What the World Needs Now is Hugs, Sweet Hugs!

Something I've been thinking about lately is how I like hugs. I like giving them, and I definitely like getting them. Every day my little fifth grader with autism gives me a hug on his way out the door. Even if he's had a hard day where I've had to really push him to get his work done, he shows me he cares by giving me a big ol' bear hug.
Is it growing older that makes us less likely to hug each other? I look at teachers in the younger grades and they pretty much have to scrape little kids from the legs and waists with a spatula. Kids get older and they get less "huggy." Then you have the quite older kids who I feel have stopped hugging altogether. (In case you haven't figured it out, I'm talking about my own age group and older).
So I am hereby calling on all my peers to hug more often. A real hug can make someone's entire day go better. I am personally making a goal to hug more people. If you DON'T want a hug from me, you'll have to fend me off with some type of stick.
And as I tell my fifth graders, it doesn't mean you "love" someone, or you want to marry/date them. It simply a way of telling someone you care.
And if you pat my back when I hug you, I'll elbow you in the esophagus.

I Love Sushi so Much, I Threw a Party for It!

So, back in the days of my birthday (this past year) my roommate, Wendy, promised me that she would make sushi, and moreover, teach me how to make it.
Now, it is not commonly known how much I love sushi. Thus, the idea of being able to create my own at a fraction of the cost was quite exciting. Wendy went out and bought all of the ingredients using her connections with the Asian underground. And on Friday night, she taught me how to roll my own sushi.
Here is an example of one of my own creations. It was made with rice, eel, avocado, cream cheese, and Samurai Sauce (which Wendy totally stole from "Happy Sumo" but we won't tell anyone. . . that doesn't read this blog). Unfortunately, it was quite difficult to cut my roll into pretty pieces. It turns out I'm not the most skilled sushi maker just yet. But I totally get points for creativity, as my next creation also included salmon. We were also joined by Sharon, Kelly, Jenni, Kristina, and Ching Ping for festivities
What this really translates to is that I now have something else that I can make that tastes really good. And though that might not mean much to you, it makes a big difference in my formerly sushi barren world.

Just When You Thought The Hype Was Over

It so isn't.
The boys are back.
It started in November, when Kelly and I went to the New Kids on the Block concert. As previously stated, it was hands-down the best concert I've ever been to. Kelly and I decided that night that we wanted to go to another concert. Unfortunately, the Kids went touring in Canada, then Mexico, followed by Europe.
They are now back in the states.
As I was searching the possible venues, I found one in California that happens to be just an hour or two away from my parents' house (at an arena in Fresno). Only crappy tickets remained, so I utilized my trusty neighborhood ebay and found tenth row tickets for a large amount of money.
Of course, they were purchased.
I mean, the concert is during my spring break. It was fate that led me to NKOTB (that's New Kids on the Block for you lame-os out there).
So, in April, Kelly and I are drivin' down to good ol' Oroville, CA. We're planning on making a stop at the Shirt Tree to have some custom t-shirts made. We want them to say "Utah Girls Love New Kids."
If you can think of other options, I'd love to hear them.

My Life Has New Purpose!

I went to good ol' Barnes and Noble the other day with Mallory and Kristina. It would seem that I was in the mood to impulse buy some quality literature. As we were perusing the shelves, I wandered over to the journal section, where I found this beauty. It's called "Listography" (obviously from the picture). I'm pretty sure it's an answer to prayer. Every page has a different topic for a list (like a list for things you're afraid of, embarrassing habits, favorite smells, etc). For a girl who spends a chunk of her weekend making Top Ten lists, I feel it's kismet that I found this book.
Also, if I'm ever blessed to have offspring, they'll know their mom was one weird chick.
Right now you're wondering if everything I write will find its way onto this blog. It's possible, but not likely. 3/4 of the top ten lists I write don't get on here. Some are just not that funny, would expose me to a certain amount of ridicule (more than I currently handle), or are too vengeful to post.

Deliciousness on a Stick. . . With an Aussie Accent!

I watched "Australia" last night. I have one thing to say: YUM! I haven't had that much gratuitous eye candy for prolonged periods of time since "Lord of the Rings" came out (Viggo, I'm still waiting for your call).
At first I was a bit hesitant to see it. A movie based on a cowboy?! I despise country music. In fact I could count the country songs I like using two fingers. I established my opinion of cowboys when I watched them walking around my high school. In my mind, a cowboy is someone who wears painted on jeans with a belt buckle the size of the Chrysler Building. Oh, and watch out for their hat, it could take your eyes out (and that's just by looking at it. Imagine what would happen if it actually touched you!)
So imagine my surprise when Hugh Jackman comes on screen looking all scrum- diddly-umptious. All of a sudden, cowboys take on an entirely new definition.
Though the movie was long, and had multiple story arcs, I felt it was really well done. The acting was fabulous (I knew I admired Nicole Kidman for some reason) and the shots were beautiful. Like all films these days, it does have a bit of a scandalous scene. Luckily, it's pretty brief.
Anyway, loved the movie, loved Hugh, love, love, love.

But I still don't like country music.

Top Ten Things That Make Guys Really Weird

In my ongoing struggle to understand men and how they think, I created this list which contains the things with which I have the hardest time. Perhaps, if you can give me any insight into these items, I will be able to empathize with men better.

10. Their intimate relationship with pizza (of any kind, really. It's the ONE area they're not that picky in).

9. Socks with sandals. Ew!

8. No matter how gross/morbidly obese/b.o. producing they are, they still feel they're entitled to a swimsuit model.

7. Their overwhelming and powerful addiction of needing all the latest in technological advances-- gadget obsession.

6. The hold that bacon has over them. If only I could market a bacon scented women's perfume. . .

5. The most fashion conscious they get is when they match their socks (and that is even optional on occasions.)

4. They're much more likely to use the same bed linens they used in high school. (It's probably been that long since they've washed them as well.)

3. They can't talk about anything that might actually matter. Of course, neither can I. Maybe I'm a man.

2. There's a corn chip smell that's really never been explained to me

1. The free-ness they feel with their bodies. You'd never see a chick walking around her apartment all naked.