Thrift Tour October 2009

After a two month hiatus I am back and ready to electronically display my creations and activities for the world to see. I will start with the thriftour October 2009.

One of my favorite things to do is to shop. Whenever I am stressed or distraught about one thing or another my first reaction is to grab the nearest sugar saturated goodie. Then, of course, get online or run to the store to buy something that will make me feel pretty for a day or so. However, being the poor college student that I am, I dont really have the funds to supply my ever increasing need for new clothes and other beautiful nicknacks. This is why I love Thrift Stores. It satisfies my craving to shop without demolishing the little supply of cash I have. Phoenix in chock full of fabulous thrift stores. So, due to our adequate and punctual performance in Intermediate Algebra thus far, Allison and I decided to make a trip down to the valley for the sole purpose of Thrift Store Shopping!
Preston was our tour guide and he created this wonderful map for the thrift tour. There were 15 thrift stores on the list. We made it to about 7. It was a full day. We went out thrifting at 9 AM and were done around 4 in the afternoon. We purchased clothes, books, and army garb. Me, Allison, and Preston were the main participants but Darby, John, Mindi, and Shannon made some appearances on different spots on the tour. We also made some stops at Frances, Smeeks, Zoes and Urban Cookies. Thriftour October 2009 was a success to be sure! Thank you to everyone who made it so. Now on to the Used Bookstore Tour!

19 Years...

Monday was my 19th birthday. I am almost 2 decades old. I feel so much older than I am and I cannot determine if that is good or bad. I guess time will tell. In all, it was a great birthday. Mom and I went and partied it up the weekend before with Shannon, Zach, Preston, and Mindi. Square Knot was not able to go and we missed him severely but we still managed to have a little bit of fun without him. We went to eat many different delicious places, went to Julie & Julia, Jesterz, Frances, and thrift store shopping. Just an utterly fantastic weekend.

The highlight of my actual birthday were these adorable little owl cupcakes. I decided that my birthday cake this year was going to be an owl. I looked at many different pictures and did a lot of research. I made family and friends vote on what cake they thought I should make. I finally determined that these little guys were the winners. They turned out great. They are also delicious. I felt a bit cannibalistic eating them because I have always wanted to be an owl but I managed to eat a few anyhow. I used oreos for the eyes and ears, M&Ms for the eyes and runs for the noses. I used a wonderful chocolate cake and frosting recipe. If you are looking for a great chocolate cake recipe let me know.

Tasha, Allison, and I

These are all the people that showed up to my house on my birthday night. I do not know half of them but so it goes with single social life.

My good friend Jessica shares a birthday with me so we celebrated together. I love her.

I got some awesome presents. I love every single one. I appreciate and love everyone in my life. I would not survive with out each and every single one.
Great Year... now onto the next... happy trails...

Fragil Exuberance

Ive done it! I have finally started and finished one of my big canvases. A couple years ago Preston gave me two very large blank canvases to create on for Christmas. I was so excited to use them but I never thought I had the right idea and was worried I would mess them up. Finally last week I finally decided it was time so without a set plan I started painting. This is what I ended up coming up with. The trees are made out of The Two Towers and a lot of pain. I am really pleased with how it turned out. It is suppose to represent the four seasons. You can try to figure which season is which. I, myself, don't know so there is no correct answer. The canvas is 4 ft. by 2 ft. so it is rather large. The biggest one I have done to date but I have an even larger canvas waiting for me in the garage and this time I am not afraid!

Happy Trails...

Taco Thursday

I used to be like Douglas Adams who said, "I could never get the hang of Thursdays." I mean really, Thursday is just a dreadfully situated day. It is the fourth day of the work week so you are tired and ready for the weekend, but, it is not yet the weekend. The weekend is a day away. So there Thursday sits mockingly close to your weekend goal but still managing to keep it away from you. Now, however, I relish in all that Thursday's have to offer me and that of course is----tacos. A couple months ago some friends from work asked me if I wanted to get tacos with them because tacos were the special of the day at the local bowling alley. I decided to give it a try. Tacos are usually not my culinary preference but a taco from a bowling alley was intriguing to me so I went along. Let me just say that since that day of enlightenment there has not been a Thursday go by that I dont eat these glorious tacos. Not only are these tacos magnificent but cheap. For 4 bucks you get 3 tacos and a drink. Taco Thursday has brought back my love of tacos and in fact Thursdays in one fantastic swoop.

Before

After several months of my raving reviews of the bowling alley tacos I finally got to share them with some of my family and friends. Here are some photos...

Loren being very smiley!

Square Knot with his "I am terrified that another minute of my life may go by that I have not had some of these amazing tacos!" face.

Allison also very happy.

After

Anyone and everyone is welcome to come eat tacos with me any Thursday! I will be here and so will the magnificent tacos!

Happy Trails...

New Mexico

I am a little behind on posting but I am doing my best to catch up. I shall start with my first road trip of the summer.

On the Road------New Mexico.

I decided to go spend some time with my cousin Dylan and his family before his mission. So off I went to Belen, New Mexico. We ate, slept, watched Psych, talked, went to the zoo, and of course played a vast amount rock band. I had a fantastic time and I loved getting to spend time with Dylan before our two year absence!

Dylan took me to the Albuquerque Zoo. I had not been to a zoo for years and years. I loved it. I felt like a little kid ogling at all the animals. I told every animal hello and I think everyone at the zoo, including Dylan, thought I was a crazy person. I couldn't resist taking pictures so here are the highlights!



We had a little mini birthday party for Dylan since I was not going to be around for his actual birthday.


I am so glad that I got to go to Belen to visit Dylan and the rest of the Detlors. I love that family and will miss Dylan immensely but I will see him again... but not yet, not yet.

Happy Trails...

The Passing of Archie

Somewhere in the deep expanses of time and space I feel that a soul mate was created for me. I am afraid, in my case, it was in the form of a car. Archie, the 1990 Oldsmobile was indeed my loyal friend for the years that we had him and that I drove him. He went on my hormone driven high school adventures with me, protected me, and was always there when I needed a place to sleep or a dash to cry on. This car will always be very special to me because he was my first and because we are the same age.

As with all things my ownership of Archie had to come to an end. I got my car Daisy almost a year ago and since then my cousin has driven Archie. He is going on his mission so it was time to sell him. Our good friends the Montierths were interested in buying him so that their highschoolers could drive him when they came of age. It all worked out and Archie is now in their care and ownership. We went to deliver Archie to them the other day and it was a very neat experience. All the Montierth kids were thrilled with the car. They squealed, laughed, and begged for rides. They said things like "this is the coolest car I have ever seen in the world." I am glad that Archie is going to be loved and used. He is a great car and I am going to miss him. I am glad he is in capable hands. Goodbye Archie.

Nathan, the oldest Montierth, standing by Archie.

Three of the kids sitting in the back testing the comfort level. It got very high marks.

The littlest Montierth Zach "dwiving cwazy".

Satan lets me keep my morals?

I have been taught many things in my life about Satan but this certainly isnt one of them. On my weekly drive to the Montierths I encountered this sign and had to share. I really feel like I am missing something. All I want to know is if you think this was on purpose or a tricky prank by a bemused teenager. Hmmmm...

Juneau, not to be confused with Juno!

IMG_2615, originally uploaded by considertessa.

There are some trips that I go on that I have alot to say about them. You cannot get me to shut up about them really. This is not one of those trips. It was beyond words. I believe that it is important to explore and understand your own country and ours is so large that it is sometimes difficult to do. I got to explore places I had never been before in my own country on this trip. I went on an Alaskan Cruise with Mom, Dad, Shannon, Zach, and my friend Tasha. I am so full of food that I am pretty sure I could hibernate for several winters, I have played so many card games I dont have any desire to play any games at all which is strange for me, and I have had enough fun to last for a while. It was a fantastic trip. There were chocolate buffets, glaciers, awesome folk art stores, and beautiful weather! Alaska is a beautiful place and I will definitely be exploring it more in the future. The only bad thing about the trip was that it made Arizona seem like a very very depressing place to live and this time of year and it is, but being reminded isnt always fun.

Click on the image for more pictures.

Happy Trails...

What A Hoot

After much adding of kitchen creations to my creative arsenal as well as my physique I have finally had time to do a bit of painting again. Most of the time I like my paintings better in the pictures but not this one. This one is better in person. You will have to settle for a picture. I have so much to blog about but I am exhausted so it will have to be another time. Enjoy the painting.

Happy Trails...

Dylans Going On A Mission!

One of my favorite people in the world, Dylan, is going on a mission! He has been called to serve in the Chihuahua (or as Dylan said CHI-HEWUH-HEWUH), Mexico Mission Spanish speaking! He has lived with us this last year while he has been going to school and I have loved every second he has been here. I am going to miss him dearly but I am excited that he gets to do this. He is going to help so many people and particularly himself. He reports to the Provo MTC on July 29th. That is all I am going to report on that for now because if I write too much more I will start crying and it is way too early before he leaves for that. Congratulations Dylan, I love ya man!

This is Dylan and I after we took his missionary photo's!

In the middle of one of our Alias Marathons!