iMac

We have joined the masses.

I'm a little scared and out of my element.

Howie and I wanted a new computer and so we decided to go with an iMac.  The sales guy assured us that the transition would be easy so, I hope he is right.  So far I've just taken it out of the box, plugged it in, and connected it to the internet.  I already like it, but I've yet to really delve into it.

It's an interesting feeling walking out of the store you just dropped some serious cash in and flaunting to the world the expensive piece of technology you've just purchased.  Howie and I both felt it.  We left our local Best Buy with that huge iMac box and it was like "Here we are.  Look at us and our expensive, new, modern, computer."  We got to the car and Howie said to me "I almost felt like we were going to get mugged."  I laughed and said "You felt that, too?!"  Really scary.

Right now I have our old computer set up on our big iMac box...on the floor...so I can blog about our new computer.  It's 11 o'clock at night and I'm in no mood to be reading instruction manuals.

I'm sure I'll be like every other Mac owner and take a picture of myself hugging it at some point.  Or become completely obsessed like this gal. (one of my favorite You Tubers)

But for now I'm going to bed.

La Bonne Vie

Yesterday Howie and I visited a cute little sweets shop in The Grand America called La Bonne Vie.  I've wanted to go ever since I heard them advertising it on the radio.

How cute is this store?!?

We enjoyed some hazlenut gelato...

And saw probably the biggest chocolate covered strawberries I've ever seen.

My main reason for going was to try their macarons.  They are a French delicacy and yet we did not try them in France.  Shame on us.

We went home with a strawberry one and a vanilla one.

I wanted to like them, I really did.  But I did not.  I'm blaming it on the fact that they were made here and not in France.  Maybe one day, when we return to Paris, we can try an authentic macaron and fall in love.

Until then we are left with the fake ones.

French Fry Dreamin'

For the first time since going on my diet I actually dreamt about eating food last night.  My body must be missing all of that french fry intake because that's what I ate in my dream.  Apollo Burger french fries and a big cheeseburger.  I remember it so clearly.  The french fries were so tasty in this dream and I even had fry sauce to dip them in.  I wouldn't be surprised if my hand came up to my mouth as I slept as if I really were eating them.  For real.  Well, I only have a couple more weeks on this diet and then I'll be done...for now.  I don't think I'll fully reach my goal, but I'm going to continue to watch what I eat.  I'm down 21 pounds as of this morning and it feels great.

Thanks Nutrisystem for making a program that is so easy for us food addicts to follow.

My blog has been a bit of a blah lately because we stay in all the time and don't really go anywhere and do anything since all of my food is at my house and I have to eat every 3-4 hours so, I'm hoping it will get more interesing in the weeks to come.  We have fun plans for our 3 year anniversary coming up on June 28th so, I will definitely be bloggin' about that.

The Hunger Games: The Movie!

Super excited that the cast of The Hunger Games has been put on IMDB!  So far, the casting seems spot-on.  As morbid as the storyline is I'm still excited to see it hit the big screen.  Expected release date is March 23, 2012.

For time and all eternity...

I don't know if any of you heard, but about two weeks ago there was a royal wedding.

I love a good, historical, wedding so I recorded it and watched every minute.  Plus, there was so much hype over what Kate's dress would look like I just had to tune in and see!  I really love that they aired their actual wedding ceremony.  I couldn't help but pause for a moment and ponder when they got to the whole "For richer, or for poorer.  In sickness and in health, till death do you part."  I always get irked at that point.  I am so happy that our church marries us for time and all eternity.  I don't want to only be with Howie for this life, but the one after as well.

The speech that the Bishop of London gave was really cool.  He had a lot of neat things to say about marriage in our day.  My favorite line was:

"Marriage should transform as husband and wife make one another their work of art.  It is possible to transform so long as we don't harbor ambitions to re-form our partners.  There must be no coercion if the spirit is to flow.  Each must give the other space and freedom."

Howie and I went to his cousin's sealing today in the Bountiful Temple.  It was a beautiful sealing and I loved the bride's choice of wedding dress, colors, bouquet, etc.  It all came together very nicely.  When it got to the point of "for time and all eternity" I got teary-eyed.  It's such a wonderful blessing and I'm glad that we can attend family sealings and be reminded of what we got ourselves into almost three years ago.

15 Down, 15 To Go

The results from my weigh-in are in and...

I've lost 15 pounds.

Pants are getting loose.

Shirts are fitting better.

Howie started working out to keep up with me.

I've found a new love for celery with peanut butter.

I can't stand the thought of greasy fast food.

I'm halfway to my goal.

This summer is gonna rock.

I LOVE Spring!

Today we bought our first ever hanging plant for our porch.

We've never bought one before because we were afraid our side of the complex didn't get enough sun.

I hope we don't kill it because I sure do like it!

Thanksgiving Point 5K 2011

I ran/walked this today.

Yup, even though it snowed like crazy last night, it was still on!  It turned out to be really nice with the colder air.  I would've burned up out there if it wasn't.  I lost the little chip thingy they give you to put on your shoe to track your time so, I'm not sure how long it took me to finish it, but I'm thinking it was around 1:20.  Better luck next time.  I haven't been training for a month so, it was my own fault.  At least I finished.  And I got a medal for participating!

Florida 4/24/11 to 4/28/11

I had the opportunity to visit the beautiful state of Florida this past week.  My work needed someone to go and I bravely volunteered.  You gotta do what you gotta do!

The day I arrived I went to check out the Tampa Hard Rock Cafe.

I would've eaten there if it hadn't been for the lack of an indoor clean air act.  Shame.

Then I arrived at my hotel and beheld the view!

Gorgeous! 

On Monday I had a free day to do whatever I wanted since I didn't have to officially work till Tuesday.  I heard that St. Petersburg had a very impressive Holocaust Museum so, it was the very first thing I checked out.

I wouldn't go there again.  I wasn't impressed with their stuff.  The only cool artifact they had was a real boxcar that was used to transport Jews.  Other than that it was pretty boring to walk through.  And definitely not worth the $14 I paid to get in nor the hour and a half I spent there.

After the museum I headed back to the hotel to decide what I would do next.  I grabbed a sandwich from a nearby Subway, changed into a swimsuit and swimsuit cover, and headed up to Clearwater, Florida.  I heard the area was beautiful...and it was.

I laid out on Sand Key Beach. 

Felt like a little kid when I spotted a Pirate Ship out in the distance. 

And enjoyed the beach.  Then I drove over to Pier 60.

Took in some more views. 

And hung out at Clearwater Beach for a bit. 

 The first part of the trip was the real highlight and really the only part worth blogging about.  The rest of my stay involved going from hospital to hospital and doing inventory counts.  I also got to drive across the entire state of Florida (from St. Petersburg to West Palm Beach).  West Palm Beach wasn't much to look at.  At least not the area I stayed in.  I didn't get a chance to visit a beach there because I worked too much.  Oh well.  It was still a fun trip even though I had to go alone.  Howie wished he could've gone, but his work isn't too kind when it comes to only a couple of weeks notice for a vacay.

My Mountain Top

I want to shout from a mountain top and since I don't have one that's easily accessible I decided to make my blog my mountain top...

I've lost 9 pounds!

I've only been doing Nutrisystem for 11 days and I've already lost 9 pounds!  This plan is amazing and it works.  I can't recommend it enough.  I'm wearing, right now, pants that I couldn't button-up a month ago.  Yesterday I wore a skirt that wouldn't fit over my thighs to save my life.  It's the best feeling in the world to put these clothes on and for them to be comfortable.  Just throwing it out there, if you're interested in doing this plan, let me know.  I will send you a special invitation to do the program and it will save you $30 off their plan price (currently $239.99).  This will average it out to only spending $7.50 per day on your main course meals.  Everything else you'll need to provide (such as diary, protein, fruit, and veggies).  They have it all laid out for you and it's super easy to follow.

Seriously, so worth it!