Heaven forbid confrontation! Do you like confrontation? I do - in most cases. With that I mean, I'm not afraid to confront someone about something or call someone out... I'm reading a book right now entitled "Trust or Consequences," by Al Golin. Something that I found interesting so far: he talks about his fear that because of technology, we soon may be able to avoid real, live conversations. How many of us have "g-chatted" a friend instead of just calling them on the phone. Or call a co-worker instead of walking the 10 feet to their office.
Golin says: "This is like the old radio show in which one of the characters was an anxiety-ridden, door-to-door salesman who desperately hope that 'no one would be at home.'"
He goes on to say that a lot of businessmen love their high-tech tools not just for improved efficiency but because they too hope that no one is home. They don't want to face sticky situations that might lead to a discussion or even a confrontation.
Heaven forbid confrontation!
Unless a company (or a person) makes a commitment to humanizing relationships, the online culture will take over. Sophisticated technology is enticing and it's easy to forget what's being sacrificed when a culture is overly dependent on this form of communication.
The end.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Bombings in Moscow
So my sister is in Moscow on her mission. There were two bombings that took place this morning in the metro in Moscow - one of the most developed metro systems.
I woke up this morning to a couple e-mails from her mission president saying first, that they were trying to track down all the missionaries, and second, that they had contacted all the missionaries and everyone is okay.
I'm really grateful she is okay.
I woke up this morning to a couple e-mails from her mission president saying first, that they were trying to track down all the missionaries, and second, that they had contacted all the missionaries and everyone is okay.
I'm really grateful she is okay.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
A Toast to Moustaches...
Thanks to my ward talent show and my friend Paige for this youtube video... a tribute to the greatness of moustaches... ha ha ha!
Friday, March 26, 2010
My lunch
I made a wrap for myself for lunch yesterday. Here is what I put on it:
Sun dried tomato wrap
Creamy cilantro ranch dressing for a spread
Provolone cheese (probably one of my favorite cheeses)
Slices of ham for protein and flavor
Spinach...
Cucumbers (cut them into small bite size chunks)
Do you know what this is? It is called jicama. SO delicious. I don't think a lot of people know about jicama and that you can purchase it at basically any grocery store. Adds such a yummy crispness to any salad or wrap. Very mild, sweet taste. I cut these into small chunks.
Red pepper... again, just small chunks. Adds a lot of sweetness to the wrap.
Oh yes I did! I cut up chunks of Fuji apples into the wrap! SO YUMMY! I love Fuji apples because they are crisp and sweet. Can't go wrong with a Fuji.
And the grand finale... sunflower seeds! Delicious. Healthy. Protein. Crunch.
Wrap it all up and you have yourself a seriously delicious, healthy and beautiful lunch.
Was it good, you ask? Does a fat kid love candy? Yes, it was good.
Advocating Part 2
I was talking to my sister-in-law this afternoon and she mentioned that she had read my last post about advocating different causes. She reminded me that the most important role of advocate I can play is an advocate for the Church and my Savior. We don't have to go to far off places to do good... there is plenty of good that can be done here, where ever you are.
If we are first and foremost, acting as advocates for Him and His gospel, then we can continue and branch out to advocate different things, such as The United Way, microfinancing, or battered women in a far-off country.
There is so much good to be done and we have the power to do it.
Thanks for the reminder, Sis.
If we are first and foremost, acting as advocates for Him and His gospel, then we can continue and branch out to advocate different things, such as The United Way, microfinancing, or battered women in a far-off country.
There is so much good to be done and we have the power to do it.
Thanks for the reminder, Sis.
Chuffed to bits...
"Chuffed to bits by your ba-donka-donk!"
Differences in British and American slang with Ellen and Hugh...
Differences in British and American slang with Ellen and Hugh...
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Advocating = Courage
I listened to a very engaging speaker the other night at my professor's home. Sterling Van Wagenen has worked with Robert Redford at the Sundance Film Festival and has worked on multiple other projects for independent films. He spoke a lot about advocacy and the courage it takes to sincerely advocate something. You have to personally find the things to which you truly can commit yourself. If you can't really give your all to it, don't do it.
He showed us a few examples of powerful advocates:
"The Cove": basically an illumination of the illegal killing of dolphins that is taking place in Taijii, Japan and the extent to which the directors and producers went to expose something they knew was wrong. I found it fascinating - there were a few parts that were a little hard to watch, (Japanese soldiers actually killing the dolphins) but overall, it was a fascinating look at how deeply committed these producers were to a cause.
"Triumph of the Will": I'm sure we have all heard of Hitler's propaganda films. We watched segments of this - one of the biggest propaganda films he made. I lived in Germany for 18 months and got to know a lot of Germans really well. I ached as I watched segments of this film. We discussed the differences between motivation and manipulation. What did Hitler use? Were his tactics a motivation toward something better or was he truly manipulating the people of Germany and the surrounding countries to believe and see things the way he saw them? I don't know. Either way, he was passionately advocating a cause which he saw was good.
"Small Fortunes": I was truly moved and inspired when I watched the segments of this film, produced by KBYU-TV. An economics professor saw a woman on the street weaving something out of bamboo and asked her how much money she was going to get from it - basically, she was living on less than $2 and was receiving hardly anything from her weaving because her money lenders were purchasing all her products and taking the money and giving her only a very small portion of it. (Too little for her to live on, save, or off of which to make any profit.)
So, he found a few other people with these problems and dished out $27 from his pocket. $27 provided these people a total change of life because they had at least $5 to thrive on. (Notice that I used the word "thrive" instead of "survive." That was intentional.) As little as $2 make the biggest difference from these people. What I found most amazing is that this is a trust-based credit. These people are given the credit and are simply "trusted" that they will pay back the loan. If I remember correctly, there is a 95 percent payback rate for women in the program. The percentage for men was a little lower than that. There are a lot of poor people out there that aren't poor just because they are lazy or haven't found a job yet - they are poor because they don't have any opportunities. This program is giving them those opportunities.
I want to advocate that. Find something in which you believe and are so passionate about and do something about it. This is the time of life that we can totally commit ourselves to something that we want to advocate. Honestly, if I could have it my way, I would work the next few months and save up money, pay off my car, (all the while getting involved in this micro-credit loan program) and then move to India or South America to work with the program. I would love that. I want to do something.
Well said, Mr. Van Wagenen.
He showed us a few examples of powerful advocates:
"The Cove": basically an illumination of the illegal killing of dolphins that is taking place in Taijii, Japan and the extent to which the directors and producers went to expose something they knew was wrong. I found it fascinating - there were a few parts that were a little hard to watch, (Japanese soldiers actually killing the dolphins) but overall, it was a fascinating look at how deeply committed these producers were to a cause.
"Triumph of the Will": I'm sure we have all heard of Hitler's propaganda films. We watched segments of this - one of the biggest propaganda films he made. I lived in Germany for 18 months and got to know a lot of Germans really well. I ached as I watched segments of this film. We discussed the differences between motivation and manipulation. What did Hitler use? Were his tactics a motivation toward something better or was he truly manipulating the people of Germany and the surrounding countries to believe and see things the way he saw them? I don't know. Either way, he was passionately advocating a cause which he saw was good.
"Small Fortunes": I was truly moved and inspired when I watched the segments of this film, produced by KBYU-TV. An economics professor saw a woman on the street weaving something out of bamboo and asked her how much money she was going to get from it - basically, she was living on less than $2 and was receiving hardly anything from her weaving because her money lenders were purchasing all her products and taking the money and giving her only a very small portion of it. (Too little for her to live on, save, or off of which to make any profit.)
So, he found a few other people with these problems and dished out $27 from his pocket. $27 provided these people a total change of life because they had at least $5 to thrive on. (Notice that I used the word "thrive" instead of "survive." That was intentional.) As little as $2 make the biggest difference from these people. What I found most amazing is that this is a trust-based credit. These people are given the credit and are simply "trusted" that they will pay back the loan. If I remember correctly, there is a 95 percent payback rate for women in the program. The percentage for men was a little lower than that. There are a lot of poor people out there that aren't poor just because they are lazy or haven't found a job yet - they are poor because they don't have any opportunities. This program is giving them those opportunities.
I want to advocate that. Find something in which you believe and are so passionate about and do something about it. This is the time of life that we can totally commit ourselves to something that we want to advocate. Honestly, if I could have it my way, I would work the next few months and save up money, pay off my car, (all the while getting involved in this micro-credit loan program) and then move to India or South America to work with the program. I would love that. I want to do something.
Well said, Mr. Van Wagenen.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Hot weather yoga for Bedouins
A few fabulous quotations for the week from "Life of Pi":
"Why, Islam is nothing but an easy sort of exercise, I thought. Hot-weather yoga for the Bedouins. Asanas without sweat, heaven without restraint..." "...I challenge anyone to understand Islam, its spirit, and not to love it. It is a beautiful religion of brotherhood and devotion." *[Please note that I do not have anything against Islam. I think it is a beautiful religion - I simply like the perspective of a young boy on this religion.]
"Our encounters always leave me weary of the glum contentment that characterizes my life." [Have you ever met anyone like that? I love people like this... they open my mind up. I find this quotation so beautiful.]
"I can well imagine an atheist's last words: "White, white! L-L-Love! My God!" -- and the deathbed leap of faith. Whereas the agnostic, if he stays true to his reasonable self, if he stays beholden to dry, yeastless factuality, might try to explain the warm light bathing him by saying, "Possibly a f-f-failing oxygenation of the b-b-brain," and, to the very end, lack imagination and miss the better story."
"At the rate you're going, if you go to temple on Thursday, mosque on Friday, synagogue on Saturday and church on Sunday, you only need to convert to three more religions to be on holiday for the rest of your life."
I love reading.
"Why, Islam is nothing but an easy sort of exercise, I thought. Hot-weather yoga for the Bedouins. Asanas without sweat, heaven without restraint..." "...I challenge anyone to understand Islam, its spirit, and not to love it. It is a beautiful religion of brotherhood and devotion." *[Please note that I do not have anything against Islam. I think it is a beautiful religion - I simply like the perspective of a young boy on this religion.]
"Our encounters always leave me weary of the glum contentment that characterizes my life." [Have you ever met anyone like that? I love people like this... they open my mind up. I find this quotation so beautiful.]
"I can well imagine an atheist's last words: "White, white! L-L-Love! My God!" -- and the deathbed leap of faith. Whereas the agnostic, if he stays true to his reasonable self, if he stays beholden to dry, yeastless factuality, might try to explain the warm light bathing him by saying, "Possibly a f-f-failing oxygenation of the b-b-brain," and, to the very end, lack imagination and miss the better story."
"At the rate you're going, if you go to temple on Thursday, mosque on Friday, synagogue on Saturday and church on Sunday, you only need to convert to three more religions to be on holiday for the rest of your life."
I love reading.
All Things Man
"It can be said many ways: “hombre, mies, muz, burri, homme, cz’owiek or mann.” But even with all the different languages across the globe, man has one thing no one else has: a Y chromosome."
I'm guessing that The Man Expo could be considered the equivalent of The Bridal Fair for women? I guess that is a fair comparison. One has an overload of testosterone... the other an overload of estrogen.
Highlights of the man expo coming up in Utah:
Rock Climbing Wall
Paintball shooting range
Mechanical Bull
Indoor Wake-boarding demonstrations
Skate Park with Skateboard demonstrations
Keynote Speakers
Musical Guests/Concert
Celebrity appearances
and... a lesson on handshaking... [of utmost importance for the male species... you're not accepted into the pack without it]
So, to all the dear men in my life: go experience "all things man."
Hey Ladies! April 9 & 10: Girls nights out!
I'm guessing that The Man Expo could be considered the equivalent of The Bridal Fair for women? I guess that is a fair comparison. One has an overload of testosterone... the other an overload of estrogen.
Highlights of the man expo coming up in Utah:
Rock Climbing Wall
Paintball shooting range
Mechanical Bull
Indoor Wake-boarding demonstrations
Skate Park with Skateboard demonstrations
Keynote Speakers
Musical Guests/Concert
Celebrity appearances
and... a lesson on handshaking... [of utmost importance for the male species... you're not accepted into the pack without it]
So, to all the dear men in my life: go experience "all things man."
Hey Ladies! April 9 & 10: Girls nights out!
Monday, March 22, 2010
GO!
In the midst of watching "30 Rock" on NBC, [no, that isn't a weekly thing for me... I was eating dinner alone and wanted a little mind-numbing entertainment/ noise in a quiet apartment] I heard something and had a thought. [Dangerous, I know.]
We are a consumeristic society. [Don't let that comment scare you from reading on... it gets better.]
Duh, Self. Everyone knows that.
So why don't we do something about it?
Why couldn't we become an "inventing society?" However weird that sounds, I think it is so true. We consume and limit ourselves to ideas that are just presented to us, instead of going out and creating and producing ourselves. We all have ideas... I know we do. We all have the innate desire to invent or create something. Right?
Invention confession corner with AEJones:
Since I was little I have always wanted to invent a little LED screen that you could hook up to the back window of your car. If you were in a crunch and realized you needed to get over into the other lane in a traffic jam, you could have the passenger in your car type in something (or have some kind of pre-loaded comment like you find on your phone for text messages) to the effect of, "Sorry, can I merge into your lane?"
Then, when the driver lets you in, you can send them a thank you message: "Thanks for letting me in! Appreciate it! Have a nice day!"
Isn't that great? A little naive, I know. BUT... this illustrates my point: we all have those crazy ideas! Some may be a little more crazy than others. But we are a "making/creating" people!
I have added a new word to my "favorite word" list. [I may or may not have just created this said list and added this word to it...] "Mommypreneuers." I have no idea where I first heard that, but I love it.
My sister, we'll refer to her as Mrs. Hatch, is the little image that pops into my head when I think of the word "Mommypreneur." She is a genius when it comes to stuff like this. She majored in Marketing at BYU and has really taken her major and whipped it into shape. She has so many ideas: organic baby food, home-made-whole-wheat bread, Picture to Portrait... She has a few more but these are three that she has started to really do something with. She had ideas and she did something about them. Another great example is Mrs. Fussypants. Love her.
I think we should let it [our desire to invent and create] out a little more and not stifle it so, by allowing our consumeristic society to push in on us.
GO! CREATE! Have fun with inventing and doing something with those ideas that have been floating around in your head for however long.
We are a consumeristic society. [Don't let that comment scare you from reading on... it gets better.]
Duh, Self. Everyone knows that.
So why don't we do something about it?
Why couldn't we become an "inventing society?" However weird that sounds, I think it is so true. We consume and limit ourselves to ideas that are just presented to us, instead of going out and creating and producing ourselves. We all have ideas... I know we do. We all have the innate desire to invent or create something. Right?
Invention confession corner with AEJones:
Since I was little I have always wanted to invent a little LED screen that you could hook up to the back window of your car. If you were in a crunch and realized you needed to get over into the other lane in a traffic jam, you could have the passenger in your car type in something (or have some kind of pre-loaded comment like you find on your phone for text messages) to the effect of, "Sorry, can I merge into your lane?"
Then, when the driver lets you in, you can send them a thank you message: "Thanks for letting me in! Appreciate it! Have a nice day!"
Isn't that great? A little naive, I know. BUT... this illustrates my point: we all have those crazy ideas! Some may be a little more crazy than others. But we are a "making/creating" people!
I have added a new word to my "favorite word" list. [I may or may not have just created this said list and added this word to it...] "Mommypreneuers." I have no idea where I first heard that, but I love it.
My sister, we'll refer to her as Mrs. Hatch, is the little image that pops into my head when I think of the word "Mommypreneur." She is a genius when it comes to stuff like this. She majored in Marketing at BYU and has really taken her major and whipped it into shape. She has so many ideas: organic baby food, home-made-whole-wheat bread, Picture to Portrait... She has a few more but these are three that she has started to really do something with. She had ideas and she did something about them. Another great example is Mrs. Fussypants. Love her.
I think we should let it [our desire to invent and create] out a little more and not stifle it so, by allowing our consumeristic society to push in on us.
GO! CREATE! Have fun with inventing and doing something with those ideas that have been floating around in your head for however long.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Super Awkward with Joaquin Phoenix
Where is Joaquin Phoenix in this? Gets even more awkward toward the end...
Friday, March 19, 2010
iTunes
Please congratulate me...
I purchased my first song on iTunes last night.
Yep.
[You may think I'm crazy. I'm 23 {almost 24} years old and haven't ever purchased a song on iTunes? Well, my little sister has thousands [I don't think that is an exaggeration] of songs on her iTunes so I have just always used her music. We have very similar taste in music so it was easy to just download onto my iPod. But... now she is on her mission and can't get the new songs. Thus... I purchased my first song on iTunes. What did I purchase?]
The Bird and The Bee: "My Love"
I purchased my first song on iTunes last night.
Yep.
[You may think I'm crazy. I'm 23 {almost 24} years old and haven't ever purchased a song on iTunes? Well, my little sister has thousands [I don't think that is an exaggeration] of songs on her iTunes so I have just always used her music. We have very similar taste in music so it was easy to just download onto my iPod. But... now she is on her mission and can't get the new songs. Thus... I purchased my first song on iTunes. What did I purchase?]
The Bird and The Bee: "My Love"
Funny Friday Film
Happy Friday!
Are these two little boys not freaking adorable? Their accents are the best part.
Are these two little boys not freaking adorable? Their accents are the best part.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Last updated
I think one of my biggest pet peeves in the blogging world is finding a blog that I'm excited to read and then seeing that they last updated their blog on October 13, 2006.
Lame.
I immediately exit out of it.
Lame.
I immediately exit out of it.
[This is my annoyed face... well, not literally mine. I'm a girl. But his face is expressing my feelings.]
What I heard today
I was walking on campus and had to chuckle at a few things I heard as I was walking... I had to bite my lip at a few things to keep from gasping. (Is it bad that I was listening in on other people's conversations? Hopefully not... because you're about to enjoy what they were saying.)
"My parents are going to kill me." (Guy walking and talking with another guy.)
"And you said yes?" (Girl talking on her phone...said with a slightly shocked/ disgusted tone.)
"Oh my gosh! Elder _________?!" (Only at BYU would a girl go running up to a guy screaming Elder in a really high-pitched, excited voice.)
"You're not going to tell Mom, are you?" (Girl on the phone.)
"It only cost $80" (The girl is holding up a darling black leather bag and pointing to it as she talks to her friend... cute bag... but $80?)
Winner of the day
"Daddy? I was talking to Mom about maybe getting a nose job for my birthday?" (Really? Really. I hate to stereotype myself, but she was blonde.)
I was getting so much enjoyment out of listening to people... but then I smelled a skunk, and I ran away.
"My parents are going to kill me." (Guy walking and talking with another guy.)
"And you said yes?" (Girl talking on her phone...said with a slightly shocked/ disgusted tone.)
"Oh my gosh! Elder _________?!" (Only at BYU would a girl go running up to a guy screaming Elder in a really high-pitched, excited voice.)
"You're not going to tell Mom, are you?" (Girl on the phone.)
"It only cost $80" (The girl is holding up a darling black leather bag and pointing to it as she talks to her friend... cute bag... but $80?)
Winner of the day
"Daddy? I was talking to Mom about maybe getting a nose job for my birthday?" (Really? Really. I hate to stereotype myself, but she was blonde.)
I was getting so much enjoyment out of listening to people... but then I smelled a skunk, and I ran away.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
My sister
This is my little sister.
This picture was taken of her at the MTC. She just flew to Moscow, yesterday.
Isn't she beautiful?
I miss her.
This picture was taken of her at the MTC. She just flew to Moscow, yesterday.
Isn't she beautiful?
I miss her.
Dear Sun
Dear Sun:
Thanks for showing up today. I really value your presence in my life. However, I really need you to be a motivation, not a distraction. You're playing more the role of distraction, and I can't deal with that right now.
I love you.
Love,
AJ
Thanks for showing up today. I really value your presence in my life. However, I really need you to be a motivation, not a distraction. You're playing more the role of distraction, and I can't deal with that right now.
I love you.
Love,
AJ
A Lion's Territory
I'm currently reading a book entitled, "Life of Pi."
I'm really enjoying it. The author is a phenomenal writer. I love his writing style.
This section, for some reason, totally had me enthralled:
"So you see, if you fall into a lion's pit, the reason the lion will tear you to pieces is not because it's hungry - be assured, zoo animals are amply fed - or because it's bloodthirsty, but because you've invaded its territory.
As an aside, that is why a circus trainer must always enter the lion ring first, and in full sight of the lions. In doing so, he establishes that the ring is his territory, not theirs, a notion that he reinforces by shouting, by stomping about, by snapping his whip. The lions are impressed. Their disadvantage weighs heavily on them. Notice how they come in: mighty predators though they are, "kings of beasts," they crawl in with their tails low and they keep to the edges of the ring, which is always round so that they have nowhere to hide. They are in the presence of a strongly dominant male, a super-alpha male, and the must submit to his dominance rituals. So they open their jaws wide, they sit up, they jump through paper-covered hoops, they crawl through tubes, they walk backwards, they roll over."
I'm really enjoying it. The author is a phenomenal writer. I love his writing style.
This section, for some reason, totally had me enthralled:
"So you see, if you fall into a lion's pit, the reason the lion will tear you to pieces is not because it's hungry - be assured, zoo animals are amply fed - or because it's bloodthirsty, but because you've invaded its territory.
As an aside, that is why a circus trainer must always enter the lion ring first, and in full sight of the lions. In doing so, he establishes that the ring is his territory, not theirs, a notion that he reinforces by shouting, by stomping about, by snapping his whip. The lions are impressed. Their disadvantage weighs heavily on them. Notice how they come in: mighty predators though they are, "kings of beasts," they crawl in with their tails low and they keep to the edges of the ring, which is always round so that they have nowhere to hide. They are in the presence of a strongly dominant male, a super-alpha male, and the must submit to his dominance rituals. So they open their jaws wide, they sit up, they jump through paper-covered hoops, they crawl through tubes, they walk backwards, they roll over."
Monday, March 15, 2010
Match.com
I just signed my roommate up for an account on Match.com.
He he he.
Her name will remain "Anonymous." I'm really excited for her to get her first set of e-mails with proposed matches. I haven't laughed this much in a really long time.
Love you, darling!
He he he.
Her name will remain "Anonymous." I'm really excited for her to get her first set of e-mails with proposed matches. I haven't laughed this much in a really long time.
Love you, darling!
Festival of Colors
I have seen so many pictures of people covered in chalk over my years here at BYU. It is finally time that I attend the Hare Krishna temple for The Festival of Colors. I won't let myself leave Provo and BYU until I do. I am so excited to be in the middle of this!
Saturday, March 27 @ noon & 4 pm
Saturday, March 27 @ noon & 4 pm
Alice
Loved it.
Again...loved it. I was a little weary... half expecting a drug trip with the movie because of Tim Burton, but wow, I was really impressed. Depp did a great job - Alice, whatever her name is, was phenomenal. I loved that the story is Alice going BACK to Wonderland. Just a really interesting premise in comparison to our traditional, cartoon Alice in Wonderland. And I would just like to say that the makeup in this movie is remarkable! Wow.
Enjoy!
Again...loved it. I was a little weary... half expecting a drug trip with the movie because of Tim Burton, but wow, I was really impressed. Depp did a great job - Alice, whatever her name is, was phenomenal. I loved that the story is Alice going BACK to Wonderland. Just a really interesting premise in comparison to our traditional, cartoon Alice in Wonderland. And I would just like to say that the makeup in this movie is remarkable! Wow.
Enjoy!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Most Popular
Thanks to my friend/ coworker, I learned that I attend (and am almost graduated from) the most popular university in the nation. Boo ya!
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Friday, March 12, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Baby Carrots: The Origin
We've all asked it - so here is the answer.
Where do baby carrots come from?
A "true" baby carrot is a carrot grown to the "baby stage", which is to say long before the root reaches its mature size. The test is if you can see a proper "shoulder" on each carrot. These immature roots are preferred by some people out of the belief that they are superior either in texture, nutrition or taste.
"Manufactured" baby carrots are what you see most often in the shops. These are simply carrot shaped slices of peeled carrots. Invented in the late 1980's by Mike Yurosek, a California farmer, these mini-versions were a way of making use of carrots which were too twisted or knobby for sale as full-size carrots.
Yurosek was unhappy at having to discard as much as 400 tons of carrots a day because of their imperfections, and looked for a way to reclaim what would otherwise be a waste product. He was able to find an industrial green bean cutter, which cut his carrots into 5 cm lengths, and by placing these lengths into an industrial potato peeler, he created the baby carrot.
Voila! And thus you have the baby carrot... everyone's favorite healthy, orange snack.
Where do baby carrots come from?
A "true" baby carrot is a carrot grown to the "baby stage", which is to say long before the root reaches its mature size. The test is if you can see a proper "shoulder" on each carrot. These immature roots are preferred by some people out of the belief that they are superior either in texture, nutrition or taste.
"Manufactured" baby carrots are what you see most often in the shops. These are simply carrot shaped slices of peeled carrots. Invented in the late 1980's by Mike Yurosek, a California farmer, these mini-versions were a way of making use of carrots which were too twisted or knobby for sale as full-size carrots.
Yurosek was unhappy at having to discard as much as 400 tons of carrots a day because of their imperfections, and looked for a way to reclaim what would otherwise be a waste product. He was able to find an industrial green bean cutter, which cut his carrots into 5 cm lengths, and by placing these lengths into an industrial potato peeler, he created the baby carrot.
Voila! And thus you have the baby carrot... everyone's favorite healthy, orange snack.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Advance... Ameliorate... Better
It honestly amazes me how two people, completely different in so many ways, can come together, and in a matter of hours, connect on so many different levels. I've experienced it; you've experienced it. I think it could and should be considered one of the wonders of this life.
Sincerely hypothetically speaking: have you truly ever met someone who really made you stop and think about yourself and wonder if you were good enough to attract a person that good? I don't think it is a negative thing or something that should make one feel badly about themselves, but it is an interesting thing to look at oneself and look for ways to improve...
I think the desire alone to better yourself is amazing. Because you met one person, you want to read a new book... you want to try cooking a new recipe... you want to check out a new band... you want to develop a new hobby... you want to improve. You "want." You don't feel forced to do these things... if you did, you wouldn't want to be with this person anymore. But because you have spent time with them, you "want" to go and find a way to be better. How beautiful.
I truly believe that when looking for someone with whom you will spend the rest of your life and eternity, it has to be a person who makes you want to be better - everyday. It isn't a game of "one-uping," rather a continual encouragement to read, learn, discover, serve and love. Part of me thinks that we "nudge" each other toward eternal life and perfection, but the more I think about it... the less I like it. We should be side by side, moving forward. Not one ahead of the other, doing a back and forth dance or continually handing off the baton to whomever is "in the lead" for most improvement made. No. We are improving together. Don't you agree?
The desire to ameliorate then transforms into this phenomenal quest to do, find, see, love, serve, cherish, learn, hear and discover so you can then run home and share it with that person who encouraged you in the first place.
The Eels sing a song called "Fresh Feeling." The following lines express my thoughts:
"You don't have a clue what it is like to be next to you. I'm here to tell you, that it is good, that it is true."
You don't have a clue what it is like to be next to you. I hope we all find one of those.
Sincerely hypothetically speaking: have you truly ever met someone who really made you stop and think about yourself and wonder if you were good enough to attract a person that good? I don't think it is a negative thing or something that should make one feel badly about themselves, but it is an interesting thing to look at oneself and look for ways to improve...
I think the desire alone to better yourself is amazing. Because you met one person, you want to read a new book... you want to try cooking a new recipe... you want to check out a new band... you want to develop a new hobby... you want to improve. You "want." You don't feel forced to do these things... if you did, you wouldn't want to be with this person anymore. But because you have spent time with them, you "want" to go and find a way to be better. How beautiful.
I truly believe that when looking for someone with whom you will spend the rest of your life and eternity, it has to be a person who makes you want to be better - everyday. It isn't a game of "one-uping," rather a continual encouragement to read, learn, discover, serve and love. Part of me thinks that we "nudge" each other toward eternal life and perfection, but the more I think about it... the less I like it. We should be side by side, moving forward. Not one ahead of the other, doing a back and forth dance or continually handing off the baton to whomever is "in the lead" for most improvement made. No. We are improving together. Don't you agree?
The desire to ameliorate then transforms into this phenomenal quest to do, find, see, love, serve, cherish, learn, hear and discover so you can then run home and share it with that person who encouraged you in the first place.
The Eels sing a song called "Fresh Feeling." The following lines express my thoughts:
"You don't have a clue what it is like to be next to you. I'm here to tell you, that it is good, that it is true."
You don't have a clue what it is like to be next to you. I hope we all find one of those.
Why LDS women stress...
My sister-in-law sent this to me and I got a kick out of it... somewhat true for some (a lot of) women:
"As Latter-day Saint women, we are practically obsessed with anxiously engaging ourselves in good causes. Maybe it's subliminal. Glancing through the hymnal last Sunday I noted that as sisters in Zion, we who are called to serve are all enlisted to go marching, marching forward because the world has need of willing men to all press on scattering sunshine. We wonder if we have done any good in the world today because we have been given much and want to do what is right, keep the commandments, press forward with the Saints, choose the right, and put our shoulders to the wheel going where He wants us to go. However, as the morning breaks high on the mountain top, truth reflects upon our senses, and while we still believe that sweet is the work, we also realize that we have work enough to do ere the sun goes down. And thus we ask Thee ere we part, where can we turn for peace?"
Trivia question: how many hymn titles can you name from this post?
"As Latter-day Saint women, we are practically obsessed with anxiously engaging ourselves in good causes. Maybe it's subliminal. Glancing through the hymnal last Sunday I noted that as sisters in Zion, we who are called to serve are all enlisted to go marching, marching forward because the world has need of willing men to all press on scattering sunshine. We wonder if we have done any good in the world today because we have been given much and want to do what is right, keep the commandments, press forward with the Saints, choose the right, and put our shoulders to the wheel going where He wants us to go. However, as the morning breaks high on the mountain top, truth reflects upon our senses, and while we still believe that sweet is the work, we also realize that we have work enough to do ere the sun goes down. And thus we ask Thee ere we part, where can we turn for peace?"
Trivia question: how many hymn titles can you name from this post?
Friday, March 5, 2010
A 30 cent pencil
I went to the testing center today and before I went, I looked in my bag for a pencil. I didn't find one so I decided to just borrow one from the Testing Center.
I got to the testing center and asked the girl at the counter if I could borrow a pencil. I knew this test was only going to take me about 20 minutes... she smiled and said, "No. But I can charge one to your BYU account?" I stared at her for a second thinking she was joking... "Okay, I just charged the 30 cents to your student account." I grumbled a thank you and took the stupid testing center pencil. (At least it was sharpened.)
Now I have to get online and pay the 30 cents charge with my credit card. She couldn't just take a quarter and a nickle from my pocket and call it good? Nope. She had to charge it to my student account.
I got to the testing center and asked the girl at the counter if I could borrow a pencil. I knew this test was only going to take me about 20 minutes... she smiled and said, "No. But I can charge one to your BYU account?" I stared at her for a second thinking she was joking... "Okay, I just charged the 30 cents to your student account." I grumbled a thank you and took the stupid testing center pencil. (At least it was sharpened.)
Now I have to get online and pay the 30 cents charge with my credit card. She couldn't just take a quarter and a nickle from my pocket and call it good? Nope. She had to charge it to my student account.
A nice reminder...
Elder Ballard gives a nice reminder...
"To you who feel harried and overwhelmed and who wonder whether you ever will be able to run fast enough to catch the departing train you think you should be on, I suggest that you learn to deal with each day as it comes, doing the best you can, without feelings of guilt or inadequacy...No one can do everything.
When you have done the best you can, be satisfied and don't look back and second-guess, wondering how you could have done more. Be at peace within yourselves. Rather than berate yourself for what you didn't do, congratulate yourself for what you did... Remember, our Heavenly Father never expects more of us than we can do."
"To you who feel harried and overwhelmed and who wonder whether you ever will be able to run fast enough to catch the departing train you think you should be on, I suggest that you learn to deal with each day as it comes, doing the best you can, without feelings of guilt or inadequacy...No one can do everything.
When you have done the best you can, be satisfied and don't look back and second-guess, wondering how you could have done more. Be at peace within yourselves. Rather than berate yourself for what you didn't do, congratulate yourself for what you did... Remember, our Heavenly Father never expects more of us than we can do."
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
And Everything Nice...
There is a darling cake-maker that I know, named Amber Terry. She recently put a post on her blog calling for all creative ideas because she is trying to find a name for her cake-making/ decorating business. As reward for choosing the name, the winner gets a cake of their choice!
Guess who the winner was?
And Everything Nice Cakes... by Yours Truly...
I get a free cake! I'm thinking I'm going to request a cake with a diploma on it and throw a graduation party with my roommates. One month and two weeks and counting...
Guess who the winner was?
And Everything Nice Cakes... by Yours Truly...
I get a free cake! I'm thinking I'm going to request a cake with a diploma on it and throw a graduation party with my roommates. One month and two weeks and counting...
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Simple Satisfaction
I was talking with a friend and shared a few things from which I glean satisfaction. He looked at me kind of funny on a few things and I realized that I get satisfaction out of doing some funny things... in no specific order...
1. Filling up on gas
2. Cracking my back and hips in the morning
3. Emptying my bedroom garbage cans
4. Cleaning my bathroom
5. Using exact change when purchasing something
6. Brushing my teeth (but not necessarily going to the dentist)
7. Eye drops
8. Returning books to the library and videos to the store... on time
9. Putting Chap Stick/ lotion on
10. Scratching my head/ brushing my hair at the end of the day
11. Deleting unnecessary e-mails
12. Changing the page of my calendar to the new month
13. Throwing away a stack of old school assignments that I thought I would keep but haven't looked at since 2004.
14. Checking something off a list (even writing something down on my list after having already done it just so I can check it off)
15. Cleaning my glasses, laptop screen and phone screen.
1. Filling up on gas
2. Cracking my back and hips in the morning
3. Emptying my bedroom garbage cans
4. Cleaning my bathroom
5. Using exact change when purchasing something
6. Brushing my teeth (but not necessarily going to the dentist)
7. Eye drops
8. Returning books to the library and videos to the store... on time
9. Putting Chap Stick/ lotion on
10. Scratching my head/ brushing my hair at the end of the day
11. Deleting unnecessary e-mails
12. Changing the page of my calendar to the new month
13. Throwing away a stack of old school assignments that I thought I would keep but haven't looked at since 2004.
14. Checking something off a list (even writing something down on my list after having already done it just so I can check it off)
15. Cleaning my glasses, laptop screen and phone screen.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Second Mission
How long does a returned sister missionary have to wait before going on another mission?
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