the best part

The best part about making banana cream pie on Monday?

Eating the last piece with my homework on Wednesday night.

The best part about living with girls and asking boys to borrow a VCR player?

Ending up with said boys' surplus entertainment equipment on loan for the semester.

The best part about having a lifelike dog living in my apartment?

Taking endearing (and creepy) self-portraits with said dog.

thrill of a bargain

Since the gas station down the street from my apartment started its "1/2 Price Refill Wednesday" promotion, Wednesdays have had an added component of excitement and magic. I love taking just two quarters (or any other mixture of coins that equals $0.50) to the Sinclair station and leaving triumphant with 32 oz of refreshment.

To make my weeks even better, Thursdays have joined in on the magic. The South End Market across the street from the Sinclair is starting "Thirsty Thursdays!" On such days, a 32 oz. refill only costs 32 cents! That's an ever better deal than the Halfy Hour ($0.54 for a 32 oz. ) promotion that Diamond Shamrock ran over the summer of '09. Hot dog!

Two wonderful bargains. Two days in a row. Less than a dollar. Every week.

*Do you have a favorite local bargain?

Edited to add: 1/2 Price Refill Wednesday happens at the Sinclair in Provo off of 800 N and 695 E.

day maker

It's official. I have the BEST SISTER EVER! (I can't help but write in shouting capitals letters.) I've had a tough time this week adjusting to the new semester and some specific changes and challenges. On top of that, I'm home sick today with some variation of a flu bug.

So, imagine the thrill I received from the recent knock at the door and envelope on the doorstep addressed to ME from Amazon.com. I didn't order anything from Amazon. But Charlotte did! She sent me the first two seasons of Gilmore Girls at exactly the time I needed them. I realize that it's silly to be dependent upon a television show for moral support, but Gilmore Girls really is a comfort and joy to me. I watched the entire fourth season over the course of a few days this weekend. (Like I said, rough week.) I only have the third and fourth seasons and was so close to ordering another for myself but couldn't justify the splurge. But Charlotte did! Just for me!

I love that even though she isn't in Provo right now, she is in spirit. And the package came while we were chatting online! So excited. I feel so loved and blessed.

so long, holiday food

After almost three weeks of eating Mom's food in abundance, I am back to menus of a single college student.

Jordin and I spared little time before making our "Signature Stir-Fry." I don't think that it is actually stir-fry. It's cut up chicken breast, cooked in a skillet with butter. Then we toss in whatever vegetables we have on hand and eat it over rice or potatoes.


Aren't those satisfying colors? We love the cooking, smelling, and eating of this tasty dish.

Thanks goodness for our big batch of Sunday stir-fry, because I was running dangerously low on food this week due to lack of time and a ride for grocery shopping.

Depicted above are sad contents of my portion of refrigerator space. I also had flour, butter, and milk, so biscuits were a staple this week.

Also, my ever-comforting and refreshing Big Swig! My currently preferred beverage mix is Diet Pepsi with a shot of Dr. Pepper. My walk to the gas station is always a highlight. I usually combine my stroll with a phone call to a family member or some leisure reading. (The icy state of the sidewalks right now adds a new level of risk to my reading-walking endeavors. It's hard to navigate ice and slush while also giving my attention to a novel. I make it work.)

Postscript: I went grocery shopping last night. I'm back in the black food-wise. Hooray!

a highly visual christmas recap

I'm two weeks into the winter semester and I am finally going to recap Christmas. The recap will be mostly photographic, seeing as any witty dialogue I had early thought of has now fled from my mind and been replaced with accounting. The following photos are some of my favorites from the break. I will comment at my leisure.

Lots and lots of family


John got a shirt just like mine for Christmas, so we had a matching day. I can't say I ever thought I would have anything to wear that looks just like something in my little brother's closet.

Original Christmas Eve and Christmas Day:


Some particularly thoughtful gifts were exchanged

Mom gave Dad a copy of My Name is Asher Lev signed by the author, Chaim Potok himself! Charlotte followed up two days later with a first edition of The Road by Cormac McCarthy.Jessie made Grandpa a lap quilt made out of fabric from some of Grandma's signature aprons and dresses. He was so touched and had a sweet moment when he realized what the fabrics were.Mom and Dad provided the surprise of the year by getting John a new Epiphone acoustic guitar. He was giddy when he opened it and kept asking if it was real. It was fun for everyone to watch.
Mom scrapbooked the letters and cards friends and family sent after Grandma passed away so that Grandpa and others can read through them. He went home on Christmas day meaning to read a few and ended up reading the whole book.

Second Christmas!
Charlotte and Josh rolled into town on the 27th and we enjoyed a secondary Christmas celebration with them. We all agreed that two Christmas celebrations are better than one.

Seriously, Charlotte is so beautiful!

Bunco night with the Jibsons and the Trumans!

Charlotte was the champion and Linda was the honorable loser.
So much delicious baking!




One night, I was overcome with the urge to bake this Sour Cream Apple Pie, and we enjoyed it with ice cream one night at 10:00 over card games. That was one of my favorite nights of break.
Sarah kicked off break with a tonsillectomy. This was the cozy set-up that greeted her when she came home from the hospital. The poor girl spent a week on Vicodin, painfully swallowing fluids and sherbet.
So, yeah. Pretty great break.