Materialistic, I think not!

The other day I witnessed what I thought was the most adorable thing I have ever seen. I love when I see an elderly couple that are still in love; Walking together holding hands and carrying on a great conversations while giggling with each other still just like they did when they were kids!! I feel truly blessed when I see such thing and it truly reminds me that in life it is the small things that are the most important and memorable.

Last Nights Dinner:

Plenty of Pasta

(simple, healthy, quick)

Conatains:

• Whole Weat Pasta
• Organic Four Cheese Pasta Sauce
• Chicken Breast
• Steamed Veggies
• Parmasian cheese on top if wanted
  
  

Directions:

• Cook noodles
• Heat pasta sauce
• Cut chicken and veggies; add to sauce
• Pour sauce on noodles
• EAT
  

Dessert:

• A nice walk to the market!
  

~SMILE~

Somebody loves you

Eventful Sunday

The Phoenix ZOO

Featuring:

AND
AND
OH MY!!!!


Dustin and I got so many great shots of the animals it was amazing. For some reason I don't think I could ever get tired of going to the zoo. I love animals so much and it's crazy to examine them just trying to figure out what they must be thinking.

Although there are also some feeling of sadness when the little guys look you right in the eyes like they know they are trapped and set in a fake environment just to be ooohh'd and aaaahh'd at.


Example:

(so cute, yet so sad)

The otters looked so friendly and viscious at the same time:

(cute and cuddly)

(mean and evil)

Giraffe:

Warthogs:

Parrot:

Rhino's:

Turtles:

Be one with the statue...

MONKEYS!!!!!!!

I got to save the best for last. Monkeys are definitely my favorite animal and I hope to own one some day soon. The most entertaining moment today was the orangutans; I probably spent a good half hour standing and watching them and would have stayed longer if I could.

We can't forget about this monkey...

Buffalo Chip Saloon

As stated in my post from Friday... The Buffalo Chip Saloon is a huge hit out in Cave Creek as it was packed with people and loads of fun. There are 3 shows for the bull riding (8PM 9:45PM, and 10:45PM) and we stayed for the first two. I must say I was rather impressed with the bravery of these boys riding and I can't wait to go again to watch.

Here are a couple pictures I got:

(in between the shows they let the bulls run around for a little while)

(self explanatory: a boy riding a bull)


Also, there was a BBQ buffet with lots of delicious food and apparently the saloon is well known for there outdoor buffet on Friday nights as there was a consistent line for the food. Indoors there was live music with a dance floor, of course. It was fun to watch everyone dance... I wish I didn't have 2 left feet or Dustin and I would of been out there too!! Instead we enjoyed complimentary peanuts at the bar and the company of the regulars around us.


(the peanuts and me)

Here are a couple videos that I got while I was there. They are a little hard to see because of the lighting and all the flashing from camera's but it gives you a good idea of how things went.

Bull Riding Take One...

Bull Riding Take Two...

If you have never been to Cave Creek I would definitely recommend checking it out and if you make it up there on a Friday night make sure to catch the bull riding!!

TGIFriday

I have been thinking about how we have been wasting our weekends away with nothing to do and I am just tired of it. So I am making it a big deal to get out on the weekends starting today and find random things to do that are free or at least cheap because there is always something going on here in Arizona.

This weekend will be my first of many to come busy and funfilled 3 days:

• Tonight I plan on driving out to cave creek and going to Buffalo Chip which is a local saloon that is packed with fun.
• Saturday I am going to go to the Fountain Hills Great Fair just to walk around and explore the music & art.
• Sunday I will be going to the Phoenix Zoo for a little fair and then staying after to check out the wildlife.

Hopefully these events lead to many pictures and good times so I can blog about it!

Just because...

we love each other!

Macayo's Margaritas

Sunday evening Dustin and I went out to Macayo's for a margarita with my grandma, mom, aunt (visiting from Denmark), and sister. Macayo's is a regular place for my family to meet up when we want a margarita as we have special mugs that we bring in and one is all you need before you forget all your troubles and just get goofy. The reasoning for getting together this time was my Aunt Tylan, of course!! Coming all the way from Denmark to come visit her family was a splendid treat.

The deadly margarita mugL:

The family:

(Sister, Dustin, Mom, Grandma, Aunt)

Mother and Daughter:

(Me, Mom)

Nothing like family:

(Mom, Grandma, Aunt)

Told you they make you goofy:

(Grandma, Aunt)

Happy Valentines Day

Valentine's day was great! Dustin and I got to sleep in pretty late and when we woke up he made us eggs and toast (delicious!!) and then I asked him to go get us a huge Dr. Pepper from QT which he did.

-- (Earlier in the week we decided that for this day we would just go out to an inexpensive dinner together and not exchange gifts or anything as it is sort of a difficult time with the economy. Of course, I was not okay with that and had to do something...) --

Everything was working out perfectly this morning as to his surprise I had actually set him up so that when he was gone getting us a drink from QT I could set up for valentine's secretly. I had gotten some fresh fruit and treats to dip into a chocolate fondue the day before and hid it on my roommates side of the cupboard so he wouldn't get suspicious. So, I got a plate together with a little bit of everything and started to heat the chocolate. I took it all upstairs and set it up all cute in the middle of the floor so we could just veg out. Along with the chocolate fondue and dipping treats I also got him a teddy bear, card, and matching pajama pants for us to lay around in. When he got home he was incredibly surprised and had no idea that I was going to do this for him. Everything worked out in my favor!!

This is how it turned out:

A close up of the yummy treats:

(strawberries, bananas, marshmallows, macaroon cookies, graham crackers)

He was happy:

An idea of what I do at work...

My lovely desk that I sit at all day...

Everybody loves rainbows -- especially when you can see it from your desk at work...

This dress statue was in the lobby for our support to go RED for women (american heart association) and as you can see Chelsea decided it would be funny to pose behind it and snap a picture...

My name tag and my celebrity look a like...

The creepy figure that is on top of Chuck's computer tower which I see every time I look out my window...

A picture which was accidentally taken but amuses me...

My South Park Character made by Chuck...

25 random things

I've been "tagged", I'll do it here...and you do it on your blog, then leave me a comment with your link so I can learn about you after you learn about me. Sound good??

--Here we go--

1. I have a scar on my right forearm that is very noticeable because when I was five I hated my birthmark, so I had it removed.
2. I hate the sound of people chewing.
3. While listening to music I like to get on my bed in my undies and lip sing and dance like I am in a music video of my very own.
4. When I was little I used to fill up my bathtub and sit in it for hours pretending I was a famous mermaid and my fans would come in groups to get my autograph (which i signed the walls with my cool tub pens).
5. I am a true Dr. Pepper addict.
6. I have a huge obsession with monkeys as they are my favorite animal and I hope to own one some day.
7. I sucked my pointer and middle fingers on my left hand until I was like twelve.
8. I am a firm believer in Karma.
9. I am the worst at opening presents that I do not like and pretending like I love them.
10. I love to work out and I try to be healthy but I really, really love food.
11. I have a favorite cousin named Brian James and when we were little we were inseparable and always causing accidental mischief; we were also in love with power rangers and the line "Smee. Smee. What about Smee?" from the movie Hook.
12. I consider myself to be easily annoyed.
13. When I was seven my neighbor in Wisconsin convinced me that ants were tasteful. The black ones tasted like chocolate and the red ones tasted like watermelon; I liked the red ones. I can no longer confirm this as I am too chicken to put an ant in my mouth.
14. My memory is worse than a fish! (no joke)
15. The person I look up to most in life is my Grandpa Schroeder. I would have to say if I had a hero it would definitely be him.
16. As a child I used to sleep walk and one time I mistook the garbage can for a toilet... oops!
17. I am an extremely organized person to a point where I could almost be considered OCD.
18. I still cry at Disney movies.
19. My favorite snack is gold fishes, peanut butter, and pickles mixed together.
20. I think it is funny when people get hurt and am normally laughing to hard to ask if they are okay; it is a sick thing but I cannot help it.
21. I wish I had a New Zealand accent.
22. Although most wont believe this, I graduated high school 1 year early as a junior in the top 8% of the senior class and recieved a college scholarship.
23. I hope to one day know how to play the guitar, drums, and piano very well along with knowing how to swing, salsa, and ballroom dance like a professional.
24. I am very competitive.
25. Going with #24... One year at christmas when I was about nine years old I saw my sister and brother kicking to see who could kick hire; me being the gymnast that I was had to show both of them up so in my floor length christmas dress and black tights I kicked as hard and as high as I could... and landed flat on my back because the dress took my other leg from underneath me.

And that completes my 25 random things about me... I hope you enjoyed!

They Love Me

Yesterday at work I came in to my desk and it was covered in decorations for my 21st birthday since I had been gone! It was cute!!

(in the bottom right corner you can see a picture of me as a south park character under cover)

(a birthday crown on my computer)

(these 21's were all over my desk)

(homemade cupcakes from chelsea)

Improv

Friday night (02/06) I had tickets to go see Kevin Pollak at the Improv in Tempe at 8pm. I was not feeling the greatest, but because I had already bought the tickets I sucked it up and went anyways. That was probably the best decision I made as the show was amazing and hilarious.

I went with Dustin (boyfriend), Andrea (sister), and Natalie (friend). Now there is not that much room in the Improv as they try to seat as many people as possible in a small amount of space so you get to know the tables next to you rather well. Also, each person must have at least 2 items during the show whether it is a snack or a drink... and although I was celebrating my 21st and should have been drinking I just couldn't bare to think about anything with liquor in it; so instead I decided to try the fresh veggies with a cucumber dip which was amazing with a water and Dustin had gotten a fruit and cheese tray which was also very tasty with a Dr. Pepper. The food was great and the show had me laughing the entire time. Kevin had 2 opening performances which were a riot and I would go see both of them again for their own show. Then, of course, Kevin Pollak got on stage and had the entire crowd cracking up.

I would definitely recommend going there at least once if you have never been as I plan to go much more often. Obviously the amount of laughter will depend on who you go to see but still a good time none the less. It is all about what you make out of it.

(my wrist band for over 21; woo hoo!)

Drunk Sneakers

Thursday night (02/05) I went out with my beautiful mother, my wonderful boyfriend, and my most amazing roommate ever and we had a great time!

(Jess, Mom, Me, Dustin)

First, we went out to Macayo's and had margaritas. We sat around and told funny stories, laughing the entire time. We sat in the restaurant until they kicked us out because they were closing...

So, after that we made our way to a local bar called SNEAKERS. When we got there we realized that we had just stepped into an ASU Frat Date Night. I have never heard such horrible Karaoke before. Although I am sure if I ever tried to sing outside of my shower I would shatter windows and make babies cry with the horrifying noise that came out.

--The college crowd was actually slightly amusing while it lasted and reminded me why I am glad I am not one of those students there; with the flashing of the panties, the making out with other girls, the stumbling into the restroom and arguing about dirty things... and for what... attention?? That is just not my style nor a style I would like to be affiliated with and I wonder if they even realize or remember any of it. --

Anyways, once all of that commotion was over and it was just the regulars at the bar it was a great time. My mom and roommate decided it was important to make sure the entire bar knew that it was my birthday. It was a little embarrassing, but I survived!!

A few things that happened that night:

(my new shoes from Jess; they match hers)


- The bartender gave us each a "birthday" shot which I have no idea what it consisted of but it was really tasty. You put a blue shot in a yellow juice and drink it (like an Irish Car Bomb).

- I taught Dustin how to 2 step and we 2 stepped to hip-hop music along the side of the bar for a while. It was a lot of fun and now we want to go to a country bar and dance!

- My roommate, Jessica, bought me a shot of liquid cocaine which I took like a champ, but needless to say had many regrets later.

- A random cheer came from a corner of the bar where there were about 6 guys sitting around a little machine. It turns out there is a game where you can put in $1 and you control a claw to try to catch a real, live lobster in water and they had caught a lobster after waisting about $30 trying. I actually found this rather inhuman and quite sad, but I see how a group of drunk boys would get a great deal of entertainment out of it.

- A group of kids from across the bar purchased a round of patron shots for the group and shared with me... actually they shared 2 with me for my b-day!!

(she is attacking me.. hehe)

Champs at 21

So... This past weekend I turned the big 21 on Thursday, 02/05.

I took Thursday and Friday off work and celebrated my birth Thursday - Sunday; needless to say I had a blast.

Thursday afternoon I treated myself to a day of Beauty at Champs Salon which included:

1 hour massage

1 hour facial

1 hour pedicure

manicure

hair cut & style

It was so relaxing!! This was my first time ever getting a massage, facial, and manicure. I regret the fact that I had never done these things before because I now am addicted and realize that these are a few of the essentials in a woman's life.