Casa de Colon

I got to take a quick trip down memory lane when I saw this photo on Facebook today.

This is the last place Christopher Columbus stayed before he crossed the Atlantic and discovered America. It is now a museum called Casa de Colon (there is an accent over the 2nd 'o' but I can't figure out how to do it) - Columbus' house - and is located in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands. I went there a couple of times during my mission and it was fun to see something so historical.

I love the architecture and history of Spain. I can't wait to go back with my camera and document the beauty of the islands. Until then, I have to rely on photos I find on the Internet to remind me how amazing the islands are.

I also heard from one of my very favorite companions today, Hermana Oliveira. She's from Brazil and is so awesome. I haven't talked to her since the mission (keeping in touch with people is not a talent of mine), but we chatted on Facebook today and it was so good to hear from her.

This is her FB profile picture. I'll dig up more pictures of us from the mission soon. We had so much fun together. We laughed a ton. She's awesome. We lived with some crazy old lady who had dentures -- actually, she wasn't even that old. She would go to bed every night before we even got home and would leave her dentures on the kitchen counter. We would eat dinner when we got home at 9 and had to work around them every night. It was so gross but we just laughed about it. I'm glad to hear that Hna Oliveira (Elisa) is doing well. A life-long friend for sure...even though we haven't talked. I think those are the best friends ---> ones where no matter how much time has passed, you can talk and feel comfortable like you talk all the time.

So, Elisa speaks Portugese and Spanish and I speak English and (barely) Spanish so it took some work to communicate with her. I really wish I still spoke super well, but I don't. I just don't have the opportunity to speak it at all anymore, so I am forgetting it. I need to take classes or something so I don't forget it completely.


Something super cool has just happened in the islands. The very first stake for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was organized last week. It's so exciting that the work is going forth and the members are faithful. I'm so thankful for the opportunity I had to serve a mission there and to know and love the wonderful Canarian people.

Not So Super...

Life never slows down.

One of my biggest stresses/epic life fails is time management. I'm working on priorities and sticking to a schedule but it's funny that life just keep getting in the way. Ironic, huh? I easily feel overwhelmed and have the occasional breakdown.

Like tonight, for example.

I have a lot on my plate right now - like most people, I know. Between my full-time job, and my 2 part-time jobs (home inspections and photography) then throw in my commute, my calling, home maintenance/cleaning/mowing the lawn and other yard care (I just have to be okay for the rest of this season that my flower beds are going to be grass beds till next year), grocery shopping, errands, paying bills, and, oh yeah, I probably should have some sort of a social life and helping family and friends (bear with me, this is therapeutic) I'm just having a hard time getting to everything.

I know I do not hold the monopoly on stress or having too much to do but sometimes (lots of times) I feel like I just can't do it. Not that I want to give up on life or anything, but I just need a break.


Or, a break down.


The current-most-stressful thing in my life right now is stupid Super Saturday. There is nothing 'super' about it, if you ask me (great attitude, huh?). It's a craft day for all the women in my ward and I am in charge of it. Sure, I have a committee, but 1/2 of them are having babies on or around the actual day of the event and the others work a lot or don't participate in planning meetings. Ok, I shouldn't complain. Most of my stress comes from my inability to delegate (why is it so hard?!) but realistically, the only time I have to plan/come up with good/fun/cheap/awesome crafts are after all my other crap is done which is usually late at night. Like 11 or 12 and people aren't too happy to hear from me that late.


Thank goodness for Pinterest. It has literally saved my life.


So, I pretty much have the crafts hammered out. I not only have to pick which crafts but I have to shop for the supplies, keep track of all the receipts, make the crafts, then figure out how much each one costs and how long each one takes to make. Oh, and I also have to put together all the materials and tools to make them for all the ladies that sign up for each craft. And this is after I haul them all to church for a month and set up a display with sign-up sheets in the hallway.


I'm not complaining. I'm not. I'm just venting here so I don't blow up at anyone.


This is actually right up my alley - the perfect church calling for me.


(I sure hope none of my ward members look at my blog though!)


Anyway, here are some of the crafts we are doing this year:


(sorry for the lame iPhone photos).

Jewelry hanger

Snowman votive

Tile coasters

Bookmark

We are doing a bunch of other cool crafts but I am in charge of these 4. Once everything is planned and the dust settles, I know it will be fun.

I wanted to do this pillow:

But it turned out to be too expensive and was vetoed by the board. I didn't really care because I got mine done and it looks great in my papasan chair (named Judith).

***

In other news, I'm getting a roommate next week! My best little bro Cade will be staying with me for 2 months while he does clinicals in Nephi. He is going to be a nurse anesthetist in 15 months and will work in different hospitals until then to get the required experience. I'm so excited that he gets to stay with me for part of it.

He's pretty cool.

I cleaned up and stocked my guest room for his comfort.

I'm sure he's super jazzed about the pink comforter.

...and the stuffed bear.

After my creeper in the window experience last week, my dad and Kyle say that they're worried for Cade's safety.

There will be some rules...and boundaries. :)

***

In other, other news, I completed my first (successful) sewing project!

(Okay, my mom had to help, but I did most of it).

(Isn't my new chair cool? Love Ikea!)

I'm hoping that sewing can be a new hobby of mine. Just as soon as I come up with the money to buy the sewing machine I want.

I guess I need to have a bake sale.

I See You

So, the fact that I am a world-class scaredy cat has been (well) documented on this blog. 

The other night, I freaked out to a whole new level.

I went to a BBQ last Tuesday in Provo with some friends. It was good to see people I haven't seen for a while. I got home about 10 pm and started to get ready for bed. I opened my bedroom window to cool off my room before I went to sleep. I am way too paranoid to sleep with my window open, but I like to sleep in a cool room so I usually open it for a while before I go to bed.

I washed my face and brushed my teeth, then went to my dresser to get my pajamas. My dresser is just to the right of my window. I grabbed my pajamas and shut the drawer. As I was turning away, I heard a man's voice loudly say "HELLO!" 

RIGHT OUTSIDE MY WINDOW!

Seriously, like 2 feet away.

I am not kidding.

(I live in a super quiet neighborhood and the gate to my backyard is always locked. Always).

I IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO FULL-ON PANIC MODE. WHAT DOES ONE DO IN THIS SITUATION? I JUMPED TO THE WINDOW, SLAMMED IT SHUT, LOCKED IT AND PULLED THE BLINDS. I QUICKLY RAN ACROSS THE ROOM, GRABBED MY GUN AND MY PHONE (IN THAT ORDER) AND CROUCHED DOWN INTO THE FETAL POSITION IN MY CLOSET. I DIALED 9-1-1, BUT A THOUGHT CAME INTO MY MIND BEFORE I COULD HIT 'SEND'...

My backyard neighbors have an African Grey Parrot.

I don't know much about parrots, or African Greys in particular, but I have heard that they can mimic human voices exactly. But what are the chances? I am positive that the voice was right outside my window. It really was.

But, how embarrassing would it be to call 911 and have the cops come check it out only to find out it was my neighbor's stupid bird? I really wanted to avoid another embarrassing moment (go here to see my last 911 fail) so I decided to do a little investigating.

I don't know my neighbors. I haven't ever talked to them but they're in my ward, so I opened the ward directory on my phone and looked them up. It was after 1o pm but when I opened my window a few minutes earlier, I had noticed their lights were on.

So, I called and the dad answered. "Um, hi. I'm Cali, your back neighbor. I just heard a man's voice in my backyard and am totally freaked out. Are your windows open and is your bird talking?!"

And, this nice man LAUGHED at me! Seriously?! (I mean, it's funny now but it so was not then. He then said, "Yep, my windows are open and my bird is uncharacteristically chatty tonight."

Great.

Actually, it was great. I was so relieved. I mean, I was still completely freaked out and didn't sleep at all that night, but I was relieved. The wind must have blown just right for the bird's voice to seem right outside my window. It was so freaky.

I called my parents and my dad laughed so hard that I'm such a spazz that he had a hard time breathing. 

Thanks dad. Like I said, it's funny now but was not for a couple of days.

I posted about the creeper outside of my window experience on Facebook and Uncle Bob commented that he's glad I at least had a plan.

Crouching in the fetal position in my closet doesn't really feel like a plan.

It feels more like panic and desperation.

I was a mess for the rest of the night and finally had to take a sleeping pill and use ear plugs at about 3 a.m. It was not easy getting up, but this greeted me when I opened my blinds.

The most unreal sunrise I have ever seen. Why post 1 photo when you can post 7? (I whittled it down from 17). All of these shots are straight out of the camera.

No filter or Photoshop needed.

We live in a beautiful world.

(p.s. I have really missed blogging. I need to make it more of a priority).

Fire Sunset

It's that time of year again - when much of the west experiences wildfires.

Definitely not my favorite time of year.

My hometown of Hailey, ID has a super large (250,000+ acres) fire burning right over the mountains from town. It's really scary. Some people are being evacuated but so far it's not too close to my parents' home. Well, 10 miles is too close, but the winds are blowing it north, not east so things are okay for now.

It is heading to Baker Lake though and that's really sad. It's a glacier lake north of Ketchum and one of our very favorite places to hike.

I'm praying for the firefighters and all the people involved - and for lots and lots of rain.

And no lightning.

One good result of all the smoke are some pretty killer sunsets. This was tonight's show:

#nofilter

#Godsphotoshop

#almostparadise

Graduation

Jordan is graduating college tomorrow.

HOORAY!

They grow up so fast, don't they?

She 'hired' (told me) to make her graduation announcements:

I didn't mind at all. It's right up my alley.

She wanted to use a different picture (the above photo is my favorite of her of all time). So, I made a couple different announcements.

And, finally, per Cade's request, I made one with her famous "Mr. Ed" photo from her high school graduation photo shoot:

We think we're pretty funny. I sent them to friends and family as postcards and she's super embarrassed that the couple of this one I sent were in the mail and seen by more than just family. Good thing she's a good sport or she might murder me in my sleep.

We did another photo shoot tonight and here are a couple of pix:

It's too bad they're not very good-looking.

 We also took some 'jumping' photos that are hilarious. I'll post them soon.

***

Guess what's blooming in my yard?

My hibiscus! I'm super excited about it. It reminds me of Cabo. My only little piece of paradise.

My lawn is still the embarrassment of the whole neighborhood. Maybe this gorgeous flower over-shadows my dandelion grove a little.

"Healthy" Cookies

I just made chocolate chip cookies made with beans.

Really, I did.

I'm trying to eat better. I haven't had fast food in 3 weeks which is a pretty big accomplishment for me. I mean, it's such a pain to have to cook every single meal. Plus, cooking for one person gets annoying because I have to eat whatever I cook for a quite a few days. Also, I think a lot of times eating out (for one person) is cheaper than buying all the ingredients to cook. Besides, when if I try something new and it's a complete bust (aka: a Pinterest fail), then I have all these random ingredients hanging around that I'll probably never use again.

Anyway, I am trying to be healthier...and I feel better. I'm eating a whole lot more fruits and vegetables and I can totally tell a difference in how I feel which is pretty awesome.

I had to do it in baby steps. I stopped (except for my bday weekend) drinking Mountain Dew (and all other soda) in February and it was very interesting that just that step helped me to not hit the drive-thru so often. I noticed such a huge difference immediately. I slept better, so was able to get up easier and I just had more energy in general. It's not rocket science, I know, but I was really surprised that it was such an immediate improvement. Most things in life don't work like that.

I'm not going to do a marathon or anything like that anytime soon, but I feel better, so that's what really matters. I have also started doing yoga. I just do Jillian Michaels DVD in the privacy of my living room and, sure, I spend probably 1/2 of the workout face down on my bright pink yoga mat just trying not to throw up, but I'm starting to feel stronger.

So, back to the white bean cookies: I have been really excited to make them for a few days. It's taken about a week to carve out time to bust them out (I'm currently feeling super overwhelmed!) and I finally was able to make them tonight. I've always had a little crush on Rocco Dispirito.

He's pretty adorable.

Anyway, I was flipping through the channels the other day and caught the end of one of his shows where he was demonstrating this triple chocolate cookies that looked pretty awesome. I knew right away that I was up for the challenge.

So, I whipped up a batch tonight and...

...they were....

....well....not really that great, to be honest.

A little disappointing.

In fact, I think they'll end up in the trash. They are made with 1.5 cups of artificial sweetener and I think that's what ruins it for me. I can't really stand the after-taste of it. I was hoping that the beans and cocoa would mask the taste enough, but they do not.

Here's my cookie failure journey in pictures:

Well, part of the journey anyway. I have so much going on right now that I'm suffering from a severe case of A.D.D. so I'm easily distracted and basically forget what I'm doing. In fact, this post has taken me over 3 hours.

While I've been doing this I have made cookies, edited photos, talked to my sister on the phone for 2 hours and worked on crafts for Super Saturday. Oh, and made address labels for a friend. AND, moved all of my photos from my iPhone to my computer.

It sounds like I'm super productive, but I'm not. I just have a lot of unfinished stuff laying around. My living room literally looks like a craft bomb exploded but it'll just have to wait because I am exhausted and going to bed.

Great, now I have heartburn. Those cookies are from the devil!



Rocco, you are in big trouble...

And the BEST dad award goes to...

I am so blessed to have such a fantastic father.

Isn't he a stud?

[I have this picture on my desk at work and it's a little (ok, a lot) awkward when people ask if it's my boyfriend. However, the expression on their face when I tell them it's my dad is super hilarious].

He gave us all this picture framed one year for Christmas.

He's so humble.

(I had him autograph it for me).

Anyway, I am so blessed because he is most definitely the best man I know. I'm glad we have a day to celebrate fathers. But, since I'm so on top of things, I didn't get a gift in the mail for him in time - plus, my budget doesn't allow for many extravagant gifts so I sent him a super sappy (but very true) email:

I may or may not have gotten the idea from a TV show, but I think it's great and I hope it made him feel special. He's so awesome.

***

I got to make the tags for the Father's Day treats at church.

I cut out 127 tags. My hand was so sore the next day but I didn't mind at all. I was in my happy place the whole time.