Oh so random...

I've been working on a random post of answering random questions that my sister in law tagged me to do almost two weeks ago. I'm having a hard time finishing it up but it has been good for me to write about silly things rather than using this blog as a forum for complaining. Everything I have written the last month has been depressing...even when I'm not meaning for it to be, somehow it just turns into mostly doom and gloom. I am pretty sure I'm out of my winter rut but I just don't have that much to say unless I'm venting. This list of random thoughts is the perfect antidote to my whining. Thank you Cindy.
Here are the rules:
1-Post these rules.
2-Post a random photo of yourself and 11 random things.
3-Answer the questions set for you in the original post.
4-Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.
5-Go to their blog/twitter/facebook and tell them you've tagged them.

Here's my random photo:

Peterhof Grand Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia. October 2006: This freaks me out that this was almost six years ago. I was done with high school AND college and was a couple months away from meeting my Ben. There has been an entire life time between when this was taken and now. I feel like I was just there.

11 random things:
1- I am just returning home from my night off. It ended a little early tonight because I wanted to be home in time for Ben to meet up with some guys to play basketball at nine but it was still splendid. I have been granted one night every other week to be completely free from 5:30 on. Not that I couldn't take any night I needed off anyway-- but there is something lovely about it already being worked into the schedule. And it doesn't have to be for some special event or seeing someone in particular or for something I need to do...it can just be wandering at the Orchard mall, sitting in little shop and eating pizza and looking out the window, and driving in the car listening to my book on cd. Blissful. Work this into your life.

2- I am starting to explore couponing. I'm just grazing the surface of this underground world of crazy moms but it is intriguing and I've scored some great deals.

3- Welcome Spring! I am loving walking out my door and hearing the birds chirping in the trees.

4- I'm only thinking about this because I just commented on a friends blog--- but I hate the new requirement for "proving your not a robot" when leaving comments. Anyone else? There are two words instead of one and they are impossible to read! It usually takes me two tries to get it right and I find it really tedious.

5- I am off to Utah this weekend for Easter and to spend the week with my family. Hooray!

6- I hate the wind in Colorado.

7- I have not drank a drop of Diet Coke since February 21rst. Gave it up for Lent with no real intention of actually succeeding and I'm rather impressed with myself. Maybe I wasn't as addicted as thought.

8- Originally it was going to be Diet Coke and chocolate but the chocolate part was abandoned about 6 hours in. Definitely more addicted than I thought.

9- I was at a friends house today and she has beautiful purple tulips blooming in her backyard that she planted last October. I want a garden! I came home and painted my toenails almost the exact same purple.

10- Today Rosie got her foot stuck between the slats of the crib about 1/2 an hour into her nap and then wouldn't go back to sleep. I was pretty annoyed at first but we had a really nice time together playing on my bed. I laid there with my eyes closed for a long time (but peeking out between my eyelashes) to see what she would do if she thought I was asleep. She stood up and made faces and waved at herself in the mirror across the room. She folded and unfolded her blanket with a lot of intent and concentration. She looked right at my face for a bit and then crawled right on top of me and laid down on my chest. It was nice to be still and quiet and just watch my Rosie being Rosie.

11- We had the perfect weekend watching Genreal Conference. I made strawberry jam and honey whole wheat bread and it was heavenly. We had a BBQ in our backyard. We dyed Easter eggs and had a mini egg hunt with fruit loop filled eggs. Our friends smoked us a chicken in their smoker. I stayed outside at the park until sunset with some gals while the guys were at priesthood. Gorgeous. Rosie and Evie were surprising well behaved and we were able to watch most of it live and listen more than I was anticipating. I love a long lazy weekend of being inspired.

11 Questions I'm supposed to answer:
1-What is your favorite color and why?
Green and gold. I tend to lean towards green clothes and gold jewelry.
2-If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Istanbul, Turkey.
3-Do you prefer the beach or a lake?
Both. The beach for the sound of the waves and a lake for boating. Laying out at both.
4-What's one of your most embarrassing moments?
7th grade. Pretty much the entire year of wearing turtlenecks and black velor jump suits and pins and necklaces for different holidays like a 60 year old Elementary teacher. But more specifically riding the UTA bus home from school with a bunch of friends and strangers. I was sitting on the very back row of seats against the back wall. The middle seat directly in front of the aisle. The driver slams on the breaks to avoid an accident and I go flying down the aisle and land on my face. I stand up expecting everyone on the bus to be all over the place or injured but everyone else is sitting as if nothing has happened except for looks of horror/pity on their faces at the sight of me. I had skidded all the way to the front of the bus and my nose and face are bleeding and there are black lines going all the way down my body from the black rubber floor. UGH.
5-What was your favorite subject in school?
Social Studies in Elementary School. English in High School. Art History at BYU.
6-When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was kindergarten I said "When I grow up I want to be a bride." Been there, done that. Then I think I wanted to be teacher and at one point an astrounaut (which I think I always knew I couldn't pull off so I never said it out loud). Now I want to be a host on the Today Show.
7-What is one goal you have for the future?
Be good at something. I am mediocre at everything I do. I want to develop some talent. What that talent is...I don't know. Also, have FHE every week.
8-What is your favorite book of all time?
Of all time?? Too hard. Some favorites include: The Red Tent, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Middlesex, The Space Between Us, The Infinite Plan, Hector and the Search for Happiness, The Catcher in the Rye.
9-What is a recipe you can make really well/your favorite recipe to make? I love crockpot turkey chili. It's so easy and so delicious and fabulously low calorie.
10-Who is someone that inspires you?
So many people...family members, friends. I can't pick just one person. I'll cop out and say anyone who knows who they are, lives honestly and happily, and loves what they do.
11-What kind of animal are you most like?
This afternoon, a pig. I had a boyfriend in college that said I had the body of a big, beautiful horse. Thanks. My dad used to call me the gentle matinee after a trip to Sea World. You know, those giant blob animals...sea cows? Again, thanks.

Ok-- no pressure. I wouldn't typically respond to this, so I don't expect anyone else to. I'm tagging a few people that I believe fairly regularly read my blog and regularly blog themselves. If you feel so inclined: Erin Hayes, Linda Deming, Shelley Mortenson, Martha Gerber, Jen Butler, and Darcie Austin.

Here are your 11 questions:
GO!
1. What is your favorite restaurant?
2. What is something you want to do before you die?
3. What is your favorite way to relax?
4. Who is someone you want to be more like?
5. Best movie or book for a rainy day?
6. If you were to get any plastic surgery, what would it be?
7. What is a product you can't live without?
8. What is your current favorite band/singer?
9. Mountain hideaway or beach house?
10. What is your guilty pleasure?
11. Who do you miss the most?