receiving line comments: Spitfire

Well folks, another show has come and gone. For those of you who showed us some love--THANK YOU. For those who didn't-well it's your loss.

I'm a swiper (and incapable of creative thoughts of my own...) and I'm copying my sweet sweet Larissa. You see, she's started recording the things people say to her in the receiving line. I got a few during my most recent run with Spitfire. So many that I can't remember them all and I WISH I had written them all down. Here are the few I do remember off the top of my head:

• "You nailed the busy-body type"
• "I hope you're not that bad in real life"
• "Your hair is so shiny" No joke I was told this QUITE a few times.
• "Do you color it?" Asked this after above comment.
• Have you ever been to Manilla? The postmistress there is JUST like you!
• "I hated you" (I hope it was Effy they hated and not me...)
• "You were just so obnoxious...it made me so mad!"
• "You have such a great voice!" (Said to Mason-our Eli-who says NOTHING the duration of the show...everyone thought they were so funny.)
• "How in the world do you all keep your voices warm?"
• "What great comic relief you were!"
• "I could listen to you sing all day."-Aww thanks!!
• "I just loved to hate you."
• "Every time you came on stage I couldn't stop giggling."
• "You were just so fun to watch! You looked like you had so much fun!"
• "You all sounded so great together."-I'm assuming they were referring to Act 2's opener 'Come Alive Again'
• "I had never heard of this show, but I'm so glad I came! It was so good!"

Those were the few I could remember, but everyone who left seemed to really have a good time. I'm grateful for everyone who came out to support us and I hope you all had as much fun watching as I did performing. I truly believe this show was Kismet; we all clicked and got along so well. Although it was so stressful in the beginning it was also so much fun and one of the best theatre experiences ever. I will miss it and my wonderful cast mates, but I'm ready for my life to be my own again, to have my weekends back to actually go on dates with Mr. Wonderful, and tap. Can I just say how excited I am to see my tap peeps again!? I have missed them so!

i am

Last week kind-of-sucked. Why, you may ask? Well I was called some names by someone. Names in a million years I never thought I’d be called-and especially not by who said it.

They called me fake and judgmental.

I would be lying if I said it didn’t hurt. It did-and still does; but I think that was their point. Well, mission accomplished. All for giving them the honesty they asked for.

I’ve always prided myself as being the “what you see is what you get” person, but apparently in their eyes I am not. Apparently to them I am fake. And Judgemental.

Man, I’ve always hated that damn word. Judgmental. What an unfair term. Why? Everyone is judgmental by definition alone and somehow it has become a negative term filled with hate.

Judgment:

1: The process of forming an opinion or evaluation by discerning and comparing

The last week I have been stressing over what I am not; today I decided to focus instead on what I AM. Haters can go to hell.

I AM a daughter of earthly and Heavenly parents. I know they love me. I know they are proud to call me 'daughter'.

I AM a big sister. I may not always be liked by my siblings; but I always have their best interest at heart

I AM the sweetheart to a wonderful man who I am always striving to be worthy of

I AM a friend to many, an enemy to few

I AM an auntie to the most beautiful, smartest nieces and nephews ever

I AM a singer. I may not be the best, but I know I AM good.

I AM an actress

I AM a tap dancer

I AM a cook

I AM a ‘live and let live’ person

I AM fiery and passionate

I AM trying to be more patient

I AM giving-almost to a fault

I AM someone who takes accountability for my actions and tries to be better

I AM always trying to learn from my mistakes

I AM flawed, but it’s ok

I AM not afraid to stand up for myself and the people I love

I AM a Facebook junkie
I AM always trying to be a Christ-like example to others

I AM not perfect, nor do claim to be

I AM loud

I AM fun

I AM kind

I AM important

I AM an advocate

I AM a family person

I AM a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
I AM trying to be a good represenative of my faith

I AM not afraid to question ‘the norm’

I AM a teacher

I AM a supporter

I AM a believer in the arts

I AM a listener and an advice giver

I AM a pet parent

I AM a hugger

I AM a Disnelyand addict

I AM objective and rational-most of the time.

I AM always striving to be someone ‘who breaks the mold’

I AM me.

You know what? I AM not always going to be everyone’s favorite. But guess what? That’s OK. I go to bed each night knowing I was true to ME and the people who love ME. And that is the most important thing any of us can do.

a photo-a-day: week 1

Once again I took a page from Guy Smiley and in the interest of saving everyone's-well mainly my-sanity I think I'm gonna post once a week. The goal is every other day though. Here's last week's photos:

DAY 1: My view

My view day to day can get kind of tedious. Good thing I have Mr. Wonderful, Disneyland, and the ever changing photo in my digital frame to liven it up!

 DAY 2: Words

'Alice in Wonderland' has always been one of my absolute favorites. I find it fitting that I found a cover for my nook that has the first page of 'Alice' printed on it.

DAY 3: Hands.

I'm a sucker for strong hands. Always have been. Good thing Mr. Wonderful has the perfect pair! Look at how well he holds Miss Lexi!

DAY 4: A stranger

One of the things I love the most about Disneyland is the random people who come home with you in your pictures! This is one of my all-time favorites-the random Asian guy who looks like he's lost...

DAY 5: 10 AM

Part of my job includes having the Food Network on ALL DAY. Most of the time it's torture, but at 10:00 it turns into one big stress-fest watching chefs race the clock to make the most outrageous culinary creations on Food Network Challenge. If you've never seen it I highly recommend it.  

DAY 6: Dinner

Since I had a show last night and was going straight from work to the theatre I stopped at Cafe Rio and enjoyed the Monday special: Chile Rellanos. They were OK, but I have yet to have one that usurps my favorites at El Habanero...

DAY 7: Button

Here is a button from my new favorite purple cardigan. I hate to admit I am one of those girls whose mood is affected by what she wears, but alas, it is true.

moving by the numbers

Well ladies and gentlemen, the day has come and gone and I am officially moved!! It was a long, stressful, not fun process, but I'm glad it's finally over and done with. Tuesday night as I was unpacking the last of my boxes I realized there are a LOT of numbers involved in moving. For your reading enjoyment, here they are:

People recruited to help: 5
People who came from St. George: 2 (thanks Momma and LB2!)
Moving trucks rented: 1
Hours spent loading and unloading truck: 6
Shins hit into ball hitch on truck: 3
Washer and dryer on loan from awesome man: 1 of each
Back injuries: 1 (it was Mr Wonderful, and he's fine now, just twisted it weird trying to maneuver his washer up his parent's stairs.)
Increase in square footage: 110
How much bigger it feels: 0
Balcony entrances: 2
Trips to Lowes/Home Depot: 3
Boxes moved/unpacked: 50-ish
Times I misplaced my box cutter: Countless
Cuts/scrapes/other odd hand ailments: 4
Days taken off of work: 2
Days I wish I had taken: 5
Loads of laundry waiting for me over the next two days: 5 or 6 (It's amazing what you put off washing when confronted with the reality of having to lug it to the laundromat)
Trips to the dumpster: 5
Bags sent to the DI: 4
Happy birds: 1 (or it could be because she's Lizzy Borden .)
Emotional melt-downs: 2 (In my defense I was just done)
New neighbors met: 3
Change of addresses submitted: 5 ( I THINK I got them all...)
Days without DVR: 3
Keys turned in: 5
Noisy Neighbors: ZERO!!!

To sum it up moving sucks. It's expensive, stressful, emotionally and physically draining, and has the potential to ruin even the strongest relationships.
My friend Steve said it best: anything it can cost you to move it will. Well put Steve, well put.

a photo-a-day

I've been a crappy blogger as of late. I know this. In an attempt to be better I'm taking a page from my friend Guy Smiley and I'm going to attempt to do this. It's only 29 days-what could possibly go wrong?

angry birds **updated**

**I thought this was going to be a short story when I started—no such luck. Stop reading now if you’re not interested in a novel**

As most of you know I’m a proud pet parent. About six months ago LB2 gave me three canaries he had received as a tip-I know, right? Since he and SIL2 already have a menagerie of their own and birds are usually one of the few animals you can have in an apartment without having to pay any additional fees I was glad to take them off their hands. I have been convinced I’m an unfit parent since.

In November Moki had a monster stress molt, caught a chill, and died before I could take her to the vet. LB2 assured me she was very old (I am the third owner that we know of) so it was just her time. Yeah, I didn’t buy it. After a mini (ok huge meltdown) Mr. Wonderful bought her final resting place (a Tupperware container), and we laid her to rest in his parent’s back yard.

Two weeks later Red started making wheezy noises akin to a broken squeaker toy. Since I was convinced I was a horrible pet owner and still grieving the loss of Moki I rushed him and Gobo to the vet (avian respiratory issues are very communicable). Naturally the second I got in the exam room Gobo starts singing and showing off, and not to be out done Red jumps onto his perch and starts singing his little lungs out and showing off in a fine fashion too. The vet checked them out, said they were just fine, and sent us all on our merry way. I started to settle down, but I was still convinced that I would do something wrong and kill them both at any moment.

Red and Moki were parents to Gobo so my birds have always shared a cage. Most of the time they lived together peacefully--but they did have an occasional squabble. I also noticed the older Moki got the more the other two picked on him which I think is what caused him into the stress molt. Anyway, Sunday night Mr. Wonderful and I had just returned from the weekly parent dinner and were settling in to watch a movie when we heard a ruckus coming from my bedroom. Mr. Wonderful witnessed the tail end of the fight, but apparently Gobo was on top of Red and kicking the tar out of him. I didn’t think much of it; they pretty much forget why they were fighting once it’s over. Not this time. I had noticed Red was still on the floor of the cage and a sulky ball of fluff on Monday after I got home, but I decided to give it one more day. Last night when I got home and noticed he was still in this position, favoring his right leg, and didn’t seem to mind Gobo had pooped on him I started to really worry. I worried even more when I put my hand in the cage to check their food and didn’t get his usual freak-out (canaries are NOT social birds. They like to be seen and not handled) I knew something was wrong. I know he wasn’t eating while I was home, so I figured it was safe to assume he wasn’t eating when I wasn’t there either. I told Mr. Wonderful my fear and said I was going to take him to the vet today after I got home from work. Mr. Wonderful true to his wonderfulness said to make it for ASAP and he would take him before he had to be to work. (Is he a keeper or what?)

The diagnosis:

Gobo is a bully and Red is a pansy. Apparently Gobo inflicted a critical level of trauma on Red. They don’t know what’s wrong with his leg, but they think Gobo is to blame for that too. So now my little guy is being held over night and will receive oxygen and pain meds as needed, and lots and lots of TLC. Now I have to keep them in separate cages, and depending on the level of trauma Red has experienced it’s possible I will need to keep them separated AND out of each other’s sight. Oy. I’m a bad parent.

I’m going to prove my unfit-ness further by asking this question-the bill is already at $50 and will likely be double that tomorrow. When do you decide the pain, suffering, and cost outweigh the attempt to make them well again? I love my birds, and I will do what I can to make and keep them healthy and happy, but I’m also not willing to spend hundreds of dollars on an animal that is suffering.

Who would have thought birds who have peacefully co-existed all this time would suddenly start hating each other? Maybe Gobo is trying to assert her independence from dad? Whatever it is I'm at a complete loss.

**UPDATE** My quandary is moot; the vet just called to tell me Red succumbed to the shock and passed this morning. After the reaction I had with Moki I would have thought I would be more upset. I'm sad, but I was able to joke with Mr. Wonderful about how funny it must have looked to see the vet perform CPR. I'm not going to lie; I feel a little guilty about that. 

Maybe part of me knew that when Mr. Wonderful took him yesterday he wouldn't be coming home. I also know aside from not taking him in sooner I did all I could this time around and if the vet couldn't save him it was meant to be and I'm glad he's no longer suffering.

It's sad, I'm sad, but it's ok, and who knows, maybe when I actually see him tonight when I pick him up the reality will set in and I will shed a tear or two.

I guess I will just have one bird who thinks an awful lot about herself and I don't have to worry about her bullying anyone anymore. I also am relieved I don't need to worry about the potential vet bills, buying one bigger cage, or spend anymore time thinking about where I'm going to put two cages-not only while I'm in the middle of moving, but also where I'll put them once I'm moved.

Does that make me a terrible person (and pet owner) for finding relief in that?

a desperate theatre zombie plea

Few words strike fear into the heart of an actor like 'tech week'. The fear is even more intense when you've only had three weeks of full-time rehearsals and your first run through of the show is on your preview night. On the other hand, only actors can know the satisfaction that comes after a particularly stressful (and rough) tech week and preview, knowing that it will only get better from there. Yes, I look like (and feel) an extra off of 'The Walking Dead', but you know what? It's worth it.

Once again here is my plea. PLEASE come see 'The Spitfire Grill'. I will warn you-due to a positive but crazy rehearsal experience and essentially putting an entire show together in three weeks-the first few performances will be especially rough, but I promise there is a diamond underneath just waiting to shine--and boy oh boy it will. Please come and support me, the Empress, and most importantly this AMAZING show. It is our 2012 season opener and we have been all but forgotten. There has been NO marketing and we need butts in the seats. Then we need those butts to go out and tell other butts to come sit in the seats too. We need YOU to help spread the word. Bribe them with 2 for 1 tickets when they use 'coffecups' at the box office or online if you have to. Just PLEASE help! 

More than anything I am worried people will miss this show simply because they didn't know about it. I know you all can't come, but you all can help spread the word. It takes next to no time to send out a mass email (Empress ,Facebook)--people do it for stupid stuff, why not do it for something that's important to a friend? I would do it for you. *oh yeah, I SO went there.

Ok, I promise that's it for the shameless plug, and my next post won't be quite so desperate.

say whatcha want, say whatcha will...

Something's cooking at the Spitfire Grill!!!

Percy Talbot has just been released from a five year prison sentence and she is trying to find a place for a fresh start. Based on a page from an old travel book, travels to the small town of Gilead, Wisconsin. The local sheriff, Joe Sutter, who is also Percy’s parole officer, finds her a job at Hannah’s Spitfire Grill – the only eatery in this struggling town. The Spitfire Grill is for sale, but with no interested buyers, Hannah decides to raffle it off. Entry fees are one hundred dollars and the best essay on why you want the grill wins. Soon, mail is arriving by the wheelbarrow full and things are definitely getting hot at the Spitfire Grill.
This musical triumph is an inspiring celebration of fresh starts, frienship, and the power of what one person can do.

Directed by Shawn Maxfield and featuring the talents of Mia Detton, Brittany Boynton, Lindsay Boucher, Jacob Clark, Shawn Maxfield, and Kristen Fox this is a show you don't want to miss!!

'The Spitfire Grill' runs January 13-February 11 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays at 7:30 pm. There will be a matinee on Saturday February 11. Tickets are $12.00 on Friday and Saturday evenings and $10.00 on Monday evenings.

Use 'coffeecup' at the box office any time during the run for 2 for 1 tickets!

We are having a hard time getting the word out on this great great great show.

PLEASE help by coming to see us and then spreading the word! It is such a great show with so much heart. If you can't come but you're on Facebook please join the event and invite your friends.

https://www.facebook.com/TheEmpressTheatre#!/events/319716504717731/

I know I sound a little (ok, a lot) like a clingy girlfriend, but I'm proud of this show and the talent I get to share the stage with. I want everyone who can to come see it, but we need help getting the word out and getting butts in the seats...PLEASE HELP!!!

couch potato

I have a confession. My name is Miss Kristen and I am a bona fide couch potato.
I had been living in a state of denial until earlier this week. You see, until recently all I've had is the red couch I bought almost new off of ksl two years ago. Although it serves its purpose it has HUGE back rest cushions that have a tendency to take up the entire couch, making it hard to stay seated on the thing; forget about lounging on it. Until...

Fast forward to two weeks ago. LB2 and SIL2 came to Salt Lake for brother's work. They brought me a glorious gift: a Love Sak. Not just any Love Sak. The big one. The one that's so big it takes up my living room. The one so big Mr. Wonderful and I don't have to be contortion experts to snuggle on and watch a movie. The one that's so big there's no way I could have afforded it-sand neither could they had it not been LB2's last employee purchase before changing jobs. That Love Sak.

You guys, it's like sitting in a hug. I've napped in it several times. It's where I sought respite after the horrific event that was last Wednesday. It's also where I have sorry to admit I have  begun to forge many a bad habit. Bad habits like eating garden veggie reduced cal cream cheese and triscuits. Catching up on the last five episodes of Glee--in one sitting. Simply sitting and doing nothing. It's a major time suck, but I love it.

If these weren't indicators enough of my current plight I got excited planning my first free evening in almost a month as sitting in the hug and catching up on the Grey's, New Girl, Once Upon a Time, and How I Met Your Mother quickly accumulating on the DVR.

You guys, it's bad. I know I shouldn't, but I just can't get enough of this thing. Everyone should have a Love Sak! If being a couch potato is wrong I don't wanna be right...ok, maybe I do, but it's gonna be a hard thing to give up for sure.

things that must go

I will freely admit that for reasons unknown to me I was a complete and utter Grinch this Christmas. You would think I would have been ecstatic because it was the first Christmas I spent up here with Mr. Wonderful and his family. I was-at first, but as the day got closer I just became sadder which I then allowed to turn into anger over what I was missing down south.  Allow me to clarify and say this was not the first Christmas I had ever spent away from my own family, so I still don’t understand what my deal was. Although this was not foreign territory to me all I could focus on was the fact I was missing them something fierce.

I feel  bad for Mr. Wonderful and his family-they have convinced themselves that I didn’t have a good time and I don’t like their traditions-I did, and I do-and I am so thankful that they welcomed me with loving and open arms. I just missed my family and our traditions.

In an effort to get rid of my Grinchiness and have a better outlook for the impending New Year I feel it’s necessary to perform an exorcism of sorts. I present here for your reading enjoyment my  most recent list of things that must go-if you want butterflies and rainbows you need to stop reading now because this ain’t gonna be pretty:

Announcing huge life events via updating your status. I get that you’re happy. I get that you want to share your good news with everyone in the quickest way possible. What I don’t get is how the second you get the ring on your finger or the baby in your belly you are too quick to forget the people in your life who want that very thing but keep falling short. You may not think it’s a big deal, but it stings. A LOT. Maybe you should check your empathy button before you go off on how you are so happy and how you can’t believe your wait is finally over, and how it’s everything you want it to be and MORE, and how lucky in love you are—ESPECIALLY when the platform you are proclaiming this from gives the recipient no warning, and no ability to filter it until AFTER it’s been read. I get you’re happy, but your insensitivity is breaking a lot of hearts.

Sending mass texts about said life event AFTER you’ve posted on Facebook. I already was blindsided on facebook. I don’t need you to add insult to injury via text. If I can muster my fake mommy smile long enough to be polite I’ll pass along congratulations. If you go fishin for congratulations before I’m ready to play nice you won’t like the results.  

Face-boxing. If I want a steady stream of political bashing I will join a political site. If I want to read your latest dramatic diatribe I’ll subscribe to your blog. I’m on Facebook to keep in touch and because it’s mindless fun. Facebook is not your personal soap box. Let’s keep it light and fun, people!

Facebook over-shares. On that same note Facebook is not a place to over share. I don’t need to know about your cramps, or how you’ve been puking your guts out the last three days, or how your sister’s labor is progressing (*guilty* and lesson learned within 30 seconds of hitting ‘send’).  I don’t log in to be made uncomfortable or grossed out. Save the gross stuff for your doctor and give me the funny you tube videos and picture parodies.

Repeats on FoodNetwork. It’s bad enough that I have to have you on and be tormented by your deliciousness all day, but come on. You are an older station with quite the archive of shows. I shouldn’t be seeing the same episodes of Paula Deen, Gi-a-DUH, and Rachel Ray all week. It’s ok to mix it up peeps.

Giada. If her necklines get any lower or her hairstyles any higher she’s a gold chain away from being a bad Italian stereotype. It’s bad enough you named your kid the English translation of your OWN name, but if  I have to hear you over pronounce ‘Riz-oh-TOE’, ‘pah-st-AH’, ‘mas-ca-PONY cheese’, ‘pan-chain-TAH’, ‘CRRReamy’, ‘CRRRunchy’, or ‘CRRRust’ again I might just need to put my head through a wall.

People who should be riding on the short bus rather than driving it. Driving is a privilege, not a right. Do us all a favor, pull your head out of your ass, and quit driving like you own the road. You don’t, and I’m tired of having to up my defensive driving game because you don’t understand how a merge works.

Doing all the work so someone else gets all the credit. You didn’t do it all on your own. Recognize that. Makes it easier for me to WANT to help you next time.

People shortening my name. It still isn’t cute, and it still bugs the hell out of me. STOP.

Forcing me to repeat myself.  Making me say the same thing over and over again only confirms your stupidity and irritates the hell out of me. You won’t get a different answer no matter how many times you re-word your question. Shut you mouth, open your ears, and we’ll all get along great.

Drama Queens. I have enough drama in my own life. I don’t need you trying to suck me into yours.

The Inversion. I miss sounding like a girl, not an 80-year old chain smoker. And breathing. The non-smoker smoker’s hack has got to go too.

Finding a place to move/moving. I hate where I live. I think I hate trying to find a place to live more. Although I have a few options available to me I don’t want to make the same mistake I made two years ago by not looking and blindly jumping into the first option presented to me. I’m down to three weeks, no time to look, and stress levels rising. Not to mention finding time to actually pack and GET moved once I figure out where.

And that is my list of things that must go, and I am already feeling better. Whoda thunk it?

christmas soap box

I am fortunate enough to know people from all different walks of life. Gay, straight, Jew, Christian, Agnostic, Atheist, liberal, and conservative. We don’t always see eye to eye, but I will always love them.

The other day one of my friends got their knickers in a twist on Facebook about how they felt that the Christ part of Christmas was being shoved down their throat, and saying ‘Happy Holidays’ was the more ‘appropriate’ thing to say. Can I digress for one minute and tell you just how much I hate Facebook soap-boxing? A lot.

I try to be a live and let live type, but this irked me. Just because I choose to celebrate Christmas doesn’t mean I’m shoving a Christian agenda down your throat. It just means I’m wishing you a Merry Christmas because that’s the holiday I observe. It is as impossible to celebrate Christmas without Christ as it is to celebrate your birthday without you.

Yes I know many of our Christmas traditions originated from Pagan and Druid traditions, but the reason for the season has always remained the same. I don’t celebrate the tradition, I celebrate CHRIST. If you don’t like it, tough.

 I don’t get offended as a Christian when someone wishes me Happy Holidays, or Kwanzaa, or Hanukkah, or whatever it is they believe. I don’t understand why these same people who talk about equality and open-mindedness are usually the first ones to cry foul when people say we need to keep Christ in CHRISTmas. Did I miss something here?

Why is it so hard for so many people to actually practice what they preach? I merely proclaim that I am Christian; I have never shoved my beliefs down anyone’s throat and I understand what anyone else chooses to believe is their choice. It’s annoying to me that for some you’re only allowed to believe what you want-as long as it falls in line with that they themselves believe.

Please know that although I believe Christ needs to be the center of Christmas I am NOT forcing my beliefs on you when I wish you “Merry Christmas”, I am merely wishing you a Merry Christmas because I am Christian and Christmas is what I celebrate.  

Happy Christmas everyone!!

kristen's kitchen:trainwreck omelette

Hello dear readers. It is I. No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth. You would think that once I started Caroling I would have loads of stories to tell. Nope. I'm very very boring. Maybe once I'm there all week (that starts TONIGHT btw) I'll have stories to tell. Today I just have a recipe to share.

After my parents moved to St George I moved in with my Aunt Joan and Uncle Brad. My Uncle Brad (the Bradster) created a dish called the Trainwreck Omelette. It's fast, easy, and delish. You can add whatever you want to it, and there's really no measurements. You just have to feel it out. This round I made WAY too much, so I adjusted it before I posted here. Hopefully I got the quantities worked out so this will serve one-depending on how hungry you are.  

Ingredients

9 Tater tots

1 large egg

Shredded cheese

Salt and pepper (to taste)

Nuke tater tots for 15-30 seconds to soften up a bit then place in skillet. Heat over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until they have a little color and are easily mashed with a potato masher.

Yes I know there's more than 9 tots in there. I told you I WAY over shot.

While tots are heating scramble eggs in a bowl with salt and pepper. If you are adding additional ingredients add them to the eggs. Grate desired amount of cheese. Set both aside.

When tots are heated through gently mash until they are broken apart. Add salt and pepper, turn heat to medium high and finish heating through and are lightly crisp. (They'll stick/clump together so you may need to flip like a pancake.)

Turn heat to medium medium-low and pour beat eggs over tots. Gently stir to incorporate but be sure tots and eggs are even to ensure even cooking. Once eggs start to set turn heat to low and cover to cook the top of the eggs. You can flip it instead if you want, but I'm not coordinated enough to do it without ruining it.

* NOTE* Make sure all your prep is done BEFORE you pour the eggs. This round was way over-cooked  because I was trying to watch them and grate cheese...well that and I may or may not have forgotten to turn down my stove.

Once eggs are cooked, sprinkle with grated cheese, turn off heat, and place lid back on pan. The residual heat will melt the cheese.

Once cheese is melted serve immediately. I like mine with avocado, cholula, and a cottage cheese pear side, but you can do whatev. Enjoy!

Mr. Wonderful works swing now, so I will give you a rating of delish! It's super versatile and you can add whatever you want...if you do let me know how it works out! I'm thinking next time I'll try some spinach and mushrooms. The tricky part is mastering the measurements for the size of group you're making.

burning the candle at both ends

I either did the coolest-or dumbest thing ever...
I know you're all thinking that's not possible, but believe me friends. It is. It really is.

Monday while I was at caroler rehearsal I received a text from my good friend Don Quixote that read:

"Are you familiar with the musical 'The Spitfire Grill'"?

Not sure where this was headed I replied "I'm not, but I can be if you need me to be. What's up?"

Well, my friends it turns out that he is directing this show and would like me to play the role of Effie. I must admit I know very little about this show, and although it's been well-received everywhere there's not much information on the interwebs. My friend Piano Man assures me that this is a wonderful ensemble show and Effie is a role I would be stupid to pass up. A non-ensemble role that the director wants me for? Without an audition? I know I'm fiercely talented and I deliver when it counts, but I also know I am no good at auditioning. This makes earning the right to deliver on stage difficult. I've had a few close friends who have seen me audition confirm this to me too so I know it's not just my perception.

With that being said: of course I'm gonna do it!

Here comes the stupid part.

Rehearsals will start while I'm in the middle of Candlelight Christmas. This going right along with fitting in a post-Christmas jaunt to St George with Mr. Wonderful, my own Christmas celebrations, shopping, altering my caroler dress-oh I didn't mention that? Well for the first time EVER the damn thing is too big in the bodice and has to be taken in. Like TEN INCHES. I'm not joking. The thing is HUGE. Thank goodness I was born into a sewing family. Oh and did I also mention we're singing for the FIRST PRESIDENCY now too? Well we are. Oh, and I'm still a day late and a dollar short on my music. Ack.

Phew. Now that I'm looking at it, that's a lot-and I'm not even trying to fit in silly stuff like the gym, eating, or sleep. This is the first time I have been grateful Mr. Wonderful is now on swing shift at work-I don't have to feel guilty for neglecting him.

Don Quixote is wonderful and must really want me, because even with the uncertainty of my schedule he said we'll make it work. I'm excited...well excited and scared. Ok. Mostly scared that in my inability to say "no" I've bitten off more than I can chew and am now just waiting for it all to explode on me. But come on. I've gotta do it, right? RIGHT? I'm not complaining, I promise. I'm just not sure how this all happened to me. This sort of thing never happens to people like me. I'm the one who's looking for things to do, not how to make them all fit. I'm awed and flattered and have had my ego sufficiently stroked-all at once.

We shall see if it's epic or just an epic fail.

attitude of gratitude: day 2

Today I am thankful for:

1) Mr. Wonderful's silly sense of humor that reminds me to not take myself so seriously.
2) My mother who is willing to drive 400 miles to help me alter the bodice on my caroler dress.
3) My Aunt Joanie who has stepped in to help alter said dress.
4) my crock pot-dinner will be DONE when I get home!
5) A car that works.

thankful: Sparky

Four and a half years ago I did a show. I'm still in awe about how much that one experience changed my life.
It was that experience that blessed me with one of the most important people in my life.

Last night we were talking about how we are both in a funk as of late and have no idea (or a good reason) as to why. I suggested we make lists of five things we are grateful for every day without repeating through November. It can be big or small, as long as we are grateful for it then. I then suggested we text them to each other to make us accountable for it. He agreed, and here we are.

Tis the season, and if you'll humor me, I am going to share my lists with you each day. Although this isn't the list I sent him today I find it fitting mine should start with the person who inspired the idea. My Sparky.

He's silly.

He supports me in everything I do.

He has the best picture face. No really, he does.

He's oh so strong!

He can make his legs dissappear!

 He survived an ENTIRE week of Disneyland with me.

Not only did he not kill me, but three years later still tells me that was the

best trip he's ever been on (and he's been around) and that we HAVE to do it again.

Yes, it's fun and silly, but in all seriousness I wouldn't trade my Sparky for anything in the world. He is my doppelganger (well, if I were a gay man anyway), a huge support to me, we can literally go MONTHS without talking and pick up right where we left off, we can get into the deep stuff conversations, he lets me tell him that he's being dumb without taking it personally (and vice versa), he knows me ALMOST as well as Mr. Wonderful and can read my moods at a glance, he will go see a cheesy community production of whatever with me without complaint, and quote random lines from Steel Magnolias with me. Above all he is my friend and such a huge blessing in my life. It may seem simple, but that's what our friendship is. Marvelously simple, which is exactly what each of us needs. I am so grateful I will always be his Foxy.



i guess i didn't get the memo

I don't know about you all, but my Halloween was pretty lack luster. So much so that I'm kinda losing faith in the holiday...

I had only four trick-or-treaters-yes you read that right. I said FOUR-and I know I live in an apartment, but come on, it's practically kid central here. Plus I had my cute, fun Halloween wreath up to prove I am TOTALLY legit and everything! Pathetic, yes? Well I can top that...I was one of three people at work who didn't get the memo you don't celebrate Halloween ON Halloween anymore...oh well. At least I looked cute and I got to wear jeans to work on a Monday.

On a happier note my butternut squash and freshly baked rolls were delish...recipe to follow soon after I tweak it a little more.

Side side note...I just looked out the window and it's SNOWING. Yuck. At least we got a little bit of a fall before the Christmas crazies got their way.

make a joyful noise

Well, folks carolers rehearsals are now in full-swing. Aside from being behind because I'm a newb and learning everything from scratch instead of refreshing, it's rad. I haven't been in an honest-to-goodness choir for almost eight years and I had forgotten how happy choral singing makes me. There is nothing better to hear than a talented ensemble singing 8-part harmony. It's rad-I can't say that enough lately.

Last week I got some news. I don't know if it's a done deal so I doubt I'm supposed to tell, but we're all friends here so I'm gonna. But first a smidge of background:

As you are all aware, This is the Place Heritage Park is run largely in part by the LDS (Mormon) church. Because of this the "world" is pretty small.

Last week the person over the Heritage Carolers got a call. What kind of call you ask? Well an invitation. Not just any invitation, mind  you. An invitation for our little group to sing for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Yes, you read that right.



MoTab.

  








The Mormon.

                       Freaking.

                                  Tabernacle.

                                                      Choir.




My old Institute Choir director is a member.
No pressure or anything Kristen.


Needless to say I'm excited. Well excited and scared. Alright, mostly scared. I haven't been this excited since my A'Cappella choir was invited to sing with the Utah Symphony my Senior year.

We're awesome, but it's the freaking Mormon Tabernacle Choir for crying out loud!  Here's hoping it doesn't fall through and make a liar out of me. Regardless of whether or not that happens you need to pencil "A Candlelight Christmas" into your holiday schedule. As of right now I am the Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday cast. Those are all the specifics I know right now. I will definitely keep you all posted, and I must say although we are only two weeks in, we have an AWESOME music director, and we are already sounding pretty darn incredible, so I know it'll only get better from here.

You're missing out if you decide not to come!



the best is yet to come

Today is Mr. Wonderful and I’s anniversary. I always feel odd saying that. Why, you may ask? Well the answer is three-fold.

1. We started dating in July ‘07, but we didn’t decide to make it exclusive until that October. I say we started dating July, he says it doesn't count because we weren't officially a couple until October, so it can get confusing.

2. We’re not married, so I always feel a little odd celebrating the fact we’re committed but not committed in the bonds of matrimony...

3. We’ve been together for four years and still aren’t married. Although that’s not unusual outside of Utah, it is here-the state of child brides and marriages after knowing each other two weeks. Around the two-year mark I started getting the well-meaning but does-nothing-but-come-off-as-condescending-and-judgemental comments like: “why do you stay with him?”, “you should tell him it’s time to shit or get off the pot.”, and my personal favorite, “may I ask why you’re not married yet?” Which seems innocent enough, but is a cloak-and-dagger attempt to get me to spill, which usually ends up with them giving me “advice” wrapped in a heavy dose of judgment. Ugh. Suffice it to say it is NOT a matter of "IF", but "WHEN". Our ducks just need to be in a row first.

I digress. This post is about Mr. Wonderful, not the stupid mc stupids and their hurtful well-meaning comments.  

So here for your reading enjoyment is a few of the reasons I love Mr. Wonderful so.

-He willingly-and patiently puts up with me and my hot-headedness on a daily basis.

-He’s SO handsome.

-He can play ‘Seven Degrees of Kevin Bacon’ with ANY actor-case in point: His brother in law tried to stump him with Charlie Chaplin. He had to use IMDB to get started, but he did it.

-He is patient.
-It took him a year to decide to buy his "big ass tv"-he doesn't take making big decisions lightly.

-He plays with me (not THAT kind of playing, get your mind out of the gutter!)

-He makes me laugh and we laugh together every day.

-He is full of surprises-I never cease to be amazed by him.

-He is an awesome cuddler.

-He loves my family ALMOST as much as they love him, and there was no awkward time with them. He has been a member of my family since the second he met them.

-He is a good teacher.
-He is SO smart.
-He is not afraid or ashamed to be himself. Because of this I'm not afraid to be myself either.
-He is a big kid in a grown-up's body.

-He brings out the best in me.
-He is patient.

-He is kind.

-He is thoughtful and considerate of others.

-He tells and shows me every day how much he loves me.

-He makes me want to be a better person.
-He got me interested in gems like 'The Walking Dead', 'Being Human', 'Supernatural', 'Avatar', and The Dresden Files books.

-He can quote ‘Ghostbusters’ verbatim-which is fun until you try to watch the re-release in the theater, then it’s obnoxious. Adorable, but obnoxious.

-Chivalry is not dead with him. He is always opening my doors, making sure I’m happy and taken care of, and he always puts himself between me and any potential danger.

-He gives the best back rubs. (I’m a trained Massage Therapist so I know.)

-He has seen me at my best and my worst. Not only does he still love me, but he also still thinks I’m beautiful.

-Speaking of beauty he tells me every day how beautiful I am.

-He is a Marvel nerd-and it is adorable.
-Kids LOVE him, and he doesn't mind when they use him as a human jungle gym.
-I know he'll be a great dad. Firm but fair.

-The longer we are together the more I love him. We just get better and better as a couple-cheesy, but true.

-He knows how to fight fair, is willing to compromise, and he’ll admit when he’s wrong and apologize.
-He has the best voice. It is calming and comforting, and just nice to hear.
-He grounds me. Just seeing him is enough to make a bad day better.
-He isn't afraid to call me on my crap-and he's never a jerk about it.

-He never says ‘I’ or ‘me’. It’s always ‘we’ and ‘us’.

-He is respectful. Not only to me, but to others as well.

-He loves the Gospel and is a good example to everyone-especially me.

-He humors my Disneyland obsession.

Don't be fooled. He only looks miserable because he was.
First vacation in seven years and he got the swine flu. Go figure.

-He is supportive of me in everything I do-even if he doesn't get it ie my love of theatre.
-He is the one who encouraged me to start taking tap again and every week he asks me to show him what I learned. He thinks it's great-even if I have to start over three times. :)
-He is my best friend and my rock. I couldn’t ask for a better man.

-Aaaand just when I thought he couldn't amaze me more, he had these delivered to me at work yesterday...

Yes they're delicious, and no I'm not sharing!

The longer I sit here the longer this list gets, so I'll wrap it up. Suffice it to say I am truly truly blessed with the best man. We have had our ups and downs, and it hasn't been sunshine and roses every step of the way, but he is my best friend, my rock, and I couldn't ask for a better person to have along for the ride.
If this is just a glimmer of the future we have together-man oh man, what a lucky girl I am! The best is definitely yet to come!