We are Family

I love my family! I just think they are great! I have had a blog post all about my friends but I don't think I have made one dedicated to my family and how much they mean to me.


My Mom and Dad



My mom has always been someone that I can call and talk to. These past four years of college has thrown so many challenges at me. I don't think I would ever be able to make it through them if I didn't have my mom to call. She has always had the perfect advice for me, it may not have been what I wanted to hear but it was what I needed to hear.



My dad has always encouraged me to be the best that I can be but is always proud of who I am today. I am so grateful for that, I know that there have been times when I was disappointed by how I did and he would lift me up by telling me, He was proud of it. He and I acheived a goal together and I know that I ran the entire half marathon because I had him right next to me, pushing me along and cheering for me.




My sister, Rachelle has always been a great example to me all growing up. When I was a little kid, I wanted to be just like her. She is an amaazing mother and can make taking care of quintuplets look easy! I am so glad I got a chance to live with her a couple summers ago. She has taught me many new skills such as cooking and flirting! I hardly ever hear her complain and I know that she has had some hard times. She is a great example to me.



My brother, Mckay has always been a good one for laughs. He can make anyone laugh. He also is a super hard worker and loves reading and learning. He knows a lot of information, which I think is pretty neat. He also had been one to give me some advice that was greatly needed. He lets me know what boys are really thinking all the time, so I can always tell him about dating life and find out the truth behind it!



Colby has always been a voice of reason for me. I remember when we were kids, he would tell Ryan, Shane and I if he thought what we were doing was stupid and would tell us to stop. That has always stuck with me. He always works for perfection and can see tiny details. He always can make me laugh as well. I am really glad that He and Neeha came home for this past Christmas. I loved being able to spend that time with him.



Ryan has amazing talent. I dont' think he really sees that but he does. He is such a hard worker. He will go above and beyond. I remember when he was studying for the DAT he was in his room for a week studying. I could never do that but he has the determination to do well. And he has done well. I have learned from him that anything you put your mind up to you can do it. I have seen him do that over and over again in multiple situations. He is a great example to me.



I am so glad that Shane has been here at BYU the whole time I have been. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have my brother here to lean on. He has always been the peacemaker in the family. I remember one time he said something that I got upset about. He then came into the room a few minutes later with my guitar singing a song saying he was sorry. Whenever I am upset, he always lets me know that he loves me. He is really good at calming down the stressful situations.



I love my family. They all are great examples to me!

"Obsessed"

I am obsessed with Brownie obsessions!(thanks to my mom and Rachelle for introducing it) I am not ashamed of this obsession! Although, the TGIFridays by my apartment closed down. I was extremely upset with this. It was just a walk across the street till I was in my dream land eating a brownie obsession. There luckily is still a TGIFridays in Sandy so I am not completely with out my one true love. However, Sandy is a long drive just to satisfy my addiction, so I don't ever go. Probably a good thing they got rid of the one right by my apartment, I had it way too much and someone knew that!

This semester I had a class up in Salt Lake every Thursday and every Thursday we drive right past that TGI Fridays and it always taunts me. Sometime's it even shows a picture of the Brownie Obsession with flashing bright lights. If I was not with my friends, I am pretty sure I would have given in but since Corey and Jon were also with me, I just ignore it and continue on to class. But I couldn't handle it anymore! I needed to get a brownie obsession, I had given into the bright huge signs temptations!

So, yesterday it was just Corey and I on our way to class and I saw that sign. I remembered that I still had a gift card to TGIFridays and it needed to be used. So, very excitedly I asked him if we could stop on our way home and get one. I don't think he could say no because 1. I was really excited by this idea and 2. he was kind of trapped, I drove! So, I focused real hard in class knowing that in a few short hours I would have my favorite dessert ever!

And then class was over, and I was reunited with my obsession! Corey and I got some potstickers feeling a little guilty about just getting a dessert and then shared a brownie obsession! I am pretty sure I will be happy for days because I finally got to have a brownie obsession again!

Look at this picture, how can you NOT like a brownie obsession!


Because I am obsessed, I researched what the recipe is. Maybe one day I will try it out.

Here it is:
pre-heat oven 350 grease 9 x 13 pan

Brownies
1 2/3 granulated sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
2 tbsp water
2 bars (4 oz) unsweetened Giradelli baking bar, broken into pieces
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/3 flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/3 tsp salt
1/2 cup shopped nuts (optional)

Microwave sugar, butter and water in large microwavable bowl on high for 4 to 5 minutes or until it is bubbly, stirring once. Add baking bars; stir until melted. Add eggs one at a time until incorporated. Stir in vanilla extract. Add flour, baking soda and salt; stir well add nuts. Pour into prepared 9 x 13 baking pan. Bake 15 - 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out slightly sticky. Cool in pan on wire rack, cut into bars.

To serve Place brownie in shallow bowl. Top with chocolate sauce(recipe below). Put a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Drizzle Carmel sauce(recipe below) over the ice cream and sprinkle with chopped pecans.

Chocolate sauce

2/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar 6 oz semi-sweet Giradelli chocolate baking bar(broken into pieces)

Heat the cream with the butter and sugar in a bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Stir until smooth. Add the chocolate to the cream mixture. Stir over simmering water until it is melted and thoroughly combined. Let cool at room temperature.

Carmel sauce

3/4 cup brown sugar
4 tsp cornstarch
2/3 cup whipping cream
1 tbsp butter

In a saucepan combine brown sugar and cornstarch. Add whipping cream and butter. Bring mixture to a boil stirring constantly. Then, reduce heat. Cook and stir for 2 more minutes. Cover and cool. Chill in the refrigerator until serving time.

"We're sick of your Hypocrisy"

Dear King George,

I just wanted to say that we are sick and tired of the way you have treated us! Taxing our tea! Its ridiculous! You are trying to make us pay for your mistakes, and I won't stand for it! My pals, George Washington, Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and I made a little something for you! I hate that it had to come to this but you pushed things past the limit.

Peace out,
An upset American Patriot




(Sorry about the sound quality, It was for a class project and I didn't have the means for legit equipment, so I did the best I could with what I had!)

"This will be an Everlasting Love"

Well, I am well on my way to being the 27 dresses girl! I think I was just in my 7th wedding. Just 20 more to go!
Pictures from some of the recent weddings:


My Brother and Sister in laws wedding.


Stefenie's and Bradon's Wedding


Jessica and Chase wedding.

But my best friend, Becky Davis is now Becky Madsen. Ginelle and I were her maids of honor. Yes, she had two and it was wonderful!



We started the day off by getting our hair done by Jessica! Thanks again Jess, we looked absolutely smashing because of you! After that we rushed to Salt Lake so we could help watch all the little kids. After some struggles of finding parking, we successfully made it to the Zions Bank building where the reception was going to be that night. The kids were crazy and kids usually are, but the parents came and picked them up. Of course, the only time it rained on that day was when we all were outside waiting for the happy couple to come out of the temple and then when we needed to take pictures. In the end, Ginelle and I got some great shots with umbrella's and I kind of enjoyed the rain.



Here is us with our facial expressions about the rain.



We were very excited for Becky to be married!



Being cute with the umbrellas!

After that, we had lunch at Bucca di bepo, a really tasty italian resturuant. Then all went to the reception hall to take more pictures and get ready for the reception. The reception was on the 18th floor of the Zions bank with three walls that are windows! It has an AMAZING view!



Somehow, I also ended up in the cake battle. Still not sure how...



I caught the bouquet! But don't get too excited that I am getting married next as my niece once told me "Tiare, Mommy says that you always catch the bouquet but you are never married" haha, she speaks the truth!



Now, Becky is married! That is such a weird thought but really exciting. She seemed way happy and so I am way happy for her!

Congrats to Becky and Mike!

The Colors of the Wind

Every March, there is a festival of colors at the Hindu Temple in Spanish Fork. I looked up what the symbolism is behind this festival because I was really interested to see what it was exactly that we were celebrating. So, if i am wrong, I apologize, this is just what I read on the Krishna temples website. I guess this festival of colors is to celebrate all the colors in India and the colorfulness of

India, their traditions, talents and many other things.

Anyway, this happens every march and is a big hit with all the BYU students. They have this festival all over the world, but the one in Spanish Fork is the biggest! This year, they had the festival going from 10-8, with the throwing of the colors every two hours! It is a really cool experience and a lot of fun!

A little tight though, we were in the middle of the huge crowd and everyone just starts crowd surfing. I got kicked in the face at one point, so it is just a little scary! But here are some pictures of yesterday's events!

This is everyone that I went with. Just in the beginning of getting all the colors put on us.

The girls in the bathroom after the event. We looked pretty nasty and were trying to fix our faces a little bit.

My friend Colling and the chalk in his mouth.

Tyler and I after the festival on the way home. We may have put 8 people in a 5 person car. So we got the comfortable spot of being in the very back of the car!

Christine, Mariah, and myself. Pretty excited about the days events!

So last year, my friend Spencer kissed a Llama. This year, I told Tyler I really wanted him to do it as well. I didn't think he would go through with it, but he did! He placed grass in his mouth and then kissed the Llama.

My future roommate Michelle and I! My face is still pretty clean at this moment!

"Rock Star"

So one time, a group of girls and I went to Park City during the Sundance Film Festival. We had high hopes that we would see a celebrity but they were dashed once people informed us that most celebrities had left already. After all, it was the second weekend of the film festival. Of course, that didn't get some members of the group down. They continued to pretend that everyone we saw was a celebrity. As a couple men walk by us, my friend Jane shouts, "Are you famous?"

The man and his friend turned around and his friend proudly put his arm around the man and said, "yes, yes he is famous!"

At that moment, all of us loving that they are continuing on with the joke asked for a picture with him. We took multiple, all of us loving this. What could be better that taking picture with a random man pretending he is a celebrity. After we had all our laughs and giggles about this, he asked us what we were doing for the rest of the night. At that moment, I got scared. I didn't want him to ask if we will join him for the rest of the night. That is when I noticed he pulled out a HUGE thing of money. Getting more confused, I just watched as he grabbed a $100 bill and hand it to my friend Jane. At that point he said "Go buy yourself some ice cream." Then he walked away and disappeared into the crowd!

We all sat there for a few seconds in shock, and then just as a bunch of girls in one group should do, we started screaming our heads off! Other ladies came up to us and asked us what we were screaming about, once we told them, they screamed for us as well!

Anyway, we all couldn't get over this for the rest of the night.

Is he famous, we may never know. But there is the picture of us with him... It is a little blurry but maybe you can tell?

"You had a bad day"

Today was one of those bad days. I am sure you all know exactly what I am talking about. We all have these days, where one thing after another gets worse. And just when you think it can't get any worse, it does.

On these days, I sometimes tend to get all caught up in how bad of a day it is, get really frustrated and start to lose hope. It can tear me down. And all I can do is look forward to sleep because there is hope with a brighter day tomorrow.

I can't wait for sleep....

Of course on a bad day, it is especially important to count your many blessings. So here is mine for the day

1. I got a 10 out of 10 again on my quiz in my law and liability class. The one class I thought for sure would be the one with the worst grade so far is my best! Its a great feelings!

2. Last night I got to talk to my nieces and nephews! Its always great talking to little kids! The way they view life is so great and it always makes me smile!

3. I attend a great school that upholds its honor and rules. Even though that meant taking Brandon Davies off the basketball team, it is good to know that I attend somewhere that sticks to its values and doesn't falter from them.

4. I rode my bike around town today and I love my bike so much. And this weather that made riding my bike wonderful!

5. I have a father in heaven who loves me and even though today was horrible, I know that there are better days in the future. With him, All things are possible!

New goal: Write five blessings every day in my journal!