Beauty in our back yard

The other day I took a stroll around our neighborhood and Temple Square to capture the majesty of spring's blooming flowers. I'm love, love, loving tulips! Such a dazzling and beautiful flower, and yet they can withstand the even the harshest weather of spring.











Ahhh, spring flowers just make me smile :)

Master Chef Strikes Again!

This week Clark attempted orange chicken.


Oh my yummy...

The Master Chef enjoying his delectable orange chicken with a Mexi-cola!

I told Clark that I'm glad he doesn't want to pursue culinary school. Everything he touches (cooks) turns to gold and we would both gain a massive amount of weight.

Online secret journal

I've started an online journal and I'm psyched. Technically it is a blog, but it is private so only I can view it and I call it my online secret journal.

I'm terrible at keeping or even attempting to keep a journal. I blame being a South paw. My pinky never fails to smear the ink and I can't stand that. Also, my penmanship is lacking and I can't stand that either.

So here we go. Another blog to keep up, only this time it is for my benefit, and perhaps for the benefit of my very very far off future kin...

One of my life goals...completed!

I gave blood.

I have a list of life goals that Clark says I could complete in a week. Giving blood is on that list. Doing one (just one!) pull up/chin up is on that list as well. I may tackle that goal next.

Giving blood has been one of my life goals for a very long time. It is also something Clark has wanted me to do for a very long time. But I'll let you in on a secret. I hate needles. Just because I'm a nurse and I get to start IV's and give shots and vaccinations does not mean I am immune to the fear of needles. Little 25 guage needles don't scare me. It's the big 18 guages that freak me out. And I've always been told that huge needles are used when you donate blood. So I have never done it. And my other excuse is that I run and I need my energy to run, obviously.

Well I woke up on Monday morning and ran before leaving for the blood bank. I was pretty nervous the whole drive and through the whole interview process. When they stuck the needle in it did sting, but it wasn't a terrible pain. I didn't watch, of course. But I watched when the lady stuck the needle in Clark's arm and surmised that they use 16 guage needles. Those things look like capri sun straws! Clark beat me and took only 5 minutes to fill his bag; I took 10 minutes. Go figure.

Overall, it was a positive experience and I will donate again, it just won't be for awhile. I am still feeling a little sluggish two days later.

Salt Lake half marathon, sick day, MEGAFEAST

I have the worst head ache right now. And I could come back to this tomorrow but I know I'll find something else to do or watch (I hear Dexter is pretty good) and I will continue to neglect this blog. I have been a terrible blogger lately. For my three faithful followers, I do apologize. I hope these following pictures and captions make up for my lack of motivation. We'll start to get out and do more when the people who make our schedules finally decide to schedule us on the same nights. This crap is getting really lame, REALLY fast. Another reason I despise Utah, and it isn't even Utah's fault. Blast...

I had to throw this picture in. When I made turkey burgers and sweet potato fries the other night I noticed that it looked like a face. HA! I didn't even mean to do that. And we've been rocking huge beer mugs lately, minus the beer. Reminiscent of Germany, of simpler times, of not being grown up with grown up responsibilities. Have I mentioned lately that I don't like being grown up?

So I ran the Salt Lake Half Marathon the other weekend. Clark will be pissed if I don't blog about it (not just angry, but pissed) so I am now doing so. I ran it in my best time to date: 1:21.56.

I look so happy and chipper at roughly 6:50 am. Functioning on four hours of sleep.

The start of the race at Legacy Bridge.


Finishing at the Gateway. Fourth female finisher, 19th overall. I need to start running in small town races. I need some wins under my belt to bolster my confidence.

Collecting my post race goodies and body fuel. Cannot believe how nice the day turned out to be.

You wouldn't know it, but we're actually sitting in a McDonald's drive-thru after the race. Clark was "treating" me to breakfast after my new personal record.

Just the other day my good friend Heather from AZ dropped by, so we hit up Spoon Me frozen yogurt! I look sick and tired in this picture because I really was sick and tired. But it was so good to see a familiar face!

This is me later that same night before Clark had a "night out with the guys."

And this is what I did while Clark was out with the guys. Nasty mildew-y tile, I know. No amount of cleaning can get rid of it.

The other night Clark and I hosted MEGAFEAST and invited some friends over to partake of some ridiculously tasty fried chicken, twice baked potatoes and beef brisket. Here is the master chef who prepared every last chicken strip and potato and stringy piece of brisket. I did absolutely nada. And no, he's not gangsta, just trying to keep his luscious locks out of the food.

Literally hours and hours of preparation went in to MEGAFEAST.

He is so talented and amazing:)

MMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmm

These baked potatoes may look dull and boring here

but they sure do look shiny and tasty and voluptuous here.

I didn't get pictures of the actual feasting part of the night or of the Foosball tournament, but we had a good time.

I'm considering investigating some recipes online that Clark and I may really like (any ideas?). I need to become more domesticated than he is. It just isn't fair.

Around town

Clark and I have been perusing the City Guide here in SLC to find some good restaurants and dives. Last week we tried out the Hong Kong Tea House and Restaurant in hopes of eating some good Chinese food.

It was fantastic. And we both left full, which is a feat difficult for any restuarant to accomplish. Thoughts of the sesame chicken and mongolian beef are making my mouth water as I type...

Luckily, the restaurant is right next door to the venue where we are seeing this band in a few weeks. I guess we'll just have to give the Hong Kong Tea House some more of our business before the show!

WinCo Love

Do I win anything for eating an entire pound of chocolate covered raisins in 16 hours? Ahhh, it was worth every penny and every calorie. I can't wait to go back to Winco and get more.

Three things I love about WinCo:

1. They are cheap and still let you use coupons! (For the first time in my entire adult life, I used two coupons the other day. I've never wanted to become someone who just buys something because they have a coupon for it and I definitely never want to become a woman who stands at the register and says "wait, did I give you a coupon for that?" and then go rummaging in my "coupon organizer" in my purse to find a coupon and save a whopping .25 cents....uggghhh, those women kill me. I did however purchase three items with my two coupons. Frozen fruit, and two cans of Chili beans that are a great side to tah-dig. Let me tell you, saving $1.25 was awesome.)

2. Parking is never an issue and the lot is never near full. I have come to realize that Utah people love them some Costco but don't care so much for WinCo. Too"ghetto" I presume.

3. I love feeling like a kid in candy store when I stroll through the bulk foods isle. And there are lots of goodies in the bulk food section so I guess I am that kid in the candy store. That would explain why I bought a pound of chocolate covered raisins and ate them all in less than a day...

See you in a week and a half, WinCo.

You've got to be kidding me!

Taken on April 12, 2010.

I can hear birds chirping in the trees but can I really trust spring is on the way when it continues to snow in mid April? I am all about spontaneous weather, but COME ON.

Spring?

April snow brings May flowers? Isn't it supposed to be spring?
We took these photos on Tuesday April 06 at about 3:00am (we work nights). Easter weekend was kind of spring and then this happened...

What's cookin' at 3:00 in the morning?

A mean pot of Mom Tobler's chicken noodle soup...minus the noodles and with the addition of potatoes. And lots and lots of carrots and celery. Which gives it more of a stew consistency. But that's ok, I am a lover of stews and soups, bisques and gazpachos....

Clark and I are trying to "eat right for our blood type" and according to the type O diet, wheat and diary products are the devil. So instead of throwing noodles into this soup, we added potatoes. (I don't think potatoes are even a beneficial food for our blood type, but we had to have something starchy!)

P.S. Clark and I both got called off from work last night. It was amazing. Hence the reason we were up at 3 am making soup.

Colorful Colorado

(I think I love Colorado.) We had a great time visiting Denver and the surrounding areas! It was great catching up with Clark's high school buddy, Joel, and meeting his awesome girlfriend, Jen. We went snowboarding Monday as Joel is a regional sales rep for Rome Snowboards and had all the gear we would need AND was able to get us discounted lift tickets. It had been years since both Clark and I had been, but it was a blast. And I'm still sore. For some reason Clark isn't feeling the pain. This isn't quite fair since I am supposed to be the one who is in shape. Anyway, here are some photos of our lovely little trip:

Downtown Denver from a moving vehicle...

Ping Pong action in Joel's basement. Notice the black dog in the corner. This is by far the smartest, most well behaved dog ever...

Of course the day we wanted to explore downtown and visit Wax Trax Records it rained and snowed. Other than this day, the weather was beautiful so I really can't complain. And I kind of like how spontaneous the weather is in Denver. Dagmara, notice the purse :) ...

Clark amidst buffalo on the 16th Street Mall...

Hanging out ...

Clark and I went to visit a family he was close with on his mission. The Moffets were so excited to see him! Did I mention that Clark showed me several placed where he resided on his mission? He did...

A fun night at the aquarium with Joel and Jen...

I think eels are the most disgusting of all sea creatures...this thing just gives me the chills...

A lionfish and Clark's profile...

Petting a sting ray. Slightly reminiscent of swimming with the sting rays in Grand Cayman. If you ever get the chance to swim with sting rays, do!

Clark gently petting a sting ray. Two fingers!

Dinner at the aquarium. Butter infused everything, and that included the vegetables...

Group shot with Joel and Jen. They are so fun and cute! And don't mind my face, I thought we were doing a funny picture...

On the chairlift at Loveland. So much fun! So pleased that Clark and I can still ride pretty dang good. But I must admit that I have found I am a master at something. (Steph, I never responded to the "tag" awhile back because I feel like I'm more a jack-of-all-trades, master of none, kind of girl. But I have found something I truly excel at.)
***I am a master at falling when dismounting from the chairlift.***
I don't remember having this problem six years ago, but I could not conquer this task! I think there were 4 runs where I actually got off the chairlift without falling down. It would help if the hill at the end of the lift was less than a 45 degree angle, but still. So embarrassing, but at least I could still ride!

Ahhh, love on the mountain...

Yes, thumbs up to the weather and still being able to ride!

Clark looking dazed at the bed and breakfast, post snowboarding...

How cool is this mural? Clark was excited, he just doesn't show it here ;) poor, tired boy...

I was going for a "hiding in the forest" type of picture...

The outside...

Our balcony...

And our beautiful drive home.

We ended up taking the route through Grand Junction back to Utah. This is Garfield Mountain. Clark hiked this mountain a couple of times as a missionary. Clark asked if I would like to hike it and said he carved me a message there years ago. I got super excited, until he told me that he carved "I love you babe. -Clark Tobler" on the mountain. Since the message didn't specifically include my name, I decided the climb would not be worth it.

We had such a great trip and can't wait to visit again! There is so much to do in Colorado, and restaurants stay open past 9 pm! We actually had burritos downtown around 11 pm one night! Ahhh, the joy of being in a place that actually has a true downtown. I guess Colorado may be a place to look at for grad schools after all...