Penny's Peanut Butter Balls

Made blue this time for my friends baby shower (it's a boy).
So delicious. Easy (just takes a little time). And pleasant to behold.
Recipe.

Resolution

My cuz, Amanda, posted this on her blog and when I clicked on it I was like, "What the heck kinda song is....(dun da dun da dun).. totally hooked at the 15 sec. mark. Try it.

And while we're on the subject let's revisit some of the classics...

What could be better...

... than the General Relief Society Meeting followed by In 'N Out Burger?
Oh ya, North & South.
And that we watched at my friend Cindy's house (Bishop's wife). Mind you it's a 4 hour movie so we were up way past our bedtime. I tried to get a 'church excused' slip from the man himself. Request denied. ( ;
And there we were, all of us on time to 9am church with content, happy faces. Why? Because dear Mr. Thorton is invariably going to end up with Margarat Hale (we didn't quite finish it).
Can you just not wait to find out? Me either.

By Golly

I know you're tired of me rattling on about Jane Eyre but I HAD to watch the movie again after reading the book.
It is SO much better knowing what Mr. Rochester's thinking and when exactly when he fell in love with her.
I tried not to cry (well, not really) and I tried to explain to Bryan why it is such a compelling story. For the point is not so much the love story as it is about loving somebody for who they are. As Jane would say, "it is the character inside".
Ghast... I'm really just in love with it and know I must own it.. the book and the movie (BBC version, hint hint).

The fire scene is my favorite (besides the glorious ending, of course). And I tried to find an image but could only find the entire scene on youtube. (watch 1:55-3:00, if you must - as Mr. Rochester would say)...

Educational Book Club

I love book club. It's very educational. For instance, last night I learned how not to stalk Rob Lowe.
This month we're reading either Wicked or P&P (Pride & Prejudice). Oh how I do hope for P&P. I really don't want to give up my English accent yet. Thithermore, I would like to presume the taskability of forming sentences with made up words that for certain these old classic novels contain... therein.
The refreshments counter thus had to photographed for it's picturesqueness (which happens to be a real word, bytheway). And furthermore, Dacia, I do not eat fruit because it's healthy. I eat it because it's eye-candy, for one, meaning beautiful, it's fresh, and because I get to dip it in sweetened condensed milk, cream cheese, and whipped cream all together. (which is undoubtedly the best fruit dip ever).
We shall leave the evening with a Jane Eyre quote:

Appearance should not be mistaken for truth; narrow human doctrines, that only tend to elate and magnify a few, should not be substituted for the world-redeeming creed of Christ. There is — I repeat it — a difference; and it is a good, and not a bad action to mark broadly and clearly the line of separation between them. The world may not like to see these ideas dissevered, for it has been accustomed to blend them; finding it convenient to make external show pass for sterling worth — to let white-washed walls vouch for clean shrines. It may hate him who dares to scrutinise and expose — to rase the gilding, and show base metal under it — to penetrate the sepulchre, and reveal charnel relics: but hate as it will, it is indebted to him.

--Preface (2nd Edition)

Magnificent!

Hi

Thanks, Bryson, for letting me stick my nose in your neck a hundred times a day. Be careful, I might just eat you up.Who says army gear's not... for lack of a better word, "appealing"?
I'll just wipe that silly grin off my face.

I Oppose Same-Sex Marriage

Great idea, Ashli.
I OPPOSE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE!
This document, The Divine Institution of Marriage, written by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, explains why and how we can join the fight to protect the sanctity of marriage.
Maybe you know but California legalized same-sex marriage and the church has accepted an invitation to participate in ProtectMarriage, a coalition of churches, organizations, and individuals sponsoring a November ballot measure, Proposition 8, that would amend the California state constitution to ensure that only a marriage between a man and a woman would be legally recognized. (http://www.protectmarriage.com/).

Read it.
Spread it.
Protect marriage.

Finished Jane Eyre

Honestly...
It's hard to explain how moving an experience it was for me to read this book.
Elation, despair, agony, broken heart, triumph, utter happiness...
Poor Alyssa's borrowed copy endured a rain of tears.
No book has EVER had such an impact.
And I dare say I will NEVER read it again.
I don't think I could bear to leave Mr. Rochester and go through that again.
I will watch the movie, though. Tonight probably. And I'm going to enjoy it excruciatingly.Also, does anybody have any idea what any of these words mean?...
piquant, bombazeen, vouchsafe, genial, torpid, quiscent, opprobrium, consternation,virulent, diminutive...
That is also another reason why I may never read this book again. ( :

Good Times

Bo loves the balcony. And he loves his 'just my size' camping chair. As you can see in this photo he's quite enjoying nightly otter pop time...We've had little cousin Bryce here with us. Bryce is 5 months Bryson's junior.

Bryce and Bryson.
We had to put him in one of Bryson's little wife beaters so they could be twinners...

So, first we took them swimming in our big huge backyard custom pool. Then we went to Jumpin Jacks (the inflatable playplace). I think that pretty much means we're the coolest babysitters ever...And we, of course, have to have a picture at the bar since we can't get enough of those...

And Bowen took this last picture so we could all be in it. Not bad skills. He thought he was pretty dang funny since all the adults were laughing at how mad his skills were.
Good times.(Miranda, Justin, Me, Bry)

And Bryson is such a HAM! Here is Miranda making him laugh...

Jane Eyre

OK! Thee best ending by far of any of the old romances that I've come across in my dear beloved life. Utterly Utterly fantastic. I have a mind to watch it again now that I have a little glimpse into dear Mr. Rochester's mind. My friends tell me the ending is even better in the book so my next order of business... to read Jane Eyre.

Watch it you must.
Love it you will.
Cry you cannot contain.

Ah, so much romance, so little time.

Some Popcorn

I REALLY wish I had some popcorn right now. I've got Jane Eyre on TV, Widow of the South in my left hand, and Nicola and the Viscount in my right. I'm veggin' out by myself with romance on every corner and NO FOOD! How could I possibly be in this predicament? Where is my secret stash of $6 chocolates? Where are my sonic tator tots? (jk) Where, I ask you, is my Cafe Rio Pork Salad? Buggar! (Is that a swear word in England?)

My Roomies

(Alana, Missy, Keara, Sara, Me)

I love them.
We're growing old together.
We'll be 70 soon taking this exact same picture...
...and we'll still be asking each other if we should do bangs or no bangs.
We'll still meet at restaurants...
...and one day we'll all order a soda with our meal.
We'll share our latest heartbreak and we'll try not to cry...
...and we'll secretly vow vengeance where needed.
We'll laugh and pretend like we're still in college...
...we'll flirt with the waiter then flash our rings.
And we'll remember that one time...
...when that one thing happened....
And we'll realize how some of our most compelling experiences...
...were while we were together.

And we'll always stick together...

And we'll always be different...

And we will always have each other.

...

Random

Ok, the tanning mousse was a Franny tip. One of many tips from her that has greatly improved my appearance. It is Lancome, not Estee Lauder (woops). And it's not really made for your face, it's for whole body. But if you buy face tanner you get like 1/2 as much. Anyways, it's a discontinued item, apparently, with no suggested substitute (according to their website). Sorry. Only I shall have that fake flash bronzed look. Ah, love it.
I really think a shark steamer mop would solve all my problems. I am REALLY SUPER impressed with Coscto's Kirkland brand Paper Towels... They're big and durable.... washraggy. You can use it, rinse it, ring it and totally reuse it. They're awesome. And if they're just too yucka.... you just throw it out (I mean it is just a paper towel). I believe they're nigh to replacing my wash rags. I'm just wondering... why is Bowen's underwear on my curtain rod? Why?

6 Random Facts

These are my favorite. I love it when people post stuff like this. Fabulous Sadie did the other day and I'm tagged...

Random 1: When I was young I called 1-888-SANTA or whatever it was to talk to Santa. Apparently it charged my parents a lot on their phone bill and they gathered the whole family together to ask you did it. Do you think I fessed up? YA RIGHT! To this day it is my secret and mine alone (well, and all of you).

Random 2: I don't believe anything belongs on the floor of the pantry. It is a 'no stuff' area. It is not a shelf, it is floor. Even now I feel anxious just thinking about it. ( ;

Random 3: I've come to realize and accept the fact that I'm a 'no-shoe' girl. I regretfully admit that I only own maybe 5 pairs of shoes. I'm not proud of it. I would like to be a shoe girl but it's just not that important to me.

Random 4: I sewed my own outfits in 4th grade.

Random 5: I'm totally addicted to Estee Lauder's tanning mouse. I put it on my face everyday.

Random 6: I secretly want to try the new eyelash drops that make your eyelashes grow. I've heard many positive testimonies. Only hundreds of dollars.

Dear Blog

Dear Blog,
I neglect you because I am being pampered at Grandma's house.
I read all night and sleep all day. And then I put on my new eyeshadow at night and go out with my girlfriends.
Utterly spoiled.
Take note: Best eyeshadow ever. Obsessed i am. (Estee Lauder. Color: Lagoon)

In my world... Laird Brodick Buchanan just married Lady Gillian. King John found his treasure, cleared Gillian's father's name, and Lord Baron was rightfully beheaded. Laird Ramsey just proposed to Bridgid. Does it get any better than that? Aye, I think not. (can't recommend that one for... certain reasons.)

Also, Samantha and Nathanial just spent an exhilirating afternoon picking rasperries. HELLO! I would turn down a law partnership, too. The Undomestic Goddess.

Tomorrow I shall take Jill to see Mamma Mia and we will laugh hysterically and sing the wrong words to all the songs.

Lord Bryan will be taking the midnight Greyhound and arriving at 6am. We will kiss passionately and then go out to breakfast (I said that out loud, didn't I?). Then he will slay the dragon and we will return to our manor beneath the shadow of the Red Cliffs hills.

Life is wonderfully fabulous medieval romance. I wonder, did they have eyeshadow back then?

Mamma Mia

Just about the most ridiculous movie ever.
Was it a dang good time? Yes
Try to be the only people in the theatre so you can laugh out loud boistrously, sing along, and dance like a... dancing queen!
Did I do all 3? Yes (expect for the third one)
Have I turned into one of those people that ask themselves questions and then answer themselves?
That was rhetorical. ( :

This was my absolute favorite scene in the whole movie... I was literally LAUGHING OUT LOUD!!! Skip the talk... start at about 1:40 and the best part is at about 3:30... LOLing

MS by SM

Will I read it? Yes
Did I already? Yes
Do I regret it? Not one bit
Do I believe SM will eventually finish and publish MS? Full Faith
Do I feel horrible for SM? Utterly
Am I totally infatuated again? So yes
Is it like reading T for the first time? Better
Do you know what the heck I'm talking about? If not, no big D. Just means you could prob care less about SM, T, NM, E, BD, & now 264 of MS.
Ah, .... so in love with E.

-M

Two Things: Girls night and dog poo

(Dacia, Racheal, Kari, Me)
(Cyndi, Alyssa, Georgia)

Code word: Twilight. That's really all I had to do to ease my way in. That and 'dog poop'. (apology: inside joke). There's always a code word wherever you go. In Gainesville it was 'Sonic' or 'Crunchy roll'. There's just certain words that bring you together. So, gracefully, I attend my first girls night (actually 2nd) but my personality seemed to be on vacation during the first one (as it often is after 9pm). This time it stuck around and decided to introduce itself as "yes, I would rather eat dog poo than that other thing you were talking about". And here I realize that everywhere I move, or maybe it's the older I get, the facade is non-important. Or, useless, if I may. Here I am.... and I still stick by my guns about the dog poo. And that's me. So, let's get together again and REALLY TRY to get a picture WITHOUT the 'I'm laughing so hard I have ugly crinkle nose'. It's nice to grow older and realize, ugly crinkle nose and all, that life is FABULOUS being yourself. No need to protect any insecurities about the fact that I would rather eat dog poo than... (no, I'm not telling you what it is). Just that this is me... and who are you?
Girlfriends are great!