{ Crocheting 101 }

Thanks to Matt's cute mom, Tanya, I am now a proficient crocheter. After finding a pound of yarn on sale at Joanne's two weeks ago (only 97 cents for the whole thing!) I decided that I needed a mustard-yellow, crocheted hat, along with several other mustard-yellow, crocheted things. Below is a series of photos from my first project -- the hat. In all it took me about 2.25 hours. Don't be surprised if you get one for your birthday -- did you see the size of that yarn ball?

{ Manti Temple trip - on the bus. }

About a week ago, me and Matt went on a trip with his ward to the Manti Temple (which was incredibly beautiful, by the way). His ward hired charter busses to take the trip, so we sat back in our plush little bus seats and took some photos on the way home. These have to be some of my favorite "no looking through the view finder/screen while taking the picture" photographs I've ever taken.


the oncoming poke in the eye.


this pic was taken via my right hand in my lap. the sun coming through my fingers was a pleasant suprise when I looked at the results.


Puls - Matt's roommate. he was sitting on my left.


I think Matt looks like some sort of undercover P.I. in this pic.

{ Sneaker Success. }

So...it all began with my scoring a sweet deal on a pair of chuck taylors at a yard sale in June -- 64 cents for a pair in excellent condition. The only problem was, they were tye-dye purple. Yuck. But, after many bleaching, marker and dying efforts, viola! Beautiful blue-y grey chucks for a grand total cost of about $7.50

{ A new addition }

After long debate, I cut bangs. The first couple minutes I was a fan, then the next couple days I considered them a mistake, but now, after four days I am quite fond of them. In fact, I think they were an excellent idea.

{ OWLZ Triumph! }

So, at the Orem OWLZ baseball game last night, Matt and I got picked to participate in an inter-inning, crowd-pleasing competition. The two of us went down on the field and we had to see who could draw the best likeness of the Orem OWLZ logo on a large piece of poster board within 30 seconds. After the 30 seconds were up, the crowd voted (via applause) on whose owl was better, and I TOTALLY creamed Matt! I'm pretty sure the crowd couldn't actually see either of our drawings becuase the markers we drew with were pretty thin, but I am totally OK with the victory. I'm not sure what my prize will be (seeing as they didn't have one secured by the sponsor at the time), but I was assured they would contact me and let me know as soon as they had it. I think they picture below is prize enough though.

{ Asked out by a married man }

So...at work today I was telling my friend Dave (whose wife happens to sit right behind me in the office) about my weekend. When I mentioned that my friend Amy and I went to Indian food for lunch Saturday, this conversation followed:

Dave: "Oh! you went to Indian food? Where'd you go?"
Nicki: "Mazza -- In Sugar house. It's way good."
Dave: "Nice! We'll have to go sometime."

(Nicki gives Dave a disbelieving, sideways "Did you seriously just say that?" look)

Dave: "Cat! Me and Cat will have to go sometime."
Nicki: "Hey Cat--your husband just asked me out."
Cat: "Ya--I heard."
Dave: "Ya--right when that came out of my mouth I knew it didn't sound right."

Awesome.

{ Marshmallow-less Rice Kirspy Treats }

Did you have any idea you can make Rice Krispy treats without marshmallows? I know, I know; I never would have believed it either had I not experienced it myself. My discovery all began last Sunday when I, for the first time in my life, was craving butterscotch chips. When Mary (my lovely roommate) and I made a trip to the market on Monday, you better believe we picked up butterscotch chips, along with the rest of the makings for Rice Krispy treats. When I suggested we pick up some marshmallows to complete our list, Mary informed me that we didn't need to buy marshmallows -- complete crazy talk. But I went along with it, and, to my surprise, we successfully made yummy Rice Krispy treats senza marshmallows, and they even looked normal. The recipe you ask? Here you go:

1 cup Karo Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
6 cups Rice Krispies

and here's some evidence(we decided to cover ours with a butterscotch chip-chocolate chip concoction, hence the butterscotch chips):