Marriage

This week I am reminded about the fact that if we do not continue to grow individually and as a couple, marriage is a lot harder than it needs to be. I'm not using this post as a rant (that's what this blog is for! - mostly kidding..), it's just something I've been thinking about today. Here I was, getting comfortable with my new work arrangement, thinking everything is just hunky-dory. I think I've been pretty selfish the last few weeks, even though I was in denial because I convinced myself that I got laid-off from my job, so I should pity myself. You'd think I would have learned by now that when I get too comfortable, that's when things get shaken up in my life. Hopefully I'll learn soon, right? I love my husband so much and that love is worth every hard time we've had in the last five years. I'm not giving up, so I guess you could say this is my "bugger-off" to Satan to leave us alone.

No-Bake Cookies (w/PEANUT BUTTER!!)

I decided to make no-bake cookies today because I was craving them.. They turned out great! I had never made them with peanut butter and I think that's a great addition! Here's the recipe if anyone wants to try it. I got it out of a Marching Band cook book.

1 stick of butter

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup cocoa

3 cups oats

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup peanut butter

In medium saucepan, melt butter, then stir in sugar, milk, and cocoa. Bring to boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add oats, salt, vanilla, and peanut butter. Stir well, then drop with spoon onto wax paper. Allow to cool, then enjoy!

Toodles!

Sock Monkey!

I bought my adorable niece a sock monkey for her first birthday and it really made me want one. But I was thinking it would be fun to make one! Thoughts? I've found a few tutorials/resources to use, but I was hoping someone out there might have already made one before.. ? Here are a few options:

I could make one with the original plan and materials using SockMonkey.Net's kits. Upside is that it will look like the original! Downside is that it's a little pricey, $22 for the pre-sewn kit, and $17 for just the materials and the instructions.

I could just find some socks I love and make them with other tutorials found online. Such as: Web Goddess or Rockin' Sock Monkey Tutorial. My confidence in my skills is pretty lacking at the moment, so I will probably make a few before I'm satisfied with the end result. So begins the search for the perfect socks for my monkey!

Encouragement, advice, and well-wishing is much appreciated. I need the motivation!

Toodles!

Edit: Apparently, Penny LOVES her sock monkey and they are best friends now. If I can figure out how to make them well, this might be might be my next go-to for gifts for kids/babies! There's a cute one that I can make out of the smaller socks, so that would be good a baby.. WAHOO!

Random Wednesday

Sorry to start off on a negative note, but... A dog in the neighborhood got into our backyard and killed 8 of our 10 chickens, 6 of which were babies.. Cody called the cops, followed the dog, then let the owners know they would be speaking with the cops soon. They owe us for damages (the chickens lost, plus the coop the dog destroyed getting to the chickens) and they were charged with "dog at large" and "dog-attack on a domestic animal". I understand that dogs will be dogs, but people shouldn't let their dogs run wild around the neighborhood. And our chickens weren't running free in the backyard, they were penned up and it took the dog a lot of effort to get to them. *sigh*

My allergies are pretty bad, but I think that's because I got so used to working in a warehouse and not being out in the elements as much during the day. Now that I'm in and out of my car at the peak allergy time-of-day (at noon and then again at 5pm), I'm getting hit pretty hard. Time to pony-up the dough for Zyrtec, I guess.

Still no pass to the Provo-Rec, but hopefully soon. Cody doesn't want to get them until he has more time to go, and he just has lots of yard stuff to do right now. Considering how cheap it is, and that we're paying yearly, I don't feel the same way, but whatever. I did got on a loooong run on Monday from my house to the new north park in Spanish Fork (a little under 5 miles when I take the running path along hwy 6) and it KILLED ME! I'm just now recovering from the soreness. Note to self: I need to GRADUALLY work a longer run into my life.. Good heavens!

It's SUMMER! The weather has been so nice.. I just need to get out and enjoy it! Cody and I are planning on going camping a few times, so I'm pretty excited about that. Work has been pretty good, still looking for something with an earlier schedule. I'm just glad AMP is such a good gig, or the hours would drive me crazy. I can't believe I've been working for Nu Skin and AMP for two months already..

Well, that's all for now, not a whole lot going on in my life. I'm working my way through LOST on Netflix, so that's been fun. I'm just at the end of season 2 and it's starting to get confusing, so I need to pay closer attention! Oh, LOST..

PERKS!

Alright, I completely forgot about the discounts offered to Nu Skin employees until a few days ago and I'm super excited about one in particular! We get a discount with the Provo City Recreation Center (next to Provo High) and I am planning on getting that and then going swimming at lease once a week (lap swimming, not just using the diving board!) and then hopefully using their cardio equipment as well as attending their zumba class when I have a better work schedule. I'm not making any promises or advertising any goals just yet, but it's extra motivation when it will be cheaper for us! Cody is pretty excited as well. He's been wanting to go the gym recently, but it's so darn expensive! I've always been a gym-snob because I've never wanted to pay money for something I can do outside on my own for free. But I definitely see the benefits of going to the gym as opposed to just hoping the weather is nice enough for a run (definitely a gamble here in Utah!). I'm still working two jobs (1-5pm at NuSkin's employee store and 5:30-9:30pm at AMP security doing data entry) and I actually like both jobs. I wasn't expecting AMP to be much fun, but it's turned out to be quite laid-back with awesome co-workers. I definitely dislike the late work schedule, but I'm lucky to have found both of the jobs in the first place, so I'm grateful. I feel a little bad for my first entry about being annoyed, but at least I was wrong, right?! (lol)

Also, Cody and I are starting to feel more optimistic about maybe starting our family in the next year or two. We're just feeling better about our finances and it's been a great realization to come to. This isn't an announcement of any kind, so don't rush to conclusions! What you could do is tell me about any work-from-home opportunities that are legit, mmkay? That would be SUPER helpful! I'm pretty happy where things are though. Even though I don't really like my daily schedule, I'm getting into some good routines and I feel a lot more comfortable. I hope everyone is doing well, thanks for stopping by!

Toodles :)

P.S. I'm thinking my blog needs a remodel, so hopefully I can do that soon!