Knife

I got a nice one. Henckels. Apples like Butter. Thanks, roommates!!

Merry Christmas

Yesterday was my birthday. I'm in my late 20's now. Very nice. Cool Boise Restaurant- Tapas Estrella. Thanks to my fabulous servers and the sweet people who were cool about us taking a billion pictures.

This Christmas was the first away from my family. Kinda sad. But we started some new little traditions for our apartment (leftover from my childgood, mostly). Therefore, for your enjoyment, the best way to invite "the Christmas Spirit":
1- Kenny G miracles album
2- Read the Polar Express. Give everyone a jingle bell to ring whenever it says "rang"
3- Read Jolly Old Santa Claus, the 1960's version, if you can find it
4- Read the Christmas Story in St. Luke Chapter 2. (The Wise Men are in Matthew).
5- Say a little prayer, stuff some stockings, leave a Santa note.
Good-night, and Merry Christmas to all!!

Camera

My roommate is the only one who really reads my blog, which makes me a little sad, so I don't always write, but I'm always thinkin', so once I'm on here, watch out!!

Christmas present: Canon SD400. LOVE IT. LOVE IT.

My Favorite Workout

My favorite workout, for getting buff:

"Warm-up" Elliptical, 15 minutes, level 5 or cardio program
Lift- Bench 65lbs. (for now) - 3 sets of 8
Bicep Curls and Tricep lifts, alternating- 3 sets of 12 (I use 15lbs)
Lats- 3 sets of 10 (60lbs)
RUN- Treadmill 10min, 23 seconds (1 mile) 1.4 incline (using treadmills on incline zero is bad on your knees because it mimics downhill. Trust me on this. I think I read it in SELF.), Speed 5.7. I started on 4.7, but then I did a mini-triathlon
COOL DOWN- 10 minutes, level 5, bike

The Warm UP and Cool Down are really part of the overall workout, so don't skip 'em! Have fun!

GET OFF YOUR LAZY BUTT

Best way to feel like your life isn't horrible and pointless. Get off the couch and make yourself go to the gym. Just once. And work out hard. Then go tomorrow. (The 2nd day will be much more fun.) By day 7 your pants will fit better. Cook yourself a good dinner. You deserve it. You're hot now. And buff.

Exercise

Best Step Aerobics Video- now that I have finally emerged from the laziness cloud and returned to the land of the living: Intense Moves by Gin Miller
best place to get it (and any old CD's you're craving) half.com
G'day!
cc

Chopping Parsley

With scissors. Especially if you have cheap knives, like me.

Thanksgiving

Thank you Rachel Ray! For my first "solo" (this means my roommate and I did the cooking)Thanksgiving, I present to you:
Rachel Ray's 365: No Repeats, #57 Turkey Cutlet Parmigiano with warm, fresh grape tomato topping, pesto, and mozzarella. Absolute Heaven. Add Butternut Squash & Broccoli on cranberry plates, and the feast has begun. Toast with Sparkling Apple Juice or Riesling, depending on your preference. (wink wink) Happy Thanksgiving to all! cc
p.s. The pumpkin pie is in the oven :o) I am praying.

Two more...and then I will drag myself to bed

Cool hotels: Maybe eventually I'll name one in every state:
Seattle, WA: edgewater http://www.edgewaterhotel.com/
Boston, MA: http://www.onyxhotel.com/
Austin,TX: www.sanjosehotel.com

And in completely unrelated news, the most comfortable thongs in the world
http://www.fredericks.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=Holiday2002&category%5Fname=Thongs&product%5Fid=52484

Good-night and Happy Thanksgiving!

The Best Shower

Oh yes, we do it all here.
Start with these:
http://www.thebodyshop.com/bodyshop/browse/product_detail.jsp?productId=prod2840031&categoryId=cat30010
Add this, preferably in a fun shape:
http://www.dialcorp.com/index.cfm?page_id=71, Spring Water Scent

Give yourself a hug. Make a big bubble. Smile. Have a nice day.

iT'S tOmorrow! Late Fees!

Ask nicely. Seriously. They don't really want to talk to you; just be sincerely sweet and give them a decent reason (You moved; you threw the bill away; pay day was the day after the due date.) Make a payment FIRST! Then call. And apologize. This only works once in a while. Don't take advantage of the situation, but you should always ask.
Save your money,
cc

Curly Hair

Three best hair products ever:
Joico Ice Whip Mousse
Catwalk "Curls Rock" Amplify
Catwalk "Extra Strong Mousse"
kisses! cc

Pomegranate Juice

Ok, so this new blog this is much too exciting to sleep:
Funnest way to eat a pomegranate (discovered 3 days ago). Use it as jelly with peanut butter.
Warning: If you are, as I was, a pomegranate virgin, do not wear nice clothes to dissect your pomgranate. Lay down paper towels. They are messy. Put all the seeds/fruit in a little gladware container and use them as needed. Allow about 15 minutes for this fun and exciting adventure.
My brilliant roommate Jessica also put the seeds in a vodka/sprite martini for great color and flavor. Oprah stole the idea the next day, but we're sure she didn't mean to. Happy tasting!

Quote for today

Love deeply and passionately; you might get hurt, but it's the only way to live life completely. Now go to sleep people! Tomorrow: how to get out of a late fee!

Food Posting

A good place to start, being that I just ate.
Best Ice Cream: If you are lucky enough to live in Texas (or Orlando, now) BLUE BELL, the best ice cream in the country. I am not exaggerating. It is amazing. Start with Homemade Vanilla and progress to Pecan Pralines & Cream. This is their site:
http://www.bluebell.com/
If you live in Idaho (western, preferably), Toni's Homemade is made only by HER and is similiarly fantastic. This is her website:
http://www.sunvalleyicecream.com/
Ginger ice cream is my personal favorite. It's a little out there, but it's good. By the way, I think we should all write HaagenDaaz and tell them to bring back Hazelnut Gelato. Oh, I miss that. Don't you, em?
The best granola is Quaker's 100% Natural and I'm not going to give you Quaker's website because walk down the street to the store and it will be there.
And the best tortillini is Rainbow 5 Cheese from the Monterey Pasta Company.