Bieber Fever

Contrary to popular belief, not everyone has "Bieber Fever." However, this recent epidemic has spread quickly, causing upsetting side effects in many people. The symptoms may appear gradually, but they are very serious. If you or a loved one are exhibiting these, please notify your doctor immediately. Or just get a reality check.

SYMPTOMS:

• Talking about Justin Bieber all the time.
• Screaming whenever his music comes on the radio.
• Hanging posters on the wall of your bedroom, even if you are 40.
• Purchasing and then wearing every single day Justin's new perfume "Someday" even though it smells like butt. Trust me, I smelled the sample in a Macy's flier the other day.
• Obsessively listening to all of his songs so that you know every word.
• Following every detail of his life so that you can know the moment he breaks up with Selena Gomez and you can make your move.

SIDE EFFECTS

• Irritability whenever someone talks ill of Justin Bieber.
• Moodiness when a radio station stops playing his most recent big hit.
• Depression when you discover that he and Selena have rekindled their romance.
• Blasting his music from your laptop at all times in every public place in order to battle the depression.

I do not have Bieber Fever. Yes, I think he is talented and has great potential. His music is "cute" and I like a few of his songs. But please, I do not obsess over him. And I believe that many other people feel the same way as I do. We like some of his music, but he is not the center of our world. So please, girl who will not stop playing the same three Justin Bieber songs over and over on her laptop, mute your computer or plug in your headphones. Nobody wants to hear Justin Bieber while they're trying to study. 

Your futile attempt to infect everyone around you with Bieber Fever won't work on me. 

The Recipe

I have had a couple requests to post the recipe for the White Chip Lemon Streusel Bars, so here it is!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon peel
• 2 cups (or 12-ounce package) HERSHEY'S Premier White Chips, divided
• 2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups regular rolled or quick-cooking oats
• 3/4 cup toasted pecan pieces*
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon shortening (do not use butter, margarine, spread, or oil

*To toast pecans: Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread pecans in thin layer in shallow baking pan. Bake, stirring occasionally. 7 to 8 minutes or until golden brown: cool.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Combine sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice, and lemon peel in medium bowl; set aside. Measure out 1/4 cup and 1/3 cup white chips; set aside. Add remaining white chips to lemon mixture.
2. Beat butter and brown sugar with electric mixer on medium speed in large bowl until will blended. Stir together flour, oats, pecans, baking powder and salt; add to butter mixture, blending well. Set aside 1 2/3 cups oats mixture. Add egg to remaining oats mixture, blending until crumbly; press onto bottom of prepared pan. Gently spoon lemon mixture on top, spreading evenly. Add reserved 1/3 cup white chips to reserved oats mixture. Sprinkle over lemon layer, pressing down lightly.
3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool in pan on wire rack. Place remaining 1/4 cup white chips and shortening in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 30 seconds or until chips are melted and mixture is smooth when stirred. Drizzle over baked bars. Allow drizzle to set; cut into bars.

Makes 36 bars.

White Chip Lemon Streusel Bars

Our friends Marquee and Garrett came over tonight to hang out, make some dessert, and watch a movie. As the boys chatted and ate Chicken-Radish dip, Marquee and I got to work on a recipe I have had my eye on for quite some time. They were fairly simple, and only take 20-25 minutes to bake. And they are DELICIOUS.

Delectable. 

My Dad

I could feel it. You know that feeling in your throat that comes along with your eyes filling with tears? Yeah, I got that feeling just a few minutes ago as I was posting my status on facebook. Stupid, I know.

Today is Father's Day. There are a lot of things I could say about my dad: that he's loving, funny, a total dork (the coolest dork ever, mind you), a great listener, counselor, and friend. And I could give you multiple stories of times in my life when my dad helped and inspired me to be better (like how he helped me tough out my first season of swimming, and now I love it). 

But I have a feeling that most of you aren't very interested in reading those stories considering how they are personal and apply only to me and my father. So, as a tribute to my wonderful dad, whom I miss every day, I'm going to post a few pictures.

My dad and I at Steilacoom Park on the 4th of July. Yes, I seem to be taking a nap on his head.

Father's Day 1997

Me and my dad on my baptism day.  February 28, 1998

Me and my dad at my sixth grade graduation. 

Dad and five of us kids in Wyoming.

Me and my dad on the houseboat vacation, about to enjoy an awesome ride on the tubes in our matching shorts.

Me and my dad on the 4th of July in 2009.

Like father like daughter.

My dad cheerfully bringing his kite back out of the weeds at ocean shores.

Me and my dad at my wedding.

 I love my dad. He starts up conversations with random people in line at the grocery store, because that's who he is. He is kind, and always looking for a way to meet somebody new or brighten their day. My dad has played a large role in the person I am today. I wrote a post about it a while back, and if you'd like to read it, here's the link: Tribute to Fathers.

Well dad, I hope your Father's Day is wonderful. You deserve it. I love you so much dad, and I will forever be grateful for all of the things you have taught me. 

Happy Father's Day Pa.

Glory of the Flower

I don't claim to be an expert when it comes to poetry. In fact, I think my understanding of it is rather shallow. But this poem by William Wordsworth is one that I find particularly beautiful. While it is sad, I think it expresses a view on life and death that I share.

What though the radiance which was once so bright 

Be now for ever taken from my sight,

Though nothing can bring back the hour

Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;

We will grieve not, rather find

Strength in what remains behind;

In the primal sympathy

Which having been must ever be;

In the soothing thoughts that spring

Out of human suffering;

In the faith that looks through death,

In years that bring the philosophic mind.

You're Better Than That

I have a draft for my analysis paper due in my English class tomorrow. Did I procrastinate? Of course I did. And my problem is, I don't write "drafts." When I sit down to write my paper, I write my paper. Minor editing happens later, but it's basically done. So here I am, it's 11:20 pm. I'm sitting in bed with Derek sleeping soundly next to me. He's a good sport to let me work on homework while he sleep since the screen of my computer lights up the room.

Two and a half pages down. I'm doing a much better job on my paper than I thought I would. I took a moment to go back to the beginning and read what I had written so far, to make sure I was on track. All of a sudden, Derek started making funny noises. I stopped reading and looked over to make sure he was okay. 

Breathing? Yes.
Still sleeping? Yes.

Does he appear to be in any physical pain? No.

Alright, we're good.

I went back to reading, but then stopped when I thought I heard him say my name. 

"Tay..."

I looked at him. His eyes were open. Yes, it made me jump a little. 

"Derek?"

"Tay..."

"What?"

"Look at me."

I almost laughed as I said, "Derek, I am looking at you."

He closed his eyes and I thought he was going to go back to sleep, but apparently my husband does dramatic eye-blinks in his sleep, because that's what he did. When he opened his eyes back up, he placed his hand on my arm and said, "You're better than that." 

He stared at me for another thirty seconds, let go of my arm, and went back to sleep.

Considering that it is only 11:30 pm right now, and all of this happened just minutes ago, I still don't know what to think. 

Was Derek commenting on my paper? Am I a better writer than the paper I'm working on is showing? Is my paper really that bad? 

Naw, my paper is bomb-diggity (as Derek would say). 

My husband is just crazy.

Emotional Investment

I believe that most everyone would agree that if a person is passionate about something, they will invest their time, emotion, and effort into it. Whether it be their career, a hobby, or their family, that one thing will be what keeps them going. It will be on their mind, in their heart, and embedded into the deep levels of their subconscious. It will be all they think about, almost to the point of obsession - but not quite. 

A deep emotional investment comes about because of a person's passion. For example, a mother's love for her children is unlike any other. She invests herself one hundred percent in the care, protection, and rearing of her children. They are her life. She may have hobbies, and might have to go to work at times to help support her family, but what she would rather do is stay at home with her children. Every choice is made with careful consideration of her family before herself. In her mind, her husband and children are her life. This mother is the ultimate example of love. She has emotionally invested herself in a wonderful thing, and it has brought about many rewards through cherished family memories.

While there are many things that we can invest ourselves in emotionally that will benefit us, there are plenty that can quickly consume us, causing us to make decisions that we otherwise would not. 

In my life I am emotionally invested in my family, my marriage, my education, and the gospel. I love my parents and all of my siblings with all of my heart. They are some of my very best friends, and the relationship I have with all of them is something that I cherish. 

Derek is my best friend in the whole world. He makes me smile even when I don't want to, so I get mad at him for making me smile when I want to be mad. He encourages me to be better, and helps me become a better person, wife, and friend. If there is one thing in my life that I will always be grateful for, it is my husband. 

The gospel is what has brought me so much comfort in times of sorrow. When my grandmother died, I could find peace through my knowledge that I will see her again someday, and that death is not the end. The gospel has brought more joy into my life than I could have ever imagined, and I am always learning and growing through its teachings. 

These three things are emotional investments that I believe are ones that will have a wonderful return. 

I have invested my emotions in other things previously in my life. They were not wise choices, and while they didn't outwardly appear to be harmful or destructive, if I would have paid attention to how I was doing emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, I would have seen how detrimental my investment was. It consumed my thoughts and my actions, making it difficult for me to see how anything else could ever be as important as this investment was. When I finally was able to see things for how they really were, I came out of it with my emotions in a poor state. Emotions are tricky... they are deeply personal, and yet the majority of us are always willing to take risks with them. And when they get damaged, it is a long process before they are back in shape again.

So my wish is that everyone would be careful with how deeply they let themselves become passionate about, or emotionally invested in, certain things. Some are worth our time and effort, while others, simply, are not. Pay attention to how you are doing mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Emotions aren't just the annoying things that make you cry. They are what bring meaning and importance to life.

Hey! How are you?

You're walking down the hallway and you see someone you don't recognize. They smile... but are they smiling at you? You evaluate the eye contact, and it seems like they're looking at you as well. So as you get close enough to make it a reasonable greeting, you smile at them and at that precise moment... you realize they are smiling at a person behind you. 

In one word: awkward.

Some people may choose more than one word like humiliating, embarrassing, uncomfortable, etc.

Quickly, your mind reels as you try to think of a way to honorably duck out of the situation, and make it look like you weren't smiling at them, you were... um... suddenly, you have a stroke of genius. Of course! You were smiling at someone who was behind them. You shift your gaze so that you are no longer looking at the initial smiler, but you are looking behind and over their shoulder, smiling and waving. "Hey! How are you?" You quickly rush toward the corner and hold out your arms like you are getting ready to hug someone.

But, you failed to think ahead about the people around the corner. You come around the corner with your arms spread out wide, ready to hug... nobody. They think you're crazy, but at least you got out of the awkward situation with that one person who you thought was smiling at you. 

Too Long

It has been a long time since I posted last... I have been really busy. With school, work, and taking short weekend trips, I haven't gotten very much done as far as my blog goes. But I've been having fun!

Last weekend Derek and I went to Boise to visit some of his family and be there for his cousin's wedding. It was fun, and the wedding was great! When we came back, Derek's mom stayed with us for a few days which was a lot of fun. It was really good to get to spend more time with her, and nice to have some company. 

Derek and I leave tomorrow afternoon to go back to Boise this weekend for his grandma's 80th birthday party. It should be a lot of fun, and it will be nice to get away again for this weekend. 

Can I tell you one thing? 

I hate doing laundry.

I don't mind putting the clothes in the washer.

I don't mind putting clothes in the dryer. 

I don't mind folding the clothes and then putting them away.

It's the waiting that I absolutely and completely cannot stand. 

But it takes FAR TOO LONG AND I GET BORED.

And then, when I'm as tired as I am right now and all I want to do is crawl into bed and fall asleep, staying up just to fold some stinkin' clothes is not my idea of a good way to use my time.

But, it is necessary. However, if I'm not careful, I might end up sleeping on the couch tonight. And not because I'm mad at my husband. 

And I will be just as worn out as this guy looks.