There Is No Arizona

That's been the running joke I've had with my brother Tod ever since he received his mission call to the Arizona Phoenix Mission. He doesn't much listen to country music, although he does love that Keith Urban, but then again who doesn't? But a country song that was popular 10 years ago by a no-namer who hasn't come out with a new hit since, doesn't quite fall in his country music knowledge.

That is until I started singing it to him every chance I got. "Tod, don't you know there is no Arizona" and I'd belt it out as I'm prone to do and he would chuckle as if it was the first time I sang it to him. He's a good brother.

This past weekend I went to Ohio to see my family and give "one last toot for Tod," as my brother-in-law Dave put it, before he leaves to serve the Lord in Arizona for 2 years. I am very proud of him and his decision to serve. Life hasn't always been easy for him, but he has always stayed strong and been dedicated to the Lord. Because of this, I know he will be a great missionary.

The weekend was filled with good events, starting with a trip to the Columbus temple as one of the final, yet very important steps in preparation before Tod leaves. Sure, we had to eat at the Hometown Buffet afterward, but for some reason, it's Tod's favorite so I went along with no complaints. Okay, almost no complaints.

Sunday Tod gave an excellent talk on the covenants made at baptism. It was touching to see him speak with such confidence and grace. Mom wanted all the Flory children to sing and so we did, along with a few family friends. While the exact details of that moment can't be shared here, mom just may think twice before she signs us ALL up to sing. It will definitely go down in Flory family history.

With my amazing cooking skills, I made pork burritos, Cafe Rio style for the farewell feast. So, they weren't exactly like Cafe Rio, but they were pretty darn good.

"You're getting to be a pretty good cook for someone who used to never step foot in the kitchen." Clearly my mom was shocked. Cooking dinner was the least I could do to show her she didn't fail completely in domesticating me. "Remember in high school when you wouldn't even heat up your Lean Cuisine ?" Yes Mom, I remember. I also remember when I called you after moving to my first apartment in college because I didn't know how to make a baked potato.

And so it seems both Tod and I have come a long way.

It was definitely a fast trip, but I am glad I got to spend time with Tod before he departs to preach the gospel. As the song goes ... he's "headed for a new and better life, out in Arizona!"

Elder Tod Alan Flory

Amy, Nikki, Tod, Me at Columbus Ohio temple

From now on it's just me and my sweet potato pie

If you would have asked me a few days ago how I felt about sweet potatoes, I would have looked at you and probably made a gagging face. Yes, sometimes I do still act like a teenager.

But ask me today how I feel about sweet potatoes.

Go on, ask me.

C'mon I double dog dare you.

Well, since you asked, I'll tell you how I feel about sweet potatoes. I love them with all my tastebuds!!! They are so delcious. Trust me, I'm as shocked about this as you. One might wonder how I never knew this until now.

The truth is, growing up we usually only ate them on holidays. It's true, my sweet tooth is never usually picky about the source of the sugar, but "candied yams" is where I draw the line. Every year they'd be there, as consistent as the Italian sausage. And every few years I'd take a small sample on my plate, just to be sure I wasn't missing something incredible - and nope, I wasn't.

But last night, I tried something different. I found a new salmon recipe, and although it contained sweet potatoes, I decided to try it anyway. And different it was - no brown sugar, no marshmallows - just a little olive oil, salt and rosemary. Divine!!!

And here's another reason to be excited about sweet potatoes. According to http://www.worldshealthiestfoods.com/ (practically my favorite website), sweet potatoes are "some of the most nutritious vegetables around." And while that statement may seem superlative, check out the chart below to see for yourself. (Chart also courtesy of http://www.worldshealthiestfoods.com/)

My delicious meal!

Where would we be without a little love?

Ah, Valentine's Day. Or Single Awareness Day. Or Tod's Birthday (Happy Birthday Little Bro'!!!).

A day by any other name would be filled with just as many sweets.

It's true - I ate Lindt truffles this morning for breakfast. It's funny how we justify eating certain things just because it's a holiday. And what's even funnier is the way people justify it. "Calories don't count on your birthday." I've definitely heard that one every birthday of my adult life. Or "It's a holiday so go ahead and have another piece of pie." Or, "Your celebrating Valentine's Day alone so you deserve Lindt truffles for breakfast."

Well alone or not, I just love Lindt truffles. And thanks to my dear friend Elise, I can now successfully pull the dot out with my teeth without otherwise harming the smooth chocolate ball. Try it and trust me you'll never eat a Lindt truffle the same way again.

Besides all the sweets and the flowers and the cards and the Jimmy Choo shoes (seriously was the gift one of my clients gave his wife for V-day!!!), what is Valentine's day really about? Some would argue it's a fabricated holiday, shaped by Hallmark to feed our overly consumed society.

But, I would argue that Valentine's Day is exactly what it professes to be - a day to celebrate love. I may not be in love at the moment, but I do love a whole lot of people. And just as we celebrate Thanksgiving to remember to be grateful, I think Valentine's day is a great day to remember to be loving.

When I lived at home, my parents bought me a box of chocolates for Valentine's Day. My sister greeted me this morning with a "What's up my Valentine?" Friends have sent me cards and left me little messages. All these things are done in an effort to let me know they love me. Who's my Valentine this year? That's like asking me who do I love this year. And the answer is many, many, many amazing people. I am blessed to have love in my life in so many ways.

Some Valentine's day I'll wake up really early and make heart shaped pancakes for the man of my dreams; and I'll serve them on these darling Valentine's plates that I got on major sale at Kohl's but I've yet to use. I'll serve him breakfast in bed and he'll buy me Jimmy Choo shoes (just kidding about that last part). It will be your picture of perfection romantic Valentine's Day.

But today, I recognize the people in my life that I love dearly (I hope you know who you are) and thank them for loving me unconditionally.

Happy Valentine's Day!

She Works Hard for Her Money

Sundays are so much better when you don't have to go to work on Mondays. And when Tuesdays are the first day of the week, they aren't as blah as Mondays.

If I were President, the first thing I would do is create automatic 3 day weekends FOR EVERYONE!

Side note: this sounds like I'm running for Student Body President, promising things that are nowhere near my jurisdiction and upon my winning I could never fufill.

But, I digress.

I think that America is overworked. I think it's ridiculous the amount of work people have to put into their jobs to be considered successful. I think it's silly that to get ahead in a career, people have to sacrifice the majority of their time.

I believe in the principle of hard work. Laziness breeds all sorts of evil things and working develops character, creates a sense of self worth and keeps the mind active. Elder Maxwell, in a talk entitled "Put Your Shoulder the the Wheel" said, "Work is always a spiritual necessity even if, for some, work is not an economic necessity."

That being said, there are other areas in life, that require work besides a job. Amazingly enough, these areas can also develop all the good things aforementioned, and then some. Family relationships, talents and hobbies, service, spiritual growth, physical strengthening - all of these things require work to maintain.

Herein lies a very real problem - lack of balance. If so much time is being devoted to certain areas of our lives (and I recognize that such is required of us at many times in our various school and work responsibilites), it leaves little time for work within many other important areas. Quoting from Elder Maxwell again, "A balance of work needs to be orchestrated, because some forms of work tend to dominate other forms."

This is a theme I'd like to carry with me throughout the year. There are areas in my life I feel need to be developed greater and there are also things I have put to the back burner, convincing myself I'll get to it when I have less work and more time. In reality, that may never happen (unless of course you elect me as your President - FLORY '08), so the time to get to work is now.

You Are Beautiful, No Matter What They Say

Some said I looked like Barney. Others said I looked like Grimace (the purple McDonald's character). A few said it was Dr. Suess - ish? Whatever it was, the result was UGLY.

Which was just what I was going for considering it was an UGLY sweater party. It seems ugly sweater themed parties are the new craze, but this was my first one and I was going to take full advantage of the fact that I was allowed to wear the most heinous thing I could find.

My roommates took to making their sweaters (think sock sweater vest, newspaper made tuxedo top, upholstered bows), and they were quite fabulous; however, my creativity only took me as far as the thrift store where I picked up a very large knitted bright green and purple sweater (see pictures below to get the full effect). The party was a huge success. I spent the day with Victoria cooking, cooking, decorating and cooking, although I can't take any credit for the amazing food. Her menu was well planned - peppered alfredo and broccoli pasta, sweet potato souffle, sweet meatballs and crabballs, chocolate zuchinni cupcakes - and it all tasted amazing.

The guests were dressed in all sorts of UGLY, well most of them anyway. It was incredibly funny to see the many things that designers once thought were a good idea to make and sell. To each his own in the world of fashion I suppose. There were a few sweaters that stood out among the rest, and I'm proud to say mine won the ugliest sweater in the female category.

Some say I should burn it now that the party is over, but I think I'll keep it. A prize winning sweater like this could come in handy.

                       

Victoria - more sexy than ugly in her Santa Baby get up

 

Ginna in ugly Christmas vest

 

The winners circle

 

 Joseph, Micah and full body of the UGLY that is my sweater       

I Wanna Talk About Me, Wanna Talk About I

Perhaps this blog was a bad idea. It's another thing to add to my list and another thing to feel bad about when I don't get around to doing it, even though I have every intention. I have been "inactive" for over a month, and certainly not for a lack of things to write about. I will hopefully catch up on all of the fun things that I did, but for now, just to get me back in the spirit of blogging...

I've been tagged. So here's 7 things you never knew, and if you did you'd never believe, about the one and only MOI.

1. I have no feeling in my lower lip, actually just half of my lower lip (the right half to be specific, or left if you are looking at me). I had my wisdom teeth pulled last February (yay for days off work, mashed potatoes and apple juice) and despite the ever so convincing oral surgeon, the feeling has never completely returned. I'm used to it by now so it doesn't bother me...much. Unless it's cold outside and then it's really sensitive. Or sometimes I don't notice if a piece of food gets stuck there, but hey that happens to people who have full feeling and besides - at least I find out who my true friends are (You know, the ones that will tell me about that food).

2. I really love the smell of coffee. Sometimes, and I know this is wasteful, I will make a cup in the morning at work just so I can have it on my desk to smell. It smells even better with 2 hazelnut creamers. I've never tasted the stuff, and perhaps would hate it, but I now have an answer when someone asks me how I like my coffee. 2 hazelnut creamers please, oh and no sugar.

3. If you have ever lived in P-town aka Happy Valley aka the Bubble or as I like to call it Provo, UT, you may be familiar with a very large water tower in between the Provo Temple and the MTC. Once, when I was a freshman (keep in mind I was 19) I climbed this tower with my boyfriend at the time. We brought up some blankets and spent the whole night up there...simply enjoying the city lights of course!

4. Did you know that carrots are harmful to your health? Proof is that all sick people have eaten carrots. 99 % of all people who die from cancer have eaten carrots. 99 % of people that die in car accidents ate carrots within 60 days of their death. All carrot eaters born between 1900 and 1920 suffer from wrinkled skin, brittle bones and failing eyesight.*** And that is why I don't eat carrots. Besides, they taste disgusting!

5. If given the opportunity, I would totally try out for American Idol. Not because I think I'm America's next greatest pop star/hearthrob, although I think I could croon my way past the first few rounds. I simply just love to sing and I have a mini-crush on Simon Cowell. There I said it!

6. I cried when I got my first C. I was a senior in HS and it was the 3rd nine weeks of my AP English class. I was so upset and went home and bawled to my parents! Since then, I have had a complex about my reading and writing and grammar skills. I had known that math was my stronger subject, but until then I had never had the report card talk with my dad about howI could do better than a C. And since I was bawling, my dad forwent the talk anyway. Thanks dad!

7. And the final thing you didn't know about me is I am in love with....


SIKE! Like I'd ever post such classified information for the whole world wide web.


***Carrot statistics provided by The Sentinel, Guelph Wellington Seniors Association Newsletter. Volume 20, Number 9, Page 11.

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas