Wednesday, March 26, 2008

NEVER OPEN THE DOOR FOR A CRYING BABY!!!!

I recently received this email from a family member... (and you wonder why I get scared and have a crazy imagination...) Luckily this arrived a few days before Michael is going out of town so I will be HOME ALONE and totally prepared for an attack! Hopefully I won't hear any crying babies!!!
Because of recent abductions in daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation... This is for you, and for you to share with your wife, your children, everyone you know. After reading these 9 crucial tips, forward them to someone you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do : The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you... chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. (DON'T DO THIS!) The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it . As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:

A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat

B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.

C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side.. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP!!! It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her "Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, "We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night. Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby.

This e-mail should probably be taken seriously because the Crying Baby theory was mentioned on America 's Most Wanted this past Saturday when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana I'd like you to forward this to all the women you know.

It may save a life. A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle. I was going to send this to the ladies only, but guys, if you love your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc., you may want to pass it onto them, as well.

Send this to any woman you know that may need to be reminded that the world we live in has a lot of crazies in it and it's better to be safe than sorry. Everyone should take 5 minutes to read this. It may save your life or love one's life!
I feel like this should end with, "FORWARD THIS ON TO TEN PEOPLE IN FIVE DAYS OR SOMETHING VERY VERY BAD WILL HAPPEN TO YOU."

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Easter Weekend in Review

We had a busy weekend!
Friday Michael had the day off. We hung out at home in the morning, went to the gym, and then took the boys to the zoo. I can get in free now with passes from my work. YAY!




Of course we saw giraffes because they are my favorite


George climbing at the zoo park


Tummy slide


Friday night we went to the Melting Pot for April's birthday


Sean and April at the melting pot


Saturday morning we went with the family to see Horton Hears a Who. George sat by mom.


Isaac sat with me, then heather, and by the end of the movie he was asleep with Michael. And snoring. The little boy in front of us turned around after the movie, pointed and said, "THAT IS THE BOY THAT WAS SNORING!" :)


Then we dyed easter eggs. Isaac liked to make the eggs "plop". (Which turns out also breaks real eggs)


Flower dying eggs




Michael tickled Isaac and made silly faces


I made the coconut cupcakes from my cooking class


Sunday morning we went to breakfast with our Mitchell family at the Renaissance Hotel downtown.


Afterwards we went to church at the Wellington, where my dad's parents live. Then we took them to my parent's house for lunch.


Here I am with my Easter basket from my mom. The bowl is a serving bowl to my new dishes I got for Christmas. There were also snickers eggs and caramel ghirardelli chocolates, marshmallow rabbits and more candy. Oh and also an iTunes card for Michael.

We had a great weekend with lots of fun!

Sunday Rolls

I like this blog the Pioneer Woman Cooks and how she shows pictures of everything she cooks. This is my less detailed version. My mom makes fabulous rolls that we have at most family dinners or holidays. I made them for our Easter lunch this year. My mom could probably make them in her sleep, but I still have to consult the recipe.


First: In a large bowl, whisk together 1 &1/4 C of warm water, a package of active dry yeast, and 1/2 C Sugar. Then let it sit for 5 minutes for the yeast to activate.


While you are waiting, crack 2 eggs in a small bowl and beat with a fork (or however you beat eggs)


Then add 1/2 C of cooking oil to the mixture


Add the eggs


Then mix together


Then add 4 C of flour and 1 t of salt


Mix it all together


When you are finished mixing it will look like this. Cover the bowl and let the mix rise for a minimum of 4 hours. (You can let it sit overnight). This recipe will make 18 rolls. It can easily be doubled.


The dough will rise to the top of your bowl. Then you will kneed out the dough (adding in some flour because it is very sticky). Roll out the dough with a rolling pin (or your hands) until it is about 2 inches thick. Then cut out little circles with a small glass or cookie cutter.


Then you dip the dough circles in butter and place together in a muffin tin. Then let rise (about 2-4 hours).


I let these rise over night. In the morning- viola big fluffy dinner rolls!


Cook in the oven at 400 for 10-12 minutes. (Just until a little brown)

Serve and enjoy! Serve with butter or honey. (I like mine with jelly).

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Easy Easter Dinner

For my birthday my sweet friend Emily treated me to a cooking class at Williams-Sonoma. This was the first class since my birthday that we were both able to go to and wasn't full, but who doesn't love a belated birthday present? The class tonight was called "Easy Easter Dinner" and had several sides to go along with an Easter meal and finished with some yummy coconut cupcakes (that I will definitely make this weekend). The chef was very funny and personable, and I think what I enjoyed most was just watching her cook and the little things she taught along the way that weren't necessarily a part of the recipes. We had the best time and it was so good to get to spend some time with Em.


Here we are in the store after the class

You should definitely check out classes at your local W-S store! You have a great time, get to sample great food, and if that isn't convincing enough you get 10% off purchases the night of a class. I also learned they offer free classes Saturday mornings. The Saturday classes are shorter and more technique oriented than learning a particular recipe or meal. I will definitely be checking those out!

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Thousands of bottles of pop on the wall, thousands of bottles of pop!

We finally had our first POPS experience. We went with our friends Bill and Amy. We have known them since high school. It was great to catch up!

Amy and I picking out our pop (p.s. if you have been to Australia and you think the lemon creme pop looks like it might taste like Solo, it does not and you will be disappointed)



Waiting outside


Look at all the pop in the window


Did I just win the lottery?! No, our name was finally called after almost an hour.


Amy and me outside by the massive pop bottle




Sunday, March 09, 2008

Sleepover with Ryan

Our niece stayed over this weekend.


We played while our made-to-order pizzas cooked.


We went bowling...




Michael beat us both




We went and got some ice cream


We had pancakes, I tried to make a # 7, but it was thick and didn't come out the greatest, but you get the idea.

We also watched a movie, played webkinz, and made candy necklaces. It was a fun night!

Here's a video of the evening (mostly bowling):

Friday, March 07, 2008

More Bublé

Not sure if I've already mentioned it or not, but this guy was PHENOMENAL!!!

Fever (Complete)

Notice the Bublé version of "OKLAHOMA" at the beginning of this one.

Feeling Good (Complete)


Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Complete)


Save The Last Dance For Me (Clip)


Everything (Clip)


Irresponsible (Clip)

This one is also my new favorite song.

I'm Your Man (Clip)

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

A night with Michael B.



We're pretty tired after a really great night at the Michael Bublé concert but we wanted to share our fun... hope you like the videos.

We bought tickets last minute (the night before) and so we weren't really sure where our seats were going to be or if they'd be any good, but they were great. We could even see the spit fly out of his mouth anytime he got a little carried away singing (Gross, I know, but cool!) We could also hear him talking to his band when the microphone was away from his mouth.

MM or I will post more pictures and possibly another video tomorrow, but for now, I have to go to bed because I'm gainfully employed now and have to get up early in the morning to go in to work. 7 AM!!! Oh the horror!