How to become a VIP Regular at your favorite restaurant

1. Eat there frequently, or should I say- Regularly?
2. Order the same delicious meal.
3. Order tons of bread and water

It really is that easy. Although, Zack and I have worked hard to find the perfect restaurant. It took us over a year and a half to even decide that this was the place. Outback Steakhouse in Orem, UT.

Friday nights are packed. Saturday nights are even more packed! Calling ahead works sometimes but you should still expect to wait 20 to 30 minutes even after the time they tell you your table will be ready (guess it's hard to get people to leave).

You know you're a VIP regular when you walk in the door and before you even check in the Manager walks up to you and says "two, right? I have a table for you guys."

You know you're a regular when Jeff (the manager) stops by just for small talk and lets you know he appreciates how often we come in and recognized that our favorite table is in the bar area so that we have full access to TV viewage.

Let me just say, we never planned on becoming regulars. Let alone VIP regulars. We never expected to have this great honor- especially while living in Provo, UT. I thought we would have picked a non-franchise, hole-in-the-wall, sort of restaurant. But no- Outback stole my heart with the Chicken Artichoke Flat Bread. And Zack can get the steak that I never cook.

Happy Weekdays

What a crazy long day! I had a pretty difficult start to the week. I thought it began with the fact that I brought the wrong pair of pants with me to work today to change into. But as the morning grew on I knew it had to be something else.
I felt completely anxious and stressed over every little thing that presented it's self to me. The gloom cloud continued to hover over my desk until I broke out into tears.
The clouds would part slightly and I'd begin to relax and focus on my work but they would return soon enough (or far too soon for my liking) and the tears would break the dam again.
I tried to inform everyone that my blood was boiling and I was in a pretty bad mood. I was snippy about everything. That only brought more tears.
I was having issues today, my friends. Serious issues.
I was looking for Prince Charming to save me from these swings of emotions.
Zack sent me a message (after I had text him a million times to tell him how sucky I was feeling)
"we need to do something to cheer you up tonight. Ice Cream?"
my reply,
"or my meds!"
That's right folks. I hadn't taken my happy pills in a few days and the effects were finally wiggling their selves out of my body.
Prince Charming (AKA Moonfish) came and took me away for a little break and to pick up the prescription.
I doubt my pill kicked in as quickly as I started feeling better. I'm pretty sure the cause for my sudden cheerful disposition was because of my honey coming to see me. I only had an hour left of work by the time I got back so that was perfect timing.
I love Zack!
Then I got caught in the rain on my way home.
Oh rain. You're stupid. Stop coming to visit.
I was welcomed by the stench of drenched carpet in our bedroom when I walked in the door. We noticed the smell this weekend and we could not figure out what it was! We cleaned everything possible. Then we noticed a large wet spot next to one of the walls in the bed room. The smell got so bad that it woke me up this morning. Bleh!
Our trusty fix-it man (Our landlord's go-to guy) came by and pulled up the carpet. Sure enough, soaked. The gross scent consumed the entire apartment. We are leaving the carpet pad exposed so that it can dry out. I don't think I'll be able to sleep in the bed room tonight.

All in all I'm ready for the day to end. I'm ready to take advantage of the weather and use it for some serious cuddle time.

Happy Monday! And I wish you an even better Tuesday!

House Rules

We don't have house rules around here.
If I want to stay up past 10 pm on a school (work) night, I totally can. If I want to eat dessert before dinner, I can. If I don't feel like doing Saturday morning chores, I don't have to.
And this pleaseth my soul.

But lately, I have felt a little out of control. I have neglected the dishes. I have been sleeping in because I have been going to bed far later than I should be. I have not been eating a well balanced dinner!

What is to become of me??

Well, I'm quite certain I will grow up to be a fine young lady, but I should really set some boundaries for myself, shouldn't I? I mean, I should have a bit of self control. A few more restrictions. Higher expectations for my standards, right?

I shall. From now on, I will be more disciplined.

I will eat 2 to 3 well balanced meals.
I will go to bed before 9:30 on week days.
(mostly because I can't function after 9:30 anyways)
I will do my chores, weekly.

My dear, sweet Carolina (I have yet to decid on a name but this will work for a stand in until then)

I don't know what all you know about my commute to work this days, but let me tell you it's a totally different world out there.

When you don't just hop in your car only to inevitably get annoyed with other drivers and pedestrians that are inconsiderate of where I have to go- you see so many things you've never noticed before. Like broken took brushed on the road (I know, what?) or the homeless man who lives near the river but is so kind!
During the days of snow, I would take the bus. A $2.25 fare {I'm pretty sure it's up to $2.50 now} and a 30 min ride would get me there all in one piece. When you're on the bus, you meet all sorts of people I have never really interacted with very much since living in bubble-like Provo. Cute elderly women, older men with handicaps. It's quite interesting, although, I think it would be a lot more fun if we all broke out into song and dance while we were driving around picking up more friends. But I don't think that would happen. How would we all know the same dance moves? Right?

Now that the weather is more friendly I ride my bike.
Absolutely love it! We could totally work it out to where I take the car every day but I like the early morning work out and then the work out at the end of the day.
I realized I kind of have a little bit of road rage. Cars can be so inconsiderate. But the sucky thing {which maybe it's actually a good thing} I don't have a horn to honk at them to show them how stupid they are. So I tend to shake my fist. Okay really, I just roll my eyes because if I shook my fist I'm sure they would come after me, alright maybe not while I'm in Provo, but I shouldn't make it a habit in case I ride my bike outside the bubble.

The people I see while riding are so cool. I ride through this cute little neighborhood where the husbands are out early mowing their yards, groups of women are speed walking while catching up on yesterday's rumors. My favorite is this cute couple, probably late 40's, who walk their 3 dogs. A great Dane, a golden retriever, and some really tiny dog. they are the cutest.
One day when I was riding, I was coming up to a group of kids waiting for the bus to come gather them for school and these 2 boys walked out into the middle of the road chests puffed up, hands on hips, eyebrows scowling, blocking part of the road. Maybe I would have been slightly intimidated if they weren't 3 feet tall and had cute little smiles on their face.

There's this guy who leaves for work about the time I get to his street. He rides his bike too. Only his is a really nice bike and he is dressed in his cool cycling outfit. Dude, he can fly up that hill! It takes a lot of work for me. But he is so friendly, says "good morning" whenever we cross paths.

I know what you're thinking- "uh don't you totally stink up the office when you get there?"
Yes, yes I would. If I didn't shower. I wouldn't bike if they didn't have showers. I just get ready for work when I get there. I don't even bother at home.

And that, my dear friends, is what I do almost every day. If it's raining a lot then we figure something else out but other than that- I will stay devoted to taking my bike out to stretch her chains. She's awesome.

K love you, bye!

when i have too much free time- this is what my miond makes me think about

If i were famous i could write a New York Bestseller. i would be asked to do a book tour and sit at Barnes and Noble signing a bagillion books for "fans". Oprah would call me and ask me to appear on her show. I could decide i dont just want to write books- i want to write music too. Taylor Swift would mentor me. she would co-write songs with we. She would ask me to guest sing in her newest single that is expected to hit the top ten charts for several weeks. I could decide i want a break from the music industry and that i want to travel the world performing humanitarian service and becoming cultures. i could build orphanages and make a real difference in a place where no one knew my "famous name". i would be come a better person. could all that ONLY happen if i were famous? what if i wanted to do it as just a "normal" girl? would i have any sort of impact in anyone's life? these are things i wonder about when i have too much time on my hands

I am not my sisters keeper

Why can't you just accept our love?
Accept the fact that we care about you and are concerned for your well being?
Accept the fact that we will try to find you when we haven't heard from you in months?
Accept that your brothers miss you?

Your brothers don't even know who you are.
They were too young to remember "Buddy Bears".
Too young to remember that you loved to watch soap operas.
They weren't there when we would watch 7th Heaven on a weekly basis.
They don't remember how cute your laugh was when you got super happy
Or when you would tickle me until I almost peed my pants.

You were there when our family, all dressed in white, went into the sacred room to become a forever family.

I wish you would let us love you.
I wish you would love us back.
I wish you cared about yourself as much as your family cares about you.

I am angry with you.
I'm angry that you push us away when we reach out to you.
I'm angry that you belittle yourself.
I'm angry that you limit your potential.

But I love you.
Sister, I really, truly love you.
I want to be your best friend.
I want to be there for you when you have a hard day.
I want to be there when you had an amazing day.

I want you in my life.
Why won't you let me be?