hair. It's a situation.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">38. I want a baby but I mostly just want someone to hang out with 24/7 because I hate being alone.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">39. King Henry apartment 62 will always hold a special place in my heart. It made a woman out of me.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">40. Terrified of all things involving sex and childbirth and bodies.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">41. My boyfriend is one of the best people I have ever known and one of my favorites.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">42. If I had my way I would have a huge garden and I would cook and dance around my kitchen all day.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">43. Pretty sure I haven't been grocery shopping in at least two weeks.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">44. I still hate Halloween.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">45. I will be really sad when I have to move away from my best friends. Maybe the only thing I will miss about Provo.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">46. I love doing yoga.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">47. My family is the number one force for good in my life.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">48. I am sick of working at Independent Study.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">49. Going to Spain was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I made wonderful true friends and found the love of my life.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">50. I think that I don't really like concerts.</span></span></div>
Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255480136101161690.post-91328776238713391362012-10-17T14:34:00.001-06:002012-10-17T14:34:12.323-06:00BIRTHDAY WEEKEND<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My birthday weekend began on Thursday when McClickey bought me lunch and then that night when me and my closest friends took a trip to our favorite place...the Chocolate. 'Twas fun and yummy. I also got cards in the mail from Gran and CJ's mom. I love cards!<br />
<br />
On Friday after school and work (boring and lame but I took a test and got a 93 so BOOM) CJ came and picked me up to go to his mission reunion. He brought me flowers and my favorite ice cream, Half Baked. WHAT A GUY! And this was only the beginning. Then we were off to the mission reunion in Salt Lake. Unfortunately the ride there was not my finest hour because a) traffic and b) I was really hungry. We were a little late but we made it in time to grab some food before the meeting. The meeting was reallllly long and over half of it was everyone who was there taking turns with the mic and saying what they have been up to since they got home from their missions. Kind of a yawn. It was fun to meet some of CJ's mission friends that I had already heard so much about. I felt so proud to be there with CJ because he is such a great man and I know he was a wonderful missionary. I think CJ felt kind of bad that it was so long and kinda boring because afterwards we went to <a href="http://www.brugeswaffles.com/">Bruges Waffles and Frites</a>, which is quite possibly my favorite place in Salt Lake. It was sooo yummy and I got frites for the first time and I am going to be dreaming of them for weeks I'm sure.<br />
<br />
My grandma sent me a birthday package full of my favorite things, homemade biscuits and cookies, so on Saturday morning I made gravy for the biscuits and it was so good! It was my first time making gravy and I think it turned out great. My mom sent me a jar of homemade raspberry jam as well and it is SO delicious with the biscuits. CJ and I enjoyed the first session of conference together. My favorite talk that session was President Uchtdorf's about living a happy life with no regrets. After the morning session CJ gave me another present! Perfume from Bath and Body Works that smells soooooo good, and it's called Sweet on Paris. CJ and I went to Paris right before we started dating and it will always be a special place for me because of him. Then was the fated hour that we decided to go to Tucano's with Brian and Shannon for lunch. I LOVED IT but I ate so much that I could barely walk when we left. Yikes. I thought I was at death's door! Worth it. I had never been and it was so delicious. The rest of the day was pretty relaxing. We watched the PM session at Brian and Shannon's and during Priesthood session I just hung out with Shannon at their place. Then me and CJ met up with McKay at the creamery and he bought me birthday ice cream! He is the best little brother a girl could ask for. Then we went back to Brian and Shannon's and played Balderdash with Ty and Jessie. It was so much fun, mostly because I won! And we all know how much I love winning. Everyone wished me happy birthday at midnight and it was wonderful.<br />
<br />
Sunday morning I woke up at the crack of dawn and started making quiche and coffee cake for breakfast. I love cooking and baking and even though some people might want to sleep in on their birthday or not lift a finger, but I just wanted to make food! Then CJ came over to give me ANOTHER present. He gave me the sweetest card and I wanted to cry. Then I opened my present. It was a silver necklace with a seashell pendant. LET ME EXPLAIN. In Spain there is this pilgrimage people make all the way from France to Santiago de Campostela in Western Spain, where they believe St. James is buried. While we were traveling through Spain we saw a lot of these pilgrims making the journey, and the symbol of this pilgrimage is a scallop seashell. There are scallop seashell sculptures in cathedrals and on sidewalks all over Spain, marking the path the pilgrims take. It was a constant in our trip, we saw them in nearly every city we went to, and many women had necklaces with the shell pendant. Before we left I looked everywhere for a necklace like that but I couldn't find one. I couldn't believe CJ thought of that and found one for me...I love it so much, especially because Spain is obviously like a really special place for us. It will always remind me of how much fun we had and all the wonderful friends we made. Blah blah blah I am really sentimental. It was the PERFECT gift.<br />
<br />
The rest of the day was spent watching Conference, sleeping, and
spending time with family and friends. We had a party at the apartment
that night with lots of amazing food (including a GORGEOUS Tiffany&
Co. cake made by Chelsea) and my closest friends. This year has been
really hard but it was so wonderful to just be reminded of how
lucky I am to have these amazing people in my life. They mean the world
to me! <br />
<br />
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Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187150170238023100noreply@blogger.com1