1st Valentine's Day

Considering our meager savings, the fact that most of our time goes to studying, and our need to spend time together, our first Valentine's Day was more about doing and less about receiving. Consequently, we decided to split up the day where Britney ran activities from the morning to late afternoon, and Adam took over from late afternoon to evening. Since she has more studying time, as opposed to project time, Britney really wanted to make her time special. She woke up around 8 AM and started on her charade of plans. To decorate, she cut out small red and pink hearts, wrote all the things she loved about Adam on each one, and taped them around the house. Then, she took her quilt which she and Adam used to use for picnics in the summer and draped it over the couch. Why?:Remembrance, it was pink, and so nothing got on the furniture. To ensure the last point, she also took a pink sheet and lied it on the floor under the coffee table. Next, she took out all of our china ware from the wedding and set the coffee table. Food-wise, she made some of Adam's favorites: Pillsbury orange cinnamon rolls, eggs over-easy, bacon, strawberrys and bananas with whipped cream, rich, dark hot chocolate, and pomegranate lemonade. Also, when Adam woke up, he had a valentine waiting for him by his bed full of all kinds of treats. Needless to say, it was nice. 

To top it all off, Britney surprised Adam after the blessing of the food by turning on the TV to a season of Family Guy. It was such a fun, relaxed morning, especially since studying throughout the day wasn't allowed. 

After Family Guy and cleaning up, we made our way over to the Rex to see Confessions of a Shopaholic. One reason Britney loves Adam is because he's man enough to admit the fact that he enjoys chic-flicks. It was a super cute movie which added to our NYC-(home?)sickness. Immediately after the movie, it was Adam's time to surprise. We left and went straight to Idaho Falls. Adam wouldn't even let Britney look at his GPS on his phone because even though she hadn't been to the restaurant, he still thought her seeing its name would spoil the surprise. And he was probably right. We arrived at the Wasabi restaurant full of sushi, soy sauce, and authentic Japanese rooms, one of which we got to sit in. We ordered a roll of sushi as an appetizer and then ordered amazing main entrees. We had Stake Conference at 7, so we rushed back to Rexburg and headed over to our meetings. Since it ended around 9, Adam took Britney home and then ran out to get the materials for his last surprise. When he got home and called Britney out of our bedroom (since she wasn't allowed to see what he was doing), he surprised her with a cup-full of...Pinkberry? There he stood, with a mountain of fro-yo that said "Pinkberry" on the cup. So for a whole 5 secs, Britney actually thought that Adam had somehow located a Pinkberry in Rexburg, ID. Then it became very clear that he had printed off the label and taped it on. Full of blueberries and and all kinds of goodness, the tart strawberry frozen yogurt was a very yummy mock Pinkberry, which we enjoyed while watching Ghostown, a movie Adam rented off of itunes. Fun day, right? Here's some pics. Oh yeah, and we went to Olive Garden the night before, courtesy of our gift card from our awesome cousins Cassie and Brian.

             

 

SALE! Heart disease for only $2.99!

I'm starting a new research essay for my advanced technical writing class. Since the emphasis of the class is for elementary ed majors, my previous assignments were focused on education topics, ones which I couldn't care less about. But this one, our final essay, we are permitted to write about a topic specific to our majors. Excellent. But with the broad range of medical topics, I realized that zeroing in on one narrow subject, and one that I'm interested in, wasn't going to be easy. Yet through taking some time to research, I realized sooner than later what I wanted to talk about. And to I'm sure everyone's sincere interest, I am researching trans fats. A few weeks ago, my anatomy prof, Bro. Shaw, gave an FYI about the process of making trans fats (TFs) as we learned about the molecules of life. 

For you chemists:

Unsaturated fats (canola or olive oils) are made up a single chain of carbon atoms with more single, but one or more double covalent bonds. To make trans fats, companies take these cheap oils and add intense heats and pressures, along with a nickel catalyst to promote hydrogenation, to break those double bonds. This makes the lipid a solid at room temperature, which promotes freshness and texture to foods such as crackers, cookies, and dough. 

For you who aren't chemists:

Trans fats are also called hydrogenated oils. Although your packet of Ritz says it has 0grams of trans fat, that percent is per serving; and we all know NO one actually eats one serving of Ritz. Scroll down the list of ingredients and if you read something along the lines of "partially hydrogenated", or simply, "hydrogenated", you've got trans fat. The American Heart Association (AHA) warns that more than 2 grams of trans fat per day is unhealthy. That statement in and of itself basically shouts don't even touch it! 

For you who still aren't getting it:

Trans fats are basically rancid, bacteria riddled oil that has been steamed, but not anti-bacterialized, bleached white, stuffed with artificial flavorings and sold in super markets as margarine or shortening. What does it do? No seriously, what it literally DOES as a JOB?: It causes cardiovascular disease, increases bad cholesterol (LDL), and type 2 diabetes. Why: Because it is a man-made fat, your body has a tough time breaking it down and so it stays in your body for a long period of time. 

Why am I writing about this? Because it honestly disgusts me. European countries have banned the production of foods with trans fats, but our's hasn't because it would mean using more healthy, and therefore expensive fats, such as butter, to make every little pastry and crunch we so glutinously enjoy. 

Your country is corrupt enough to withhold educating citizens of the man-made heart cloggers they're selling on the market so companies can continue to take cheap oil, ship it out as poison, and sell it for way more than it's worth. How can I prove I'm right? The fact that food companies go out of their way to fool buyers into thinking there's no trans fat in their snacks by saying so per serving, and then using its formal, chemical name as hydrogenated oils in the list of ingredients to disguise its true identity verifies that they know it's dangerous, but will go to all extremes to cover it up. Why also won't the government educate us? Because a decrease in heart disease and diabetes=a decrease in sick patients=less money into the pockets of the medical world. 

To all my wonderful family and friends, if you have anything with trans fat or hydrogenated oils, throw it out. Check your pantries today, even right now. Most things that come in boxes or wrappers have hydrogenated oils to preserve its freshness and if your closet is full of boxed-up goodies, something tells me your family is consuming more than 2gs of TF every day. 

So, the next time you make cookies full of shortening, or slather a spoonful of margarine onto your child's toast, think about what you're doing--directly causing heart disease and diabetes. 

Really, America? Really?

 Try: Obese-Middle-Aged-Man-Causing Margarine

Point Proved

Here we go. I can't even BELIEVE there's a site so perfect to prove my point.

General Surgeons Warning: Gazing at this site too long may cause eye itching, redness, or uncontrollable burning.

If ever there was a site created to encourage spending abstinence, this is your ticket to kicking the habit.

WWW.BIGHAPPIEHAIR.COM

Special thanks to Katie Lish, the lovely fellow BYU-Idahoan who raised this site to my awareness. 

Love Love Love

As the first Valentine's Day of our life together draws near, I figured I'd write sooner so our all encompassing studies don't make this post later...

and what's more appropriate than a good ole' generic love list to organize all the things I adore in life?

--the following are in no particular order, except for #s 1 & 2--

1. Adam--my husband/best friend/hotty with a sweet body/eternal cuddler

2. NYC--my haven for good food, sites, and cheap sunglasses. 

3. Pinkberry--my love affair with frozen yogurt is just that desperate. 

4. Tailored jeans--although I still do not own a pair, I could definitely get used to jeans that squeeze my waist just as much as they snuggle my butt. 

5. Reduced-fat oreos and milk--enough said.

6. Scarves--they keep my neck warmth and reassurance of how cool I am at a reasonable level.

7. Family Guy--a show with the copyright to make fun of anyone or anything = free hours of (quality?) entertainment. 

8. Dogs--we need the company. It's either one of these or a baby, and my level of maturity makes this decision real easy. 

9. Henri Bendels--I want the hot pink watch. Period. 

10. Boston, MA--symbolizes our academic success and emancipation from the (ice)"burg."

11. My families--from crazy Brynne to retro Nick, it's a zoo. 

12. Our comfy-awesome bed--all I need is cereal and an in-bed hot tub and I could live in it.

13. Ankle boots--they're the comfiest heals can get without looking like trash.

14. The fact that I still have straight A's--knock on wood. 

15. My phone--it deceives people into thinking I'm expensive.

16. Adam's car-- now that I can drive her, we get along just fine.

17. Field hockey--my long lost love I'm determined to reunite with.

18. The temple--it's the only place I can forget about school and think about the big picture. 

19. Clean clothes and house--it makes the world feel complete, right? 

20. HOT showers--there's nothing more therapeutic after a long day of reading and starvation. 

21. Tie-waist sweaters--the comfy-chic article that only requires throwing on.

22. High-waist skirts--they hide my belly after a week of tortilla chips and salsa. 

23. Raybans--one day I'll own real ones, one day.

24. The subway--just realizing I'll never see those people again is liberating. 

25. Waffles and strawberries with whipped cream--it's the only dessert I can eat as a meal without feeling guilty. 

26. Adam's surprises--minus knowing they're coming. 

27. Down pillows--soon my loves, soon.

28. The idea of having a spacious apartment in Boston looking over the harbor--relaxation never looked so posh. 

29. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ--the two people who know our plan in mortality and love us no matter how far we deviate. 

30. A tan--less shaving and less makeup. Not hard to love.  

31. Banana Republic--my transition from American Eagle couldn't have been easier. 

Wow there's more but I know it's exhaustive. I think this was more of a reminder for me than anyone else. So, this Valentine's Day, flounce around in your most provocative outfits, tease your tongues with savory snacks, light your room with cookie smelling candles, and reminisce about what gave you butterflies and rosy cheeks in the first place. 

Why not make it one for the ages? Have an Extra Sexy Valentine's Day Loves!