Shoot!

Ok, so remember how I was on the sweet strike? Well...I had a minor set back...Holidays are hard, people! I did well to not eat anything ON Christmas, but then relapsed. I've had a few things, but that's ok. I'm starting again New Year's Day. A little frustrating, though, because I did go an entire month without...and lost 9.5 pounds...and now I've gained 2 pounds back. GRRRRRRRRR!
I have a pretty sweet setup here out in the middle of nowhere. A nice 2 bedroom home---it's quiet here, not many distractions, my in-laws are just up the drive, and they have an ENTIRE home gym (I'm talking 24Hour Fitness equipment, here!)---so I think this will be good for awhile. I am determined to not be a chubby bunny the rest of my life.

Didn't you know that 2=4?

Here's a little advice: NEVER move in the winter time. If you absolutely have to, let some moving company drive it to your new location. We left Friday, later than we wanted (10am) because we were supposed to have a phone interview (more on that later. didn't have it---have to reschedule), it was snowing like crazy, and Adam's windshield wiper wasn't working, so by the time we got to a place in Salt Lake City to stop, he was peering out the passenger side so as not to kill us. We had to wait for an hour for someone from Penske to come replace the windshield wipers. We got back on the road at about 12:30, could only drive about 30 mph, so we stopped in Rock Springs, WY for the night. We felt good in the morning---ready to start the rest of the trip. Adam went to warm up the truck and it wouldn't start! So, we had to wait an hour for Penske to come fix the problem and then another hour for them to recharge the battery. We didn't get on the road until 11, or so (waaaaay behind schedule). I hate Wyoming. Why would anyone want to live there? Anyway, Wyoming is famous for their white-outs. Have you ever experienced one? Not fun. At all. We had very low visibility, and then all of the sudden, it was completely white and we couldn't see even a foot in front of us. As we passed it, we saw a semi pulled to the side of the road, and then right in front of it, another semi straddling the lane and the shoulder, so we had to swerve to miss hitting it, and then swerve the other way to avoid hitting a car in the left lane. Somehow, we ended up sandwiched between the two lanes---all 36 feet of us---and somehow our truck stopped gently on a dime. So, we didn't get very far...Sydney, NE...stayed the night, and FINALLY arrived in Omaha on Sunday evening. We were so exhausted, we stayed 2 nights with my parents instead of one. What should have been a 2 day trip turned into 4. 2=4.
On a side note, we lived (obviously), and no harm came upon us. We know it is because so many people were praying for our safety, so THANK YOU!

Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday!

This post is to my beautiful mother!!! Today is her 40th birthday (hahaha, yeah, and I'd be killed if I told you her real age. Besides, she looks so young, it's believable, right?), and I am so grateful for her. She is brilliant---so brilliant in intelligence and personality, that even strangers flock to her like magpies to something shiny.( Speaking of magpies, she calls herself one, and I want her to know I am grateful that she is so stylish and passed down the love of shiny and big jewelry to me! ) I'm grateful for her love of learning and reading, because I think that it's taught me to really accept others for their differences and embrace truth and good wherever I find it. She is a fun-loving and young person. We're as young as we feel, right? She's not an immature young, but she can hang with the young crowd (she has a group of friends in Omaha that are just slightly older than me!). My mother is also a wonderful Yaya! Ruby loves her so much and we're grateful that she feels she can do anything when she's with her Yaya!

Thank you, mother, for all the wonderful things you have done for me and taught me. You are my best friend! I love you! I am sooooooo excited to live close to you again!

KASS!

Ok, and Kass? I don't have your email address, so if you could give me that, then we could for sure be blog buddies.  Thanks!

HEY! KERI!!!!

Yes, Keri Longmore, this is a post especially for you. I can't get into your blog, which means you must not have added my email address. To answer your question, we are moving next Friday. It would be awesome if we got to see you guys! We miss you!!

Broke the bank

Poor little Ruby is having to bear the weight of poverty on her shoulders. Ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but I forget how closely she listens to me. Not that I publicize to the world how broke we are (except that I'm doing it now? hahahaha), but we're very near the end of the semester, and we're making a big move, so we're trying to spend as little as possible, which isn't hard, considering...

Anyway, lately, whenever she wants something at the store, I have had to explain to her that we can't buy it right now "because mommy and daddy don't have any money." Poor thing. Well, the other day, I told Ruby that we were going to go into Nordstrom to pick up my check, and while I was getting ready, she comes into my room with a handful of coins and says, "Well, we don't have any money. BUT, I have some for shopping. Maybe I could get a cookie." (ps Nordstrom has these really huge and delicious sugar cookies that she gets occasionally) She had broken into her piggy bank.

She really thought that one out!

It's been almost a month since the sweet strike started. I have lost 5 pounds, and I do not crave sweets AT ALL anymore. Seriously, it's amazing.

We're getting ready for our move. I hate packing, but I am so excited to move back to Kansas City, so bring it on! Between packing, finals, working at Nordstrom, and Adam's job at school, it's going to be a tough couple of weeks, but what gets me through is the thought that after it all, I will be relaxing out in the country on beautiful land surrounded by family. Ahhhhhh...

We have a few job opportunities that have arrived, so please keep us in your thoughts and prayers...

OH! AND...I just have to brag on my husband for a minute. He has to take a bunch of Chinese proficiency tests for his major---they're national tests, and they have to take them so that BYU knows what they need to improve in the Chinese Department. Anyway, he found out that he scored Advanced High (just BARELY missed the Superior mark) on his speaking test. He'll be getting a certificate for it soon. We don't know the other scores yet, but I have no doubt he did well. He's so smart.

*YAWN*

I am sooooo tired! This week has been a crazy one---I got sick, had to make an entire Thanksgiving feast (which took 3 days of prep-time), and I've been working at Nordstrom. My feet hurt, my back hurts, my throat hurts, my eyes hurt, my arms hurt (from playing the Wii), and all I really want to do is sit back and relax for five minutes. I'm hoping I don't have to go in today...

Thanksgiving dinner was fabulous---I was surprised everything turned out so well. The turkey was perfect and so was the company. I'm not so sure I'll ever do the WHOLE meal again, though. Way too much work!

I've been doing well on the Sugar Strike. Still going strong. I had 3 bites of pie on Thanksgiving, and felt sick afterwards, so I think that's a good sign...right? 

I DID IT!

I made it through week one of my sugar strike. It was surprisingly easy this time. I just made sure I had fruit on handy, and I was good to go. Week two might be slightly harder with Thanksgiving being Thursday...I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

Don't Hate Me, But...

 I didn't like Twilight. Like, at all...

I know! I know! I really hate saying it, because I really tried to like it. It's just that the more I think about it, the more I dislike it. I didn't feel that deep connection between the main characters. I feel like whoever wrote the screenplay focused on all the wrong things. I thought Edward looked good, BUT I didn't like his acting style especially at the beginning--some things were just too cheesy. I almost got killed in the theater for laughing out loud on a few parts. Oops! Oh well! I still love the books. Like, really love them. Maybe I'll reread them now...

Hello, Cupcake!

                                              

 I got the coolest book ever! I have a feeling it will turn me into a cupcake goddess. Here's one of my favorite ideas for April Fool's Day: 

Aren't they amazing? I will make these soon...You should check out the book!

Mama Mia!

My friend, Chelsea, called me Tuesday night to see if I would go see Mama Mia! with her at the $1.50 theater. I've never had a desire to see it, but the thought of just going to a movie sounded nice.

WOW! I honestly think that it was the worst and most confusing movie I have ever seen!!! I'm glad Tuesdays are 1/2 off night, because I honestly think $1.50 would be paying too much. I'm glad I went with Chelsea, too, because I didn't feel bad for making fun of it, and she and I had a good laugh. A really good laugh. Especially when Pierce Brosnan was singing. 

Thanks, Chelsea! You made my night!

                                      

Barebunned Contessa

My husband is, I admit, a little weird. He comes up with new titles for the Food Network shows. Instead of Everyday Italian, he calls it Everyday Cleavage, because Giada is always showing hers off. Instead of Barefoot Contessa, he calls it Barebunned Contessa, and I have no idea the reason behind that one. Anyway, I'm not the biggest fan of Ina Garten's show, but her cookbook called The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook is awesome! (Thanks again, Paul, for the awesome Christmas gift---I have used it often throughout the year!)  If you're a hummus fan, here's the easiest and tastiest recipe:

makes 2 cups

2 cups canned chickpeas, drained, liquid reserved

1 1/2 tsp kosher salt

4 garlic cloves, minced (I like lots of garlic, so I usually use 5 or 6!)

1/3 cup tahini (sesame paste)

6 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)

2 Tbsp water or liquid from the chickpeas

8 dashes Tabasco sauce

Place all the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until the hummus is coarsely pureed. Taste for seasoning and served chilled or at room temperature. 

ps. I'm sure a blender would do the trick if you do not have a food processor.

Enjoy! OH! and if you want to make your own pita chips, just brush olive oil onto pitas, cut into wedges, sprinkle with cayenne pepper and back on a baking sheet at 375 degrees for 15 minutes, or so. 

Day ONE

Ok, my siblings and I made a pledge to give something up for 6 months to support my Dad (long story...). I am giving up sweets for 6 months, with the exception of a piece of pie on thanksgiving and christmas, if I feel so inclined. So here's to day one! 

No Place Like Home

Adam and I have made a very important decision: We are going to move back to Kansas City. The circumstances in which this decision had to be made are not quite ideal, but we are very excited to move "home".  Adam had a job offer for a company in China, but they are no longer able to offer him the position due to the economic situation---this seems to be the case everywhere. Although he has no job yet, we are hopeful that he will find something, and in the interim we will be surrounded by people we love. Can't beat that! 

Kansas City, here we come!

Where's Ruby?

I always check on Ruby before I call it a night, and this is how I found her. Hilarious!

Blood and Bones

We had a few friends over tonight, so I tried to get into the Halloween spirit---I made blood red hot chocolate and homemade marshmallow bones. mmmm...

Whatchu gon' do wit all dat junk...

...all dat junk inside yo' trunk? (come on, you've gotta love the Black Eyed Peas! good beats to run to!) Speaking of running, I was remembering when I used to be skinny, and it may have been because I would run 2-3 miles just about EVERYDAY! I'm starting to run again, and I'm not quite sure what to do with all the junk in my trunk while I run---I hate the jiggly feeling. 

What? What diet? Oh yeah, I was supposed to be on some kind of calorie counting/goal reaching diet, huh? hmmm...well I'm getting serious about it starting...NOW. Really! Fine, don't believe me, but the running is helping to convince me that I need to eat better too, so as to reduce the jiggle factor.

For Good Measure

Just a few more pictures, I promise. We took Regan with us to this place where we took all the pictures---she had fun, or so she said, but you'd never be able to tell by the pictures! As soon as the camera was on her, she frowned. Ruby absolutely adores Regan, and they could actually pass for sisters (by the way they look and treat each other!). In fact, people always tell me what cute girls I have, and I never correct them!

BEE-witching

Isn't my little girl the cutest? And i didn't even have to give her pointers on how to pose. She's a natural. Maybe it's just because she knows she's the cutest bee on the block!

p.s. I thought I rotated those darn pictures! Oh well, you're just going to have to rotate your head.

I Want That! (picture the wife that Uncle Rico is trying to sell nylon polymer tupperwear to)

There are 2 things that I really wish I had: 

1) A new camera. And not just any camera--I want the professional and totally awesome Nikon 

D90. What? Is $1,000 too much?        Yeah, so it's pricey, but I have a desire to get into photography and you can't beat a Nikon! 

2) A sewing machine. And this time I'm not going to be picky about what kind. Singers are good, right? I think I could make some pretty awesome things with a sewing machine, don't you?

So basically what I'm trying to say here, is that i need to develop some new talents/hobbies. Maybe I'm bored? Nah, not bored, just catching a creative bug.

Tree Huggers

Ok, so I guess we're not necessarily tree huggers, but we do love us a hike! We went to South Fork on Friday, and Ruby was so excited, she was NON-STOP with the talking on the drive up. We had a great time and will miss this part of Utah. Enjoy the pictures!

Tagged...whoa, and TWICE!

Eight TV shows I like to watch:

1.) The Office

2) Iron Chef America

3) Good Eats

4) King of Queens

5) So you think you can dance

6) Gilmore Girls (yeah, I know it's weird)

7) Arrested Development

8) Seinfeld

Eight things that happened yesterday:

(maybe I should pick another day to do this, b/c yesterday was sunday...oh well!)

1) Went to church

2) Went to choir practice

3) Cleaned my kitchen

4) Ate leftover curry so I didn't have to cook!

5) Took a REALLY long nap

6) Went crazy with Ruby

7) Spoke Ruby's new language (something she made up--I just went along with it)

8) Watched Iron Chef America

Eight Favorite Places to Eat:

1) Malay Cafe

2) Gorrazo's

3) Bombay House

4) Sam Hawk

5) Swagat (in KC)

6) Cuppini's

7) Yogurtland

8) Happy Sumo

Eight things I am looking forward to:

1) Getting a job

2) Moving

3) Longer Hair (Katy, I stole that one from you)

4) Getting pregnant again---ok maybe not the PREGNANT part, but having another baby would be nice

5) Christmas

6) Ruby's Dance recital

7) Seeing Erica during Thanksgiving

Eight people I have tagged

1) Britney

2) Lauren

3) Karlene

4) Christine

5) Keri

Next Tag:

About Adam

Where we met: Youth Conference, right before senior year. Seriously was a miracle because I hated going to church activities, but my mother forced me to go that year because she had to go as a chaperone. Adam hated going to these things, too (which is why we never met before), but was asked to be on the Youth Committee. Really, you try going to youth activities in Missouri!

How long we dated before we got hitched: Ok, well high school was only 6 months. I really broke up with him thinking I would never see him again...but I did...when he got home from his mission. I think we officially dated for about 6 months before we got married? Something like that. 

How long we have been married: 4 1/2 years

What's my favorite feature about him: oooh! I love his jaw line! And his eyes! And there's this scar on the left side of his head.

What's my favorite quality about him: He is very good at making me laugh! And I love the way he'll debate with me over the dumbest things. He's also very easy to talk to, and VERY forgiving, which is so nice. He never gets mad and is always the first one to apologize.

What's his nickname for me: Usually Honey or Babe. Or Bunny, which I hate and he thinks is so funny.

His fav color: Green or Brown

His fav food: BBQ ribs. Just mention it, and he'll salivate

His fav sport: college football?

Who said the L word first?: He did. In high school. He emailed me one day and at the end wrote, " p.s. I love you". He was too nervous to say it out loud.

First kiss, when and where: Shoot, this is one I don't remember. I THINK it was at Krug Park in St. Joseph sometime in August 2000. 

Fav couple thing to do: Go to new restaurants. Watch movies.

How many kids? just the one so far. Hopefully more soon.

His hidden talent? He is really good at "making us safe". He is methodical about securing the house for the night---puts chairs and couches in front of the door, and things on the stairs so that if we have an intruder, we'll hear him/her! It takes him about 15-20 minutes to do his rounds before we go to bed.

His age: 26

His fav music: He loves lots of alternative. His favorite is Pearl Jam (which is one thing he loved about me in high school---I love Pearl Jam, too!). One thing we do not have in common? Country. He likes it, I HATE it!

What I admire most about him: He never talks bad about anyone. Really. He genuinely loves most everyone, and is really good at making friends with people.

His fav pastimes: He loves to go hunting and to spend time in nature. Loves to just chill with family. He loves anything that has to do with working out and taking supplements!

Will he read this?: I don't know--maybe I'll make him read it. He never checks the blog.

I tag everyone that reads my blog if you haven't already done this!

And The Emmy For Best Actress In A Daytime Drama Goes To...

drum roll...

RUBY FREESTONE

For her breakthrough performance in "As The Girl Twirls"

  

Seriously, everyone--Ruby is quite the drama queen lately. Her new line is "for all my life." Example? Well, the other day, Adam was going to 24 Hour Fitness to work out and Ruby really wanted to go. She was sick, though, so Adam kindly explained that she's not allowed in the Kids' Club when she's sick because she'll get the other kids sick, but she didn't care. She wanted---nay, NEEDED---to go and was so distraught that her dreams were not coming true, that she prostrated herself on the ground and cried out, "But I don't want to be sick for ALL MY LIFE!"

Wow, it was amazing. It's been her new line since then, and it gets more elaborate every time. "I've had a hardest day of all my life!"

She never ceases to amaze me.

Burn, baby, burn!

I made a very yummy Vietnamese beef and noodle salad for dinner last night (seriously, you should make it. visit www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/GRILLED-LEMONGRASS-BEEF-AND-NOODLE-SALAD-10516 for the recipe. and be sure to make the Nuoc Cham from the recipe located in one of the reviews. YUMMY) . For some really DUMB reason, I wasn't paying attention when I was chopping up the serrano peppers---I'm normally very smart and careful so my hands don't burn---and my hands ARE STILL BURNING! It took me a very long time to go to bed last night because it hurt so bad. Today the burning is located only behind my nails, so it isn't so bad...

The smart way to de-seed peppers? Chop the very bottom of the pepper off, so that it stands up flat, and, while holding onto the stem, slice top to bottom, making sure to avoid the inside seeds and vein. The dumb way to de-seed peppers? Cut in half and take out the seeds and the vein with your hands.

RUBY UPDATE: 

Ruby has started making up stories and words. Her latest story involves Princess Ruby in her stronger castle being attacked by bad guys. They kill her nose and her belly button. Her newest vocabulary word: Pocky. It's an insult, apparently, because she gets upset if anyone calls HER a Pocky, but she can't decide what it means.

Martha would be proud

I love Halloween. Does that mean I'm morbid? I don't know, but I think it's so fun to decorate for this holiday---so fun that I bought Martha Stewart Living and got ideas for a creepy wreath. I think Martha would be proud. (by the way, I know she's kind of a beast, but I love her magazines!)

Goal Report and Rewrite

I did really well this week. I counted my calories, didn't eat sweets, and though I only worked out 3 times, they were intense workouts and I feel good! And when I say I didn't eat sweets, that means I didn't eat sweets...until today...I ate half of a brownie. Which is why I have decided to revise my goals and say that I am only going to eat sweets one day out of the week and I can't go overboard. I even felt gross after I ate the half brownie, so that's a good sign. I think I'll do better knowing that I CAN have them if I want them at some point during the week. Then I won't splurge. So, let's hope this week is better...

Pre"schooled"

I decided to just teach "preschool" at home. I bought some workbooks and puzzles and crayons and other things, and  Ruby and I work on them for 30-45 minutes 3 x a week. I got frustrated when trying to teach her how to write A's. She wouldn't pay attention or look at the paper when she wrote, so I gave up, only to find out 4 days later that she was paying attention. She drew a perfect A with sidewalk chalk outside without being asked. I got schooled, I guess. 

Today we were working on colors--she was supposed to color the fruits and vegetables the correct colors, and my meticulous child made sure that everything was correct right down to the leaves and rinds. The funny thing is that when she was coloring the strawberry, she said "It needs chocolate!" and proceeded to color the bottom of the strawberry brown. Only my kid, right?

Pretty in Pink

Ruby loves her new pink shirt from Yaya---she put it on as soon as she woke up, and she feels fabulous! I couldn't get her to stand still for very long, so these are the best I could do for pictures! She cooperated enough to show you first position, though (first picture).

Biggest Loser

You might read that title and think, "Great job, Claire! Already on a roll!" You would be wrong. I really am the biggest loser. I had good intentions to start my goals last week, and did well up until Saturday. I was making that stupid cake, though, and needed to try some, didn't I? I am for real starting tomorrow (Monday). No, really! I am!

Cute Family Pictures

Here are some pictures from the week---a couple of them were from the picnic lunch we had on Adam's birthday. There's also one of a "Ruby-outfit". Can you guess which one it is? She was in her room for 20 minutes trying to find a "matching outfit", and she did a good job...with the colors...

We got a snake!

Riiiiight...and whoever believed that I would ever allow a real snake in my house obviously doesn't know me well. I hate them. They're creepy!

I made a snake cake for my nephew's 4th birthday, and for a first attempt at using fondant on a sculptured cake, I think I did a pretty good job. See for yourself. (p.s. the lighting on my camera was weird---i swear it looked better in real life!) 

Something's Gotta Give

So, I love to cook and I love to eat what I cook, and I've realized that this isn't very conducive to any weight loss plans. Something's gotta give. So, for more incentive, I have decided to post my goals and my progress ON MY BLOG. I might be crazy, and it's really kind of embarrassing, but there was one point in my life (4 years ago, to be exact) that I looked REALLY good. I'm going to get there again.

So, short term goals:

1) lose 8 pounds this month (so, from Sept 25-Oct 25)

2) cut out all sweets for one month (no cookies, cake, candy, etc)

3) count calories---back to thedailyplate.com

4) exercise at least 4 times a week

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

Birthday Boy

September 24th is my favorite day of the year! On this day, Adam Joseph Freestone was born, setting off a wonderful chain of events. Without him, I would not have such an exciting and happy life. Without him, I would not have Ruby. I am grateful for him---for his steadfastness, his love, his hard work, and his humor...and his good looks, because, as Emma Fox(my niece) said when she first saw him, "he looks good!" Happy Birthday, Babe! p.s. I love you!

New Favorite Things

Ruby has 2 new favorite activities: Dance Class and dressing herself. She's really good at both of them...mostly...Ok, so sometimes she forgets her underwear, but there are A LOT of things to remember when getting oneself dressed. Am I right?

I'm New

I've never done this blogging business before, but I like looking at other people's blogs, so I thought there may be some people that want to know what we've been up to...which isn't much...or maybe it just feels like that. 

Adam is in his last semester (WAHOO!) at BYU. He will be graduating with a major in Chinese and minor in Business Management. We're looking for jobs as we speak, so if anyone knows of anyone that is hiring, we are willing to live anywhere (except Utah, Idaho, or Wyoming. please, nobody take offense to that...). We've liked our experience here, but we are ready to move on t0 the next phase. 

So, while Adam has been busy with school, I have, for most of my time here, been busy babysitting. I've had anywhere from 1-5 extra kids, depending on the time of year. It's been crazy, but the extra cash had helped quite a bit. I now only babysit 1 day a week, so that supplemental income no longer supplements, really. It's been nice, but weird because I now have a lot of time on my hands. My house is cleaner, though, which I'm sure Adam appreciates.

Ruby is 3 now! She turned 3 in June, and she's no longer a baby. She's very stubborn, very opinionated, very fun, and very smart. She's like sunshine, and she makes me laugh all the time. She recently started dance classes, and absolutely LOVES it!! She uses words like, "certainly" "awfully" "professional" "fabulous" "stylish". She likes to lecture us. For example, if she's in time-out, she will tell me "I'm sorry you yelled at me, Mom. That's not very nice to kids!" That's her new favorite thing to do---to talk about "kids" as a collective. "Mom, sometimes kids' legs get tired." "Mom, sometimes kids just want fruit snacks." It's very funny.