oh, hey there texas

For my birthday I was given the opportunity to fly down to Texas for a weekend so that I could see Katie.  We did all sorts of Texan things like eat Tex-Mex, go to the rodeo, and go to six flags.  Here are some statistics of my trip.

•  That's so true stories looked at: 157
• Rides ridden: 10
• TV show episodes watched: 3
• Hours of sleep gotten: 16.5
• Texas flags spotted: 137

Katie and I visited the Nasher Sculpture Museum in Dallas where they had this awesome woven sculpture that you could walk on, so long as you wore those stylish booties.  Katie and I were just as excited to walk on it as the five year olds were.  

If you're planning a trip to Fort Worth anytime I would suggest going to Joe T. Garcia's Mexican Restaurant for some delicious Mexican food.  Be warned, however, the portion sizes are huge (it would seem that everything is bigger in Texas), about three people could share one thing of fajitas.

Fun fact: the Cowtown Coliseum is where the first rodeo was held and where bull riding first became a competitive sport.  The rodeo was awesome.  Thaddeus is also awesome.

Six Flags day was awesome because Six Flags is legit.  I mean, what isn't awesome about almost passing out several times on a roller coaster?

It's bigger on the inside.

getting paid to read? ya, i'll take that job any day.

Silicon carbide is really hard.  As in REALLY hard.  As in it is used in car brakes and bulletproof vests.  So when I was told to grind and polish a piece of silicon carbide I wasn't exactly what you would call thrilled at the prospect.  I knew hours upon hours would be spent doing this.  I was not incorrect.  Four full work days were spent on this arduous task.

Typically at work I'm in several different places in a given week, but this week I sat in one just one lab in just one chair with just one piece of silicon carbide.  All I would do is place my hand on top of the silicon carbide and then place it on top of the grinding wheel, and then stay there for the rest of the day. Pretty soon I began to get questions and comments such as these:

• You're STILL grinding that silicon carbide?
• Your silicon carbide missed you when you left for lunch.
• Do you EVER move??

Soon I learned that if I didn't bring something to work with me to keep me distracted I would probably fall asleep.  So what did I do?  I began to bring books to work and then read them as I ground my silicon carbide day after day.  So, yes, those days of work when I didn't bring a book to read will most likely remain forever as the most boring work days of my entire life.  And after this miserable silicon carbide experience, I do have some advice.  If you are required to grind silicon carbide for days on end bring a book with you to keep you distracted.  Because, after all, who doesn't like getting paid to read??

school

Because the students of BYU aren't allowed the luxury of a spring break, we get out of school a lot earlier than everyone else.  When I say earlier, I mean A LOT earlier, as in finals begin two days from now and I will be moving home one week from today.  Awesome.  However, because finals begin two days from now I have posted the picture below because it pretty much sums up exactly how I feel.

aquila ha vinto

For those of you that don't speak Italian, the title says "eagle has won."  Yes, aquila won the BYU Palio! To many this may seem trivial, but to me and the rest of my aquila family, this is a victory that will be always remembered.  FORZA AQUILA!

Oh, and yeah, those are ciucci (er...I mean pacifiers) in our mouths.  They symbolize rebirth and are the prize for winning.  And yes, I will cherish mine forever.

you had best be wearing green

The one day a year where we get to cause pain to others because they have forgotten to wear a specific color that day.  Wonderful.  So with that said, I most certainly did not forget to wear green.

I loved St. Patrick's day when I was little because my parents, I mean "leprechaun", would come to our house and give us stuff that was colored green so long as we could solve the scavenger hunt.  I'll admit, there were a couple of years where we might not have found the treasure if it hadn't been for sheer luck.  But now that all of us are grown up, our celebration of St. Patrick's day only includes wearing green and maybe eating a bowl of Lucky Charms.  I guess that isn't so bad, after all, green is a great color and that cereal is magically delicious!

a bloody brilliant band

The same question is asked just about every time that I reminisce about my childhood with friends: were you an *NSYNC fan or a Backstreet Boys fan?  Personally I was, and still am, a Backstreet Boys fan, but we won't get into that now.

Anyway, in my mind, the category of "boy band" is basically dominated by these two bands, and after their time, I honestly can't think of any other boy bands that are worth caring about.  Until now.

So I present to you the British boy band that has taken the world by storm: One Direction!  I realize that many of you may have already heard of this great group (I know I've known about them for a while), but in the off chance that you haven't heard of them yet, check them out.

That is if, you know, British boy bands are your cup of tea.

the best day of the year

You might have known that March 14 was pi day, but did you know that it is also national nap day?  Two of my favorite things all combined into one special day: eating pie and taking naps.  Awesome.  

Yes, this joke still makes me laugh.  I guess that means I probably don't have any friends.

nice thinking, ray

I like Ghostbusters.  Who doesn't?  So in homage to this awesome movie I made my lego look like "something that could never, ever possibly destroy us.  Mr. Stay Puft."

your nose is looking a little red there, let me fix that for you

You know when you go outside when it is really cold outside and your nose gets really cold, and starts to red and eventually run?  I at least have a serious problem with this happening.  Just about every year that I can remember, I get called Rudolph at least one time (and yes, it has already happened this year) for reasons that I'm sure that you can figure out.

This handy creation by Aunt Marty on Etsy puts an end to all of your nose's hardships with these handy nose warmers!  As much as I would love to wear one of these things, I don't think I'll ever be able to make myself do so, but I will now always think about wanting to wear one when my nose is cold and running.

dale's culinary creations

My father loves experimenting, and it doesn't matter what his tools of experimentation are.  He's an engineer, so I think that pretty much explains why he loves it so much all by itself.

From these experimentations were born some delicious things, and some disgusting things (the Bog Monster for instance, a drink of a sickly brown color that tasted just about as good as it looked).  He has agreed to let me present the recipes to you, and I have decided only the successful ones shall be presented.  Enjoy!

Recipe for the Maverik:

• Orange juice
• Squirt

Fill a glass halfway with Squirt, and then fill the other half with orange juice.  Will make one per glass.

Now there is some debate on the ratio of these two drinks, but according to the creator of the drink himself, that is the correct ratio.

Over the holiday break, the Orange Slider was created.  What is the Orange Slider?  Let me tell you!

Recipe for the Orange Slider:

• Oranges sliced
• Whipped Cream

Take an orange slice and cover both sides of it with whipped cream.  Will make about six per orange.

Basically, the Orange Slider is taking something that was once healthy and making it very unhealthy.  Excellent.

Warning: The Orange Slider tends to be a bit difficult to eat, as Michelle demonstrates so well.

quick and painless

I, like many, enjoy fast and easy to make sewing projects, they give me more motivation to finish them.  If I know it won't take long then it makes it easier to maintain my desire to finish it.

So, without further ado, I present to you my ruffle skirt!

MUCH faster than sewing on a zillion selvages, and equally as cute is this ruffle skirt.  My momma bought the fabric for me online and I set to work on making one.  All I had to sew was a side seam and the elastic.  Then, voila!  It was complete!

So, make one for yourself, or make one for a friend.  I think they are adorable, and so, so, so easy to make!  You are sure to get compliments for it later!

i once won a major award

A few years back, my county library system held an art competition.  It could be a depiction of anything that you wanted, it just had to include something recycled in it.  If you won for your age group then your work would be featured on a bookmark and your work would be displayed in each library for one year.

I designed a robot that used old wool, old stuffing, old buttons (seriously that gear button is from a shirt of Kevin's he owed when he was four), as well as scraps of fabric for arms and legs. 

Because he is such a marvelous work of recycled genius, I ended up winning first place!  (I may have been the only one that entered for my age group...)

a giant lego is always cool

For my 3D graphic design class I was told that I needed to go out and buy a large lego so that I would have something physical to look at to make sure that I got all of my proportions right.  Honestly, it was just an excuse to go and buy a giant lego, but who cares?

So here is my lego man that I got to help me in my endeavors to design a three dimensional version of him.  He can sit, he can stand, he can almost do the splits, and his feet light up!  How awesome is that?

how i met my brother - lily

LILY ALDRIN

The truth is Kevin is not like Lily at all.  At least, not yet.  The time will come when some characteristic of Lily's will start to show itself in Kevin.  It is only a matter of time.

how i met my brother - robin

ROBIN SCHERBATSKY

Robin loves guns.  Kevin loves guns.

how i met my brother - marshall

MARSHALL ERIKSEN

If Kevin was a lawyer, I'm pretty sure he would say Marshall's catch phrase "Lawyered."  Obviously he is not a lawyer, nor does he plan on ever becoming one.  However, while that it true, he does currently say "Owned." after he proves someone wrong in an argument.  That's close enough right?

how i met my brother - barney

BARNEY STINSON

Most of Kevin's mannerisms are just like Barney's, it's actually a little frightening as to how similar they are.  So why is Kevin so much like Barney?  Because he says things like this:

• I'm awesome. 
• It's in the Bro Code.
• Nothing suits me like a suit.

Oh, and did I forget to mention that he says that first one ALL THE TIME.  I won't lie, the kid is pretty awesome, I just wish he wouldn't tell me it all the time.  However, when he does tell me this, I have just come to reply, "Thank you for informing me Barney."

So yes, at many times, I have Barney Stinson as a younger brother.

how i met my brother - ted

Many of the attributes that the characters in How I Met Your Mother have, my little bro, Kevin, also has.  I have decided to create a five part saga to show you why, and this is the beginning.

TED MOSBY

You know how Ted loves correcting others?  Ya well, so does Kevin.  It is his belief that by correcting others he is bettering the world, and he will continue to correct others so long as there is something to correct.   

watching movies is a good use of time

Just like I wasted time watching T.V. over the break, I also wasted it watching movies.  I guess I have a thing for watching things move before my eyes, and not having to think very hard...

Well, I saw these four movies, and I liked all of them.  If you're bored and need something to do, go see one of them.  They are shown in order of my liking, and if you don't trust my opinion, then feel free to check them out on Rotten Tomatoes.

television is a marvelous thing

Over the break I watched a lot of T.V.  More than I would care to admit.  This is what happens when you pay for Netflix instant play.  I mean, what's a better way to waste time than watching season after season of a T.V. show?  Feeling like wasting time with a comedy?  Great, try How I Met Your Mother.  How about science fiction?  Warehouse 13 is the answer for you.  Or maybe a crime drama with a little eye candy involved?  You have just met Neal Caffrey, the main character in White Collar.

See how many options there are?  How could I possibly turn down the opportunity to waste enormous amounts of time watching television when there are so many good shows to watch?  I couldn't.

jealous?

Jodie Carleton is a genius.  She designed and created this dress first; I just stole her idea.  Well, stole with her permission that is.  What is it that they say?  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?  Ya, let's go with that.  

My momma showed me the original selvedge dress on Jodie's blog and I fell instantly in love.  I had to own one for myself.  So, my mom emailed Jodie and asked her if it would be alright if we used her idea, and made one ourselves.  Obviously, she said yes, and even included pointers on how to make it.  Thanks Jodie!

So, here it is.  My version of Jodie's creation that happens to look a lot like hers.  (What can I say?  I love vintage dresses).  The only difference is that my selvedges come from my heaping collection of fabric, and Jodie's selvedges come from her collection.

Oh, and for those of you that don't know what a selvedge is, it is the itty bitty piece of junk on the edge of every piece of fabric.  And rather than throwing away those itty bitty pieces, I cut them off and individually sewed each of them onto that adorable pink polka dot fabric.  

Photos courtesy of sister dearest.