Gathering #101

So being a school teacher, I get a nice fall break every year. This year I had only one thing planned for the weekend. Book Club! I love book club. Well book club came and went, and then I thought what should I do with the rest of my long weekend. Well I decided what better thing to do then hang out with her!

Best weekend in a long time!

Gathering #100

I never thought I would actually get to 100 posts. I am a slow blogger and am not as dedicated as I should be, but I made it to 100 gatherings. In honor of that here are the abc' s of me.

1. Age: 27
2. Bed size: Queen
3. Chore you hate: Mopping the floor
4. Dogs: Love them, but don't have them
5. Essential start to your day: Channel 2 news (gotta watch the weather)
6. Favorite color: Red
7. Gold or silver: Silver.
8. Height: 5'10"
9. Instruments that you can play: I can kinda play the piano. I took some lessons, all I know are the basics.
10. Job title: Teacher, sister, and favorite aunt
11. Kids: 25 but none that come home with me :)
12. Live: Utah
13. Mom’s name: Char
14. Nicknames: Kimbo
15. Overnight hospital stays: The day I was born, and that is it.
16. Pet peeve: whining, being late
17. Quote from a movie: "Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life. Well, valuable, but small. And sometimes I wonder, do I do because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So goodnight, dear void."
18. Righty or lefty: Righty
19. Sibling: I have 3 brothers (Nic, Daniel, and Benj) and 1 sister (I claim her as blood even if she doesn't like it)
20. Time you wake up: 6:15 am
21. Underwear: white
22. Vegetables you dislike: mushrooms and tomatoes
23. What makes you run late: Me being lazy. I hate being late so I try not to let it happen!
24. X-rays: on my teeth, and once on my finger (long story)
25. Yummy food you make: Everything I make is yummy. Examples here
26. Zoo favorite animal: Elephants, turtles, and penguins

There you have it!

Gathering #99

Fall is finally coming to Utah. I love fall, as a teacher it is a brand new beginning. It is a time for reflection. I love that it is the beginning of holiday season. I love that I can pull out my sweaters and turn my heat on. I love that I can eat pumpkin bagels, bread, muffins, and cookies, and not feel out of place. I love that I get to start my Christmas shopping. All in all I love fall.

P.S. Stay tuned next post is my 100th post. ITS GOING TO BE GREAT!

Gathering #98

Sorry I have been M.I.A. the last 2 months when it comes to blogging. My summer got a way from me. I spent the majority of the summer remodeling (post to come about this), but on a happy note I did do some traveling. In June I spent a week in Southern Utah. We went to a ton of National Parks. I went camping with my family, spent a weekend in Logan, and spent a week in Disneyland.

Yes that's right a week in Disneyland. So this post is all about that week. My camera got ruined on Grizzly Rapids. So all of my pics where stolen off of my friends facebook page. Gotta love facebook.

Day one:
We (My friends Jeff and Kim, and Daniel and I) drove the entire way in one day. We laughed a ton. It was a lot of fun, and my first road trip actually being allowed to drive. We stayed at the Del Sol Inn. Right across the street from the main gate. We checked in, got our tickets, and then got beignets at the Jazz Kitchen (this would become a nightly tradition).

Day two:
Was actually day one in the park. We immediately got a fast pass on Indiana Jones, and then our first ride was Pirates (my favorite). We stayed in the Disneyland side this day. Some highlights of this day riding the tea cups that fit 6 (NOT) and coming off extremely dizzy, walking through the gate, and eating at the carnation cafe ( a new favorite)

Day three:
Daniel and I went into the park by ourselves this morning. Our friends had to put in some hours with their internships. We rode Indiana Jones, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder, and Splash Mountain. We meet up with our friends and rode some more rides. We went to a late lunch early dinner at the Blue Bayou.

Day four:
This day we used our magic morning early admission. We immediately followed the crowd and rode on Star Tours. It was awesome. We hung out in the park until 10 am. And then went into California Adventure. They did Tower of Terror. I don't like it at all so I got us fast passes for Soarin over California (my favorite ride in California Adventure).

Day Five:
Last day in the park. I went to lunch this day with my good friend Kristina who lives in Anaheim. We rode every ride we wanted to ride and laughed as much as we could. My camera and phone got drenched on Grizzly Rapids. But all in all had a great day.

Day Six:
We drove home!

Favorites for me:
River Belle Terrace Breakfast
Jazz Kitchen Beignets (my brother Daniel was addicted)
Blue Bayou
Carnation Cafe
Shopping for my family (especially trying to narrow down what I wanted to get for Sammy)

But my favorite part of the whole trip was getting to spend time with my little brother Daniel!

Daniel, Kim, and I after Mad Hatter Tea Cups

Our first ride of the trip!

Walking into the park our first day there

Gotta love Space Mountain!

Jeff and I in line for Peter Pan

We love Splash Mountain!

Daniel, Kim, and Jeff on Tower of Terror

Kim and I on Splash Mountain

Gathering #97

I love baked goods. I especially love cupcakes. My favorite cupcakes come from Lovely Lorraine's Cupcakes. They are so moist and delicious, and the are gorgeous. Well Lovely Lorraine's is having a contest giving away FREE CUPCAKES. Go to facebook and like her today you will not be disappointed (especially if you win some cupcakes).

Gathering #96

This weekend was a big one for my family! My niece turned two and my brother turned twenty. Saturday was spent with my niece playing. She is the joy of my life to say that I spoil her is a little of an under statement. I feel it is a pleasure that she is a part of my life. I can not imagine her not being there to tell me stories in her own language or bounce on the tramp with. She is my best little buddy.
Sunday was Benj's birthday. My heart aches just a little that he turned twenty in Mexico. I will never know my brother as a twenty year old. I think about what this year will bring for him. But I know that him turning twenty means that he is just one more day closer to coming h0me.

Overall great weekend, with lots of happy times!

Gathering #95

Started a food blog today. Check out Glad Eating and tell me what you think

Gathering #94

Big weekend! My older brother graduated from law school yesterday. He is an amazing person who works his butt off. I am proud of him and everything he does. He is a hard worker, a great dad, an amazing brother, and a supportive husband.

Gathering #93

So this past week I was on Spring Break, and I realized on like Friday that I think I had tried a ton of bakeries along the Wasatch Front. So here is my review of each place in order of days that I tried them:

#1 Krispy Kreme: There is nothing better then a hot Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut. We tried glazed, custard filled, chocolate cake, frosted. My favorite was the chocolate cake. I rank this 4/5
#2 Branbury Cross: They were all out of apple fritters when I got there (if you have not tried their apple fritters, run do not walk and get one today). We tried glazed, chocolate cake, raised with chocolate icing, white cake, and old fashioned. My favorite was the chocolate cake. I rank this 2/5
#3 Dicks Market: Nothing like Dicks bakery. We tried chocolate frosted raised with chocolate filling, a raised with mint frosting, and cake doughnuts. This is my go to bakery I love almost everything they have. I rank this 3/5
#4 Schmidt s Pastry Cottage: No doughnuts at Schmidts but we tried cookies. We tried German Chocolate Cookies, Mint and Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, Snicker doodle, Oatmeal Raisin, and Sugar Cookies. If you are a fan of Schmidts I do apologize but not a fan. I would go get the mint and chocolate sandwich cookies. I rank it 5/5
#5 Parsons Bakery: We tried Chocolate Cake doughnuts, White Cake doughnuts, German Chocolate Cookies, and Sugar Cookies. It was all so good. Parsons was my favorite bakery of the week. Every time, everything that I try I like. I rank it 1/5.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions of pastry shops for me to try. I am always up to trying new baked goods.

Also just an idea that I am trowing out to the cosmic cyber space, maybe I will start doing restaurant rankings. You never know

Gathering #92

Spring Break is here and I am having so much fun! I went to Denver on Friday and got home on Monday nothing exciting happened there just hung out at my Aunt and Uncles house.
Today Dad, Ash, Sam, and I went to Utah County we hit up Krispy Kreme, and then headed to the Disney Store. I think that it is safe to say that my neice is very very loved. We also went to lunch at my favorite Deli. If you live close to North Salt Lake you have to try Leger's Deli.

Stay tuned tomorrow the Mills Hit the zoo!

Gathering #91

Just wanted you to all know:

• In 4 days I will be on my way to Denver
• In 5 days I will get to see my Aunt and Uncle
• In 4 days I will be on spring break
• In 4 days I get to play all week with my Ash and my Sammy

Don't be jealous but I have a great life!

Gathering #90

Went to book club this past week, and I realized that the women I love the most I read with. I love the opportunity that reading brings. I love how I feel when I finish a book, I love how it feels when I can't put it down. But the biggest thing that I love about book club is the women. I love them for different reasons. Here is what I love:

Jenny is so amazing, crafty, fun, and always positive. She is an amazing women, and brings a different perspective to my life.

Jessica is the life of the party. She is funny and cute. I love that she will read anything and see the good in it.

Wendy is deep. I feel like she is the one that brings the books into a different sphere. She is the one that can show us things that I never would have seen.

Ash is the founder of our book club. She is bubbly and cheerful. I love her to pieces. I love that she comes with questions about how we can apply any book to our lives. She is the sister that I always wanted (I am grateful that the above women have shared their sister with me).

Mom is the reason I love books. She made me read in the summer for 30 minutes a day, if not for her I don't think I would have the passion for books that I do.

Two of these women are my family. But I feel like the other three are my sisters, and I love them.

Tonya and Anna are amazing women and I love spending time with them.

All in all I love book club and the books we read, but more then anything I love the women.

Gathering #89

Today I drove to the airport to drop off my moms boss. I love the airport. I love the shuffle of people. I love the anticipation I feel when it is time to go on vacation. I love that the airport is always me happy to be going on vacation and usually happy to be coming home. It made me want to go on vacation. I am going to Denver in a little less then a month. That will have to get me through for now. 21 days till I go on vacation. I think I can make it through!

Gathering #88

I turned 27 this past weekend. 27! I am closer to thirty then twenty. And all though this should cause me panic and distress. I thoroughly enjoyed my birthday. I think my expectations were a little bit smaller because my birthday was on a Sunday. My family spoiled me rotten I have the greatest friends and I just got to chill. Oh and I had the coolest cake ever!

Gathering #87

Do you ever wonder why some things happen the way they do? Or why you feel very confident about things that you say yes to for all of 5 seconds and then you think what I am doing?
Sometimes I am not sure what I am doing or why I am doing things I just try to keep chugging on and moving forward. Maybe when I look back I will understand what I am up too.

Gathering # 86 Day 29 and 30

I think this challenge took me 60 days to finish but I am finally done.

Day 29- Something I could never get tired of doing.

I could never get tired of eating, reading, and cooking

Day 30- Place I love

My list of places I love are:
Hawaii
Disneyland
My House
My Bed

Gathering #85 Day 28

I love to read and try to as much as possible (which usually means I read 2 weeks in December and from June to August).
Some of my favorite books are:

• The Hourglass Door
  
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
• The Host
• Fable Haven Books

Gathering #84 Day 27

In my purse I have

• My calendar
  
• My cell phone
• 1 green highlighter
• 1 pink highlighter
  
• 2 pens
• 7 receipts (all to eating establishments, I think I need to stop eating out)
• A sticker for the parking garage at the roof (it should be in my car, oops)
• My wallet
• an envelope
• a letter from SLCSD
• hand sanitizer
• Soft-picks (there like toothpicks)
• my Roof name badge
  
• emery board
• my school work badge and keys
• scissors (don't know why those are there, must have something to do with school)
• 1 package of Dylan's Candy Bar Orange Mints
  

Gathering #83 Day 25 and 26

I love my ipod. It gets me through a lot of things. My music taste is a little eclectic, but I can usually find just what I am looking or listening for.

On shuffle the first ten songs were:

1. Little Wonders by Rob Thomas
2. In the Moonlight by Ja Franco
3. True Love's Kiss from Enchanted
4. Bust Your Windows Glee Version
5. Toxic Glee Version
6. What'd I Give by Sugarland
7. Somebody to Love Glee Version
8. Teenage Dream Glee Version
9. Ku'u Wehi O Ke Aumoe by Keali'i Reichel
10. Red High Heels by Kellie Pickler
    

Gathering #82 Day 24

A picture I took... LOVE HER!!!

Gathering #81 Day 23

Something I want to buy...
Today is an airline ticket to Hawaii!

Gathering #80 Day 22

I have been on so many vacations, and I love to travel. It was very hard for me to just pick one trip but I came up with my last vacation. My brother and sister were living in DC for the summer and we went to visit them. It was so fun to see our nations capital and spend time with my family.

Gathering #79 Day 21

A recipe

Monster Cookies

• 2 sticks (1/2 Pound) Butter (salted) Softened
• ½ cups White Sugar
• 1-½ cup Brown Sugar, Packed
• 2 whole Large Eggs
• 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
• 1-½ cup All-purpose Flour
• ½ teaspoons Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 2 teaspoons Kosher Salt
• 1-½ cup Oats (either Quick Or Regular)
• ½ cups M & M's (more To Taste)
• ½ cups Pecans, Chopped (more To Taste)
• ¾ cups Chocolate Chips (milk Or Semi-sweet)
• ½ cups Peanut Butter Chips
• 2-¼ cups Rice Krispies

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream butter with sugars until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and beat.

Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and kosher salt. Add to mixing bowl and mix till combined. After that, add in remaining ingredients in whatever quantity you prefer. Add more nuts if you’d like, or more M & M’s, more peanut butter chips or chocolate chips.

Add Rice Crispies at the very end, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix!

Use a cookie scoop to scoop balls of dough onto a cookie sheet. Bake until golden brown, then allow to cool on a rack.

Gathering #78 Day 20 Me from 10 years ago

Gathering #77 Day 19

My hobbies are:

Reading
Cooking
Shopping
Spending Time with my family

Gathering #76 Day 18

Something I miss, today is really someone I miss.

Gathering #75 Day 17

My pet peeves are:

• People not following through with commitments
• When someone does not return my phone call
• The sound of metal scraping against metal

I am sure I have more but these are just a few

Gathering #74 Day 16

I am looking forward to warm weather!

Gathering #73 Day 15

I have never really thought about what my dream house would look like. I think I would want a house that is relaxing and I think of it more as a destination home. I know this will shock some of you but I would want a beach house, but not in Hawaii. I have always wanted a beach house along the east coast maybe in North Carolina. So this is what I think of as my dream home.

Gathering #72 Day 14

I love a lot of aspects of this picture. #1 I went to DC this summer and loved every minute of it. It is a place that I will want to go back and visit again. #2 I loved the Thomas Jefferson monument, he was a great man who said some great things. #3 These three make my life so amazing. They are my best friends and I love to do everything with them (they clean up good too).

Gathering #71 Day 13

One of my favorite memories is going to Hawaii for the 1st (but really 2nd time). It was so much fun! I got to spend 3 weeks in Hawaii with my family.

Gathering #70 Day 12

My to do list for today most of it comes from school so it is a little boring.

• Copies, Math, LA packet, comprehension, math tests, spelling stuff, DAZE, science, homework
  
• Team Meeting
• Enter Reading Calendar minutes
  
• Door Calendar type and print
  
• Math Am I ready for next week?
  
• Centers- Copy comprehension, word sort
  
• Language Art- Talk to Library about using computers to create character, setting, and plot web
  
• Math Tests- Correct
  
• Drop off ESL homework
• Write morning journal, daily schedule, and today I will board
• Call Ashley about Boutique
• Go to boutique
• Try to stay awake until at least 9:30 :)
  

Gathering #69 Day 11

My favorite TV shows, this is hard because all though I do watch a lot of TV, I watch more movies.
So a short list:

• Glee
• Drop Dead Diva
• What Not to Wear
• Matlock
• Mash

Gathering #68 Day 10

Day 10 asks for a baby picture don't be jealous that you could all not be this cute!

Gathering #67 Day 9

My favorite places to eat are:

• Maddox
• Mimi's Cafe
• The Blue Bayou
• Leger's Deli

Gathering #66 Day 8

I have had a lot of friends in my life. I fill blessed that I have so many groups of friends. Here are just a few pictures of some of my friends.

Gathering #65 Day 7

In no particular order my favorite movies are:

• Jane Eyre
  
• You've Got Mail
• Anne of Green Gables
• Pirates of the Caribbean
  
• South Pacific
• Transformers
• Mulan
• Singing in the Rain
  

Gathering #64 Day 6

All I can say about the last purchase I made is Happy Birthday Dano, Ash, Mom, and Dad!

Gathering #63 Day 5

My Family!!!
What else can I say but who wouldn't want to be with them for all eternity?
They are the reason I get up in the morning, work as hard as I do. They are the voice inside of my head pushing me forward.

Gathering #62 Day 4

I love to cook so it was very hard for me to pick a recipe. I kept thinking do I want a dessert, an appetizer or main course. I decided to go with a main course. So here it goes (one of) my favorite recipes.

Comfort Meatballs I serve them with potatoes, corn bread, and beans, but they are also good as mini meatball sandwiches.

• FOR MEATBALLS
• 1-½ pound Ground Beef
• ¾ cups Oats
• 1 cup Milk
• 3 Tablespoons Very Finely Minced Onion
• 1-½ teaspoon Salt
• Plenty Of Ground Black Pepper, to taste
• _____
• FOR COOKING MEATBALLS
• 1 cup All-Purpose Flour (coating For Frozen Meatballs)
• Canola Oil
• _____
• FOR SAUCE
• 1 cup Ketchup
• 2 Tablespoons Sugar
• 3 Tablespoons Vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire
• 4 Tablespoons (to 6 Tablespoons) Onion
• 1 dash Tabasco

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all meatball ingredients. Roll into medium-small balls and place on a cookie sheet. Place sheet in freezer for five minutes.

After 5 minutes, remove meatballs from freezer and immediately dredge in unseasoned flour.

Brown meatballs in canola oil until just brown. Place into a baking dish.

Combine all sauce ingredients. Pour over meatballs and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes

Gathering #61 Day 3

Today was an uneventful day. I worked, went grocery shopping, hung out with my sister and my niece.

Gathering #60 alson known as Day 2

Not a very great story on the name of my blog. I started this blog at a time when I was trying to find the best in every situation. So like Pollyanna I wanted to play the glad game. So that is how I came up with Glad Gatherings

Gathering #59 also known as Day 1 of the 30 day challenge

I am a daughter.

I am a sister.
I am an aunt.
I am a friend.
I am a teacher.
I am a reader.
I am a cook.
I am LDS.
I am a Ute.
I am fun, organized, lovable, and moody.
I wear my emotions on my sleeves.
To say that I don't take criticism very well is an understatement.

Interesting facts about me:
It took me 2 universities, 3 majors, and 7 years to graduate from school.
My best friends are my parents, my brothers, and my sister.
I have the worlds most adorable niece!
I always wanted a sister and almost 6 years ago I got the best sister anyone could ask for!
I have never only worked one job (something within me always needs a backup plan).
I spend most of my weekends falling asleep in my rocking chair around 10:30 pm.

Add it all together and you get me!

Gatheing #58

I have decided to start the 30 day blog challenge, lets see how it goes!
Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, interesting facts

Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name

Day 3-A picture and description of how your day was

Day 4- A favorite recipe

Day 5-Your Family

Day 6-A picture of the last thing you purchased

Day 7-Favorite movies

Day 8- Friends

Day 9- Favorite places to eat

Day 10-A baby photo

Day 11-Favorite TV shows

Day 12 –Detailed to-do list from today

Day 13- A fun memory

Day 14-A picture you love

Day 15-Dream house

Day 16-Something you're looking forward to

Day 17-Pet Peeves

Day 18 -Something you miss

Day 19- A Hobby

Day 20-Picture of yourself from 10 years ago

Day 21-A recipe

Day 22-Favorite vacation

Day 23-Something you want to buy

Day 24-A photo you took

Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs

Day 26-Favorite Music/Artists

Day 27-What’s in your purse

Day 28- Favorite Books

Day 29 – Something you could never get tired of doing

Day 30- place I love

Gathering #57

So it is already the middle of January and I am having a hard time with a couple of my resolutions. I need inspiration.
Can anyone inspire me?

Gathering #56

I have been thinking about 2011 for a couple of weeks. Thinking about what I wanted to change in my life. I am never very good at resolutions and never make them. But this year I thought I would give it a go. So I sat with my index card and pen ready to write down what I wanted to change about myself, surprisingly enough it was easier then I expected. So here is what I am resoluting to do this year.

1. Live a Christ centered life
2. No excuses! There are no excuses in life either do it or don't but I don't want to make any excuses.
3. More random acts of kindness
4. Don't be afraid to get messy, make mistakes, or act like a complete fool

We will see how long this lasts!

Happy New Year!