My Grown Up Christmas List

I love Christmas music and one of my favorite songs is "Grown Up Christmas List", and as I get older this song really comes alive I guess you could say. Especially this year as I am about to leave for college and begin a new chapter in my life. Certain things about this month that used to be important to me such as how many presents had my name on them under the Christmas tree, or how big, or how much food I could eat because we only cook certain things around this time of year, all the parties I would hope to get invited to, all seemed to not matter anymore. Some of the most precious moments and memories that I have made this month have truly opened my eyes to the true meaning of Christmas and what I truly do want for myself, my family, my future family, and the world I live in. I had the opportunity to sing in a Rest Home and there are no sweeter spirits on this earth than those old wise people who everyday wish for the gift of a visit or someone to talk to them or to listen to them. I found that I didn't really need to ask them questions about themselves because they just went on and on about so many interesting things! I am definitely not going to make visiting a rest home just a once a year thing. I also had the opportunity to go work in the Garden City Cannery for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and the work really turns into fun. Isn't that what Christmas is all about? Helping those less fortunate than us? But it also reminded me that Christmas time is not the only time of year that people need our help....everyday people suffer from hunger, sickness, and other ailments. I think I can take 4 hours out of my busy schedule to do a little service. Plus you get to see a new side of people that you never knew. You find those that are hard workers who make the most of what they are given, those who frequently have to take breaks, those who make things into a game, or stick their fingers in rotten pears hahaha. (That's also a good place to take a date because you figure out a few things ;) ) But the most important thing I have been able to do this past month is spend time with my family. Whether it was singing while Malia played the piano, going shopping at the last minute for Christmas presents with Lauren, taking an evening to watch a whole season of Cake Boss with the family....these are truly the moments and gifts that I hoped for this year. Those with my family and those with my Sizzler family who I have grown to love and hold dear to my heart...This Christmas I'm not wishing for new shoes, a laptop, a new dress, or even my prince charming ;) .......my hope is that Santa will bring me the gift of giving, the gift of hope, and the gift of faith in my Savior who's birthday I will celebrate not only on December 25 but everyday of the year. Merry Christmas!

Killing Two Birds With One Stone: My Trip to Salt Lake

I can remember since I was a little girl walking around the Salt Lake Temple, gazing up at the tall spires and dreaming of going inside, finding my Prince Charming and being married there. This past weekend I fulfilled part of that dream, unfortunately it wasn't the man of my dreams going inside with me but I guess you take what you can get. I had the opportunity to go inside the House of the Lord that my great great great great great grandfather dedicated, President Wilford Woodruff, and doing baptisms for the dead. It was one of the most amazing and spiritual experiences of my life. Elder C. Scott Grow.....Love his name (think about it for a minute and you'll figure out why it's funny)! Came and talked to us and I learned a ton from him about families and my role in this world, and he gave some great insight into finding that Prince Charming of mine out there ;) Who I hope is behaving himself ;) But some of the most fun and memorable moments of this trip was the car ride up there and the activities going on besides the temple. I can honestly say when you put five girls in one car you end up with a couple of things.....dancing in the car, singing Christmas music, man hunting (the most fun and my fav and a funny story behind that one), and eating junk food and getting away with it :) Haha I also fulfilled one of the items of my life of traveling 100 mph, and what was funny about it is that I didn't even know we were going that fast until someone told me so idk if that counted? I can honestly say I love every single one of those girls and now have one of the coolest relationships with them, which I couldn't have achieved anywhere else. ;) So we show up to our hotel and open our room and it was DIRTY!!!! it was gross! so we got a new one and in that room the TV was broken which was hilarious! The cute guy downstairs at the desk sure had his handsful and I felt sorry for the guy! We took a side trip to Chuck A Rama for dinner which ended up with full bellies, then a trip around Temple Square during Christmas time.....it takes two words to describe it BREATHE TAKING! Oh my word it was beautiful and the lights were amazing and the Spirit there was strong. We also went and saw the new and improved Joseph Smith Movie.....while we were waiting the Sister Missionaries just got out of a meeting and I can honestly say that if I have the opportunity to go on a Mission I'm TAKING IT! The testimonies of those women are nothing like I've ever known! Couple that with the movie and you have girls bawling their eyes out and guys trying to not cry and some crying anyway.....it was so moving.......I can honestly say I had a very fulfilling weekend and a much needed break, and I hope to be able to go back soon.......These are definitely things on my bucketlist that I would do again and will do again :)

Mama Mia Eat Some Meatballs: Playing with Food

I am such a big pasta person and one of my all time favorite movie scenes is on Lady and the Tramp when they end up kissing because they were sharing pasta....(need to add that to my bucketlist!) Haha so this kind of inspired me to make something with meatballs but I was in the mood for lasagna and so what did I do.....I put them together ;) haha it was one of the messiest weirdest looking things I have ever seen but all of that didn't matter because it all ends up right where it's suppose to be...in my tummy ;) The best part about cooking up this concoction was doing it with people I love. Me and my sisters rolled up our sleeves and put on our aprons and set to work, but in the end it turned out to be throwing spaghetti sauce and cottage cheese everywhere and getting down and dirty in meatballs and noodles. All while listening to Christmas music......All in all I think I'll sell my recipe to Olive Garden and leave my mark on the world....haha probably not but one could only dream :)