Jason & Drea

We did it!! 90 days!!

2011-12-12T20:22:00.000-08:00

I never thought I would type 90 days!! It seemed so far away. But we did it. It has been quite the journey! But one that I am so glad we have taken. I am even more impressed by Jason and his willingness to stick with this. When my Dr. suggested we do a vegan diet and see what happens, I was hoping Jason would jump on board with me. Little did I know, he would not only jump on board, but he would see such benefits himself.

I have to tell you what happened 2 weeks ago. I started to get sick. We were around all the kids for Thanksgiving, and they all had the sniffles and colds. I started to get it when we got home from Vegas. I refused to let it get in the way of my progress with my healthy lifestyle, ESPECIALLY my working out and training. I just would not have it. So, I went to the Dr. They recommended I go on antibiotics right away to make sure it didn't turn into something worse like it did last year. I was fine with that. Well anyway, they weighed me, and my weight was lower than I thought. So I asked her if she could tell me what my weight was last year when I was in. I weighed 25 more pounds last visit to the Dr. a year ago!!!! It was such a happy moment for me. I actually SAW the results on paper - in numbers. Not just how I feel. It made feeling sick all worth it to hear that news!! And the good thing is that in about 3 days I was all better. In the past it has taken me weeks to get over it. I KNOW it's because my body is healthier than it has been in a long time. So AWESOME!!!!

I will be setting some new goals for the new year. And I WILL be losing weight over the holidays. I have had some little treats here and there, but am trying very hard to stick with it. I think I am leaning towards having some fitness/exercise goals for the next few months. I will come up with something concrete so that I can track it on here. It has been fun to hear and read people's comments about trying new recipes themselves, getting healthier, and even people cutting out meat.

I hope the Christmas season is in full swing for everyone. It's the most WONDERFUL time of the year!!

Days 60-82 - Excuse me while I post!

2011-12-02T14:57:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving at Angela's! We had so much fun - and did I mention the food? No, we were not Vegan on Thanksgiving day - let's just say that right out front. Ok, and maybe not the whole weekend, but we did some modifications here and there.

Here is my plate on Thanksgiving day. It was delectable - every bite! Ang made grandma's cauliflower and cheese (I only got a little bit), and the mashed potatoes I made is another story. Let's just say that I went out and bought Angela a new mixer the next day!!

Jason having his first bite of meat in a long while!! He enjoyed every bite :)

Me and mom

Jason and Ash - Ashlee giving her usual camera face.

Angela didn't really get a break - after cooking and slaving on her feet for hours, Luke wanted to be held the whole dinner. haha Thanks Ang! It was marvelous! I also need to add that Angela and I did a 1 and a half hour Zumba class Thanksgiving morning. People - I have never worked out on Thanksgiving day, or probably Thanksgiving week in my life. This was a first, and I loved every minute! We went to Angela's friend Megan's gym where she teaches, and it was an even bigger class than what I am used to with Lisa. Thanksgiving week, I worked out over 6 hours. Yippee!!

Me and my best girls after doing Zumba when Angela was in town. The only person missing is Ashlee.... Zumba has saved my life - I love it so much!!

Tyler and me at Jamie's wedding. PS. Some of these pictures have nothing to do with food, haha.

Me and my girl, Kayla, my sweet flower girl!!

Ash, Juan, and me right before the wedding is starting.

Tyler, if looks could kill!! haha

Ok, I have been trying to get Jason to eat avocados for years. So, 8 years later, he decides that he likes avocado!! WHAT??? I say your taste buds change when you start eating healthier. Here is Jason enjoying some quinoa and black beans with avocado. Yum!

Our friends the Brogan's enjoyed a vegan meal with us. Their little Tyler loves Jason.

Black beans, quinoa, corn, onions, cilantro, lime, and tomatoes. Roasted asparagus, and tomatoes with vegan cornbread. So delish!

Time Out for Women in St. George was AWESOME! This is Jenny Oaks Baker playing the violin - beautiful!

Thanks Dez for the great weekend! Without your help, we wouldn't have been able to do it! Thanks to Brenna too, our new friend that let us stay at her condo. So sweet!

Enjoying my sister, kid free, for a night and a half. We had such a great time together!

I was introduced to my first salted chocolate caramel. I had 1 bite. And it was to DIE FOR!!!

No, I did not eat this entire thing. Just looked pretty so I wanted to take a picture. haha

This was at our quarterly supper club, with Monica and Ellen. Monica made her famous pumpkin roll - YUUUMMMM!!!! I wanted more, but only had a little slice.

Annie and me at the trunk or treat. And yes, the white chili won again.

Meeting up for Dad for his birthday at YC's. I get all the vegetables I want, tofu, and I even added shrimp this time. So good!

At our supper club, Monica made sure that we had fish, so that I could eat too! She made Alaskan cod with roasted fennel and an orange relish on top! Man, just typing this, I want that dish again. Also, roasted asparagus on the side. Drinks - Ellen had beer, Monica had wine, and I had sparkling pomegranate juice from Trader Joes- amazing! Monica always makes sure I'm accomadated!

Fun table setting at Monica's....

2 of my best girls - Now if we could just get us all 4 together!!

Enjoying some good food at YC's for dad's birthday.

Jason and his favorite soccer team's get up - Arsenal. Looking good!!

This is my mom's famous chili - I think I posted the recipe earlier on the blog?? I will have to check. Anyway, instead of using meat, I added tofu. The firm tofu, drain, and crumble just like you would meat. I saute it with my onions in the beginning, then add the stuff. Very good. Makes a ton though, so you could freeze some.

When I started out on this challenge, and wrote my first blog post, I remember typing - Day 1, and feeling like I would never see the day when I would type 60....But we made it! I can't believe we are actually almost to day 90 - which is the amount of time Jason and I said we would stick with this Vegan challenge. I'm pretty proud of us.

Weight loss total so far -

Drea - 20 pounds

Jason - 23 pounds

Yay us! So where do I begin in this post? We survived Thanksgiving, and no they were not Vegan days during that weekend. But as I have worked my way through this, I am finding my way. I am ready to do the 90/10 rule which is basically what I have been doing this last week. 90 percent plant based diet, with 10 percent anything you want. What a great way to have a balanced, healthy lifestyle.

I have finally figured out how to upload pictures from my camera, so I will be posting more often. Jason said, and I quote, "You need to post in short bursts so that I can stand to read it". Ok, fine. haha

The goal for December - to make it through all of the holiday parties, get togethers, and festivities, eating as clean as possible, and lose weight!! I will be checking in....

Until next time... Enjoy this WONDERFUL time of year!!

Hello Tammy! Days 47 - 59

2011-11-09T09:50:00.000-08:00

Ok, it's been way too long! Where is the time going?? I am having trouble uploading my pictures this morning, and I am in a time crunch to get to work, and then catch a flight tonight, so this will be quick. Here are a few updates:

Weight loss for us -

Jason - Almost 20 pounds! Get out of here!

Drea - 17 pounds - YAY!

Jason said "the words" the other night.... "I am a vegetarian." Oh em gee....haha this is crazy! He is feeling so good and doing great.

Since adding in a few eggs (mostly egg whites) and fish, I am feeling better. The dizziness is going away, and this tells me my body needs these things. My training is going AWESOME and I'm feeling so much stronger which is such a great thing for me. I am seeing a big difference in my clothes and Jason's pants are falling off. We both refuse to get any new pants until December! We may have to though. My scrubs are even starting to fall off me a bit by the end of the day, so we'll see how long we can go.

I have so many great pictures of food and I'm frustrated they won't upload! But I promise to get them on soon. I also will put my minestrone soup recipe that I got from my friend Adrienne on too. It's amazing and one of my favorite soups to date! I could eat soup everyday, seriously. Jason asked me this week - Do we only eat soup now? I'm like, c'mon we eat a lot more than that! I also made a creamy cauliflower soup, completely vegan and no dairy. It was delish - Annie and Jason loved it too. My other favorite for the week: My honey mustard glazed salmon which is to die for. I could have that every night. I'm having salmon about 2 times a week.

I will post pictures soon! If the system will let me! Maybe Sunday.

Happy rest of the week everyone!!

Days 43-47, recipes, and SALMON!!

2011-10-28T12:18:00.000-07:00

Since my Dr. wants me to add some fish and eggs, I made some wild salmon which I picked up at Sprouts. It was AWESOME!! Best piece of fish I've had in a long time. Of course because I haven't had fish in a long time, haha. But oh how I love seafood. I sauteed it in vegetable broth and sprinkled lots of dried dill on top - love dill. Pepper, and a little salt. I covered it and let it steam a bit. You have to keep adding vegetable broth because it steams off pretty fast. Then in another pan I sauteed a whole onion and half and red and yellow pepper and garlic. Salt and pepper and there were my sauteed vegetables. Then I wanted something green on the plate so I made some frozen peas - I love peas!! Such a yummy meal!

This is Dr. Fuhrman's Anti-cancer Soup from his book Eat to Live. This was quite a project that my mom and I tackled last Friday. This picture shows that I added some canned black beans to the finished product. My mom and I loved it.... Jason not so much. It has a lot of onions in it, and he's not a huge onion fan. The broth is carrot juice, celery juice, and raw cashews that have been blended with the broth. YUMMMMM!!!! It makes a ton!! I would modify the recipe next time so I don't have to use 2 pots....ah! Here's the recipe right from the book:

1/2 cup dried split peas

1/2 cup dried beans (use any variety)

4 cups water

4 med onions chopped

6-8 medium zucchini, cut into 1-inch pieces (we used 8, next time less!)

3 leek stalks, coarsely chopped

2 bunches kale, collard greens, or other greens, tough stems and center ribs removed and leaves chopped

5 pounds carrots, juiced (5-6 cups juice)

2 bunches celery, juiced (2 cups juice)

2 TBSP Dr. Fuhrman's Vegizest or Mrs. Dash (We used Bragg's seasoning - get at Sprouts)

1 cup raw cashews

8 ounces fresh mushrooms (shiitake, cremini, and/or oyster), chopped

Place split peas, beans, and water in a very large pot over low heat. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the onions, zucchini, leeks, and kale to the pot. Add the carrot juice, celery juice, and Vegizest. Simmer until the onions, zucchini, and leeks are soft, about 40 minutes. Remove 2 cups of the soup liquid, being careful to leave the beans and at least half of the kale in the pot. Using a high-powered blander or food processor, blend the soup liquid with the cashews. Return the creamy mixture to the pot. Add the mushrooms and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the beans are soft.

**NOTE: Freshly juiced organic carrots and celery will maximize the flavor of this soup.

4 whole onions that go in the soup! My contacts saved me while chopping. If you don't wear contacts, you can wear goggles, or I heard you can bite on a piece of bread while chopping and the fumes won't be as bad. :)

Many thanks to my dear friend Tammy who let me borrow her juicer!! She is so gracious with ALL of her knowledge on all of this stuff and sharing things with me. She has let me borrow many books, and is the one that got me into green smoothies. Thanks Tammy! Juicing was SOO easy! I had never used one before. She got hers on Amazon.com and said it was about $70. It is the Breville brand. I want one now! My mom did a FABULOUS job of juicing the carrots and celery for me! Thanks mom :)

5 cups of freshly juiced carrots. Next time I would have done 6 - I love the broth that it makes. And so good for you!! Some other things I will do next time - I might just do canned beans - the ones we used were still a bit hard when everything was done. And there were so many vegetables in it, you could hardly tell there were split peas or beans in there. Definitely less zucchini next time, MORE mushrooms, and more broth. I did have to add some vegetable broth after we all ate because we were losing liquid. We ate from this ALL week and I now have to freeze the rest!

This is the homemade spaghetti sauce we made - thanks to Jason's friend Nicole from work.

Here's the recipe:

Vegetable broth

4 cloves garlic

Garlic powder - 3/4 tsp

black pepper - 3/4 tsp

oregano - 3/4 tsp

Basil - I sprinkle it on, I love basil!

crushed red pepper - 1-2 shakes, that's it!! Otherwise, too spicy :)

Any veggies you want - onions, peppers, squash, zucchini, olives...

One can of whole tomatoes

One can diced or crushed tomatoes ( we like tomatoes, so I did 2 cans diced)

Cut up vegetables into bite size pieces. Sautee garlic for a minute in veg. broth. Then add vegetables and sautee til soft. Add more broth as needed if things get dry. It will cook off. Once vegetables are done, add tomatoes. Squeeze whole tomatoes over pot with your hand - be careful, they squirt! Stir in dry seasoning to taste. Bring to a simmer and then lower heat and cook for 15-20 min.

Cook 1 package of whole wheat spaghetti to al dente. Drain water, and add sauce on top. Delish!!

You can also do spaghetti squash instead of noodles. We did this the first time, and I didn't cook the squash long enough so it was a bit crunchy. haha

We used onions, zucchini, red and yellow peppers, and mushrooms.

Finished product

This is Dr. Oz's recipe for Quinoa with Vegetables and Herbs. Very good! I made it as a meal, but it is more of a side dish, or a light lunch.

1 cup quinoa

1/2 tsp kosher salt

2 TBSP olive oil ( I used about a tsp)

1 small red onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 med zucchini, chopped

3 carrots, peeled and chopped

2 tsp fresh thyme or oregano ( I used thyme, the kitchen smelled awesome!)

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 TBSP chopped fresh chives

1. Rinse quinoa in a strainer. In a saucepan, bring quinoa, 2 cups water, and 1/4 tsp salt to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until quinoa absorbs the water, 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over med-low heat. Add onion; cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Raise heat to med-high and add garlic, zucchini, carrots, thyme or oregano and red pepper flakes. Saute, stirring frequently, until vegetables are tender and golden around the edges, 8 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. In a large bowl, mix together quinoa, vegetables, and fresh chives, and serve.

My favorite fruit this week - Honeycrisp Apple! I bought 3 at Fry's - They are the size of a LARGE grapefruit. So crispy, sweet, and juicy! I eat half at a time, they are so big.

We went out for a friend's birthday dinner party and had a WONDERFUL time! We went to Spinato's, an Italian place. Kind of a Vegan's nightmare because you can't eat cheese! Well, we improvised :) This is what I got - Gluten free crust, marinara, no chesse, and spinach and tomatoes. It was a delicious treat. I ate almost the whole thing except for one tiny square :) Jason got spaghetti with marinara, no cheese, and he did get an order of garlic bread. I decided to not have any. Everytime I'm at the gym doing squats, I think, this is too hard to go eat a bunch of junk and ruin it, hahah.

Mom and I grabbed YC's after a movie last weekend. For the first time I did curry flavors. I loved it and will do this again next time. I also did the rice noodles instead of the wheat noodles. A nice switch up. Loved it. Also I learned if you say you want it to go when you order, they will box it up for you and not charge you for the to go box! Worth it!

Here's another one of Jason's yummy Thursday night meals (the night he cooks). Veggie/black bean burger (Gardenburger brand this time), his yummy red potatoes chopped, and broccoli. I decided to go with no bun since I had potatoes too.

And I just had to put a picture up of my sweet angel. He's such a sweet little baby!!! haha He was sleeping and I kept interrupting him by trying to get a picture. I love this cat!

So there you go, another week almost down. I am making the famous white chili for the church chili cook off tomorrow. And I have had many people ask - NO I AM NOT MAKING IT VEGAN! I will be making it just like I always do, don't worry! haha It will be hard not to eat it though. So I'm going to try a new recipe from Dr. Fuhrman - Creamy Austrian Cauliflower soup. I will let you know how it goes.

Oh, and here's the count now for pounds.

Jason - minus 16 pounds

Drea - minus 14 pounds

Life is GOOD!!!

Days 35-42 and down 12.5 pounds and happy to report....

2011-10-23T22:32:00.000-07:00

This will be a very short post, but I wanted to atleast get something down for now, and then tomorrow I will plan on doing a more in depth post with more pictures and recipes!

I'm happy to report that after 6 weeks I am down 12.5 pounds, and Jason 14 pounds. Mom - I believe her last count was 7, but I'm not sure. :) Either way, I can't believe we made it 6 weeks. I did have some labs drawn on Friday and Saturday, and the Dr. wants me to go ahead and incorporate some eggs and fish throughout the week. I am especially interested to see if this will help with my lightheadedness that I have been getting. I am working out hard each week now, with Zumba and training with Sassi. Jason is not interested in incorporating any fish or eggs yet. He has had no signs of dizziness or lightheadedness so he is feeling wonderful. I can tell a difference in his energy levels too. He will have labs drawn in December to see where he is at.

The other thing I am happy to report about is my cholesterol: it went from 158 to 133. They tell you at the Dr. that anything below 200 is normal, but with everything I have been reading and studying, that is not entirely true. Evidence shows that you want your total cholesterol levels below 150 atleast, to protect yourself from heart disease. So go get your cholesterol checked and see where you are at! If anyone reading this wants to comment and report their cholesterol, that would be fun.... tee hee!

Gotta go get ready for work now. I will post more tomorrow. Pics and recipes....

PS. Happy Birthday to my dear friend Hailey!!!

Days 28-35 and -10.5 pounds!

2011-10-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

I made the "Easy 3 bean chili" from the Eat to Live book. It has tofu, 3 kinds of beans (duh), zuchinni, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, onions, spices and garlic. It was really good. The key is chopping up the vegetables very fine and you really don't even know they are there. It's just a hearty chili that is healthy. Jason loved it. So did Will. haha I had to post this picture of Will sitting at the table. He will often do this when we sit down for dinner - it's like he has to be a part of it to. Annie put her bowl in front of him to make it look like he was eating too. haha!

This is the cornbread I made with the chili - because you can't have chili without cornbread! It was really tasty - made without eggs or dairy. It was very biscuit like - almost like bisquick biscuits. I put a little honey on mine. Everybody love it! It was a nice treat!

I found this egg replacer at Sprouts. I read about it in a magazine. My sister -in-law asked me weeks ago how I would make things that required eggs....what do you use for a binder in recipes? Well Jenn, here's the answer! I guess many people don't buy it at Sprouts because I had 4 people looking for it, and eventually the manager was called, and he found it. They are so great at that store to help you find whatever you are looking for! You mix 1 1/2 tsp of the powder with 2 tbsp of water and that equals 1 egg.

Here's the cornbread mix that I used. I LOVE this brand - Bob's Red Mill. This is the brand of quinoa I buy as well. Costco has it in big bags for the quinoa. I would definitely make the cornbread again.
This recipe is courtesy of Dr. Oz that I found in Oprah's magazine - Lentils with Chia Seeds. I LOVED THIS! Keep in mind, and this is a helpful hint - YOU DO NOT NEED TO BREAK THE BANK TO BUY DIFFERENT BOTTLES OF SPICES! Sprouts has a spice section that you can scoop into a baggie and just pay for the amount you need. It's so great! Here is the recipe:

2 Tbsp. olive oil (I used just a drizzle then added some vegetable broth)

1 large white onion

1 tsp cumin seeds

1/4 tsp ground cardamom

1 tsp minced garlic

2 Tbsp minced ginger

2 tsp turmeric ( I love the color of this spice! Bright yellow)

1/2 fresh jalapeno, peeled, seeded, and minced

31/2 cups vegetable stock

2 cups red lentils, rinsed

1 14 ounce can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 Tbsp chia seeds

4 Tbsp chopped cilantro (I wanted more! You can put more in your bowl when you serve)

Cooked brown rice, for serving (I used quinoa, yum!!)

1. Heat oil (and veg. broth) over medium heat. Add onion and saute until lightly caramelized, about 10 minutes. Add cumin seeds, cardamom, and garlic; saute until fragrant, about 2 minutes.

2. Stir in 4 cups water, ginger, turmeric, jalapeno, vegetable stock, lentils, and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until lentils are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in salt, chia seeds, and cilantro; serve immediately with brown rice (or quinoa ) on the side of using.

If you don't know what chia seeds are, just think chia pet! haha Yes they are the same seeds, however - the benefits are AWESOME! They are full of protein, omega-3's, and they absorb 10 times their weight in water! Very cleansing to the intestines too because they absorb toxins. I use these amazing seeds in my green smoothies also. You don't even know they are there. You can find them at any health store, or online.

These are the kale chips I made. No they are not potato chips! But a good alternative for something crunchy and salty, with hardly any calories. Plus you get in your greens. If you don't know what kale is, or haven't tried it, it's very good in smoothies and cooked.

Here's the recipe for the Kale chips:

1 bunch of Kale

Pam spray or olive oil

salt

Remove stems and large ribs from the center of the leaves. Tear off leaves into about 1 inch pieces. These will cook down a lot. Spread out on a baking sheet to cover. Give a light spray with Pam just so the salt will stick. LIGHTLY salt and bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 min. I went more toward the 15 min. mark to make them really crispy. Thanks for the recipe Steph, Yum!

Here's what Kale looks like fresh. The leaves almost look like ruffles. Kale is full of protein and tons of vitamins and minerals that we need.

This is a picture of the "Fabulous Bean Burritos" from Dr. Esselstyn's book. We did a casserole type of thing with salsa and chopped tomotoes on top. It has onions, garlic, pinto beans, and the Ezekiel tortillas (they are sprouted and no flour is used). Jason loves these! I think because it is a "casserole" type of thing (TOT) and he loves any casserole type things.

I'm down 10.5 pounds! Not bad in 1 month, 4 weeks. And it's a healthy loss - not too fast. This week I will begin my 3rd week of working the my trainer Sassi at the gym. She is awesome and I am really enjoying it. I have been more sore in the past couple weeks than ever before, but I know it's what I need! I figured I am eating so well, might as well kick it up some notches and hit the gym more. This is helping me break through my plateau for sure.

There is only one thing I am trying to get to the bottom of. I sometimes feel a bit dizzy - still. This is going on 5 weeks and I know it's not normal, since Jason has had no such symptoms. I was talking with my wonderful, beautiful friend Nikki who is a nutrition major right now and is so knowledgeable about this subject. She wants me to get a nutrition profile blood test done to see if I'm deficient in anything. She says that we all have a phenotype. She made an interesting comment - "You might not have the phenotype to be a STRICT vegan. Your body may require more protein, even a small amount from animal sources." It hit me like a ton of bricks. She suggested maybe adding some white fish a couple times a week and maybe even a small piece of red meat (3 or 4 oz. ) which is not a lot, once a week. I am going to digest this advice. I have made a commitment to follow this for 3 months. Would I be breaking my commitment to add in some fish a few times a week, even if it is trying to make me feel 100%? Nikki said this is all trial and error. What do you guys think? I would love to hear some opinions, so comment if you so wish to. I feel like I need some advice/help.

Until my next post....

Day 21-28 and Realizations

2011-10-09T21:00:00.000-07:00

My absolute favorite recipe of the week. Braised greens with butternut squash - so good!! I will post the recipe this week. If you have a hard time eating your leafy greens, this is the way to do it! So yummy!

This was our "mock" Lucy Casserole that is usually made with sausage, white rice, and chicken broth. So we "veganed" it up and used a faux sausage made from veggies, and soy, brown rice, and vegetable broth. I liked it, Jason didn't. Jason said he wanted the real thing. Ok, so we won't be making this one again. I might make it when I'm home by myself and wanting some "comfort food".

This week was insanely busy, so that's why this is my only post for the week. Here are some realizations I've had this week:

- Have we really been doing this for 4 weeks now?? Wow!! We have done it! 1 month!

- People have asked me if I will continue this lifestyle after the 3 months is over. I have thought about this a lot. So many of the things I have incorporated will stick with me - they have become habit now. Will I never have some shrimp or crab again? No, I can say I will. Will I never have a treat again or some turkey on Thanksgiving? No, I can say I will. But it's amazing the changes Jason and I have seen already, and the knowledge we are gaining about our health. I am loving this challenge!

- I have realized that this is getting easier and not so hard anymore. I am looking at it as more of a project now - a fun project. I'm loving making new recipes and finding what works.

- I love cooked kale and swiss chard - yummy!!! I have never had cooked kale or anything else besides cooked spinach. If you have never tried, you have to! It's so worth it for you health!

- Most people think that to get enough Calcium in their diet they have to "drink or eat dairy". That's not true. Did you know that most dark leafy green vegetables have more calcium in them than a serving of dairy? This blows my mind, and I love it when I am drinking my green smoothie, I know that I am getting so many vitamins, minerals, and those healthy phytochemicals.

- Probably about 60-70% of my patients that I see in my office are on some sort of cholesterol lowering medication, and high blood pressure medication. Both of these health issues are directly related to heart disease - something that I never want to have and I definitely don't want Jason to develop. It's TOTALLY preventable with eating a plant based diet - period.

- I made it through my first movie theatre experience WITHOUT movie theatre popcorn. Are you serious people???? Anyone that knows me, KNOWS that I am in love with movie theatre popcorn - the oily buttery goodness of it all. Oh boy, but now that I know the serious health precautions with eating this, it makes me think twice. So, we air popped our own popcorn, spritzed a little "I can't believe it's not butter" spray on, and sprinkled Molly Mcbutter - which is all fat free. We each had our own GALLON ziploc bag full, and I brought an orange for my "something sweet"! It was so delightful, and I didn't miss a thing! I am so proud of ourselves - normally we would share a large popcorn with butter and bring candy of our choice. This is huge for us. WOO HOO!!!!

I am still amazed by Jason's dedication to this. He went to a Diamondbacks game this week and had a veggie burrito, but it had cheese he realized as he was eating it. He also had a 1/2 of a chocolate chip cookie. The next 2 days, he said that his stomach was "ripped up". He realizes how GOOD he feels eating better - this is awesome!

This week: I am making a few new recipes this week....including some from the Dr. Oz home that was featured in Oprah's magazine. I will be trying the vegetable quinoa with fresh herbs, and the lentils with chia seeds. I will return and report :)

I also want to thank EVERYONE for the AMAZING support through this so far. I have been really surprised at people's help with recipes, and just supportive comments. I have to be honest, I expected to hear some comments such as, " You are doing a vegan diet? That's stupid." Or, "how can you do that? That's impossible!" I have not heard one negative thing.... Seriously! Thank you to all of my friends and family. You are such awesome supporters!!

Lots of love! :)

Days 18-21 and Recipes!!

2011-10-02T18:28:00.000-07:00

This is a WONDERFUL bean and corn salsa courtesy of our friend Jeff Chubbs. So easy and so delicious. Everyone loved this. Here's the recipe:

1/2 red onion (chopped fine)

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 can corn - drained

1 can black beans - drained and rinsed

1 can garbonzo beans - drained and rinsed

1 bunch cilantro ( we only used half , but I say the more the better!)

Fresh lime juice - 2 TBSPs

Salt and pepper to taste

garlic salt to taste

6 roma tomatoes chopped

Combine in a big bowl and stir. The longer it sits, the more the flavors come out. We served with multiseed chips that are so good. We found them at Sprouts - my new favorite place. :)

I LOVE THIS MAN!!!! After the Priesthood session of our church conference last night, Jason and I went to YC's (thanks for the reminder Val!), and loaded up on vegetables, some tofu, and wholewheat noodles. It is such a treat to go out, because I don't have to chop or cook our food! Look how cute that guy is :) He's down 10 pounds. Way to go babe! You're my favorite and I think you're amazing!

Here's a closer shot of my dinner at YC's. We sprinkled some sesame seeds and put a couple spoon fulls of peanuts on mine.

A GREAT substitute for sausage - made from soy and vegetable protein. I LOVED the flavor! Jason thought they were a bit bland, but I am not a sausage coniseur at all. He is. These went great with our Sunday conference breakfast.

Whole wheat banana pancakes, sausage patty (can I say again how yummy this was??), baked red potatoes in the oven, and some grapes. Here's the recipe for the whole wheat pancakes:

1/2 cup of whole wheat or buckwheat flour

1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup cornmeal

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 ripe banana

2 tablespoons vinegar ( we used apple cider)

3 TBSP maple syrup

2 cups oat, almond, or nonfat soy milk

Mix flour, oats, cornmeal, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl.

Mash the banana in another bowl, and add vinegar, maple syrup, and milk. Stir and add to dry ingredients.

Heat a nonstick pan on medium high. (We used our griddle) When water sizzles on the pan, it is ready for the pancakes. Cook until bubbles form. Flip, cook another few minutes on the other side.

Next time I will add some blueberries, and then maybe make a fruit compote to add as a topping. Today we just used maple syrup and that was excellent too! Yum!

You can't (well I can't) have pancakes without milk! But when you aren't drinking milk what do you do? This is a GREAT substitute - light Silk soymilk.

Our normal conference day would include eating treats (Karin's caramel corn which really is to die for, and you better believe I will be having that again sometime), food, more food, and more food. Today was filled with better choices, family fun, and wonderful messages from apostles and prophet of our church. We had some no fat popcorn today, leftover YC's, and a yummy soup for dinner with whole wheat bread. I can post that recipe sometime, it's good.

Here is 1 more recipe for the lentil stew we love. I though I had a picture....hhmm, anyway, thanks to Adrienne Ellsworth for this one :) This is SO easy, just throw everything in a pot. Makes a lot, so you can eat off of this all week.

Hearty Lentil Stew

2 cups lentils ( I do 1 cup red and 1 cup green)

10 cups water

1/2 cup rice ( I used brown)

2 tsp salt

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. dried parsley flakes

3 large tomatoes, chopped

1 carrot, chopped (I use 6 whole carrots - we LOVE them, you could even add more if you want)

1 pkg. (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained (I used fresh - several huge handfuls)

Wash and sort lentils; drain well. In a large pot, combine lentils, water, onion, rice, salt, garlic, oregano, and parsley; bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Add tomatoes, carrots, and spinach. (If using fresh, don't add til the very end!) Simmer 20 more minutes or until lentils are tender. SO GOOD!!!

Well there you go. I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend. We have. Life is good. We are soooo blessed!

Days 15, (-6 pounds), 16, and 17

2011-09-29T09:13:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been such a busy week. I knew it would be. In between work and everything else, I have been enjoying my new book, Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. It's principles basically follow the word of wisdom cited in the scriptures. The food pyramid is BRILLIANT, and is totally off from the one they teach in schools and that the government provides. Isn't it interesting that people that sit on the USDA - the ones that make up the nutritional guidelines for us as a country, have vested interests in the meat and dairy councils of America. If you want to learn more about the science behind nutrition, this is a great book. I'm learning so much about "phytochemicals", the nutrients in plants that are so important to our bodies. I'm fascinated by it, and am enjoying learning.

As far as my eating this week, I continue to press forward. Monday I made a big pot of my lentil stew so we had that a few times. Did I mention my mom is staying with us for a little bit?? I have realized our food will not go as far now, but that's ok since she is helping with the prep work and cooking.

I found these ready to eat lentils at Trader Joe's that I put on my salad on Monday, they are so good! My other favorite thing is the dried blueberries from Costco. I put some in my oatmeal with a some walnuts and oat milk, and it is so good. I don't even need the Stevia anymore! They do have a tiny bit of oil added, but it says there is no fat. I may search around to see if I can find another brand with no trace fats, but until then these are awesome!

Jason made an AWESOME salsa that you can put over salads or dip chips into. I found these chips at Sprouts, 4 grams of fat per 13 chips which isn't bad, and Jason loves them. They are multi-seed chips so they have flax and chia in them. Last night my mom made the bean enchiladas from Dr. Fuhrman's book - very tasty and great flavor. They were a bit dry with the corn tortillas, so next time I will cut up some tomatoes and maybe onion to sprinkle on top. We will definitely make them again.

Tomorrow I will post some recipes since I've been getting requests for those. I will have more time tomorrow. I will post the black bean and quinoa recipe, the lentil stew, and Jason's salsa. If you are reading this and have any other requests, let me know and I will post it!

Here's the weight loss count: (Jason and mom are weighing themselves everyday. Me - just on Mondays.

Jason - 9 pounds as of this morning. Way to go babe! Are you kidding me? He is rocking this!!

Mom - 7 pounds as of this morning. Seriously? This woman has had more vegetables this week then in her whole life! haha

Drea - 6 pounds as of Monday - 4 days ago. Works for me.... My scrub bottoms are falling off. haha

Days 12, 13, and 14 - Vegas baby!!

2011-09-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

I went to Vegas this weekend to spend time with my mom and sisters, minus Ash. We had SOO much fun! So our fun always includes food, but this weekend, I was so proud of my choices. Anybody that knows me, KNOWS that I LOVE popcorn! And let's get serious - butter, and salt and yummy goodness. I normally would down a whole bag of microwave popcorn myself. Or, when we go to the movies, a bag by myself. (We won't mention what size.) It's one of my many favorite treats. But holy cow, I didn't realize the amount of fat I was consuming, and it's opened my eyes. I'm a changed woman! This weekend, I consumed a bowl of AIR POPPED popcorn, (thanks Ang for finding your air popper for me!), so no oil used, and a little "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" spray, a sprinkle of salt, and 0 grams of fat!!! I said zero!!! A bag of the microwave stuff had 12 grams of fat per serving. Guess what people? There is 3 servings per bag!! Who just eats a 1/3 of the bag?? Not me!! So that's 36 grams of fat per bag. 36 to zero, that's pretty awesome.

This is the quinoa and black bean recipe I found on allrecipes.com that I altered a bit. Top it with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime - delicious! We added avocado the next day and I loved that even better! I made this dish for everyone, so everybody that night had a vegetarian meal and it went over great! Kayla and Shawn saw me load up the cilantro and lime so they did also....I was worried they wouldn't like it after that, and they really didn't. But they saw their daddy dipping his chips in it, so they did that and like it just fine! haha

Everyone got Pei Wei one night, and so I got a bit scared. "What will I order?" AAHH!!! Not to worry, I have found that all the places I have been are more than willing to accomodate you and your special requests. If you want a healthy dinner, not cooked in oil, (make sure you specify this!) then order this.....Sesame tofu with extra vegetables and small portion of brown rice. This was off the hook!!!! Everyone was curious about the tofu, so everyone tried a bit and were amazed! The texture was so tender just like a lean piece of meat, but without the added hormones and gristle, yuck!! This really was divine, and I enjoyed every bite!!

Ok, so traveling on the road is a little hard, but I found a delicious alternative to what we might always get. Normally, I might get something from Taco Bell, or even McDonald's if I was with Jason. But this time, there were better choices made! This is a veggie sub from Subway - whole wheat bread, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppercinnis, pickles, lettuce, spinach, a little avocado, mustard, pepper, and oregano. I didn't miss that slimy deli turkey meat one bit!! Or the cheese!! YUMMY!!!

I am amazed on a daily basis how much I truly thought I was eating healthy, but in reality, I really wasn't. Now that I am really being aware of what I'm putting into my body, it feels great in more ways than one.

Tomorrow marks 2 weeks! It's gone by fast. The time will pass regardless of what we do with our lives, so why wait!! Tomorrow, next month, the next year will be here anyway, I might as well be making the best choices for my health, and I am feeling pretty great. :)

Ang says she can tell I've definitely lost weight. That is very exciting to hear! I can take my jeans off without buttoning them, wow! Mom says I have lost the "puffy" look....alrighty. haha

I'm so grateful for this weekend away. I had so much fun, and much needed girl time!! I love my family, and am so grateful my mom IS BACK! What a blessing to us all!! I love my mom, my sisters, my niece and nephews, and my Jason. I will be posting later about the wonderful, most amazing gift Angela gave me this weekend. I will treasure it for always.

Until tomorrow foodies :)

Day 9, 10, and 11

2011-09-22T23:43:00.000-07:00

This picture is of tonight's dinner! Spicy black bean burger on a sprouted whole wheat bun (Ezekiel - very good! ) with pickles, tomato, and grilled onions. I put ketchup on mine and enjoyed every bite! Can you believe this burger is 250 calories?? The whole thing, bun included!! I was completely satisfied! You all know what brocolli is, and then of course the sliced baked yams which tasted like sweet potato fries, sooooo yummy!! Best meal so far! And even better - Jason cooked the whole thing. I'm truly amazed! Jen, I KNOW Derrell would like this. :)

I can't believe it's been 3 days since posting! I seriously haven't been this busy in a long time. It's all good things, it's just been a while since I've been running from here and there like a maniac. It made the work week go by fast though! Working private practice, 4 days in a row, in Glendale on top of that was hard work. But I will be happy when I get my paycheck!

I went out for yogurt tonight....What is that you say?? "You aren't eating dairy!" Well my friends, many thanks to Jennifer for letting me know that Kokomo has a non-dairy pineapple flavor! I was able to go and enjoy a nice non-dairy treat. If you haven't tasted the pineapple yet, it's fantastic! I sprinkled a little coconut on top and even put 2 cherries on - it was great! I have to say though, I could've done without it! CRAZY! I will tell you what my usual frozen yogurt run would look like. A HUGE mound of vanilla yogurt with LOTS of butterfinger all over. I probably shouldn't say the "B" word anymore - my mouth just watered. It's my favorite candy bar...drool..

I have done so well this week. Things have not even been tempting for me. I know it's because I have COMMITTED to this and have made up my mind. This week at work there was apple pie, pumpkin pie, donuts, and another day of donuts, chips and salsa, and chocolate. Normally I would have a little of everything! That's one thing I've realized - how many "little" things I would have on a daily basis. "Oh, I'm just having a little candy bar, or a bite of this cake, or a sliver of this brownie...." It's so much easier to just say, "No thank you".

We have been eating off of the lentil stew that I made on Monday all week. It is so good! The one thing I have been a little concerned about is my sluggishness after lunch. I don't like this feeling, and I don't like my energy levels to drop. I know my body well, and I think I am having too many starchy vegetables and grains at the same time. I will need to find more balance with that. I am very sensitive to sugars and carbs so I'm going to have to make some adjustments to make sure my energy is sustained through the afternoon.

I finally got a picture posted, but it was an ordeal. I took the pic from my phone, then emailed it to myself, then downloaded it to my computer, then uploaded it to the blog....whew!! Confession: I can't find my camera because it's in one of my purses ( I switch purses a lot) and I haven't taken the time to go through and clean them out. So when I find that, haha there will be more pictures.

I'm so beat and tired, but I'm feeling good and proud of my progress. YAY!

Nite nite

Day 8 - Best day yet

2011-09-19T22:04:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I weighed this morning and it said I gained a pound. What the eff?? That bugs me so bad. HOWEVER, I won't let that deter me from pressing forward. I have a feeling I'm not eating enough and my body is trying to hang on so desperately to what I want to get rid of!!!

Today's food was FANTASTIC! I had leftover quinoa and beans concoction for lunch. Breakfast was a Vegan muffin that I found at Trader Joe's - bought a 4 pack, Jason liked them too. Looks like I will be picking up some more of those. Made without eggs or meat products. I was STARVING when I got home, so had some Ezekiel cereal with Oat milk which is yummy. For dinner I made a new recipe, (THANKS ADRIENNE!), hearty lentil stew. Green lentils, fresh tomatoes, spinach, carrots, garlic, onions, oregano, and parsley. It really was like a stew. Chunky and good. There is A LOT so I might be freezing some. Jason and I will have it for lunch tomorrow.

ZUMBA was off the hook tonight, I just love it so much!! Still feeling a bit faint at times....but getting better. I think I'm just sensitive to all these food changes. But I noticed tonight in Zumba that I had more energy. I am also going to start lifting weights. I want my body to change shape. I KNOW I'm getting healthier on the inside, but I want to SEE it too!

And I just have to mention again, how PROUD I am of Jason. He has done SOO well, and I know he's seeing the benefits of a plant based diet already in just 1 week.

Well, off to bed to read and fall asleep. 5 am comes mighty early! Until tomorrow....

Day 7 - Much better! Week 1 is complete!!

2011-09-18T22:29:00.001-07:00

I got so overwhelmed last night that I knew today had to be better than yesterday. And it was! My treat has been some peanut butter on whole wheat bread, I think that has saved me. But I have felt better today. I don't think I am drinking enough water either, so I will increase that.

Tonight we watched the new documentary, "Knives Over Forks" which I think EVERYONE in America should watch! The research based studies on a plant based diet will make everyone think twice about what they eat. It basically sums up the book by Dr. Esselstyn that I have based my plant based diet off of - How to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease. And also briefs us on Dr. Campbell's study in China. His book is "The China Study" and that will be my next read.

Tonight's dinner was AMAZING! Quinoa, corn, and black beans with onions, tomatoes, and yellow peppers. Green salad with a lime/orange/honey ginger dressing, and dark purple grapes. It was very filling and super tasty! Annie and Jason loved it too. I will definitely be making that one again. Next time a double batch, and we will have more leftovers. Next time I will also add a can or too of green chiles. If you want the recipe, comment and I will get it to you, or I may just post it.

This week is going to be a doozy! Working everyday for my dad, and Zumba Mon and Tues. night. I might just go to the gym the other nights to get my workout in, even though there won't be a Zumba class. I will try to hit Zumba maybe Friday night and of course Sat. morning. I wish I had more mornings off so I could go more. But it's great for now!

I have a feeling this week will be much better than last. I'm more prepared, and more organized with all my vegetables, fruits, and meals this week. I'm curious what my weight will be in the morning. I will weigh first thing.

Have a great Monday everyone!

Day 5 & 6

2011-09-17T21:45:00.000-07:00

Feeling very overwhelmed tonight. I was very shaky and dizzy last night and tonight, so I added some peanut butter to the regime. Some fat and protein, hoping that will help. It really did, I felt a lot better after that. I was talking to my friend who is a nutrition major, and she said that a Vegan diet is not for every body type- that everyone has a specific phenotype.

I am still continuing on, and just feeling overwhelmed. But I've made it almost a week. I know that I will continue to gain knowledge in this subject, and if I have to modify to help me feel good, than that's what I'll do.

I probably will add a few nuts/nut butters, and some avocado this week. I'm thinking that will help me feel better as well.

I'm teaching gospel doctrine tomorrow and the choir is singing, so we have early practice. I'm going to read a little bit more, than off to bed. Tomorrow will be better.

Day 4 and minus 4 pounds!

2011-09-15T21:02:00.001-07:00

Today was a great day! I felt really energized during Zumba, except the last 2 songs which my energy was zapped by then. I thought I would be having more withdrawal symptoms from no meat, dairy, sugar, etc. But I only had a headache for the first few days, and today, no headache!

I saw a book that I would like to get, written by 2 dieticians called Vegan for Life. I might order it on Amazon tonight. Talks about many myths and nutrition based evidence on vitamins and minerals that people eating a plant based diet need. The reviews were awesome!!

The other very exciting news is that I've dropped 4 pounds already. I am not doing this for weight loss, but it sure is the non-dairy icing on the cake! haha I am doing this for health reasons based on my Dr.'s recommendations, and the more I have been reading, researching, and learning, the more I know that this will help Jason. His cholesterol is through the roof high, and I want to have him around for a long time! High cholesterol is a precursor for heart disease, obesity, and stroke. He is doing great, and he LOVED dinner tonight!

My food for today:

Autumn Wheat squares (a handful, about a cup) right before Zumba.

-Bought these at sprouts, they are good! Gotta get more.

Green smoothie after Zumba with added Hemp protein powder. Delish! Drank half. Saving the rest for tomorrow, and I don't want to over do it on the fruit. I'm very sensitive to sugar, even fruit sugars, and Dr. Esselstyn cautions about this in the book also.

Black bean and corn salad for lunch with 2 Rye Wasa crackers, yum.

Vegetable soup for an afternoon snack.

Dinner - Spaghetti squash and Nicole's homemade primavera sauce - tomatoes, garlic, onions, red/yellow peppers, and mushrooms - delish. I put too much crushed red pepper in it though, and it was very spicy! Mixed greens with homemade dressing (it had mustard in it, and Jason said it was good! He even spooned on more! haha He HATES mustard!) Ezekial toasted bread with a spinkle of garlic salt.

Dessert - we will be having some dark purple grapes

I noticed a bit of a feeling of sluggishness in the afternoon. I HATE this feeling, and I know it means my growth hormone is down. I want to make sure I get enough plant protein to help this. I'm hoping that new book will talk more about that.

TTFN

Day 4 and minus 4 pounds!

2011-09-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

My food for today:

Autumn Wheat squares (a handful, about a cup) right before Zumba.

-Bought these at sprouts, they are good! Gotta get more.

Black bean and corn salad for lunch with 2 Rye Wasa crackers, yum.

Vegetable soup for an afternoon snack.

Dessert - we will be having some dark purple grapes

TTFN

Day 3

2011-09-14T22:46:00.000-07:00

Has it only been 3 days? haha, it's flown by! Quick post because seriously, I have been going since 5am!! I gotta sleep!

Food rundown:

Oatmeal again, w/raisins - loved it! So filling!

Green smoothie

Hummus with cucumbers and sliced red peppers

Vegetable soup

New recipe for dinner - bean burrito casserole with salsa and lots of chopped tomatoes and cilantro.

Realizations: Jason hates cilantro. Drea loves cilantro. Jason loves meat. Drea can do without it. I need to find more recipes that are more like the food Jason likes to eat. I can eat anything and be fine. I think I found some good recipes for next week.

Jason said tonight he is amazed - he is not bloated. That is awesome! I woke up this morning feeling "lighter", not heavy feeling at all.

Has anyone tried oat milk?!? It's delicious!! It's creamy tasting and silky smooth. It's going to be my new staple for cereal and with my oatmeal. It does have more calories than almond milk.... 130 per cup vs. 60, but much better for you than cow's milk.

Goodnight!

Day 2

2011-09-13T21:31:00.001-07:00

I'm exhausted, but feeling pretty good tonight. After Zumba, I didn't know if I could move my legs to get out of the car, haha It was pretty funny!

So I forgot to mention that Jason is being such a FANTASTIC husband and doing this right along with me. However, this afternoon I think he had a freak out moment. He was hungry and was out of all the food I packed for him.....Bad combo. I told him if we need to make some modifications for him, that is A-ok. What a trooper!

Today's food:

1/2 of my green smoothie on the ride to work. Included: spinach, kale, collard greens, berries, 1/4 of a lemon, rind and all, banana, apple, and a frozen mix with pineapple/mango/grapes. YUM!

8:10am in between patients I scarfed (and yes I said scarfed because I downed it in about 1 min - the life of a hygienist!) my bowl of oatmeal, dried apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and almond milk. Too much nutmeg today, but still good.

Lunch - black bean and corn salad with onions, cilantro, and water chesnuts. I warmed up a tortilla (Ezekiel - they are good!) and it got a bit crunchy. It was kind of like chips. I felt very oniony though! Jason hated it, and sent me a text saying, "The salad is not for me." Then, "Guess I'll just go to McDonald's". haha He didn't.

Drive home - the rest of my green smoothie. Got home, sprinted inside, yes I said sprinted, changed clothes, and back in the car to Zumba.

Feeling VERY hungry after zumba, almost sick.... Got home and had leftover vegetable soup which was really good - filling.

Made all the food for tomorrow. I made my own hummus tonight. It was super easy and it tastes really good!

I think this weekend I will be way more organized about this. It is going to take up ALL of my free time otherwise. I will make hummus, cut up vegetables to snack on, cut up green smoothie stuff, make quinoa, and brown rice so it's ready to go. Whoa - this is doable, but it's definitely not easy!! But, I CAN DO IT!!!

Oh, and this is random, but one of my patient's today was IMPOSSIBLE!! I had to give him injections and it was one of the more difficult people to administer too. Difficult personality, dirty mouth, and a "I don't care" attitude. Then why are you here dude? Hopefully I made a difference with him. We'll see.....

Time for bed.....I would like to start posting some pictures of the things I'm making, but one step at a time!

Until tomorrow.....

Project Vegan - Day 1

2011-09-12T21:32:00.001-07:00

Well after not updating this blog for about a year, why not start now and tell everyone about me being a Vegan for atleast 3 months?

No meat, dairy, or oils/fats.

I plan to post SOMETHING, everyday to help hold myself accountable, and to journal the journey so to speak. This post is going to be quick due to my having to pee so bad right now and my exhaustion from the day.

I have a feeling these posts are going to be real and raw (almost as raw as the food I will be eating! haha).

So for the next 90 days, I will share my journey - Dr.'s orders to follow the program, and I'm taking it on as a challenge and I guess you could say project. I will probably detail more about this later.

My food for today:

Oatmeal, dried apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and almond milk. Stevia for sweetness.

This was very filling and I could eat this every morning!

For lunch, an awesome almost orange soup (that's really the title, I'm not making that up) out of the book I'm using as a reference. It was really good. LOTS OF VEGETABLES, red lentils and acorn squash and sweet potatoes to thicken. To go with it, 2 pieces of Ezekiel bread, the sesame one. Toasted it's really good and you can dip in the soup.

Drive home: Green smoothie and nectarine. I was pretty hungry so I had to have the nectarine!

On the way to Zumba, a whole carrot.

Dinner, black bean and corn salad with an Ezekiel tortilla. It was really good. Lots of cilantro.

Ok, bedtime. Gotta get up at 5am and do it all over again.

Green

2010-09-21T20:33:00.000-07:00

Music moves me in ways that when I'm not sure how I'm feeling at times, it explains exactly what I'm feeling. Lately, I've been kind of hooked on John Mayer. I have never really been a fan of his, but Annie put the album "Continuum" in one night when we were driving, and it's been in there ever since. I LOVE the lyrics to many of his songs, but this one in particular hit me like a brick as I realized it was me right now. I feel I have even moved past this now, but at the time was so perfect. It's definately a process!

"In Repair"

by: John Mayer

Too many shadows in my room

Too many hours in this midnight

Too many corners in my mind

So much to do to set my heart right

Oh it's taking so long i could be wrong, i could be ready

Oh but if i take my heart's advice I should assume it's still unsteady

I am in repair, i am in repair

Stood on the corner for a while

To wait for the wind to blow down on me

Hoping it takes with it my old ways

And brings some brand new look upon me

Oh it's taking so long i could be wrong, i could be ready

Oh but if i take my heart's advice I should assume it's still unsteady

I am in repair, i am in repair

And now i'm walking in a park

All of the birds they dance below me

Maybe when things turn green again

It will be good to say you know me

Oh it's taking so long i could be wrong, i could be ready

Oh but if i take my heart's advice I should assume it's still unready

Oh i'm never really ready, i'm never really ready

I'm in repair, i'm not together but i'm getting there

Grateful affirmations lately:

Annie
Angela
Kayla
Shawn
Sweet baby stomp stomp Tyler
2 Nephi 4 - EXACTLY what I needed to hear this morning! I highlighted almost the entire thing
SLEEP!!
My bed - it's the best bed in the whole world!
My profession - I love it
Jason

Weekend Blessings

2010-09-12T22:54:00.000-07:00

This weekend I was grateful for:

1. AGAIN - not being rear-ended on the way to Lamb of God. We were stopped and the car behind us had just come to a stop when the car behind him slammed into him. Thank heavens they didn't come sliding in to our car....What a blessing.

2. I finished my week of workouts on Sat. and was so grateful today that I did not have to workout!! It has made me appreciate my rest time that much more.

3. I was able to see the premiere performance of Lamb of God, written, composed, and directed by Rob Gardner who is just brilliant. What an amazing spiritual piece of work. It helped strengthen my testimony of the Savior. My favorite song: I am the Resurrection. It was so neat to see the East Valley Mormon Choir once again - they are spectacular. And I swear I heard Karin's voice in the first song loud and clear!

4. Annie and I made breakfast Saturday morning, and all 3 of us watched Ocean's 11 and took a nap. I treasured every second!

5. I am grateful for my freedom - to live in this wonderful country, the United States of America. It's an honor and blessing. I remembered the 9/11 attacks, and I will never forget.

6. Today at church Ryan Baxter leaned over to his mom during the sacrament and simply said, "I love you." Made me smile - what an angel.

7. I'm grateful for beautiful music and the spirit it makes me feel.

8. I'm grateful for the opportunity to teach Gospel Doctrine.

9. Good friends, good food, good times - and I got to see Ash tonight. I love her.

Let's make it an even 10....

10. My 2 week break from clinic starts tomorrow :)

Get out of this funk!

2010-09-09T22:38:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to get myself out of the funk I've been in lately. It's been pretty bad and I've been trying everything - reading my scriptures, praying, and going to the temple a lot! Another thing I'm going to do is write and post about what I am grateful for during that day. I feel that this will help me live more in the moment and appreciate where I am at right now. So here is what I am grateful for TODAY:

1. I'm so GRATEFUL that I was not rear-ended this morning in traffic! The guy behind me was looking at the accident on the side of the freeway, and I watched him in my rearview mirror as he was about to come crashing in to the back of my car. Thank heavens he slammed on his brakes and came probably 2 inches from me. Thankyou Thankyou!!

2. I was able to help several of my students today sitting chairside with them and telling and showing them how to scale better. I know several had light bulb moments today, and that is such a great feeling knowing that I was apart of that.

3. One of my students introduced me to her dad today who was in her dental chair, and she said, "This is my favorite instructor". Aw, such a great feeling.

4. I was told many times today, "thankyou" and "I appreciate it".

4. It was my last day of clinic for 2 weeks and it was a really great day. Very productive, busy, and active but no real problems that made me want to pull my hair out! I love teaching!

5. When I got home from work, Annie had the kitchen sparkling clean - that's a nice feeling!

6. Tonight I completed day 15 of the 30 day shred. I am halfway there to my goal of working out with Jillian 30 days in a row! I did the last minute of abs and only rested once which is a miracle. I did 15 of the plank twists and have not been able to do many at all thus far. My endurance is getting better already! I am feeling great, but she kicks my butt everytime!

7. And...Dez had her baby girl tonight!! She texted me before she even held her yet. I can't imagine the joy she is feeling after waiting 9 long years for this miracle of hers. Gives me hope!!

Broken

2010-09-01T21:10:00.001-07:00

Oh time -
Heal my broken heart.
I will pick up the pieces
if you will fuse each piece
one by one by one
back together again.

Not too fast,
don't get too close
you don't want to smell,
hear, see, the hole
of this festering wound.

Fly me away
far from this place.
This place called me.
Atleast let me hide
for now, until this
cloud of dark, desolate
despair passes over...

Our FAVORITE show!

2009-07-18T13:37:00.000-07:00

Last night we went saw our absolute favorite show, WICKED! It was spectacular! The first time we saw it was in LA about 2 yrs. ago right after Christmas, and Jason & I both fell in love with it. Probably for about a year after that, I had the CD in my car at all times and practically wore the thing out! The music, the costumes, the acting, it's all wonderful! :)

As we were walking up to the theatre, we ran into Carly & Channon, some friends that we seem to run into at random places - like in Las Vegas 6 months ago at the Bellagio hotel. It was SO windy last night, and as you can imagine, it's really pleasant having scalding HOT hair blowing in your face full force. I was thinking, why did I even bother with my hair?? haha!

Here is Mr. WICKED himself. Anyone that knows Jason, knows that he LOVES watches! This is his latest "baby" that his parents got him for his birthday. He actually named it WICKED and so he got to showcase it last night. haha! He cracks me up!

Here is a close-up of "WICKED", hahaha!

Just getting ready for the show to begin. Our tickets couldn't have been better. We were 18th row, dead center! Thanks to Jeff for letting us buy them last October during the pre-sale for season ticket holders. We had a great night!

I'm sure we'll be seeing this many more times in the future. Can't get enough!

Weekend Fun

2009-07-14T22:42:00.000-07:00

Well this about sums it up! hahaha! I'm laughing so hard looking at these pictures of Jason, he's such a goof! On Sunday we went over to my mom's and had dinner. She promised Lucy Casserole and Apple pie to Jason and Craig for all their help with moving in grandpa's furniture. He has recently moved in with her, and they are both doing so great! It's so neat to see them both happy and in good spirits!

My mom has an isqueez which is a leg and foot massager that all of us kids bought for my mom a couple of Christmas's ago. Well we all wanted to try it out. As for the bed in the middle of the living room.... haha! This was what grandpa was sleeping on while they were transitioning with the move. It was so funny - Jason was eating apple pie and drinking milk while getting his legs and feet massaged, haha!

Here's Sara trying it out for herself. Do you approve of this one Sara?? It's definately a good angle, ha!

The boys talking with Grandpa -he loves Jason and loves talking about his past - old cars, the wars he fought in, and his family. What an amazing man! I love you grandpa!

Mom taking her turn on the famous "living room bed" :) I think we've all decided to leave it there for a while!

While Jason was on his hike this past weekend with the scouts, Chelsi invited me and a few other girls to Jesterz, a comedy improv club. We had a blast!

We ate dinner at SAUCE down in Scottsdale before the show. The food was yummy! Me, Chelsi, and Karin.

Sara and Chelsea striking a pose :)

This salad was delicious! Chopped turkey, tomatoes, feta cheese, avocado, and a vinegarette dressing.

Kasey, Sara, Chelsea, Chelsi, me, Karin

I love girls nights!!

And I'm so glad to have my Jason back home. More pictures to follow of his 25 mile hike!

PS - We hopefully will be booking our vacation this week! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!

Totally random...

2009-07-10T18:27:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to even begin to explain myself - where I've been or what I've been doing and why I haven't updated my blog. I'm just a bad blogger! haha But hear is but another attempt to press forward, and turn over a new leaf to be better. So here are some totally random pictures from the past few months (or longer) that I thought I would put on here to just give a brief update on what Jason and I have been up to.

We are doing pretty fantastic! We have jobs, a roof over our heads, and food to eat. We are very blessed and I feel so grateful!

This first picture is of my recent favorite find - bountiful baskets. I LOVE IT!! I went 2 weeks ago and got my first basket and couldn't believe the amount of FRESH produce I got. It's wonderful! I'm going again tomorrow to get my 2nd one :) And all for $15!

When Angela came down to shoot a wedding, all of us girls went to Oregano's and had such a fun time. I love my sisters!

A short time after my surgery, my wonderful friend Hailey came and picked me up, and we went down to our old stomping grounds in Phx where we used to work at the dental office. We went to Chevy's and met our co-worker Jeannie. It was a fun day!

One of my dear friends from high school came to visit from Idaho, and it was so fun to get together with Misha again and visit. We met up at Fajitas, one of our favorite places, and chatted for a couple of hours while her kids played. They are such cuties!!

Here is my handsome husband after ward temple night a couple months ago. We went to Applebee's after and had appetizers. It was fun to be out together!

Here is Jason and his favorite baby - Ava. He calls her Awva - Oh Awva! This is quite a while ago, but I had to put it on because Jason is just smitten with this cute little angel. Thanks Hill for sharing your girls with us!!

Jason and Aaron after being stranded just shortly after a campout with the scouts. They are such troopers! I came and picked them up and we got Aaron and new tire for his truck.

We had such a fun 4th of July. We went to my dad's house and brought Sara and Craig along with us. We swam, had yummy food and hung out with the fam. Then later on we drove back to Chandler and went to see fireworks at Tumbleweed park. We had some fabulous funnel cakes too. Nothing like carni - food! haha

Jason outside on my dad's back patio on 4th of July.

My devil child on a lazy summer day. This sums it up! haha

Jason and the boys getting ready for an all day adventure of golf. They drove 1 hr each way to Florence and then golfed in this miserable heat. They sure do love golf!

So things I'm looking forward to -

Angela having the baby - very soon!!

Finally picking a place for our vacation in September! hhhmm....

Our family coming from Iowa to spend a week in November, can't wait!

Well until next time....

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY BABY SIS!

2009-04-04T23:08:00.000-07:00

Today is my baby sister Aubrianna's birthday, and she is 21! I can't believe it! It seems like it was just yesterday that I was changing her diapers - I guess that shows how old I am, haha!!

Annie is beautiful inside and out. She is so talented - she basically has taught herself how to play the piano and guitar (she plays Rachmaninoff!). She is athletic, has the most gorgeous smile, loves people, especially her family. Annie is one of the most sincere, spiritual, kind, strong, and independent people I have ever met. She is such an example to me of the person I want to be. She stands true ALWAYS to what she believes in, has hight morals and values, and has a deep testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. She is a wonderful friend, sister, granddaughter, and aunt!

She is finishing up her junior year at BYU and later this month will be coming back home for about 6 weeks and I can't wait! I have been missing our late night chats on my bed, mashed potatoes, and her staying the night with me when Jason's gone so I'm not scared :)

I love you Annie, and have missed you sooo much! I can't wait to see you :)

The Lord knew...

2009-03-31T21:55:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post tonight about how I am feeling. I went to the Easter pageant tonight at the Mesa temple with the Young Men and Young Women and it was really great and uplifting. Sitting there reflecting on the life of Jesus Christ, I was thinking about how the Lord knows all things, and then it hit me... How easy it was for me to walk from the car to the grassy area of the temple tonight, and how I didn't cringe while getting in and out of the car and how I was able to sit on a hard chair and didn't feel pain and wasn't uncomfortable. Wow, I SOO appreciate my body, and the Lord sure knew what he was doing when He created us. He knew that we would have to recover from physical hardships. It's amazing what a miracle the human body is and the healing powers that it has. I feel so grateful!

I'm back!!

2009-03-25T19:48:00.001-07:00

So I know, I know, it's been FOREVER!! I have definately had an interesting year so far. I can't believe that on Wed. next week it will be APRIL! Spring is here and it feels WONDERFUL in Phoenix :)

I have debated whether to blog about my latest experience and trial that I have been going through, but I have decided that I will. Who knows, it just may help someone else....because I know that I have been helped along the way SO MUCH by others' experiences.

On Feb. 16, 2009, I found out that I was pregnant and that we were expecting our first child. I couldn't believe it! After YEARS of trying, you can imagine how elated Jason and I both were. All week long, that's all we could talk about - planning, imagining, and hoping for all things good for our new little bundle.

5 days later I had some pain and spotting and knew something wasn't right. I called my doctor, who is an AMAZING man, and he told me to come in the next day for an ultrasound. By then I was 6 weeks along and he said that we may even be able to hear a heartbeat if everything was ok.

Well, when they did the ultrasound, there was nothing in my uterus. They were puzzled. They then checked the ovaries and fallopian tubes, and saw a large mass on my left tube. The Dr. told me that it wasn't good news. In one sentence my life would change. He said, "It looks like the pregnancy is ectopic (tubal), and we will have to operate to remove the fetus and we have to do it tonight because this is life threatening to YOU."

I haven't cried that hard in a LONG time. I was admitted to Banner Desert hospital about 2 hours later and had a c-section type surgery at about 9pm that night on Mon. Feb 23rd.

Just to explain, an ectopic or tubal pregnancy is when the embryo attaches to the inside of the fallopian tube instead of floating down to inside the uterus and attaching there like it's supposed to. As the fetus begins to grow, the tube expands like a balloon. This is why I was feeling sharp stabbing pains. Sometimes, the tube can actually rupture and you could bleed internally. If not caught in time, it can be deadly.

That night before the surgery, a sweet friend and her husband came to the hospital so he and Jason could give me a blessing. I felt such peace and comfort from the blessing, knowing that my Heavenly Father was aware of my situation, and would take care of me. The one thing that stood out to me in the blessing was that "angels will assist the Dr's with your surgery, and all will go well." He also blessed me to have patience and that we would have our children in the Lord's time.

The surgery went extremely well. In fact, a 45 minute surgery turned into an almost 2 hour one because the doctor found a few more things - a few blockages on the OTHER tube, and a couple uterine cysts that he was able to remove as well.

One thing that Jason said to me before the surgery was, it's just hard thinking about a baby being in there, but just being in the wrong place. :(

THE GOOD NEWS!! Yes, I will ALWAYS look for the good news in everything! My wonderful Dr. was able to save BOTH tubes, which is so great! It will take 6 months for everything to heal fully and properly, but now I will have 2 unblocked tubes. This could've been the problem in the first place.

I have learned a TREMENDOUS amount during this difficult trial. I have learned PATIENCE - especailly while trying to recover from a major surgery. It's amazing that after this long, I could still be weak and very sore. I have learned APPRECIATION - for an amazing Dr. who fixed me, for medical technologies, and kind nurses who took care of my for 3 days at the hospital. I also have a new appreciation for my mom and the fact that she had 5 c-sections. I have learned to LEARN FROM OTHERS EXPERIENCES - I keep asking her, how did you recover from major surgery with other little kids running around? Were you ever normal again? She always laughs and tells me yes! I promise you will! The other thing that amazes me, is how many women have gone through this and have had miscarriages and they go on to have as many kids as they want! I have been comforted by ALL those who have shared their experiences of surgery, ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages, and losing pregnancies for whatever reason. I thank the Lord everyday for the comfort that I am not alone in this. I have learned that THERE ARE ANGELS AMONG US - that are not only from the other side of the veil, but all around us here on earth. My angels have been my family, my sweet friends, my co-workers, my ward family, and all others who have been there for both Jason and I. I have learned that I am GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT I HAVE! I could never thank everyone enough for the phone calls, flowers, cards, emails, visits, dinners, and everything else that has helped carry me through this time. I am going to be stronger for it, and I couldn't have done it without all those around me who I love.

I have learned that I HAVE A WONDERFUL HUSBAND - J has been there for me through all of this. It broke my heart more, knowing his heart was breaking into pieces as was mine. But we have even grown closer because of it. Jason stayed with me all 3 days in the hospital and slept on the uncomfortable recliner for both nights in my tiny room so I wouldn't have to be alone. That meant more to me than he will ever know. I love him so much and couldn't imagine going through this without him.

I have complete HOPE and FAITH that we will have the family we so desire one day, and it will be so sweet.

Biggest Loser for the New Year

2009-01-03T21:09:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everybody! Just a quick post about the competition that Jason and I are entering. My sister won the last challenge that she competed in so she decided to be in charge of this one and head it up herself. Here's the deal - anybody can enter. It's $20 per person, and there will be a winner I believe weekly, and then a grand prize winner for the pot of money at the end. It's going to be based on body fat percentage lost, just like the Biggest Loser show. The competition is 8 weeks long, and starts January 6th, Tuesday - the same day as the premiere of the Biggest Loser on NBC. The pot is already close to $400! The more people that enter, the more money will be up for winning. And, what a great way to help motivate us all for our New Year's goals and help us stay motivated! If you want to enter, or know someone that does, just email Angela at salazarmay3@aol.com and she will send you all the details/rules etc. There will also be a seperate blog for the challenge where people can share tips, healthy recipes, and success stories.

Here's to a healthy and happy 2009!!

'Tis the Season

2008-12-02T22:30:00.000-08:00

Anyone that knows me well, knows that I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS! My favorite time of year is from Halloween to New Years Eve. I love the parties, the music, the decorations (of course!) and most of all the spirit of the season. Everyone just seems to be happier and nicer in general. I start my Christmas music now the week of Thanksgiving, and that's all I listen to until after Christmas. It drives Jason a little bonkers, but that's ok, haha! I've got the house almost fully decorated, and I'm so excited this year about our tree. We bought it for close to 75% off last year the week after Christmas and it's pre-lit with white lights. I love it! I also found some great deals at Home Depot last year on Christmas decor, (thanks DEZ!). It's so fun to see what I can find right after Christmas for the following year.

Ang and the kids have been in town, and we have had such a fun time! She took some pics of me and J last week, and I really appreciate her. I should have our Christmas card mailed out in a few days, and every year I look forward to everyone's Christmas cards and pictures.

This will be the first Christmas without my grandma. I have missed her so much, and I think about her all the time. She is one of my most favorite people in the world. She always made Christmas special for us kids. I will be missing her terribly.

My anesthesia lab is almost over for this semester, and it's been very interesting. For the most part it's been great, but we have a few "cry babies" in the class. One in particular - SO DRAMATIC! Just buck up, and take it in the mouth! haha. They have to give each other injections every Wed. and it takes me back to my days in school. What a time! The semester is over in January, and then my little babies will be in their LAST semester before they graduate as hygienists! I think this class will always be special to me because I started with them on their first day on my first day as an instructor. We will be welcoming a brand new class in Feb. to start it all over again. Wow!

I hope everyone is well and that this Christmas season will be happy and bright for all!

Too much to blog....SO

2008-10-18T23:12:00.001-07:00

I am completely overwhelmed right now. I was thinking I really wanted to update my blog, but I have about 100 things I wanted to post about and don't really know what to start with. Jason and I have been SOO busy and a lot has happened in the last month.

So until my brain feels less overwhelmed and I can sort through my pictures, here is what I wanted to blog about.

My fabulous sister Angela is an AMAZING photographer and will be here in town the week of Thanksgiving through the following week which is the first week of December. She is already booking appointments while she is here, for family photos for Christmas cards, etc. So I wanted to let all my peeps know if you want some pictures taken for Christmas and you want a really great job done, for VERY reasonable prices. Contact me, or you can contact her directly through the link below.

Check out her photography blog and on the right hand side there are categories; click on "Family" and you can see examples of different family photos she's taken recently.

Angela Salazar Photography:

http://imcapturingmoments.blogspot.com/

Until next time.... :)

We will miss Grandma Jo -

2008-09-21T21:26:00.001-07:00

Today Jason's grandma Jo passed away at the hospital in Primghar, Iowa. She will be missed so much, especially I think the most by Jason's mom - they are best friends. But I am so excited that her spirit has been able to meet up again with her husband whom she has missed so very much for 9 long years. When we got the call this afternoon, I was picturing their reunion, and how sweet and joyful it must have been! They are together again, and I KNOW she is SO happy! I never met Grandpa Gordon, but I've heard so many stories and I know how much Grandma Jo loved him.
I will never forget how loving and caring Grandma Jo always was to me. She is one of the kindest people I have ever met and she was always thinking about others. She loved her family with all her heart. The first time I met her, she told me that she had told Jason a while before that he would meet his wife at church, and sure enough he did!
We are going to miss her sweet smile and seeing her when we visit, but I'm so happy she is in a better place. We love you Grandma Jo!

Sisters Weekend in Vegas

2008-09-18T22:46:00.001-07:00

I had such a fun weekend with my Ang, Ash, and the kids this weekend. It was a nice break from here, even though I was missing my Jason like crazy!

Ash wanted to get a happy meal with the lego toy in it. Well, it ended up being a little toy gun
that got tossed out the window on the drive back. hahaha, sorry Ash.

The kids were taking naps so we thought we would try to get a few pictures of all of us.

I love this picture!

I can picture Ashlee saying, "mmm, uh huh"

These 2 little cuties love to watch their videos together. They were watching Lion King here, and about 5 other times during the weekend!

Cute little friends sitting in their "hippo" pool in the living room watching a church video on Sunday.

Angela and Christian went out on Saturday night, and Ash and I watched the kids. We had so much fun! We took them to the park to play and then they wanted "The Golden Spoon" (we had nothing to do with the choice of the place, haha!) Kayla insisted on having a cone and so we got both of them a cone. They looked so cute with their chocolate coated faces!

Oh Buddy!

Sweet little girl!

We took the kids to The Mirage to the dolphin habitat and also to see the lions and tigers. It was only $15 to get in and free for kids! It really was such a neat place. The kids loved it and so did I. There were tiger cubs that were a few weeks old and also a baby dolphin who had just been born not even a week before. It was adorable swimming with its momma - when the mom would come out of the water so would the baby. The kids loved it! There was also an underground part where you could see the pool where the dolphins are from underneath. This is my absolute FAVORITE picture. Notice the dolphin's face in the above picture. It was swimming right toward the window with this look on its face like, "Hello, I'm totally oblivious to everyone and everything and I'm just swimming along minding my own business." Then of course Ashlee had to imitate, so we took the next picture...........

Seriously, it's one of those "you had to be there" moments, but nobody can appreciate this picture like I can! haha, I was laughing so hard uploading the picture :)

You could get right up next to the pools, and see the dolphins swim up really close.

Show off

The trainers come out periodically and feed the dolphins and have them do little tricks.

Baby tiger cub

This lion wasn't concerned with modesty that day....

Sleeping white tiger

In the lobby at The Mirage

LOVE THIS PICTURE OF ASH!

I love my sisters! (Annie, we missed you! But we know you are having much more fun at BYU!)

Sweet baby girl

2008-09-10T17:57:00.000-07:00

Baby Whalen is here! I had the chance to go down and see Hillary today and see the new baby. She is so precious! Even though she remains to be nameless, she is a little angel. She made little baby sounds as she was sleeping, but that was it. Not a peep! Hillary's mom was there and put a beautiful pink bow that she made on the front and back of Hillary's door - it was so cute. Of course I had to open the flood gates when I first saw her. It is such a neat and spiritual experience to be around a brand new baby. I think she looks like Hillary :) Love you Hill! I'm so glad she's here and that you both are doing great!

Fabulous Girls Night Out

2008-08-06T11:51:00.000-07:00

Last night, we took Sara out for her birthday which is tomorrow, August 7th. We had SO much fun! We went to Oregano's, Sara's choice, but we definately all agreed on it - it's one of my fave's! Sara got her favorite, The Big Rig pasta with shrimp and I had it with chicken. DELICIOUS! Chelsea and Hillary shared the yummy picasso salad.

I had a stressful 2 days of work, and I really needed a fun night out with my girlfriends. We had some really good laughs and my favorite was when we got on the subject of laser hair removal. **IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED DO NOT CONTINUE TO READ!** HAHA
We were picking Chelsea's brain about how it feels and what the process is like and all the details of it, since Chelsea is the expert. Of course pubic hair had to come up, so right as our PIZZA COOKIES came out, Sara blurted out, "There's just something about pubes..." and right then our waiter said, "ok, here's your pizzookie" I think we all peed our pants just a little because we were laughing so hard!

Hillary gave us some "good" insight on the joys of pregnancy as well, so we're all real excited now about giving birth. haha!

Thanks girls for such a fun night! Love you all! There's nothing like having wonderful friends in my life - I am very blessed :)

PS. Happy Birthday tomorrow Sara!

Last day of Primary

2008-07-27T20:44:00.000-07:00

Today closed a very fun chapter in my life with my CTR 5 class in primary. It seems like just when I get comfortable in a calling, I am called to something else. But I have learned that this is how we grow the most. I wish I had a picture of the little cuties in my class to post, however I don't! Even though I don't have kids of my own yet, Heavenly Father has sure blessed me with some wonderful children in my life. So Case, Elise, Max, Kaylynn, Erin, Umbin, and Courtney - I will miss you a lot and will come visit. I love you all so much, and am very grateful for all that you have taught me!

I will now be in Young Women again, and I am really excited! I am back as the YW secretary and it was fun being in class with the girls today. With a new presidency the dynamics will be different in there, but for the good! It's good to be back :)

Jury Duty

2008-07-24T22:48:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I had the lovely opportunity of serving my community by being a trial juror. I was really nervous that I would be selected because I knew that today I was working almost 12 hours at the school and had special tutoring sessions lined up that have taken weeks to schedule.
When I first got there, we had to watch a short video on the whole process and then you just sit and wait for your name to be called. About an hour later they put in Miss Congeniality for whoever wanted to watch it, and I was so excited about that! I love that movie! Then about 30 minutes into the movie, my name was called along with about 40 other people to go up to a courtroom to possibly be selected for a jury. The process was very long, with tons of questions from the judge and attorneys. It took the rest of the day until about 3:30 just to select the jury! The whole process was very interesting, and had it been one of my days off for the trial, I would've loved to have seen the outcome. However, since I told the judge about how when I was 11 years old I was shot in the hand by my neighbor and thought the whole thing was handled poorly by the police, I was excused. YEAH!!
Some jobs will pay their employees for jury duty, but not with my schedule. It's great working part-time, but I have no benefits, vacation time, or personal time to take. If I don't work, I don't get paid, so the days I do work are very precious!
I think my favorite part of the day was hearing people's excuses for why they could not serve on a jury. I realized a lot of the general public are morons ( I already knew this) but the guy that exclaimed, "I don't believe in the justice system" almost got a laugh out loud from me. I was grateful to do my duty for one day and am glad it's over! :)

Long time no blog...

2008-07-22T21:08:00.000-07:00

Things I've been grateful for lately:

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Well helllooooo! It's been a long time, and after being almost stoned to death about not updating my blog, (not naming any names, Hailey and Sheri - hee hee) I am FINALLY posting.

This afternoon after work I went to visit my friend Chelsea W. at her Med Spa - she is an AWESOME esthetician. I had my very first Microderm Abrasion. It was FANTASTIC! The picture above is me after I got home from the procedure. The way Chels described it was like the feeling of a cat's tongue on your skin, which is exactly what it felt like - scratchy. But in a good way. I was so relaxed I almost fell asleep. After the treatment she put this cherry serum on that is full of antioxidants and helps your skin breathe in oxygen better. My skin feels AMAZING and I can't wait to go back. Thanks again Chels!

Things I'm SO grateful for also that are not pictured above: DEZ!! and Geoff too, (dang it, my pictures would not upload right), Angela (your arm is in one picture ha!) my mom, the best FRIENDS, music, the gospel, my jobs, family, grandparents, tender mercies, GOLDEN SPOON, babies, LOVE, understanding, Seinfield, The King of Queens, laughter, smiles, students, cell phones, home phones - hee hee, CHIEN & KODI - congrats on your new bundles of joy - can't wait to talk to you both!

**COMING SOON - Pictures from NY... I promise!!**

Happy Birthday Jason - Wed. May 28th!

2008-05-30T10:31:00.000-07:00

I am 2 days late writing this, but I know that Jason understands. Happy Birthday to my honey! Wednsday was a good day for Jason. I made him chocolate chip cookies and brought them to his office. Then we went to lunch at Rubio's (yum!) Later I made Jason's mom's recipe of Goulash for dinner. His exact words were, "MMMmm, just like mom's :)" Jason doesn't like birthday cake, so I made another one of his mom's recipes - cherry dessert which also was a hit. I'm glad it turned out because it was my first time making it. Then a couple friends came over to have dessert and open presents. We were both exhausted at the end of the day! So I wanted to share some fun things about Jason to celebrate him and his birthday.

-Jason is one of the most honest and sincere people I've ever met. I admire him for that.
-I can talk to Jason about anything - He is my best friend and I love him for that.
-He always puts a different perspective on things, often helping me make decisions for the better.
-He is a loving son, and loves and admires and respects his parents very much.
-He is a momma's boy, and is very nostalgic about him mom and the food she made him growing up! haha
-Jason has an open mind about so many things. When I really like something and want him to try something, or have an idea that I want him to listen to, he ALWAYS will. And most of the time, he likes it or agrees with me which is fun.
-Jason is a great listener, and usually gives me his full attention (unless golf is on or he is thinking about golf ) haha
Ok, so now on to the golf subject...
-Jason LOVES golf, anything to do with the sport.
-He is a FANTASTIC golfer and really has a talent for it.
-He always looks great and he says no matter how you play, you always have to look good! He owns probably a 100 golf shirts and over a dozen pairs of golf shoes!
-He fits in great with my family, and I LOVE that he loves my sisters so much.
-He is a wonderful brother-in-law and my sisters love him very much.
-Unlike me and most of my family, he is pretty quiet during things that are funny - movies, comedy stuff, whatever.. but then he will laugh out loud hours later about something - it cracks me up!
-Jason pretty much saved "our little boy" Will the cat. I thought he was dead and told him to go dispose of him, but he paid close attention and realized he was still breathing. At 2 days old, it's hard to see a tiny kitty breathing!
-Jason is the hardest worker that I know. He is so reliable and you can always count on him. Often times, he has been the only person to show up for service projects!
-He is always willing to serve, and helps people move all the time. He would do anything for anyone.
-He loves to travel and see new places.
-He is very organized and this is another reason why we are good match - that is not one of my strengths and he balances me that way.
-He is so intelligent and he knows so many facts about so many things. He often refers to them as useless facts, but I call it knowledge.. hee hee
-He can beat anyone at trivial pursuit - Dad, I think he could even take you!
-He loves airplanes and can tell you any model of any one. Impressive!
-He loves movies and just hanging out at home.
-He loves the church and the gospel and knows more about it than I do only being a member for about 5 years.

Jason I love you and am so grateful you are apart of my life. It wouldn't be the same without you!

Twilight the Movie

2008-05-13T00:12:00.000-07:00

Twilight

CANNOT WAIT!!

My New Baby

2008-05-07T22:25:00.001-07:00

We're so excited for our new arrival!

Hot Pockets

2008-05-04T19:22:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday when I was at my dad's office, we took a quick break in between patients and came across this on you tube. This is SO funny! We were laughing so hard! The assistants kept coming in trying get my dad to come back to work, but we had to finish the whole thing. My face hurt when we were done watching. :)
****PAUSE THE MUSIC ON MY MUSIC PLAYER BEFORE YOU HIT PLAY ON THE VIDEO****

Happy Birthday Mamma Boles :)

2008-04-23T19:40:00.001-07:00

Ok, so it seems like all of my posts lately have been about birthdays, BUT - the people that I love are very important to me, and I feel like a way that I can show them is by telling them how special they are. So today is Jason's mom's birthday and this is for her.

From the day I met Jason's mom, I knew that she was a very special person. She has this spirit about her that is very calming and nurturing. She makes me want to be a better person because everything that she does, says, and acts is true, genuine and sincere. Jason gets this from his mom - one of the main things I love so much about Jason. So here are some things that I love about Sharon:

She is beautiful inside and out.

Jason got her big blue eyes - so pretty!

She loves her children with all of her heart and also her adopted children by marriage. Hee hee

I can call her at any time and she will just listen. (thanks a million!)

She calls just to say hi and to ask about our day. This means so much to me!

She is such a good example to me of a wife and mother.

She treats Russ (Jason's dad) like a king, and with the utmost respect.

She is the best listener and gives great advice.

She is an EXTREMELY hard worker - often working on the weekends... yuck!

She is an AMAZING cook. Claise is one of my favorites!

She is SO supportive of EVERYTHING that Jason and I do, and the way we live our lives and that means the world to us both.

I love the way Jason talks about her - with dignity, admiration, and respect.

She gives the best gifts!! Always thoughtful and catered to what we need.

We love you so much mom and are grateful for you and your life! We hope you have a wonderful birthday - Hugs and kisses :)

Happy Birthday ASH! b.1984

2008-04-16T21:09:00.001-07:00

Well today is my sis. Ashlee's birthday. I'm kind of sad today that she is far away from us and we can't spoil her in person, but I wanted to write a public post just for her to let her know how much she means to me.

Ashlee is one of the most creative people I've ever known. She amazes me at the things she comes up with. I remember when she was in school at Collin's College, she made a video at the end of the year that had projects that she had worked on throughout the year. I saw it and was blown away!! I had no idea how she did some of the things she did with the editing, and dubbing in music; making the camera focus on certain things and other things were out of focus, etc. It was so awesome!!

Ashlee moved to New York in January and I have to say it was one of the hardest things for me. She doesn't know this, but the week before, Jason and I went to bed and I just started to cry. He was worried that something was horribly wrong, but I assured him I was ok. I just said I'm gonna miss Ashlee so much!! I cried the whole day that she left on the plane. She and I have become very close as we've gotten older. So here are some things about Ash that I wanted to share:

She is SO funny, and I tell her all the time she should write for Conan O'Brien! Ha ha
She is very intelligent. She's got smarts, book and street!
She knows just about every alternative band out there and is always sharing new music with me that I love. (Even though she'll ask me, "so do you like this?" and I'll say "yes" and she'll say "No you don't, you're just saying that!") You brat!
She is so good with kids.... Hhhmm, maybe that's why she is a nanny. It is so fun to see her with Kayla and Shawn - she loves them so much!
She has a certain body talent that I won't make public, but I don't think anyone else in the world can do that! haha
She makes me laugh more than anybody, and one of my favorite things to do in life is to laugh - Thanks ASH!
She has the prettiest blue eyes- crystal blue.
She has beautiful dark brown, almost black hair - what a combo!
She has olive colored skin that turns brown when she tans - unlike the whitey's in the fam. like say - me and Jason.. haha
Her smile lights up the room :)
I love our early morning talks when I'm driving to work - 3 hours ahead in NY!
She was so brave to move to NY by herself and I truly admire her for that! What courage!

Ash, I love you a lot and I can't wait for our visit in May! Jason loves you too and we both miss you a lot.

Another full, fun-filled weekend

2008-04-06T19:55:00.000-07:00

Jason just being Jason!

Smoke follows beauty!

Annie and Jared at Charleston's

This week was packed! And this weekend I didn't really get much of a break until today. So here's how it went:

Friday - HAPPY 2OTH BIRTHDAY ANNIE!! I can't believe my baby sister is 20 years old. We are exactly 10 years apart, so that means I'm getting old! Annie was one of the cutest babies I have ever seen. Big dimples and the curliest hair - just like shirley temple. It still is curly, but she straightens it almost everyday! Annie invited Jason and I to go along with her and Jared on her birthday date on Friday night to Charleston's. We had a really fun time. Here is a few things about Annie that I love:

She has such a great smile and brightens up the room with it!
She has a quiet manner about her, yet she knows where she is going and what she wants.
She is a great example to me of having high standards and morals.
She is determined, self-motivated, and very independant at such a young age.
She has a very strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and lives her life showing it.
She was just accepted into BYU for the fall semester and I'm so proud of her! We are going to miss her very much!
She comes over for dinner on average about 2-3x/week and hearing her and Jason banter back and forth is pretty entertaining.

I love you sis, and am so proud of your accomplishments so far, and can't wait to see where life takes you next!

Friday & Saturday: I attended the Arizona Dental Convention all day both days. It's an annual thing, and this year Rio Salado paid for my registration fee so I had to get as many credits as possible. Every 3 years I have to have 54 credits of continuing education for my license renewal. It's quite a bit! I learned a lot, and saw a lot of old friends from my graduating class and it was nice to catch up. I even saw one of my students from clinic, and she said, "Oh hi Ms. Boles!" I was like, huh? haha It just caught me off guard. She was introducing me to the group she was with and she stopped and said, "I'm sorry, I don't even know your first name." I told her outside of clinic she could call me Drea. It was kinda "punny" as Kayla would say.

Saturday Night: The boys went to priesthood session and some girlfriends and I went shopping and then met the boys for dinner at Oregano's afterward. Our entire table ordered the "Big Rig" pasta dish and the waiter thought that was pretty funny. When we got home, we both crashed and I couldn't believe how nice it was to know I didn't have to get up for church this morning. I slept for almost 10 hours! It was FANTASTIC!

Sunday: I got up and Jason had cleaned the kitchen and done dishes, which he HATES to do, and I really appreciate him for doing that. Annie came over and we made "eggs in a bag" (thanks Hillary for the idea!) which were fabulous and cinnamon rolls, watched conference, took naps and had a very relaxing day. When I am working hard, I really appreciate the days when I can relax and unwind. We all need it sometimes! My favorite conference talk was President Monson's closing remarks during the second session. I saw a side of him that I really hadn't seen before. He was so funny, and I loved how he talked about his wife. It reminded me a little of President Hinckley, and I really missed him this conference.

Well, on to the next week. Oh, and we booked our trip to NEW YORK for May and can't wait to see Ashlee and have her show us all her favorite things! Jason and I have never been so we are very excited!

PS - THANKYOU Hillary and Dez for helping me get my project done this week. I appreciate you both so much!

Weekend in Vegas

2008-03-27T19:56:00.000-07:00

A week and a half ago I went to Vegas to visit my sis and the kids. I was so excited to get away and just play for a little bit. My weeks are jam packed with work, activities, etc. so to not have an agenda was great!

Jason picked me up from the school and took me right to the airport. The flight was so nice - only 43 minutes! I think from now on I will fly every time!

Christian picked me up from the airport and took me to their house. I walked in and Kayla was was in her underwear. She saw me, and normally she would hide behind Angela for a couple of minutes until she got comfortable, but this time she yelled, "Hi Drea!" and ran right up to me and jumped up to give me a hug. What a sweetheart! We had so much fun during the weekend.

I know that a visit will never be complete without a visit to Chuck E Cheese - it's Kayla and Shawn's absolute favorite place to go. So Friday we took the kids there for lunch. There was hardly anyone there, so we basically had the place to ourselves. Kayla is deathly afraid of Chuck E Cheese, she won't go near him when he comes out from the back. It's pretty funny!

Friday night was my favorite night. We went to this gorgeous outside mall with grassy areas and park benches all around. Very quaint and pristine. We walked around a bit, and then let the kids run around in the park area. It was so nice out - a little windy, but nice. The kids loved it!

Saturday, Angela and I went shopping for a few things for her new house. We had fun getting some great deals at Big Lots, Kirkland's, and Ross. My absolute favorite thing she bought was the pictures of the apple and pear- they are from Pier One but we found them at Big Lots for a GREAT deal!

Saturday night they got a babysitter for a few hours and we all went to Lucille's BBQ for some yummy food. After dinner, I went back to the house and stayed relieved the babysitter so Ang. and Christian could go out again. And I have a funny story of when I put Kayla to bed.

So we're getting ready for bed, and Kayla is very particular about her routine at night. I promised her some ice cream earlier, so she got her pajamas on and kept saying, "ice cweam?" with a big grin - of course I had to say yes. Angela usually doesn't give her milk after her ice cream, but after she was done, she looked up at me and said, "milk?" with an even bigger grin! So, I caved and gave her just a little. (sorry Ang, her aunt gets to spoil her) hee hee

Then we brushed teeth, went potty, and got into bed. To preface this, Kayla cannot say her F's - she says P instead of F. So I was covering her up, and she was a little upset. "Drea, cover my Pete" and at first I was like, "What?" Then I got it. She wanted her FEET covered! haha PETE . The rest of the weekend, Ang and I noticed everytime she would say a P instead of and F - When she fell off the couch, she said - "I Pell... That's kinda Punny!" It is just about the cutest thing I've ever heard!

Sunday we went to church, and they needed a piano player in primary, so I helped out. It was fun because Angela is the chorister, and we got to work together! She does such a great job with the kids. There were some OUT OF CONTROL kids that were sitting right by the piano, and I got so annoyed, that by the end I told them to "Knock it off!" The boys were quiet after that.

Monday we hung out and took Kayla with us to shop a little more, and I gave Kayla a few quarters to get a necklace out of the toy machine. I think she liked that! Then it was time to head home, and we went to this cute little chinese place right by their house and had dinner. Off to the airport, and I was sad to leave. But I'm glad they are closer than VA! Thanks for the fun weekend Ang. Love you all! Can't wait for you guys to come next weekend!

Good Friday

2008-03-22T07:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Good Friday, so Jason's boss gave all of them the day off. I was so excited, since he never has a day off during the week to go and play. It really was a perfect day!

We woke up around 6:30 and we are trying to read more, so Jason said let's read for a while and then we'll go have breakfast. So I ended up falling back asleep after reading 1 page in my book until 9:30. We got ready and went to Village Inn to have breakfast which was fabulous. I really wanted a piece of pie, but decided not to be a piggie. So then we ran a few errands - bank, gas, Sprouts, etc. Then we went to Barnes and Noble and spent 2 hours browsing for books and sitting at a table. Last weekend, I watched "Becoming Jane" with my sis, and realized I have never read a Jane Austen book. It was a very interesting movie on a few of Jane Austen's experiences that influenced her writing. I wanted to see if I could find a few of her classics, and right before we left we found a hard-bound leather book, beautiful cover of Jane Austen with 7 books in one! $19.95! So that was my great find for the day. We shared a Coke, and then went to the mall and walked around. So after a while, Jason said, "Ice Cream?" But the line was way too long, so we walked outside for a bit - the weather yesterday was AMAZING!! Sunny, warm, beautiful. (Sorry to all of our fam living in the cold!) So we decided it was time to go, and yes, we stopped back at Village Inn to get that piece of pie! ha ha ha. Has anyone had the french silk pie there? Yum!

We went back home after a great day. Jason watched college basketball, and I went for a massage and had a smoothie for dinner. I came home, Jason fell asleep and I watched CSI - It doesn't get much better on a Friday than that!

6 weeks down...

2008-03-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

I've made it through my first six weeks of teaching at the hygiene school, and I have to say, I am enjoying it more than I thought! At first it was a big adjustment for me. I was completely exhausted the first few weeks, especially on Wed. night when I would get home. I leave at around 6:00'ish and don't get home until about 7pm so it's a long day! Thursdays are great because I am in the morning clinic until about 12:30 and then the rest of the day is mine. It's a nice schedule. The students made it through hand-washing, cubicle disinfection, hydrium and LISA operations, extra-oral/inta-oral exams, and now moving on to their first instrument - the probe. This is where they actually start going what we call "sub-g" or below the gumline. Woo hoo! They are all practicing on each other at this point, and I told them all to go see the movie, "There Will be Blood." hee hee

I am noticing that as a whole, the group is very quick and sharp. But just like anything in life, there are a few who are going to make things a bit difficult at times.

I have already signed on to teach in the second semester this summer, so I am very excited that I will continue on with my group to see their progress as they start working on REAL patients.

I think the most rewarding part for me, is to see someone have a "light bulb" moment where something really clicks and they get it. It's very gratifying to know that I am making a difference to that one person in that moment. I am already feeling like a proud mommy of the students and it's only been six-weeks!

Movie Marathon!

2008-03-03T10:20:00.000-08:00

Jason and I were so excited for Saturday because we had been planning our "movie marathon" all week. We had about 5 movie cards saved up from Christmas and birthdays, etc. so we decided to use 3 of them on Saturday. We went to the AMC theatre in Awutukee. This is the theatre that Jason used to go to all the time when he was single. He used to go to movies alone, which I have to say I have never done - I'm not opposed to it, just haven't done it. I kept asking him about it, "So, you used to just buy a ticket and come alone?" I don't know why it made me sad that he used to do that, but I just kept thinking about him going alone and I didn't like it!

Anyway, we bought treats before hand at Walgreen's, and when we got there we got a large drink and large popcorn, which came with a free refill each. Jason was really excited about that! haha We saw 2 movies first, then a break for dinner, and back to movie #3 - JUNO. If you haven't seen it yet, it's AWESOME! I loved it and I definately will own that one when it comes out.

As we were walking out of the theatre, we were approached by a guy with a movie research company who needed volunteers to watch movie trailers and participate in a movie focus group for about an hour and they pay you $75 cash! So, they were all full for Jason's age group but mine wasn't full yet so I'll be doing that this week. I'll let you know how it went. I'd say it will probably be an easy $75 though!

Needless to say, Saturday night around midnight I got pretty sick. YUCK! Not sure if it was just too much junk in one day for me, or if it was our din-din that did it. Oh well, it lasted about 24 hours so I felt bad I couldn't see my CTR class yesterday at church, but I have to say, the fun day out with just me and my Jason was all worth it!

4 YEARS

2008-02-20T20:27:00.000-08:00

Our wedding day

The night we got engaged :)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to me and Jason!! 4 years ago today we were married, and I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband, a best friend, and someone to always count on no matter what. I think Jason and I are a great match. We really balance each other out. Jason tells it like it is, and he helps keep me in check! And I do the same for him. We take care of each other and I've noticed that every year it seems like it just gets better. I love you Jason. I adore you and you are so handsome inside and out! You mean everything to me.

Happy Birthday Angela! (Feb. 12)

2008-02-15T13:22:00.000-08:00

Angela and Drea - Christmas time - 2008

Angela and her sweet Kayla

Angela and her nephew Jacob

Happy Birthday sis!! Angela's birthday was this week, on Tuesday - the day after our grandma's funeral (which I will write about later) so you can imagine how hectic the last week and a half have been. And being the clever girl she is, she hacked into my blog for my birthday and made my day and week by writing some pretty sweet things about me. So I wanted to write some things about my great sister for her birthday week! (Sorry Ang this is a little late, but I think you understand!)

She has always been "the peacemaker" in our family - always trying to make things right.
She has an infectious laugh and if it's late and she's hit her "wall" she can't stop! It makes me laugh too! haha
She loves her family and would do anything for them.
She has the 2 cutest kids in the world and is the best mother!
She has always been such a great example to me and her family as a person and mother.
She has a very strong testimony of the gospel and it shows.
She is not only my sister, but my best friend.

I hope you have a great time going out with Christian, and I'm glad Silvia finally got there safe! Happy Birthday Ang. I love you lots! Thanks for being such a great sister to me!

Happy Birthday Drea!

2008-02-01T17:10:00.000-08:00

OK, so this is probably not quite right, but this is Angela, Drea's sister. She gave me her username and password a little bit ago for something and it stuck with me, so I've signed on as her so I could get the message across. Happy Birthday Drea!! Drea has been sick for several weeks now, off and on. She was finally starting to come out of it when it hit again. Whatever it is, it's sure being stubborn to her - and the medication, though may be helping, makes her stomach churn. But even though she's down and out on this special day, we all love you Drea. So here's a quick tribute to you, Drea.

She's alway's got a smile that will warm up any winter day!

She's very successful at everything she does, but only because she's put her mind to it and worked hard for it!

She makes other people happy with her genuine caring sense

She has a natural mothering nature that many children have been touched by.

She's honest and direct, but very kind-hearted and

She's beautiful from inside to out

So Happy Birthday Drea! Hope you feel better soon so you can enjoy YOUR special day - even if it is on another day! You've touched many people by coming into this world so it wouldn't be the same for any of us without this day! Love you!

Ms. Boles?!?

2008-01-25T05:47:00.000-08:00

I will be starting a new endeavor in my career Feb. 6th. I was hired a couple of months ago by Rio Salado's College of Dental Hygiene as a clinical instructor. I am really excited and yet a little nervous! Over the last couple of weeks I have been attending calibration meetings and orientation for pre-clinic which is the clinic I will be teaching in, along with 3 other instructors. It's very surreal stepping out onto the clinic floor now as an instructor and not a student! Rio's dental hygiene school holds a place in my heart since it is where I graduated from in 2000. Even when I was going through the program, I always new I would teach someday but wasn't sure when. You have to have atleast 5 years experience in clinical practice to teach. Last night I came home with a stack of books and a few HUGE manuals I have to read through. I will be demonstrating "hand washing and PPE"(personal protective equipment) on the first day of clinic.

I know that this new adventure will help me to grow as a clinician and as a person. I am very passionate about the profession of dental hygiene and I hope as a teacher I will be able to create value in people's lives, as this is one of my personal goals in 2008. Here's to a very "educational" year!

Dad's Office Christmas Party

2008-01-21T20:58:00.000-08:00

My two best girls at work - Renee and Stephanie. We help each other get through the day!!

So I work for my dad as a hygienist every Tuesday, (and sometimes a lot more than that!) and this is the 2nd year in a row that Jason and I have been able to go to the infamous Christmas party that my dad puts on every year for his staff. He is a GREAT boss to work for, and great dentist, and an awesome dad! It's a really far drive for me - I live in Chandler and his office is in Glendale, but it's so worth it! The party was at my dad's house in Peoria. This year we played Family Feud as a staff, we all won some extra money and we had dinner catered in from AJs which was really good. We also had our gift exchange - kind of like a white elephant thing - you pick a gift and then someone can steel yours up to two times.... We all got a coach purse! I'm so glad nobody stole the one I got, because I really wanted to keep it! ha ha It was such a fun night! Jason and I stayed the night and then Jason and my dad played golf the next day, and the girls went shopping. Thanks dad for everything! You are the best!! Thanks also to Tracy, my dad's wife - you did such an amazing job putting everything together! love ya!

Temple Lights

2008-01-16T13:58:00.001-08:00

I think this picture should go on a post card - my sis Annie took it with my digital camera. I don't know how she does it - she's just good!

Crazy girls!

The only thing I forgot off of the last post, was our night out to see the temple lights. Jason's parents really wanted to see the lights, remembering it from the time they were here last. It was beautiful as always, and my sisters Ashlee and Annie came as well as my mom. We saw Luke 2, the 8 min movie clip, and the international nativity. Mom gave all of us a tour of the visitors center giving facts around every corner. She really needs to be down there permanently as a missionary! haha We had a really nice time. Temple lights are always a must during the holidays!

Mom & Dad Boles' trip to AZ

2008-01-13T15:10:00.000-08:00

I love this picture of them! We all went to the symphony at Phoenix Symphony Hall and it was really fantastic. It was mom and dad's first time and they loved it!

Drea & Jason at the symphony

Ashlee and her black eye.... Ash, stop hanging out in dark alleyways!

Will found himself in the guest bed for a nice little nap. Silly cat!

My crazy sisters on Thanksgiving day. It wouldn't have been the same without Ashlee & Annie!

Mom in my kitchen on Thanksgiving day.

"Give me some of that there turkey.....that looks gooooood"

Family picture - We're missing Jenn, Jay and Alex though!

Jason loves his mom & dad and LOVES that they came to visit!

So the back logging begins.... I know, these pictures are from Thanksgiving, but I am determined to put all of these fun things up on the blog that happened over the holidays!

Jason's parents were here for a whole week, and we had a really great time together. We had the whole fam over for Thanksgiving dinner at our house and I cooked the turkey, sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes - everyone brought everything else!

We went to Joe's BBQ (a must for mom - she had to have her BBQ ham sandwich!), and also Grimaldi's - a yummy pizza place that we found here straight from NY - best pizza we've tried!

We went shopping a little and had a fun music night with my sisters and my dad and Tracy one night. That was really fun. I think my favorite night was taking them to the symphony and seeing how much they loved it. It meant a lot to me and Jason. We are so glad they came for a visit, and hope that Jenn, Jay, and Alex can come next time too. We love you guys!

Happy 30th Birthday Jenn!

2008-01-12T14:19:00.000-08:00

Today is Jason's sister Jenn's birthday. It's the big 3-0! (Don't worry Jenn, I'm right behind you!) We just talked to Grandma and Alexandra on the phone. It was so cute to hear her talking and giggle! Jenn and Jay went to a movie and dinner for a fun birthday night out. Here are a few things about Jenn:

She loves her family
She has a big, caring heart
She has a classic style about her

She is very intelligent and knows her politics!

She works very hard at her job

She is a WONDERFUL mother

She is a loved sister, a sister-in-law, a daughter, a grand-daughter, wife, and friend.

Jenn, we hope you have a wonderful day and can't wait to see you all soon! We love you.

HAPPY 2008!!

2008-01-06T22:25:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year friends and family! I know I have been a BIG slacker in the "blog world" lately and I'm making a resolution..... No, I'm not. haha! But, December was such a wonderful and busy time for us, and I have so much to blog about. So in January after being sick for about a week (see look what so much busy-ness will do to you!) I will catch you up on all the fun of the holidays. Here's to a great year in 2008! Love you all...

I was TAGGED!

2007-12-12T16:48:00.000-08:00

Ok Kristen, this is for you! I was tagged by my friend Kristen a while ago... haha So here are 6 things you might not know about me.

1. I have been playing the piano since I was 4 years old. It's weird thinking I can remember back that long, but I do. (haha ANG!) I remember seeing a man playing a black grand piano on TV and told my mom and dad I wanted to do that. I started piano lessons very soon after! I have played in competitions, and took from a private instructor in college. I'm playing a musical number for church on Dec. 23rd, and I think it's a really beautiful piece.

2. I was a Phoenix Suns ballgirl when I was 13 until I was 15. My dad helped me fill out the application, and I went down and interviewed with about 250 other kids. It was an ABSOLUTE blast! I was able to meet and rebound for many of the players including some of the greats: Magic Johnson, Michael Jordon, and MY MAIN MAN - Charles Barkley. (I was in love with him! ) Charles was SO nice to us, and so was KJ and Danny Ainge. My dad had season tickets and so he would bring me down to the Arena 2 hours before the games. I had to go to all 41 home games each season and our jobs included rebounding for the players, passing out free stuff to fans, and wiping the sweat off of the court when players would fall during the game.

3. I travelled to Jerusalem, Jordan, and Europe during a 33 day trip in college. It was the trip of a lifetime and I'm so incredibly grateful that I was able to do it. I saw the tulip fields in the Netherlands, Petra in Jordan, the Trevi Fountain in Italy, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Crown Jewels in London and much more! I will always remember that trip as long as I live.

4. I am the oldest of 5 kids and have 3 sisters and 1 brother. My family is my life. My sisters are my best friends. I don't know what I would do without them - Angela's big heart, Ashlee's sense of humor, and Annie's laugh & smile.

5. I love make-up, and love doing other people's make-up. I did my make-up for my wedding, and most of my bridesmaids'. I've done it for some of my friends weddings and Ashlee comes over often saying, "I'm going out, can you do my makeup?" haha I'm a detailed person, and I think that's part of the reason I'm fascinated by new colors and applications.

6. Here is a list of some of my favorite things! Mint chocolate chip ice cream, mexican food, Arbonne lip gloss (I have to have it on at all times!), TEETH!, home decor, looking at model homes, going to the movies, getting my hair done (thanks Chels!), Pepsi, laughing with my sisters, being with friends, milk chocolate hersheys with almonds, my red faux fur blanket - it's the warmest, being with the people I love - my family.

Ok, so now I tag 6 people. Angela, Jana, Chien, Misha, Anne, and Adrienne. You know who you are! Blog about 6 things people don't know about you, then tag 6 people. It's pretty fun learning a little more about people!

Kelly Clarkson

2007-12-07T23:27:00.001-08:00

This is WAY over due! (Thanks Sheri!) My BFF/BFL Chelsi and I went and saw Kelly Clarkson a couple of weeks ago. She is one of my FAVORITE artists, and I think she is amazing. In my opinion, she is the best American Idol artist to win, and nobody can top her. She wrote most of the songs on her new album, and she sang a gospel song that was unbelievable!! She sounded awesome live! We had such a fun time - just us girls.

Masque Us

2007-11-19T14:51:00.000-08:00

Last week the Ellsworth's sent Dane off to the MTC... :( Bittersweet for their family - Adrienne asked if I would stay with the girls and Grady for a couple nights just to give them peace of mind that someone else was there. Well, knowing that I'm a huge scaredy cat at night, I got Jason to come with me. (Thanks Jason, you're the best) Marisa, Audrey, and I did a masque. It's my favorite Arbonne masque. Your skin feels so soft afterward! So of course Jason HAD to take a picture of all of us. We had fun and stayed up way too late! Audrey sang to Grady every night before he went to sleep. She has such a pretty voice. I love these girls - they have a special place in my heart. And seriously M and A we have to go rollerblading soon!

My Jason...

2007-11-12T20:45:00.000-08:00

Last week on Thurs. we had a really great enrichment night - everyone brought soups, breads, and desserts to share. It was touching listening to stories of gratitude and traditions. Well I had signed up to bring Jason's mom's famous apple crisp. I think it is to DIE FOR. So I worked all day, and came home to make it. About a month ago, I bought an apple peeler corer slicer at a Pampered Chef party but hadn't gotten it out of the box, so Jason didn't realize I had a new one. Our old one broke last year, and since then when I make apple crisp, I have to cut, slice, core, and peel by hand. So I tried to get the Pampered Chef one set up, but just couldn't get it so I just said, forget it, I'll just cut them all! Well, about 4 apples into it, Jason walks in with a Bed BAth and Beyond bag and pulls out a new apple corer peeler slicer! He looked at the one I had on the counter, and I looked at the one he had in his hand and we both started laughing! He said he had thought about me having to come home after work and cut all those apples, and thought he would be nice and get me a new one to use. What a sweet heart! He set up my Pampered Chef one in about 30 seconds, and the rest of the apples were done in about 3 minutes. So needless to say, someone will be benefiting from this neat gadget around hmmm, Christmas time?? hee hee

P.S. If you've never used one of these bad boys, it's so worth it! And the Pampered Chef one is fabulous....

Blogs - I love it!

2007-11-09T08:25:00.000-08:00

I just had to write a quick post about how much fun blogging is! I'm officially addicted, and my most favorite part is reading other people's blogs, and looking at everyone's pictures and ideas. I am AMAZED at how beautiful, talented, and special my friends are!!! I LOVE that I can keep in contact with people that I don't get to see very often, everyday if I want. I'm finding that I try to give myself a time limit, "Ok Drea, only 30 min. this time" but like I know many of you have said, it turns into a lot longer! But, it makes me happy so oh well. I am getting so excited for the holidays and am having fun planning for Thanksgiving. Can't wait - 11 days and counting until Jason's parents arrive. I miss them so much.

SO, WHY DO YOU ENJOY BLOGGING?

Oh Will

2007-11-07T19:56:00.000-08:00

Look at this cute little ball of fur. I was doing stuff around the house today, and it's unusual for Will not to be in the same room as me. He stalks me when I'm at home - he has to be in the same room as I am. So I called him and I couldn't find him. Finally, after calling his name a few times in our bedroom, I heard this little "hhhmm" sound coming from what I thought was the corner. Well I saw this little white paw sticking out from under Jason's side of the covers in our bed! (Notice how the bed is not made... haha) I ran to get my camera, and I guess he was so tired that he didn't move. Will's my little kitty boy and I love him even though he's a brat sometimes! He's definately part of the family!

Naughty Jason....

2007-11-04T22:40:00.000-08:00

Jason was very naughty on Saturday. He broke my number one rule of this family..... NO SUNBURNS! Ever since I was 12 years old, and had the worst sunburn of my life at Seven Peaks in Utah, I vowed I would never get burned again! And so I pass that on to my husband as well and to our future children who will have no pigment in their skin whatsoever - but I digress. So when Jason and I were dating, he got burned a few times, and wasn't so good at putting on his sunscreen. But he has gotten so much better since I have helped him be more educated (hee hee) about the sun and the damage it can do to us pasty white people here in Arizona. The rule was set a while ago that if you get sunburned during golf, you don't golf the next week. Ever since, he has not been burned. HOWEVER.... on Saturday I came home to this adorable face. He said he didn't have his Arbonne sunscreen in his golf bag and just couldn't bare to put anything else on his face. "I couldn't put mineral oil or animal parts on my face!!" (he's a smart man!) How could you enforce the rule with that smile?? I love this boy!

Tinkerbell and the dog

2007-11-04T00:36:00.001-07:00

Shawn found a kitty friend...

Pretty Kayla as Tinkerbell

So cute! Brother and sister on Halloween

Look daddy, I'm almost as big as you! And I'm only a year and a half old!

I love cupcakes!

Oh Bubba! There's never been a cuter puppy dog!

Pretty girl!

Look at my Tinkerbell makeup everyone...

More Halloween pictures, I know, but I had to put them on the blog. Seriously, has there ever been cuter kids??? One of Kayla's favorite movies is Peter Pan, and she can recite most of the movie, so she was a PERFECT Tinkerbell. And Shawn LOVES animals, so it was fitting for him to be a dog. I love these kids! Great job Ang on the costumes and makeup!

Alexandra the Flamingo

2007-11-02T19:35:00.000-07:00

I think this is my favorite picture - daddy and daughter laughing!

Alex and her daddy

What a cute family!

I love the side view - you can really see the beek (is that the right spelling?)

Jenn and Jay took Alexandra to a historic farm and downtown area where they have family functions and festivities. Everyone had a great time! Even though we weren't there, it's so great to see the pictures!

A Hard Week...

2007-10-22T00:24:00.001-07:00

Ok, so this week has been rough - since mom has been out of the hospital, she has been at home in bed for over a week now so I have still been helping out with grandma and grandpa Bates who have had a rough time lately too. We just found out that they will have to move out of their rental house soon because the people that they are renting from are going through a foreclosure and have to move back in to their rental home. What a mess!! We have moved grandma and grandpa 3 times literally in the last year - very stressful! We are praying that they can sell their house in Prescott so they can buy the rental house from the people so they can buy something else. Does this even make sense?? It is sooo late and I can't believe I'm still up, and I have to work tomorrow! I've had a little trouble sleeping lately, but am trying not to be too much of a worrier! Anyway, hopefully good times will come again soon.....

I have several things to look forward to coming up, so I'm trying to focus on that:

1. Kelly Clarkson, 20th row!! November 20th ( see picture above)

2. Seeing pictures of Kayla, Shawn, and Alexandra in their Halloween costumes... CAN'T WAIT!

3. Mom and Dad get in from Iowa November 20th - so excited!!!

4. The Holidays - my absolute favorite time of the year!

5. Going to see Wicked in LA the day after Christmas with Jason - he's officially obsessed and we both are really excited to see it!

See I already feel better. Whenever you get sad or down, just try to think of things that make you happy. It always helps me.

Alexandra at the pumpkin patch

2007-10-13T18:24:00.000-07:00

We were so glad to get new pictures tonight of our niece in Iowa, Alexandra! Jason's sister Jenn and her husband Jay live in Des Moines and they took Alex to the pumpkin patch and an apple orchard today. We can't believe how big she looks! And that red hair is adorable! My favorite picture is the one of Jay and Alex and how they both look like they are in the the middle of a laugh! We sure do miss our family in Iowa. The last time we saw mom and dad, and Jenn, Jay, and Alex was last Christmas. We had a lot of fun, but wish we could see everyone more!!

Jenn, send more - we love to see new pictures!!!

Mom

2007-10-08T23:21:00.000-07:00

Well today we had a scare with my mom. I worked at my dad's office today and my uncle called me and told me she had been rushed in the ambulance to the ER because she was vomiting and was so dizzy she couldn't stand up or do anything. They admitted her, and even though she couldn't put up much of a fight, she didn't want to be admitted. They are saying it's a pretty nasty case of VERTIGO, but are still running some tests. I feel bad that she is at the hospital all by herself tonight. But, my uncle and Jason gave her a blessing, and it was a neat blessing. I'm grateful for the priesthood and what a peaceful feeling it always gives me. It really helps me to feel comfort. Mom, I know you'll be ok, and I'm thinking about you tonight. I love you. I'll see you tomorrow.

Kayla & Shawn

2007-10-02T21:02:00.000-07:00

So when we were in Vegas last weekend, I caught the cutest moment between Kayla and Shawn. Kayla was acting a little high maintenance (probably because her momma wasn't there) and so I settled her down with a snack, some yogurt. She wanted me to pull her hair back in a ponytail, so I did that, then she sat down at her little miniature table. She was so cute eating her yogurt by herself with her mini spoon, then food lover boy came over and sat right next to her and just watched her. She looked at him, then started feeding him her yogurt! It was the cutest interaction I've seen between them. So anyway, here are some pictures of the incident.

PS. The blue bear blankie thingy that Shawn has, is something that he cannot sleep without. He has to put the bear's head in his mouth to fall asleep - Angela has replaced it 3 times with new ones, because they all smell so bad.... like mildew! It's the funniest thing!

Las Vegas

2007-09-28T17:15:00.000-07:00

After such a busy week, I'm finally writing about our eventful weekend to Vegas! We watched Kayla and Shawn and I have to say, I was worried that now Jason does not want any children. But, everyone keeps saying that it's different when they are your own! Ha ha We went out Saturday night, and mister 'night owl' himself stayed out with me until 1:15am! I was so proud of him! We went to the Rio and had their awesome buffet - I had basically 1 thing - Crab legs!! They were delish! One of my favorite foods. Then we went to Bellagio and saw the fountains and this was my first time seeing it. It was amazing! The song that the fountains dance to was "Con Te Partiro" which is now the song that you hear when you go to our blog. This piece of music is so beautiful, it took both of our breath away. Since we got back Jason has been playing it throughout the house!

We had a guy play a Richard Marx song on his harmonica for us - he was great! (Right Here Waiting For You) We saw the gardens at Bellagio which are unreal!!! Then we walked over to Caesar's Palace and watched all the crazy's going into the Pussycat Dolls Lounge - that was fun.... Anyway, we had a blast, and here are some pictures.

Pay it forward

2007-09-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

So Tuesday I get this call on my cell from this guy saying he found my wallet! I ran to my purse to check, because I didn't even know it was missing, and sure enough it was gone. I remembered getting gas that morning and I must have left it on the top of my car when I took my debit card out. Scott, who was taking his dry cleaning in that morning happened to see it in the road on Alma School and the 202! He had to call 3 different people before tracking me down. He went through so much trouble, and I was so grateful to him, I wanted to give him some cash to say thankyou. I wrote a note telling him how much I appreciated him and how much trouble this saved me and put some cash in an envelope. When we met up and he handed me my wallet I handed him the envelope but he absolutely would not take it. I felt so blessed and happy knowing that there are still honest people in the world! So make sure you put your business card or something with your cell phone number on it just in case you ever lose your wallet and are lucky enough to have someone try and return it to you! Here's to you SCOTT, wherever you are....THANKS AGAIN!! I will make sure to pay it forward....

Fun being together

2007-09-17T22:12:00.000-07:00

Angela and Christian got into town Friday night, and Saturday we all had lunch at Gecko grill. This was our pick due to the fact that our funny sis. Ashlee now works there as a waitress. She did so great, and I even slipped her a big tip! haha She was a good sport because we were taking pictures but we are so proud! We were calling Shawn bean boy, because by the time we left, he was covered in them!

Jason had a fun time golfing and met up with us later at mom's. He fed Shawn his bottle and I couldn't help but thinking what a great dad he is going to make someday.... (sooner than later we hope!)

Sunday everyone came over for dinner, and of course Jason worked his magic on the grill. Kayla wanted to watch Aladdin, so she snuggled up with Jason to watch.

Jason and I will be heading to Vegas this weekend to play mom and dad while Angela and Christian paint their new house. We're excited to be able to spend this much time together! We sure do love our family. (Can't wait for the other half of our family to come in November!!!)

Can't wait!

2007-09-14T09:44:00.000-07:00

So if you know me pretty well, you know that I'm obsessed with Kayla and Shawn, my sister Angela's kids. Kayla is my little love, and Shawn is a ball of brown baby bubba. (We talk weird to children in our family) ahahahaha!! So my sis and her husband Christian and the kids are coming into town tonight and we get to hang out for almost a week! Here are some pictures from the Salazar's recent trip to Virginia where Christian is from.

Kayla had a fun time with a shower curtian that was making her hair full of static.... so cute!

Sunday

2007-09-09T20:08:00.000-07:00

Today I was officially released as the primary chorister. I have to say that when I was called to it exactly 1 year ago, I was really bummed! I was taken out of young women's which I absolutely loved! I had no idea what to do in primary! But with a lot of help and effort, I really learned to love the kids in primary and became very comfortable with my calling. I'm really glad I had the opportunity to do it. I will still help out with the program which will be in 6 weeks. The kids are learning the songs so well and I know they'll do great! My new calling is with the Sunbeams, which are the 3 year olds, and I'm really excited! They make me laugh and they are so cute!

Tonight we talked to Jason's mom in Iowa. We are SOOOO excited for them to come out for Thanksgiving! We have some fun things planned - we told mom about how we got us all tickets for the Phoenix Symphony that weekend and she is really excited! Hopefully Jen and Jay and baby Alexandra will get to come out too. We CAN'T WAIT!!

Jason grilled pork tenderloin tonight and made dinner - I was so tired and took a nap! He is the BEST griller and I don't even like getting meat at restaurants anymore because it doesn't compare! Annie, my baby sister came over and we watched "In Good Company" and had dinner. It's been a nice night.

Here we go!

2007-09-08T13:45:00.000-07:00

So here is my first blog post! I'm so excited! I've been telling everybody now for months that I was going to get a blog started, but just haven't done it yet.

Today has been great - Jason is cleaning out the garage/watching football, and I'm getting things done around the house. I was doing the dishes and I had to take a picture...Jason was talking to me and I noticed that Will (our cat/son - for now anyway) was totally into our conversation - we both laughed and snapped a picture. So here are my two boys! haha