Vegetables Aren't Just For Diets Anymore

My sister and her family live in St. Louis, MO, so I don't get to spend nearly enough time with them. One day, when I have access to my own private jet, I will be able to fly back and forth at will, but for now, I have to settle for phone calls and a visit every year or so...It's not enough, but I take what I can get.

So, earlier tonight, my sister and her kids were stuck in their basement due to a tornado warning in their area.In a state of complete entrapment and utter boredom, they turned to me for entertainment! I feel so special! I got a text message asking if I wanted to Skype. As I had some free time, I jumped at the opportunity to chat with my sister and her girls for a while.

Through the course of our conversation we discussed a variety of topics. I got to see my sweet nephew- who is nine months old now, and I still haven't had the chance to meet him. I'm really looking forward to getting him out here so I can spoil him rotten for a while! Anyway, as per the norm when a single gal is talking with her sister (and in this case her 14 year old niece), we got around to the current state of my dating life. It's always a source of entertainment for me to tell about the recent dates I've been on. The good, the bad, the ugly (and I'm not talking physical features here...!).

I generally share a few of the highlights, my sister asks what the future holds, I tell her I don't know for sure but that I am looking forward to finding out and then we move on to a new subject. It's pretty standard procedure. Tonight, however, we had a little variation in the routine. I don't think I have ever come out of a dating conversation laughing as much as I did tonight. (Well, maybe once before I did. Remind me sometime to tell you the "There's your hand!" story.) Anyway...as I was wrapping up one of my dating stories, my niece chimes in "You need a fresh vegetable from the garden. Not an old moldy one from the store!" It gave us all a good laugh!

First,  let me just say, I am so thankful for a family who cares about my dating life. Despite the frustration that is sometimes connected with having an involved family, it is nice to know that they love me and care about who I date. They want me to be happy, to have the very best! I think that's pretty incredible.

Second, I guess vegetables aren't just for diets anymore. To all the single gals out there- it appears we need to be looking for fresh vegetables from the garden. Not old moldy ones from the store! It's good advice for diets and for dating.

Who would've guessed?

Deoderant and Dental Floss

I would not really describe myself as a resolution setter. I always feel a little silly. Not to mention, most New Years resolutions are abandoned within the first 3 weeks of January. Instead, I have adopted the idea of setting a yearly theme for myself. It is generally a one word phrase that is displayed prominently in my room and a few other places I frequently find myself. Last year's theme was "Hope". The year before that was "Simplify".

This year I have decided to take on the theme of "Charity". It has already been a struggle in a lot of ways. I frequently catch myself being less kind than I should be or getting upset about things that are really of little significance. I know it's a yearly theme, and I can't expect to be perfect in the first attempt on this one (or the second or third or fourth or...you get the point!)  Frankly, there is a lot of room for me to grow in this particular undertaking! But I find it a worthwhile goal and ask you to help me succeed as I try to progress in this. (And to forgive me when I fail!)

In addition to having a theme for the year I have also developed (well, in all actuality, stolen) a slogan. And I have set a few goals. I won't bore you with the details of all I am attempting as I do not wish to put you to sleep, but one of the goals I am working on I do wish to share. I decided that from now until June 1st, I will live without making any unnecessary expenditures. This goal was vocalized a few weeks ago as I went through my room and got rid of a lot of things I don't use anymore. As I moved more and more items from my room to the bag of donations I found myself thinking about how much money I spend on a whim. A shirt here, a pair of pants there. It's no big deal, right? I'm single. It's not like I can't afford it.

I recognize that "unneccessary expenditures" is a very subjective term and can, therefore be twisted to meet the wants of whomever may be making this attempt. And my goal here is cerainly not to deprive myself of everything. I just want to be more aware of my spending habits. When talking to one of my friends about my goal I told her, "Deoderant and dental floss- that's all I am allowed to purchase between now and June! Hold me to it!" Now, that really wasn't a realistic statement, but now, before I make a purchase, I ask myself, "Is this something I really need to fulfill an obligation or maintain my health and well being?" If the answer is yes, great! If, however, the answer is no, I return the item to the shelf, and move on.

It has been working out incredibly well so far. I have been much more conscientious of my spending and therefore have been able to curb the purchase of unnecessary items that do little more than clutter my life. And you know something else? As I have cut my spending habits I have found that the things I find myself wanting and needing have a way of finding me. It's actually pretty great! At the rate I'm going, I may not even have to purchase deoderant or dental floss!

Cup Size Does Matter!

I had lunch with some coworkers today. We went to a little sandwich shop here in St. George. I ordered some soup and asked for a cup for water. I rarely purchase soda. Especially in restaurants. It's ridiculously expensive. Plus it's not good for you on any level. So I try to avoid it when I can. Don't get me wrong, I have my moments when all I want is a Diet Coke or a regular Pepsi- yep, has to be one or the other- but, in general, I try to stick to water as much as possible.

Which brings me to this. Why do restaurants assume that because I ordered water I am less thirsty than someone who orders soda? Have you seen the size of soda cups in comparison to water cups? Most restaurants don't carry anything smaller than 16 oz cups for soda, yet they hand me a cup barely larger than a shot glass as a water cup. I understand that the water I am drinking doesn't bring in revenue, but I'm also fairly certain that the costs incurred by giving me a water cup larger than a shot glass are covered somewhere in the cost of my meal. I can make an entire pot of chicken noodle soup for $5.

I guess I should be thankful for the tiny cups...they help me get in some extra exercise as I generally have to go from my table to the soda fountain to refill my shot glass 3-5 times per meal!

Wong Tong Tarts

I'm pretty sure it was the day before Thanksgiving that I was first introduced to the idea of won ton tarts. And I really don''t remember why we are calling them Wong Tong Tarts...I know there was a story, but I just don't remember it! I'm sure Mona could tell it though...

Anyway, last week I had a dinner thing to go to. One where I was asked to bring a dessert. As it so happened, my sister, Belinda, was also in need of a dessert for something she was doing at work on Thursday. So we decided to get together and make won ton tarts for our respective gatherings. They turned out great, and we received rave reviews all around. Thanks, Mona, for bringing such a simple and crowd pleasing dessert to my life!

But here is my wong tong tart funny story. It happened on Wednesday. I needed to go to Wal-Mart to pick up a couple items, and figured as long as I was there, I would grab the ingredients I needed for making won ton tarts later that night. Just one problem- where in the heck do you find won ton papers in Wal-Mart??? I had no idea where to start looking. So my mom, who was on this little outing with me, asks the poor guy stocking one of the shelves in the dairy section.

Mom: "Excuse me, could you tell me where I might find won ton papers?"
Wal-Mart Employee: ... (seriously, I could hear the crickets chirping) Finally, he says, "Hmmmm, I'm not sure. Probably back with the Saran wrap and stuff."
Mom: "Okay, thank you."
Then she turns to me and says, "Maybe you should call Mona and ask her where to find them."

Okay, so maybe I had more of an idea of where to start looking than I thought. I, at least, knew to look in the food section of the store!

For the record, you can find them up near the front of the store, with the fruits and veggies and tofu.

I think they turned out pretty great. You should probably make some for your next holiday party. :)

The Coolest

I know many of you are under the misapprehension that your family is the coolest, but unfortunately for you, it's just not true! Cause my family is the coolest. I hate (and by hate, I mean revel in the opportunity!) to be the one to deliver such news on this day of thanks, but it was time the world was informed!

Okay, so this is really just my way of saying I had a great Thanksgiving day with my awesome family. We are certainly our own brand of crazy, but that is just part of the charm. I am such a lucky girl, and sometimes I forget just how much I really have. I spent the day today with most of my family gathered around. The ones who couldn't be here in person were with us in spirit and we got the chance to talk, despite the distance between us.

On top of all that, I had the opportunity to stuff myself to delirium. Thankfully, I also had the good sense to stop before I got to that point. It only took me thirty years to learn that I don't actually have to consume my weight in turkey, mashed potatoes and noodles and pie when I sit down to Thanksgiving dinner. Who knew that the day is so much more enjoyable when you can move, post feast??? I blame you all- somebody should have found the kindness to clue me in  years ago! ;)

Add to all this (I know, now I'm just sounding greedy!) the great friends with whom I spoke today and it's pretty clear that life is good. Thanks to all of you for your part in my life. You have each taught me something, helped me smile when I was down, and/or been in the hot seat next to me when I was in trouble (you know who you are!). Thank you for caring. I hope you all know how important you are to me as well!

Happy Thanksgiving, and God bless you all. Here's to another year full of gratitude, challenge, fun, family and friends!

Guilty. Thankfully, Not Charged

The past couple weeks have been interesting. Lots of highs and lows to find my way through. From one day to the next I have been unsure what to expect, but by taking it one day at a time, I have survived to tonight. And tonight, I am incredibly grateful for a lot of things I am often guilty of taking for granted. The thankfulness I'm feeling didn't happen all in one eye-popping, jaw dropping moment. It wasn't an epiphany, or anything like that. As I have struggled through the last, well, year if I'm completly honest, I have tried to recognize the things I am thankful for. Tonight as I sat at a fireside that seamlessly combined Veterans Day with the Gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I felt inspired to list some of the things that I often overlook in my life, because they are always just there for me.

My day of thanksgiving began with a Sacrament meeting testimony by a woman visiting my ward from China. She spoke of her conversion and of the things she had to sacrifice for her right to be a member of the Mormon church. She spoke with such reverence about the opportunity to attend Sunday meetings in a chapel, with hymn books and a ward with so many members. Then, tonight, I attended a fireside where we were privileged to hear from the Gooch family. The daughters provided the beautiful music that touched my heart, the parents the message. The story they shared was a parallel of their lives- one an American, free to live as he chose. The other, Cambodian. Captured and enslaved in a concentration camp known as "the killing fields". As they related their story I was overcome with gratitude for all that I have.  Tonight, I would like to publicly acknowledge some of the many things I often take for granted.

First and foremost, I am thankful for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is true. The people of the church may be imperfect, but the doctrine is completely perfect. I am so blessed to have the knowledge that I do. The knowledge that I have of the Atonement and the way I have begun to see it work in my life is a blessing of the highest order.The knowlege of the covenants and blessings of the Temple and the opportunity to be with my family forever. A loving Father in Heaven, who looks after my needs, even when I don't necessarily recognize His hand in my life. The power of prayer and the feeling of the Spirit and I'll stop here so as not to bore you with my gushing :)

My freedom. Despite the division in the political arena, this nation is still privileged. We need to remember how blessed we are as a country and strive to be the nation that God would have us be. In addition, I am thankful for all who have, do and will serve. It is because of you that I enjoy many of my freedoms. Thank you for your sacrifice on my behalf.

My family. We certainly aren't a perfect lot, and there is a lot of truth to my dad's mantra that you don't have to be nuts to hang out with us, but it sure helps. The fact of the matter is that I was blessed with an incredible family. Through difficult times, they support me. When things are good, they celebrate with me. They are there when I need a shoulder to cry on, a helping hand, someone to go to lunch with, and any number of additional activities. I know very few families who are as woven together as mine. And it's not limited to my immediate family- though they are the base of my strength- the extended Bundy Family is amazing. A girl couldn't ask for more.

My job. It can be exhausting, both physically and mentally. But it's incredibly rewarding as well. I work with some amazing people who truly build me up and want to see me happy. I don't know how common it is to have coworkers who are sincerely concerned with one anothers happiness and well being, but I do know that I have been blessed to have some of the best coworkers over the years. You know who you are- my Bar Ten family, my ARR family, my St. George Recreation family. You all mean so much to me. I think it is a rare treasure to have so many close friends in a work setting, but I have certainly been blessed by each of you as you have come into my life.

My friends. I have some of the best. I have been lucky to have friends who consistently build me up. They do all that they can to help me succeed. They serve me when they are facing their own difficulties. They listen to me whine when I am upset about work, or dating, or life in general. I don't know if I am just incredibly lucky, or if most people have friends of the caliber I am blessed to have, but I really can't say enough about the amazing friends who support me through the good times and the bad. Who pick me up when I am down. Who are there even when I probably don't deserve them. I love you all.

The most amazing thing is that so many of these categories overlap in my life. And I could continue-
technology allows me to see my family who are not nearby. My home, my car, the beauty of the seasons, diet coke when I need a little pick me up, the opportunity to go to school, my health, volleyball, music, laughter, tears, people who volunteer at special events, my fleece lined wool coat, books, photographs, seasons of the Gilmore Girls on DVD, the girl who cuts my hair!

Yep, at one point or another I have taken all of these things for granted. Tonight, I hope to partially rectify that error. I'm guilty, but thankfully, not charged.

Call Me Old Fashioned

I suppose I should start with a few acknowledgements: I acknowledge that I am single and have no children. I acknowledge that I cannot actually speak from experience on this matter, and that all I have are my opinions. If you don't want to know them, you should probably just stop reading now. That being said--

Call me old fashioned. I really don't mind, because I actually am quite old fashioned. I didn't necessarily think I was, but the older I get, the more I realize I am. So, I have noticed a disturbing trend in the world lately. Now, I should probably preface this upcoming rant a bit. Generally speaking, I am not a huge fan of most peoples' kids. I am largely put off by kids who have no respect for...well, anything. Their parents, other people, the world in general. I recognize that there are children out there who have been raised well and still have some respect and a limited sense of entitlement. But I digress....that is  a different rant for a different time, and is not really where this particular rant is headed.

The rant begins here. Despite the fact that I am not the biggest fan of all kids, I am completely confounded by the increasing number of women who are abandoning their husbands, children and wifely responsibilities to reclaim the single life. It is beyond my comprehension how a mother could just decide that she is tired of being a mom and walk away. Maybe it's because I was raised by the best mom a girl could ask for, but I have to ask-are we really living in a society so selfish that we can just decide, on a whim, that the vows we made can be cast aside as if they never were? Not to mention the fact that, at some point, you made the decision to bring that life into the world. Where is the sense of responsibility? Why is it suddenly acceptable to simply decide that getting married and having kids is not what you really wanted so duty and obligation be damned?

Aren't women supposed to be caring and nurturing by nature? When did it become okay to just walk away from a family? What ever happened to working on it? My parents are coming up on 53 years of marriage in a few months and they never would have made it that far had they not been willing to work together through the difficult times. I am certain that on more than one occasion, one or both of them thought about how much easier it would be to give up, but I am thankful they had the determination to make it work. It hasn't been perfect. Real life rarely is. But it has been good. Very good. And the older I get, the more thankful I am for parents who committed to one another then continued to work on it, even if they didn't always want to.

I am a firm believer that a woman should be able to take care of herself, and she is certainly not defined by the man in her life, but when did it become expected for us to behave as though we don't need or want anyone else? Human contact and relationships are important for our health and well being. It's admirable to be determined and self sufficient, but it's equally admirable to recognize that we need help and support. It makes me incredibly sad that the only thing that seems important anymore is sex. Quite frankly, you can get sex anywhere. It's the actual caring that is hard to find.

Perhaps the time has come for us to get back to our old fashioned roots. We should put aside our expectations of perfection and our selfish tendencies and get back to the days when hard work and dedication were important. In work, in relationships, in life.

Okay, I'll step off my soapbox now. But I reserve the right to reclaim my position without notice :)