{Day 18}

{What is your favorite recipe?}

I love to cook!! And I love to bake!! I don't know that I am very good at either, but I like to do it anyway!!!
So here are some of my favorite recipes:

DINNER: Parmesan-Crusted Chicken in Cream Sauce
2 c Instant brown rice, uncooked
1 can (14 oz) chicken broth, divided
6 Ritz crackers, finely crushed
2 TBSP Grated Parmesan cheese
2 tsp Oil
1/3 c Chive & Onion cream cheese spread
3/4 lb asparagus spears, trimmed
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Cooke the rice as direct on the package using 1/4 c of the broth and 1/2 c water.
Meanwhile, mix the cracker crumbs {***the is not in the original recipe, but I usually throw in some Italian breadcrumbs with the cracker crumbs} and cheese on a plate or in a shallow dish. Rinse the chick and shake off excess water. Dip chicken in crumb mixture, turning each piece over until evenly coated.
Heat the oil in a skillet on medium heat. Add the chicken and cook 5 to 6 minutes on each side or until golden brown and juices run clear. Remove chicken from skillet.
Do not rinse or clean out your skillet. Add remaining 1/2 cup broth and cream cheese to the skillet. Bring to a boil and then simmer until thick.
Serve chicken over rice. And don't forget to stream your asparagus!

DESSERT- Magic Cookie Bars/Hello Dollies

{I don't know what the technical name for these things are!! I just know they are fabulous!!}

1 1/2 c Graham cracker crumbs

1/2 c Butter or margarine, melted

1 (14 oz) can Sweetened condensed milk

2 c Semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 1/3 c Flaked coconut

1 c Chopped nuts (optional)

1 c Butterscotch chips (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl combine the graham cracker crumbs and butter; mix well. Press mixture firmly on the bottom of a 9x13 pan {use a smaller pan for thicker crust}. Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumbs. Layer evenly with chocolate chips, coconut and optional items. Press down firmly with a fork.

Bake for 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely or chill if desired. Store at room temperature

{I personal like these things right out of the oven!! Even if they do tend to fall apart that way}

And here is a recipe that I have not tried!! But {REALLY} want to!!!

Pumpkin Bread!!!

2/3 c Soft vegetable shortening

2 2/3 c Sugar

4 Eggs

2 c Pumpkin

2/3 c Water

2 1/2 c Flour

1 c Whole wheat flour

2 tsp Baking powder

1/2 tsp Salt

1 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Cloves

1 c Chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

1 c raisins and/or chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a bunt pan or two 5x9 loan pans.

In a mixing bowl cream together the shortening, and sugar. Beat in the eggs. Add the pumpkin and the water, stirring until blended well.

Sift together the dry ingredients and spices. Stir into the pumpkin mixture with a wooden spoon, just until blended. Fold in any optional ingredients you desire.

Pour into pan(s). Bale 1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean {cooking time for 2 loaves may be less than 1 hr}. Let cool 10 minutes in pan then turn out onto rack to cool completely.

MMMMMMMMM!! Doesn't that sound so good!! I {LOVE} pumpkin!! Almost anything pumpkin!! Pies, breads, cookies, shakes!!! SO good!!! One of the reasons why this season is so wonderful!!

{Day 17}

Today is another one of those questions where it is basically impossible for me to choose just one answer!!

{Name a place you want to visit and why}

See?!?! How, when I absolutely {LOVE} to travel, am I supposed to choose just one place!! I could go on and on about the place I want to see!! In fact, I have done just that on this very blog!! Remember {THIS} post??
But I will spare you my long list and I will pick just one!!

Lately I have been dreaming about visiting this place: 

So many beautiful and amazing things to see here!! Including The Acropolis, Sounion to see The Temple of Poseidon {Google Sounion at sunset..... AMAZING pictures}, Mycenae and The Minoan Palace of Knossos!!! Why WOULDN'T you want to go here!! 

And a trip to Greece would not be complete without a stop here: 

 MAGNIFICENT!! The Island of Santorini, The Island of Crete, The Island of Mykonos..........
Can you imagine just sitting in a comfy chair, looking out on that amazing, blue water!! It looks so relaxing, calm and peaceful!! The kind of vacation where you can just sit back, relax, and take in the beauty around you!!

I would also like to visit Greece so I can see this place:

I have always though Greek mythology was pretty interesting!! Don't really know exactly what it is about it, but I really like it!! I have been reading the Percy Jackson book series and they are all about Greek mythology!! I love it!!! I also think its very cool that it was the birthplace of the Olympics!!
So much to do!! I just need the money!!

Other place that are currently high on my "I want to go" list:
* Washington DC
* Venice, Italy
* Egypt
* New York
* Bahamas!!!

Where do you want to go??? Need a travel buddy?? I'm there for you!!

{Day 16}

{What is your favorite book?}

I {LOVE} books!! I love them way to much to only pick just one favorite!!

I read these books this year and they are SO good!!

 {THE HUNGER GAME TRILOGY}!! If you haven't read them...... go get them NOW!!! So so good!! I have a really cool story to tell you about Mockingjay a little bit later!!

I also {LOVE} this book:

 I read it for the first time in high school! I hated most of the other books we read, and as much as I like to read, I think this was the only one I actually read the whole way through!! I would start reading the other ones...... and then I would start skimming the pages!! I was also famous for just reading the Cliff Notes!! But something about "To Kill a Mockingbird" pulled me in and I have loved it ever since!!

And I couldn't end this list with out adding these books:

I don't care if people think the story is stupid.... or if they think they are poorly written....... or the plot is boring and the characters are flat!! I {LOVE} them anyway!!! I cant even remember how many times I have read each one of the books!!! I can read them over and over!! 

Other books I love:
* Pride and Prejudice
* The Harry Potter series
* Lemon Tart
* Of Mice and Men

{Day 15}

We are half way there!!

{Where is your favorite place to shop?}

Well, that depends on what I am shopping for!!

If I go shopping for grocerys I like to go here:

They always seems to have a really good selection of stuff!! And they have foods and brands that I cant seem to find any where else!! And I really like how they have their own, fresh, store brand stuff {like the fresh almond butter or salsa}!

If I am buying clothes, one of my favorite places is here:

I especially like it when they have sales!! Or their Stuff-And-Save bags!! And I really enjoy the $10 off cards I get in the mail every so often!!

And my favorite place to buy just random odds and end is this place: 

I just love to wander around Target!! I always find cute things that I think I need!! And sometimes you can get some really awesome deals on their clearance items!! I do have to say that a lot of the stuff in their grocery section is WAY over priced!! But some of the Archers Market brand stuff is really good!!

{Day 14}

{What is something you are proud of, just in the last few day?}

I have worked out a lot this week and I am pretty proud of that!!!
Monday I didn't have to work {aww, the joy of a federal holiday} so I woke up fairly early so I could go to the gym!! I rode the elliptical machine while watching the end of "Stardust" and the first part of "Flight of the Phoenix".

Tuesday is probably one of my favorite classes!! Kickboxing!!!

The teacher for it is awesome!! She has great music and creates awesome energy!! I went that night even though I had a headache!!

Last night I should have gone back for another round of kickboxing! But I wasn't in the mood to drive out to West Jordan, so I went to the Golds Gym by my house and got back on this:

This time I watched the last 10 minutes of "The Mummy Returns" and then I got to see the first 50 minutes of "Iron Man 2". I did a hill workout last night!! I can for sure feel it in my thighs!! I need a good calf work out though! Any one have any ideas??

Tonight I am going to a Power Pump class. Its all about lifting weights and is supposed to be good for burning fat!! Sure hope its true!! And I hope that my leg muscles don't give out on me!!

And then on Saturday I have a meeting with a personal trainer {kind of nervous about that} and then it's time for some Zumba! The scale better be my best friend on Sunday morning!

I also bought a few things this week so that I can do some workouts at home: I bought these:

And I am going to get some weights from my mom!! So, I should be able to do some weight stuff on my own!! Any one know any good work outs with the ball or resistance band?? Or have a favorite DVD that has great exercise ball workouts?

I posted a little bit more of my vacation............ that was over a month ago!! I should have had these up weeks ago!! But I couldn't figure out how to get the videos uploaded!! Still not 100% sure I did it the right way!!
So if you cant watch the videos..... I am sorry!! And I don't know how to fix it, so you will just have to imagine them!! Otherwise, enjoy!!

P.S. I still have a few more Disneyland things to post!! Especially my Birthday day!!

A Crazy Hot Day With A Psychopath

On Monday we all went to Universal Studios!! I don't think I have been there since I was around 15 so it's been a looooooong time!!! I was excited for the new rides and to take the Back Lot Tour!!
I was SO hot that day!! And Universal Studios has hardly any trees or shady areas!! THANK GOODNESS for the big industrial size fans that blew freezing cold air and mist in the {Cool Zones}!! I could have stood in front of those fans for hours!!

Our first ride was The Simpson's Ride. I honestly wasn't too excited about it! I am not a big Simpson's fan, but it was the first ride we came to and the wait time was only about 10 minutes so we decided to go on it. This ride took the place of the old Back to the Future ride and even though I do not like the Simpson's, the ride was actually pretty awesome!! The first thing I thought though as the ride got going was {I am going to be sick}!! I am becoming a wimp I guess, but it was a pretty crazy, wild ride!!! A lot of fun though!!

We then headed down to the lower lot to ride 2 of the best rides: Jurassic Park and The Mummy!! Guess what..... there was NO wait for either ride!! We walked right on the both of them!!! {Awesome}

The Mummy roller coaster was sweet!! Really fast, really dark, cool effects!! Loved it!!! And the Jurassic Park ride was just what we needed to cool off!! We all got pretty drenched!!!

**Look at my shirt!! And my pants!!! I was soaked!! It felt wonderful!!

After stopping for lunch we decided to go to the other side of the park to ride the Back Lot Tour ride. When we got over there the wait time was 50 minutes. We decided to wait because 50 minutes really is not that long................ {BIG} mistake!!! I have no idea how they calculate their wait times, but it was SO off!! We stood in that stupid line for more than 2 and a half hours!! It was ridiculous!! And SO hot!! And half of the time in outside.... in NO shade!! The little mist-ers were doing NOTHING to help with the crazy heat!! One poor person threw up in line because it was so hot {sure you wanted to know that!!}

At one point we almost decided to get out of the line and skip the ride all together!! But we had seriously been standing there for 2 hours at the point and I hated the thought of walking away and wasting all that time in the heat for nothing!!! So we stuck it out and FINALLY {probably almost 3 hours later} made it onto a tram!


I'm glad we waited!! I love all that behind the scenes stuff and there were a lot of new things!! The last time I was there they had the cool town square with the clock tower that was used in Back to the Future. That burned down not to long ago so they have rebuilt a lot of new sets! They also had to rebuild the King Kong part of the tour because that burned too!!
We got to see some of the cool things they do to make a car look like its exploding/crashing, we saw some sweet cars that were used in movies like {Little Rascals}{The Mummy}{Fast & the Furious} and {Back to the Future} and of course Jaws made his appearance!!!

We also went past the Bates Motel and a crazy scary guy with a butcher knife totally chased our tram!! I will not lie............ I was freaking out!!

**Look how creey he is!! He was seriously {running} after us with a huge knife!! Ahhh!!

One of the coolest part of the tour though was going past this huge area where they have filmed tons of movies {including Apollo 13 and War of the World}. There is currently a set built there was a HUGE blue screen!!

Our tour guide told us that because they are still shooting he was technically not allowed to tell us what was being filmed. But he gave us some clues: {It is the 4th in a series} {It's rated ARRRRRR}......... any ideas??? Cue {Pirates of the Caribbean music now}!

We also took a drive down Wisteria Lane. Never seen as episode of Desperate Housewives but the street was really cute! One of the houses on the street, used now for DH, used to be the Musters house!! I thought that was pretty cool!!

 So, after the tram ride, we were all pretty much done!!! It was SO hot and after standing, in the heat, for so long, we just couldn't take any more!! We thought about going back to the other side of the park to ride Jurassic Park again {So we'd be wet} but we didn't want to deal with the slow escalators {they seriously need to speed those things up}!!!
So we headed back down to Anaheim to cool off at our hotel with out riding the Shrek Ride. I was devastated...... {NOT}!! I am not a Shrek fan!! Haha!!


So I have to add this picture because it is one of my favorites!! At one point we saw these feet massager things. We had no idea how they worked or what they would do! But our feet were tired so we decided to try them out!! We were both pretty shocked at the crazy {massage} they gave us!!! =0) It was 25 cents well spent!!