Regina Spektor

I went to the Regina Spektor concert at The Venue in Salt Lake. It was awesome. I had never heard any of her music before...or at least I didn't think I had. (She does have some songs on the radio most people would recognize.) She was so fun and a little crazy. When we were standing outside in the bitter cold I asked my friend Heidi what Regina's sound was like. She said, "She's like Tori Amos falling down stairs." She was surprisingly accurate. It was a good show. We were able to secure great seats right above the stage in the bar loft. Here is a sample of some of her music and my favorite song of the night. Samson...

The Return of Ming

When I moved into my house I went through the storage boxes I had at my parents. I found our friend Ming... the God of Fertility. When I lived in Ogden at the Falls we used this statue as a decoration. We named him Ming. We were all single so I don't really know why we pronounced him the God of Fertility. Krista did got married that year so maybe the name was meant for her.

Best Chili I Ever Had

I used a new recipe to make Chili the other day on Halloween. It was the best Chili I ever had. I found it in one of my mom's Relief Society cook books. It's called Wendy's Chili...because it is supposed to be the same recipe Wendy's restaurant uses. It was Yum!!!

1 lb. hamburger
1 15 oz. can chili beans with sauce
2 15 oz. cans red kidney beans with sauce
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 c. chopped onion
1/4 c. diced green chilis
2 Tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
4-6 dashes of Tabasco
Garlic salt to taste.

Brown hamburger in skillet, crumble with fork into a crockpot. Add all beans, sauces, chopped vegetables, and spices. Cook on LOW 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. Note: I added more chili powder and tabasco sauce for more spice and I sauteed my onions with my hamburger.

Happy Halloween

Some of my friends and I decided we didn't want to dress up for Halloween this year so they came to my place for dinner. I made Chili with a new recipe!! It was yummy!!! We ate, watched basket ball, passed out candy to the Trick or Treaters and got in the hot tub to finish the night off. It was awesome. We had a lot of fun.

Home Sweet Sweet Home

I am a home owner. One of the biggest things that has ever happened to me. It's in Bountiful just off of 4th North on 9th East. It is a small 3 bedroom 2 bath house built in 1951. It has a beautiful back yard and has been mostly updated by the previous owners. There are a few things I want to change but, that will come with time. Here are some pictures...come and visit anytime.

Little Black Mountain

Scott, my brother in law, and I hiked to the top of Little Black Mountain in Salt Lake today. It is a hike that starts above the avenues in the Terrace Hills area. It is about 9 miles round trip. This all came about on Thursday when I was asking Scott for some computer help for my boss. I asked Scott if he had any hiking trips planned soon and he said he had this one planned for Saturday. I, of course, invited myself to go. We met at 6:30am to start the hike. It was amazing. Scott was gracious enough to let me set the pace. The weather was pretty nice until we reached the top and it started to snow. You could see everything from the top of the mountain from all of the Salt Lake Valley out to Tooele and up to Antelope Island. The leaves are just starting to change color so the mountains were canvased with beautiful fall colors. The hike down was cold. It started to drizzle rain and although I had my trusty rain coat my lower body got soaked. It was awesome though, a good good day.

The Girls and More Together Again

Katie, one of my good friends from High School has been in town from Virginia this week. All of us girls decided to get together at the Layton park for lunch. As you can see Kim, Lindsey and Katie all brought their children. I can't believe they all have babies and all of them have more than one. It is so fun and crazy. Kim has two little girls, Kortni and Avery. Lindsey has Shalee, Gauge and Hadley, the newest of the bunch. Katie has Thomas and David. I wasn't able to stay for long because I had to get back to work. But, I love those girls and it was so good to see them. They are simply the best!!!

Slumber Party with Ms. Gracie

Gracie came to stay with me last week while her parents went to a wedding in Manti. It was tons of fun. We shopped for some new earrings for Gracie for school, had dinner at the "Big Burrito Store" known by most as Cafe Rio. Then we saw the movie Surf's Up about penguins and surfing. It was a real good movie. Saturday morning we did some chores (mostly I did the chores and Gracie hung out) Then we got ready and went to lunch at the Sky Box with some of my co workers. Gracie called my apartment a hotel and came up with the great idea that the next time she comes she should stay for 10 days. She also fell in love with my boss Adam and told me that he was her new best friend. I asked her what about me and she said he was just a little bit more then me. Sad!! I've been demoted. I loved having Gracie stay I can't wait for our next sleepover.

Donut Falls

Took a hike to Donut Falls with Dalton. Unfortunately there are no edible donuts at the end waiting for you when you are done climbing to reach the falls. However it is a gorgeous hike up Cottonwood Canyon. Takes about 45 minutes to hike to the falls, easy, easy climb. There was a land slide at the falls in years past so the last 100 or so yards of the hike is almost a straight up hill climb through some water and large boulders. It not bad though especially when you have a perfect gentleman like Dalton to help you through. The water flows down the mountain and then into a hole in a rock that gives it the name of donut falls. We hiked there at night and by the time we got to the top it was kind of chilly. Take a jacket if you decide to hike.... and enjoy the ride.

Cell Phone took A Dive

I like to treat myself to a pedicure every now and then. There's this great place in Sugarhouse where you can get a french polish, parrafin wax, spa pedicure for only $35.00. That's a good deal. So I took sometime the other day to treat myself to something nice. I had my new phone with me that my company just bought. It's one of those little blackberry things. Well, I set it on my lap during while soaking my feet. I forgot that it was there and I stood up and it fell in the WATER!!! Ahhhhh..... all eight women sitting in the chairs next to me gasped. The workers dashed to rescue the phone from the water. We yanked the battery and sim card out of the back, dried it off with a towel and placed it under the heat lamps and fans. For one hour it sat there waiting to know its fate. The phone didn't work right away I had to request a loaner phone for the night while my little berry dried out. Luckily when I woke up the next morning he was cured. All dried up and ready to work. I was so relieved. The worst day of my life would have been having to tell work I dropped the phone they just bought me in the water during my pedicure. Thank goodness for small miracles.

Top Rated Songs

Shop 'Til You Drop

Mom, Monica, Colette and I went shopping on Saturday in Park City to find hidden treasures. Monica was able to bring Milo and Holly and it was fun to have them there. We actually started the shopping experience in Bountiful where I met Mom and Colette to look through a house I am thinking of buying. Then we met Monica in Salt Lake at Su Casa for a little lunch action.

Then it was off to Park City for the major shopping. It appeared that almost everyone in the northern region of Utah decided to go to Park City to shop. It was crazy!! Nonetheless Monica and Colette were both able to buy some clothes for the kids. Actually I think Mom bought all of the clothes for the grandkids. I bought one shirt for $10.00 at Old Navy. I was quite proud of myself for not buying more. Mom got some new clothes for work. It was a great day! How could you go wrong? Shopping with your Mom and Sisters...it doesn't get better then that!!

Me, Monica, Holly and Colette

Milo riding the helicopter with Grandma watching.