Twenty Four

I am twenty four years old. I don't feel like I am twenty four years old. I think I feel more like I am nineteen. I just don't have a lot of time to think about my age. When I do think about it, it surprises me a little bit. Every since I was little I have been looking forward to being twenty five. I was pretty determined that twenty five would be the best year of my life. In fact, I have been looking forward to year 25 so much that when i learned about the Mayan Calender predicting the end of the world in 2012, I was especially distraught, you see, I turn 25 in 2013!!! Therefore according the the highly scientific and accurate calender of Mrs. Bloomer, the end of the world is simply not an option.

Here is the thing...When I was younger I was pretty sure that I would someday be a sexy scientist with a silver sports car, my own house, and a husband that takes the garbage out. I had this amazing realization the other day when I figured out that I pretty much had everything I had ever dreamed about as a child. I don't see one single reason that twenty-five won't be the best year of my life!

Someone famous once said something like:

"I can show any man how to achieve what he wants. Just show me a man who knows what he wants!"   

-Someone so famous I can't find the quote on google.

As a kid, I knew what I wanted. The miracle is that somehow I achieved most of the dreams I had! I have litterally been obsessed about this topic, ever since this light bulb turned on. All I have to do is decide what I want with the rest of my life. Easy? Not so much...

Zach and I set up a plan to make year 25 the best year of my life. It is a great plan.  The best part was the beautiful experience Zach and I had in prayerfully fasting about our plan and attending the temple on Tuesday night to seek a Heavenly stamp of approval. Our plan covers everything from cars and monetary decisions to family and school decisions!
Just today I was walking down the hall at work and I thought I might burst from the excitement I feel.

Life is good.

Maybe I can't decide what I want from my life... but I know what I want for 25. And it is going to be good.

Mother's Day Phone Call

Yesterday my brother called from his Mission in Michigan Detroit for Mother's Day! It was SO nice to hear from him! I can't believe that he has been gone for 6 months! I am glad that the time is just flying by, because we all miss him so much!

The best part was my little brother Kevin. He hates to talk on the phone, but as soon as it was his turn he immediately dove into a minute by minute description of the Father's and Sons activity. He was so happy to talk to his only brother, and to tell him all about how hard it was to not have someone around the house that he could punch.

I am so proud of Elder Palmer. He is doing a great job remaining optimistic and trying to love the people around him. If you want to send him a letter, I know he could use it!! Let me know and I will get the address to you!

PS This last saturday my kick was dried fruits! They are SO pretty. I am having so much fun with my mom's dehydrator! I even tried Cheesy Kale and I love it!

Jammin' it out!

Zach hates grape jelly. Who knows why, I don't know how anyone could hate something with that much sugar in it. Unfortunately for him I have been forcing him to eat it, because I have it and I refuse to throw it away.
So when my mom let me know that it was strawberry season. I thought to myself
"I ought to put Zach out of his misery.... and make him some homemade strawberry jam"

I have wanted to do this for so long, it was like a dream come true!

I bought three huge crates of strawberries for $6! And got to work... the jam got me through 1.5 of those crates.
So after that it was on to fruit leather and strawberry cheesecake with an Oreo crust and bananas, because I didn't have gram crackers!

Here is the wonderful mess that I made!
That was a really good day. I can't wait to do it again.
When are apricots in season? I want to make Apricot Jam, and marinade, and cheesecake, and salsa, and dried apricots, and apricot crepes, and apricot something else, and apricots this and that!

So I have this great idea for canning salsa. I genuinely need to know who is interested in canning salsa with me.... Say "I" and the I's shall have it!

Cravings Part II

A few days ago I posted about the foods I would eat in a heartbeat if I wasn't dieting. I am feeling more hopeful now. 
Though, I am not going to lie, still wanting some brownies pretty bad... I am about 90% certain if I just smelled brownies I would crack again.
The last few weeks I have been working on a low fat, low carb diet to help me to get over this awful, cursed plateau. The goal was to try this diet for 4 weeks, but the cravings for yummy foods were getting so bad, I wasn't sure that I would be able to keep the weight off once I was done. How can I possibly have the will power I need to keep going?
My friend Shelby handed me the answer in a simple link to a cookbook. I have had a BLAST cooking Tomato Basil soup, teriyaki , ginger chicken, orange chicken, baked asparagus, oriental salads, sugar free strawberry jam, and my OWN dressings with no sugar and no oils!

Here is the lesson. I have created a whole new list of cravings I am going to eat when I am allowing myself more fats and a few more carbs. None of the items below have starches or sugar! Fats? yes.. but good fats, like olive oil, butter, and eggs. moderation Kara this is the key.
1. Mozzarella and Tomatoes with jalapeno flavoring. Basil! Vinegar! Cheese! Mmmwha! I might even try to make my own mozzarella from curd!

2. Cauliflower Pizza crust!With some of my own substitutions to use less cheese. And Roasted Garlic toppings. I want to cry just thinking about it.
3. Chicken Tikka Masala without the rice... I am still trying to to decide how to eat it without the rice. Maybe I will make it into a soup or serve it with a Greek salad.

4. Steamed Carrots... in something, (maybe a crustless pot pie?) with just the right amount of butter and Stevia
5. Fruit Leather!! 

6. Kaula Pork. No recipe here, because I know a REALLY great one. Used finely chopped cauliflower as a "rice!."
7. Hawaiin Salad extra chicken with Tankatsu sauce!
8. Club Sandwhich Lettus Wraps.... I know, I know... bacon... but can I have it this one time please? I never ever eat it!!! I swear! I might throw some hard boiled eggs and cucumber like this recipe! Sigh, I am so weak.

9. Strawberries and Creme.

General Conference

Whenever I come to write a post for this blog, I can be very short sighted. Maybe a better phrase is "short of memory." I think to myself that I need to have had an adventure in the last... 24 hours to even remember that we had an adventure!
I completely forgot about one fo the best adventures I have been on recently!!! Last month, my friend Shelby got us tickets to go see General Conference! We had so much fun.  

Navajo Reservation Bridge

These bathroom stalls were super short!
We wouldn't let Dyan use them at the same time as us,
because we are pretty sure she is tall enough to see everything.

Shelby's first time in Utah!

Salt Lake Temple Doors, with Blake and Justin too!

Shelby is so Pretty in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building!

I am so grateful that Shelby took us with her on her adventure. I had never been to Conference before and it truly was an amazing experience.

Cravings.

Chicken Katsu

Don't freak out. I am not pregnant. I am dieting.

Sometimes the cravings are unbearable. So I talk about them... and I smell them (yes I know it is weird). And it helps.

This is what I am going to eat the SECOND I am off this diet.

Gooey Pecan Brownies

1. Gooey Moist Pecon Brownies

2. Moki's Chicken Katsu and Hawaiian Salad

3. Wings. Asian flavors, honey BBQ, and Parmesan.

4. Fundido from Valle Luna


Alfredo The Dark

5. Ocean Blue ice cream. I don't even like Ocean Blue, but for some reason I want it.

6. Alfredo the Dark and BOOM dip from Oregano's


7. Lemon Raspberry Cake, like what we had at my wedding.




Upside Down Pizza

8. Upside Down Pizza

Yup. That's about it. Right now I feel like I could eat it all at once... maybe I will try. These are a long way off anyway. Hopefully I forget about them soon.

PS. one more ...

Lemon Rasberry Cake

See's Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffles. One whole box please.



One Great Day

I was talking to Zach yesterday, and he had the most AMAZING day. This is why I never feel like I can get enough done! I have no idea how he gets so much done in one day. This would take me three very busy days.

1. Went to office to prepare for a Survey
2  Drove to Globe
3. Set up a booth at a restaurant
4. Set up at Swap Meet when the restaurant was unsuccessful.
5. Hiked to an old mine shaft he once found with Casey.
6. Visited a desert Arboretum
7. Visited Properties in globe that could have some potential
8. Drove home
9. Got a recommendation letter from Russel Pearce for Law school
10. Visited a meet and greet for Kirk Adams (which Matt Salmon also showed up to).
11. Talked to Salmon
12. Cut his leg open, while hiking, I believe
13. Bloody nose
14. Took the YM to the Family History Center for Indexing training.
15. Visited the Abbots to see their new car,
16. Visited with the neighbors (Thomson's and Willis)
17. Played xbox Live with his brother G for an hour.
18. All on 3 hours of sleep.
I really look up to Zach. He gives me a reason to keep trying to be better!!!

Zach! How do you do it babe? Me and the rest of the lowly Humans would like to know please! I am so ecstatic about our future together!