Friday, March 30, 2012

Pictures Why I LOVE Where I Live!!

Reason 1.... and one of my favorites.


Reason 2 I love that they're revitalizing Downtown. This used to be the old bus terminal..it has a copper roof, you see? Now its this!
Only open on Fridays...but so much fun!! I'm happy to see things going.


Reason 4 .The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Also Downtown. I'm in love with this
building!! Its beautiful. I hope to attend plays here this spring, MaryPoppins...and...wait...WICKED!!!

Reason 5 .Its sometimes discovering new places where you live that makes you appreciate where you are.

This was taken by yours truely on my Iphone?! At the Veterans Memorial Park in Boulder City, right next to the cemetary. I never appreciated it. Until now.

Something I created using Picnik.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

I'm a little bit Country...

We're adding some new food...Japanese. Hamada of Japan
Studying the menus with our hostess..
Say.....SUSHI!
Besties!! I look like I need a pint of blood!  ;)
I was on Facebook on Thursday, and I saw an offer for FREE tickets to the Donny and Marie show!! I later found out that Donny was sick, so just Marie. But it was free, and it was a fantastic show. I found out later after I picked up  tickets and met Dr. Royal, who is Marie's doctor, who also happens to know Lilly's mom. Small world huh? I've always admired Marie, and I felt  a little connection with her even though I have never met her. Her dad passed a week before my mom did. As I saw the whole Osmond family gather their strength and going to the Oprah show and seeing Marie on DWTS..I am just a fan. She sang this song at the show tonight its one of my favorites...get your tissues.
It was so amazing. And even better...we were THREE rows from the front stage?!! We ate dinner at Hamada of Japan, we tried Sushi and some other Japanese goodies. My friend Theresa and her husband Brian had actually got there before we did and they were in the back of the room...we arrive late and go up front. Ha Ha..but they did eventually get to move up. We missed Donny, but Marie rocked. And lastly...this weekend I got my refund, and its now official..
I'M GOING TO EUROPE!!!!!  Happy Dance! 

I learned this when my mom was in the hospital. My friend Patty came by to visit..she had lost her dad when she was 19, like me.  She told me she was going to be going to Egypt. And I said to her I can't imagine doing anything. And she said something that resonates with me to this day. You have to live life...you have to take the time for yourself.  You have to have something to look forward to.  Its my chance, and i'm taking it. Nobody said it would be easy...they just promised it would be worth it.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Local Legends...

 Local legends. Of this kind. Growing up in Las Vegas, I went here I think one time, but it was fantastic. The old Alpine Village Restaurant.


                                                                             
A bit of nostalgia for me. I loved coming here, although I only made it one time that I remember. I'm creating this post to share some Vegas history with my fellow pinners. The Alpine Village served German food, it was a great place. These are the coveted recipes for their famous Chicken Supreme Soup and Seasoned Cottage Cheese.   Nichts zu danken. Glücklich essen!

Alpine Village Chicken Supreme Soup

2 quarts water
2 teaspoons celery salt
2 teaspoons Accent
1 pound ground chicken (cooked)
1 medium onion, ground
Yellow food coloring (optional)
2 teaspoons salt
? teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon Kitchen Bouquet
2 tablespoons chicken bouillon
2 to 3 carrots (ground)

Roux:
1/2 cup oil
1 cup flour
Boil all soup ingredients together for about 30 minutes. To prepare the roux, heat oil until smoking; add flour and stir with a wire whisk. It should be the consistency of mashed potatoes. Add to soup and use the wire whisk to blend.
-- From Review-Journal files

ALPINE VILLAGE SEASONED COTTAGE CHEESE

2 pounds cottage cheese, small curd
1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon Accent
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1 tablespoon dried chives
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
Mix all ingredients together and chill for several hours or overnight. Serve as a condiment or as a dip.
-- From Review-Journal files

Today.



Today is a new day and a new start. I feel much lighter. Forgiveness and letting things go is a good thing. We wipe our slates clean. I like this picture alot. It shares my thoughts exactly.


Sunday, March 18, 2012

Women's Conference..and St Patricks Day

So, today I have to write this down for me..just a random entry.  Friday I went to the temple with a friend, and I haven't been in awhile. I felt the spirit so strongly there, it overwhelmed me. I sat in the celestial room and I let my tears flow as I sat in my favorite spot. I love being there, and feeling how close I feel to the Savior. Saturday was Women's Conference. It was something that I was looking forward to all week. But I felt so sick right before I got there. But I showered and drove down to the church. As I was listening to the featured speaker, who is......,  I listened to hear talk about our pioneers and the struggles they had to overcome. It was really great. But as I sat there, I had a plan forming. I was planning to leave after I heard this speaker and was not planning to attend the rest of the conference classes. The weirdest thing happened.  Something that my Grandma Mortensen was quoted as saying is the phrase As Plain As Day.  Well, as plain as day...after we had the prayer, I got up and proceeded to pass President Worthen and decided to make a beeline to the nearest exit for my car. As, I was heading to that very door, I suddenly veered to the right. It was almost as if I didn't have control. As if the spirit was literally pulling me along, I apparently NEEDED to stay and listen. I honestly wanted to leave, and it wasn't because I wasn't enjoying it. But at that very moment, I realized as I was being pulled to the first class, that I would go along with it. I know it sounds weird..but its honestly how it was. The first class was on Scripture study tips. And that was certainly a class that I  needed to hear. My scripture study skills always need some improvement.  The next class was on Finding the Joy in the Journaling. That was really a fun class to listen to. It made me realize as I continue on with my own personal blogging, this is my journaling of choice. Yes sometimes, its just wordy. Or other times its my venting session or just a place to put down my pictures. How did it happen for me? I had always started and stopped in my personal journaling skills. I realized while in nursing school, that someday when I had the opportunity to have internet in my home and a computer, I thought the idea of having my own personal blog, would be fun to have. A place for pictures,and thoughts and ideas. What I didn't realize was how valuable it has been for me. Its my sounding board, my venting place. Its good therapy. No matter how far behind you are, no worry. Start today, don't worry about it.

As I went to all of conference and I had invited my friends over for a St Patricks Day dinner I remembered what today was for me. It was not a coincidence the things I had experienced or felt this weekend. As I remember things about my Mom and Dad, I remember dates of things. Still do. I don't know if i'll ever forget..but I realized that today was the day my dad had his"accident".  I was going through normal things, and honestly I hadn't thought of it until today. Gosh, it will have been 15 yrs. I can't believe it. Time has really flown by..but sometimes it feels like I'm standing still and things around me are going  in fast forward. But for now, for me its step by step and day by day. My progress is my own and its ok.  I love this song and it describes my relationship with my Dad. Yes there were good times and sometimes I didn't get along..but I always know that he was my biggest cheering section. One thing he told me in my yearbook, they called it Diapers to Diplomas..he said to set my goals high, how proud he was...and lastly to never lose my smile. I'm working on that .  :)

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Downtime...


In my downtime...just some more pictures I have had in my camera. Or phone. This is the single adult conference, Joelene's surprise birthday dinner and meeting Monica, Tyler and their kids at Circus Circus. Lots of fun and lots of pictures this month.of February.  I will have to be better about the writing part of this. But for now this is it. Anyway, its my downtime.  ;)

And the Rest of February....




Since its almost 3am and I haven't slept yet...this is all for now. But Grandma, Patrick and Shelly and I had a great time at the celebration of The Chinese New Year at the Bellagio Conservatory...Its always one of my most favorite spots in Las Vegas!