Roasted Chipotle Chicken Sandwich

I eat sandwiches practically every day. I really do like them, but when it comes to eating PB&J or even ham & cheese over and over again... it gets kind of old. I found a recipe for a Tomato Pesto and Chicken Sandwich from FavFamilyRecipes.com and adapted to fit my taste buds--and budget. Now, I don't just have to eat PB&Js every day, but I can have the sophisticated taste of chicken, cheese, and a whole lot of flavor. I guarantee you'll like this sandwich just as much as my husband and me :)

(PS. This is a great way to use some leftover grilled chicken)

Roasted Chipotle Chicken Sandwich

Serves 2-3

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Mezzetta Roasted Bell Pepper & Chipotle Sandwich Spread

2 TBS Mayonnaise

2-4 Medium Chicken Breasts

Sprinkle Grill Time Chicken Seasoning

1 TBS Olive Oil

4 Slices of Wheat Bread

1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded

1 large Tomato, sliced

1 Avocado, sliced

Lettuce

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken to skillet, sprinkling each side with Grill Time Chicken Seasoning. Cook for 3-5 minutes on each side or until cooked through. 
2. Meanwhile, combine mayonnaise and sandwich spread in a small bowl. Set aside.
3. Remove chicken from skillet, and slice into even strips. Set on a plate to cool a bit. 
4. Toast bread until lightly browned. Slice tomato and avocado.
5. When toast is ready, evenly spread the mayonnaise/sandwich spread mixture onto one side of each piece of toast. Layer chicken slices over the spread (only covering one piece of toast per sandwich). Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly over chicken.  
6. Place the two pieces of toast layered with the spread, chicken, and cheese onto a cookie sheet and broil on high for 3-4 minutes or until the cheese has melted. 
7. Remove from broiler and top with tomato, avocado, and lettuce. Cover with the top half of the bread and eat up! 

 

A Writer's World

So before heading off to Virginia I really, really, REALLY want to get further on all of my books (and by further, we all know I mean finished). I have two in the process for those of you who don't know: "Forever & Always" and "The Harvest".

I'm a speculative fiction writer--I've always loved it and I always will. My goal, which I'm publicly posting so you can make sure to hold me accountable, is to write 1,000 words a day. It's not much, but I need to get myself out of my writer's block rut that has been holding me hostage for about 5 months now! Today was the first day (1,000 words is about 2 1/2 pages, double-spaced) and it was pretty easy. Once I get into the habit of writing 1,000 words a day, I'm going to bump it up to 1,500, then 2,000, and so on. If you're interested, check out the novels I've been working on:

Forever & Always:

I struggle to hear any footsteps or creaks; but it's silent, too silent. Edmund had at least made a little noise when he'd come into my room the other night. This isn't Edmund. I try to open my eyes, but I don't dare. I don't want this intruder to know that I know they are here.

Before I can decide what to do, rough hands grip around my neck. My eyes fly open as a scream erupts from my throat. The hands grip tighter, cutting off my scream and airway in an instant. Slowly my body is pulled from the bed. I claw at the hands wound around my neck, they are too tight, too welded on. I can't find a hold. I struggle to bring any amount of air as I kick and thrash around as much as possible. Within seconds my feet leave the floor, my back pinned against the wall, nothing but the hand grasped securely around my neck holding me dangling in the air. 

Forever & Always is a young adult/science fiction book that follows Chloe as she tries to escape the problems of her life, including the death of her father, by travelling into the past. Unfortunately, Chloe ends up in the wrong time and her journey turns from one of saving her father, to scrambling for her own life. She must learn to live in this new world in order to return to the old one. However, as fate would have it, this new world slowly becomes her life as she grows to be self-reliant, to face her problems head on, and as she falls in love with the one man she always thought she'd despise: Edmund.

The Harvest:

How do you control desire? How do you survive obsession? You don't.

Two young lovers must fight against life and death in this Paranormal Fantasy novel of unconventional and impossible love. Jace never thought what he once knew as myth would turn into reality. Let alone, he'd be the one to uncover the truth about the disappearances of males from Santa Cruz...

That is until he fell for Iris—a hauntingly beautiful girl that looked more stunning in the moonlight with the glow of the ocean on her skin than anywhere else on the planet. Sirens, after all, tend to captivate the male species the closer they are to their feeding grounds. Troubled by her own life, Iris doesn't mean to complicate it by letting Jace pull at her heart strings; but before she knows it, it's too late—she's in love with her prey.

It isn't until the only boy who Iris has ever fallen for hears her song (a pure, hypnotic melody of notes that lures men into the ocean, sealing their deaths with her words) that her world turns completely upside down. Suddenly Iris must choose who she stands with: her family or the humans?

Either way, many will die.  

Ham & Cheese Garden Vegetable Wrap

I love eating wraps. I'm not sure why, but they just taste healthier, more refreshing, and overall more delicious than sandwiches. This basic wrap recipe is simple, but I love it because it is so easy to add any of your favorite garden vegetables to create a blend of all your favorite crisp vegetables.

Go ahead and give it a try--you won't be disappointed.

Ham & Cheese Garden Vegetable Wrap

Serving: 1 Wrap

Ingredients:

1- 8 in. Flour Tortilla

1 TBS Mayonnaise

1/8 tsp Mustard

4 Slices Deli Honey Ham (Approx. 2 oz)

1/8-1/4 cup Colby Cheese, shredded or sliced

1 TBS Green Onions, sliced and separated

1 TBS Ranch Dressing

2 Leaves of  Iceberg Lettuce, washed

Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Spread mayo and mustard across entire tortilla with butter knife.

2. Lay 4 slices (approx. 2 ounces) of ham down center of tortilla, topping with cheese, green onions, and other vegetables (*see "For a Variation"). 

3. Drizzle ranch dressing over vegetables and then lay lettuce leaves on top.

4. Tuck the top end of the tortilla (one of the ends closest to the meat of the wrap) in towards the center about an inch. Carefully fold one of the open ends over the toppings, tucking it tightly underneath them. Roll tortilla until the entire thing is folded into a wrap. 

5. Enjoy!

For a variation: Try adding some of your favorite garden vegetables to the wrap: juicy tomatoes, shredded carrots, shredded red cabbage, Brussels sprouts, avocado, banana peppers, red/green peppers, pickles, olives, or whatever else you love!

What's your favorite kind of wrap? Let me know so I can try it out, too!

BananaRazzango Smoothie

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so obviously it's important to make your breakfast as good and as healthy for you as you can to start your morning off right. We love eating breakfast smoothies at our house and we're always trying new ones. I've found that I typically like to eat (or drink) sweeter smoothies over tart ones.

This tangy breakfast smoothie, however, combines the sweetness I love along with fruits that add just a spark of tartness. Enjoy the delicious flavor of vanilla, raspberries, bananas, and mangoes all in one heart-healthy breakfast.

BananaRazzango Smoothie
Yields: About 4 cups

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups Vanilla Bean Yogurt
1 heaping cup Frozen Raspberries
1 whole Banana
1/4 cup Quick Oats
1 cup Frozen Mango Chunks

Directions
1. Combine the first three ingredients into blender and mix until smooth.
2. Add remaining ingredients; blend.
3. Serve immediately.

Easy Garlic Guacamole

Lately I've been getting quite a bit of practice mixing spices, herbs, berries, and more to create different blends of butters and dips, complete side dishes and entrees (not to mention desserts--my favorite!), and more! With all of this practice, I am definitely learning a lot!

The other night I made up this mouthwatering guacamole that I swear will have you coming back for more no matter the dish you plan to eat (not pancakes though... ;) ). And the best part about making this savory dip: it's super simple with only three ingredients!

Let's get started:

Ingredients:
3 Small Avocados
2 TBS Mayonnaise
1 tsp Garlic Salt

Directions:
1. Remove avocado from peel. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mash avocado pieces with a spoon or beaters until smooth, leaving as little avocado chunks left as possible.
2. Mix in Mayo and Garlic Salt
3. You're done! Use your delicious guacamole on practically any dish for an easy way to impress guests and family members alike.

I'm sorry I don't have a photo for this guy, but trust me...it looks just as amazing as it tastes! I'll try to upload one later.

What do you like to blend into your homemade guacamole?

The Dreary Job Hunt

In today's market, applying for the opportunity to be the next CEO, the next sales associate, the next anything proves to be more difficult than ever before.

      After having graduated Utah Valley University with a BA degree in Journalism, I thought finding a job that runs alongside my degree would be a snap, but the job market is far more competitive than I had originally thought. It seriously is a series of applying, interviewing, revising and repeating. 

     Over the course of the past three months, I have applied for over 15 different positions. Some have come back requesting phone interviews, personal interviews, writing/editing tests, but all of them have come back with a response that another candidate had been chosen. Why? 

     Although I am still currently looking for a career in writing and editing, I would like to offer up some advice to those who are in the same boat as me: Don't give up. There is always more you can do to create a stronger resume, to stand out in an interview, and to eventually get that dream job of yours. 

    Despite my four years of education at a university, employers are looking for experience over education to appear on your resume and in you. Experience is what will land you the job in the end over any high GPA or award so make sure you are taking advantage of the opportunities you have. 

1.  Do internships while you are in school to gain the experience that will directly correlate to your field of study. 
• Internships are a fantastic way to develop very specific skills tailored to what you are studying. Often times internships will even turn into a job of their own as they train you as an intern and then hire you when they discover what an asset you are to their company. 
2. Volunteer
• Gain experience in multiple fields. You don't have to just get experience in your one declared field of study. Many people never even use their degree after graduation. Developing different skills allows you to be marketable in any avenue you happen to pursue in the future. You can develop thousands of different skills in any given job/volunteer opportunity. Just make the decision to learn from every opportunity/experience that comes your way and  those skills will follow you into the workplace.  
3. Network
• A huge part of your success after graduation can be dependent on the networks you create during your educational years. Those in your same program will end up being your coworkers or even your boss. As you network with classmates, you develop a strong relationship with others who might be able to help you find a job or develop specific skills you need. 

     No matter what, the job hunt is difficult and the race is on for all those seeking employment in our society. Your experience and what you have achieved are more beneficial than what you plan to do. Remember, never give up. 

“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”                                                                                                –Winston Churchill

How to STAND OUT in an Interview

When applicants seek new employment, countless hours go into preparation, research and interviews before finding out, once again, the job was offered to someone else.

Kimberlee Carlile, senior and a resident engagement coordinator at UVU, went through this same process when applying at the school. She understood what employers looked for and found a way to succeed, standing out from the crowd.

Carlile focused her interview on the skills and traits that she has and presented them in a way that would highlight how they could benefit the program she was applying for.

With the competitive market of employees seeking jobs, it is important to know how to stand out from the typical blur of applications and interviews that barely touch an employer’s desk.

“Most employers can afford to be selective,” said Lei Pakalani, the assistant director of the Career Development Center.

 “[They] are looking to see that students not only have the knowledge, skills and abilities, but that they also can demonstrate a good fit.”

Fitting the needs of the company is one of the most crucial elements when it comes to interviews.  Employers look for applicants who have a positive outlook, lots of energy, and endurance, according to Pakalani. They want someone who knows about the company and has a desire to be there.

Pakalani mentions that applicants should spend time extensively researching the company-- its culture, the salary ranges and work environment. They need to seek out information that is not on the job description.

 “Make sure you know what you are applying for and what the company does,” Carlile said. “It’s important so you can get across why they should hire you.”

One important area to note about a company is the standard of dress that the company holds. “In an interview you should dress a step up than the company you’re applying for,” said Terra Stanton, manager and recruiter of a local retail store.

If the open position is for a mechanic, wearing a business suit might be inappropriate; however, if the position is with a fashion designer, the clothes may be held in higher regard.

Interview attire shows the company the attitude aimed towards the position, the perception of how the interview will go and how important the applicant considers the job. “When you are dressed like you mean business, you typically come across that way. Dressing for the job does something to your demeanor, attitude, poise and confidence,” Pakalani said.

The interview is the applicant’s opportunity to prove to the company why they are different from the rest.  They should speak clearly and confidently, prepared for whatever questions are asked of them, according to Carlile.

“They really should be using every single minute, moment, second to showcase their relevant knowledge, skills, abilities and fit,” Pakalani said.

Typical mistakes are made when applicants are unprepared, lack professionalism and take the interview lightheartedly.

Carlile, Pakalani and Stanton all agree that in the end remember to be personable so the interviewer can get to know their future employee.

Carlile prepared for her interview by researching the position and talking with current employees, dressing in a suit and reviewing the information she wanted the company to know about herself. When it came down to it, her preparation paid off, putting her nerves far behind and helping her succeed in standing out in the interview.

Preparation, in every aspect, is the key to standing out.

 

Ideality

              So there are lots of ways to try and earn money these days that don't actually require you to have an employer, etc. They are tricky, but they are really unique and fun too! So if you are looking for some extra cash you can try some of these ideas :)

1- Jewelry Consultant
             We have all heard of Cookie Lee jewelry, Lia Sophia jewelry and the likes, and we all love them! Being a consultant is easy because you buy the product from the company and then resell it. Each company has their own set of rules and guidelines, but you really have a say in how well you do. If you want to earn more money than just advertise yourself and the product more, be friendly, and most of all have fun.
              Nowadays there are tons more "party" ideas than just jewelry and they are all jobs that need consultants. I recently hosted a Jamberry Nail party where you can seal sticker nails to your own and they look completely legit. I also just went to a skinny jean party which was really fun. THere are all sorts of ideas out there: shoe parties, modbe parties, home craft parties, kitchen parties. Find what you love and become a consultant to sell that product.

2- Fliers
             This idea may seem obvious and actually does require an employer but it is a quick, easy way to make money. I work as a Customer Service Representative at Lender Insurance Agency, but I also am part of the advertising team because I go and pass out fliers. My job is paid by the amount I pass out rather than the time I spend doing it. This makes it really easy because if I ever need some extra income I can just go pass out fliers at the local event going on at the Scera Shell or at other public parking lots.

3- Etsy.com
             Do you remember my post awhile ago about etsy.com? Well this is a nice and easy alternative to working "more hours" at a usual job. This site is awesome because you can go ahead and sell the wonderful things you can make whether it is hair accessories, clothes, tablecloths, vases, whatever. It's a good way to get your ideas out there and maybe make some money too. Check out my shop, Ideality, by clicking the link below.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Ideality?ref=si_shop

Haunted Halloween Ideas

         So it is a little far away, roughly 2 months, but Halloween is something that if you are going to be legit, needs preparation early. Anyway, I want to give some ideas of awesome, creepy Halloween Costumes. Justin and I are getting married in December so we only have a few more chances to go all out in crazy, scary costumes before we have to dress cute so we don't scare our kids. There are some really good ideas out there, if you are willing to put out the time to make the look work.

#1- Zipper Face

Insane Asylum Victim

With the Zipper Face

This idea came from reddit.com and almost won me the "Scariest Costume" prize at the Halloween party I went to. I used a zipper, face wax and concealer that you can get at any Halloween/ Costume makeup store, and fake blood. It was a little tricky getting the zipper to stay stuck to the curves of my face, but the good thing about this costume is that even though it gets messy, that just makes it look more legit.

#2- Murderous Clown

        I couldn't find a picture of Justin by himself in this costume. This costume was way cheap because he just threw together clothes that he already had... a regular button up shirt and his jacket, patchwork pants that his mom had and a clown wig. Luckily, Just knows how to make balloon animals so he could make his bowtie. What really makes this costume, however, is the face. We painted his face with white concealer makeup found at any Costume makeup store. We also used black concealer face paint around his eyes before painting dark green triangles above and below his eyes. We added angry eyebrows, pink cheeks and bright red lipstick with a little blood trickling from his lips. 
        Justin won the best overall costume at our Halloween Party.

#3- VooDoo Doll

VooDoo Doll, carrying her own voodoo doll

VooDoo Doll under the hood

 

 

 

 

 

VooDoo Doll with her hood on.

        This costume was partially inspired by the horror movie "The Strangers" and Kristy's own creepy imagination. This costume won the "Scariest Costume" award. Kristy made her dress out of burlap fabric, a burlap sac would work well too, which she rubbed against cement to tear and then she burned the edges. She used twine to wind up a voodoo doll that dangled from her waist. She used lots of dark eyeshadow to create her bruises and eyeliner to "stitch" up her lips. Also, the black concealer face paint was used around her eyes.


#4- Gothic

Gothic Couple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Headed for a night out on the Town

So this costume isn't necessarily scary, just a different style and a fun way to dress when it isn't your normal style. ** If this is your normal style, try dressing without black and makeup.  Jusitn was way hesitant to dress like this haha, mostly because he didn't want to wear eyeliner or have me do his hair... but look how awesome he looks!! Actually, since that day he has sworn to never let me do that to him again, but I like it haha. This was a way easy costume. Just wear thicker makeup, girls, and boys wear a little. Every piece of this costume can be found around your house. For instance, the collar that Justin is wearing is his dogs' collar.
          This costume was awesome because we went to El Mex Sal in Provo for dinner and then went to Harmons' to get a RedBox movie. As we waited in line to get the movie a lady came up to us and said, "I hope that is a costume! If not, I still love you, but I hope it is." haha. So obviously we looked legit!

#5-Serial Killer and Victim

         I don't have a picture for this yet because this is our plan for this Halloween. Justin is going to be a serial killer and I am his victim. We are going to dress him in ratty clothes; jeans with holes, stained T-shirt and a ratty hoody. We are going to put gel in his hair to make it greasy and give him dark circles under his eyes.
        I am going to be handcuffed to him, my hair dark and long. I will have black circles around my eyes and sunken in cheek bones. We will use fake blood to have drip from my mouth and then to be running from a "slit" in my neck. For a final touch we will stick a knife in my back.

I am way excited to try this one out... come on October!!! Leave me a comment and let me know if you try any of these or of other scary Halloween costumes you've done!

5 Months to Marriage

So Justin and I have a 6 month engagement before the BIG day... that is a really long time, but we've got one month down and only 5 to go! The first thing everyone says when we tell them that we are getting married in December, is, "Wow, that's forever away!" I know,tell me about it!  We're the ones who are actually waiting that long. I know, we are crazy.

Well, to pass the time Justin and I came up with a way that will help us keep track of the days and to give us something to look forward to doing each day instead of just wanting every day to pass by quicker than the last. The engagement is supposed to be fun, we want to enjoy it even though it is long. So... we have created the 5 Months to Marriage chain.
                                          
We have 147 days to go as of today so we each took half of our paper chain links and wrote down one reason why we are excited to marry each other on each link. We are going to connect them alternately so that one day I can read why he is excited to marry me and the next he can be reminded why I am so excited to marry him :) I think it is a great idea! It helps us actually see all the little things that we love and are grateful for with each other, as well as reasons why we are excited to get married.

Etsy.com

Have you heard of Etsy.com yet?? If you haven't, you should go check it out asap!!! Etsy.com is an awesome website where people can go and sale handmade stuff and create online shops. It's easy, simple, and so fun to see what creative ideas other people have and what they've learned to make. Go check out Etsy.com and my shop "Ideality" and see what you can find!

The aprons that I posted below are being sold there, if you don't want to make them yourself, along with other peacock accessories that I have made for my wedding, but want others to see too!

Go to: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Ideality?ref=si_shop

Fancy Schmancy Aprons

          Alrighty, so for those of you who don't know, I am getting married in December... I know, it's a long ways away. Luckily, though, thanks to it being a long ways away, I have plenty of time to get all of the preparations made. My fiance and I are getting married at Timpanogos temple, woohoo! And then having a reception at our stake center.
          Somehow our colors just kind of fell into place and I love them. We are doing a peacock "themed" wedding. Well, it's not really themed, but our colors are the turquoise and teal green of peacock feathers plus there will be some peacock feathers. Holy cow, I did not know how pretty these feathers were until I saw them in real life.
          For the reception, we are going to have our neices be little bus girls and clear the tables as people leave. To make it more fun, we are making them each cute aprons in our colors... on an adult it might look like a french maid haha, but for little girls they are super cute!

LACEY APRONS:
FOR EACH APRON YOU WILL NEED:
        - 1 Apron Skirt (25 X 13 1/2 inches)
        - 1 Belt (4 X 15 inches)
        - 2 Ties (2 3/4 X 22 inches)

 #1: The first step is to make your own patterns. On a roll of newsprint, cut out your desired sized aprons. The apron size we used was 25 X 13 1/2 inches at the center. When you cut it, round the edges and make it like 1/2 an inch larger than you want it to look so that you can hem it later. About 1/3 of the way in from both sides on the top, gradually dip the pattern down about 1 1/2- 2 inches. This makes a spot for the belt which we will make later.

You also will need to make patterns for the belt and the ties using the measurements above.

#2: Once you have made your pattern, pin it onto your fabric and then cut around the pattern.

They should look like this when they're done.







 

#3: Next, you will want to hem the edges of all of your pieces of fabric so that they don't fray. Some sewing machines have an automatic pressure foot that can do this and it makes it way easier, or you can just do it normally with a sewing machine. Pull the hem in a few centimeters to hem, it doesn't need to be big. After all of your pieces are hemmed, pin the lace onto the skirt. Start at the top right, just after the dip where the belt goes. Pin it right along with the hem, making sure that there are no gaps to where it is pinned.

#4: Go ahead and sew all of the lace on.

#5: The Belt and ties need to be ironed before you sew them on, just to make sure that they are straight and crisp.

         The belt, you will want to iron out flat, fold in half and then iron it again so that it stays folded in the "hotdog" form. Each tie you will want to iron out flat and then fold the tips in to make a point and iron those flat so that they stay. (In the final picture, you can see what the ties and belt look like).
        You will want to sew the outside edge of the tie down first so that it doesn't poke out away from the belt (It's weird, but ironing just isn't enough to hold it down ;))
        Sew the belt on first, having pinned it to the skirt. The lace edges should poke inside of the belt. DO NOT SEW THOSE EDGES CLOSED! Make sure that when the bottom edge of the belt is pinned on, the back side of it has been caught in the pin too.
       After the belt has been sewed on, scrunch the end of the tie that does not have the point on it and sew it so that it is more narrow. These will then be slid inside of the belt on the two ends that you left open. (Aren't you glad you left them open now? haha). After you have slid the tie in, you will sew back and forth vertically across the belt, the tie is inside. Voila! You have a cute fancy schmancy apron!

Aspired Writing

On my way to forever, I will become a published author. This blog will actually focus a lot on my goals and things going on in my life as an author, a newlywed, and other things that come up in life. They all make up my "forever" and hopefully there will be good advice in here for you guys! It has so far taken me about 5 years of writing, re-writing, editing, re-writing again, editing again ... and so on of my first novel. I began writing this 64,000 word novel when I was 16. It all started with a day dream of someone traveling through time that I just could not get out of my head. I decided that I should write the idea down and it flowed into a story on its own. I have had a ton of people read this book and review it for me. I am really grateful to all of these people and you better believe that the book would not be the same without their comments and criticisms. (Can you believe that the first draft had cannibalism in it?! Haha, thank you to Alyssa, Kristy, and Sharon for kicking that part out early!). Those who have read it are a mixture of every group out there. I've had young adults read it, male and female, I have had women in their late 20's and early 30's read it. Women older than 65 have even read it and enjoyed it, although my grandma told me that it gave her nightmares... that could be good. At least that means that the story has the potential to really envelope the reader. I am really psyched though! After attending many different writer's conferences, including Rhemalda Publishings "Got Stories?" conference in June 2012, I figured that I really need a published author to take a look at my work and give me an idea of how it stands compared to the work being published by actual companies. Either that or join a writers' group, but I have no idea how to find one so I am sticking with the first option. Fortunately, networking is everything when it comes to selling yourself and ultimately selling your novel. My dentist happens to have published a novel recently and agreed to review my manuscript and give me feedback!!! I'm way stoked! Most companies who I have sent my manuscript to, which have declined me, don't bother to say why... not all that helpful. I am not published yet, but for any future writers out there, let me share with you what I have learned: 1. Don't be fooled by self-publishing. They require that you pretty much do all of the work. You have to market, you pay them before you ever see a penny, you are betting on yourself to be the next best-seller. You definitely have to believe in yourself, but a self-publisher will publish your book even if they don't think it is going to sell very much because they are making money off of printing your book regardless. 2. Always be refining your writing skills. When you are in between writing projects, always be writing! Whether it is your journal, a blog, short stories, whatever-- don't stop writing. 3. Go to Writer's Conferences. Some people find them boring, but if you are serious about becoming a better writer, these are the most helpful aid out there. Most publishing companies hold these conferences for free. You get to learn tips and tricks from publishers & published authors. You get to meet these published authors as well as network with other aspiring writers. Plus, there is usually food... who can turn that down? ;) haha. 4. Let people read your writing. It was a long time before I actually let people read my novel. I was afraid that if I let everyone read it, then no one would want to buy it if I got published. The thing is, there is like 60 billion people in this world. The small group you let read it, isn't going to be the only ones who do. If people don't read it, then you're going to have a hard time making it better. Other people can catch mistakes and plot holes that you miss. Any questions? Please leave comments!!!

Mother's Day!

Alright, so Mother's Day is coming up in a few weeks and it seems like there are never enough ideas for what to get mom! Especially because my mom's birthday tends to land 2-3 days before Mother's Day. There are a lot of different ideas out there and after researching a lot of them I have decided to come up with a list of ones that really take the gold! 1. Spa Day: Every mom needs a day off from their busy lives. A spa day is the perfect relaxer especially if you go with her so she isn't having to go alone. You can either send her to a real spa such as Seasons Salon & Day Spa or create one for her yourself by pampering her with breakfast, giving her bath salts, body wash and lotion and giving her time to take a relaxing bath. Give her a massage, etc 2. Sandals: Mother's Day is the beginning of summer when it is the perfect time to break out the open toed shoes and, of course, get some new ones. Fun sandals are a good gift, ones that are her style but she may not get because they aren't practical. I love these: (Fossil Women's Alice Sandal--Grey)

3. Personalized Gifts: You can actually find these all over the Internet at places such as gifts.com, or other personalized gift websites. I got my mom a picture frame last year that had a picture of the two of us and a poem personalized to her. It brought tears to her eyes and she absolutely loved it! Mothers love the gifts that are really from their kids or spouses. You can do other things too though, such as mugs with photos or words on them, or even M & M's haha. One gift that I love is the photos of nature that make a name when put together. 4. Pay for a family trip: This could be a gift from the family if you are going far like to Disneyland or something...hey, it's a reason to have a vacation. Not that you really need a reason haha. 5. Get her something she already enjoys doing: If she loves to read, get her one of her favorite books. If she loves to garden, get her new flowers, or gardening tools. If she loves to cook, get her a flirty apron or cookbook or ingredients. If she loves adventure and the outdoors, get her rock climbing gear or a pass to a ski resort for the next season. If she loves to write, get her a journal. You get the idea... :)

Dance Project Recital!

As lights began to brighten, a circle of bodies appeared on the stage, all connected, all intertwined. Legs were held in the air while others were spread across the ground until, with a shift in the music, the bodies moved.
One at a time, dancers broke out of the routine, spinning, leaping, flipping, as their fluid movements pulled them across the stage.
Utah Regional Ballet performed the work of six competition-finalist choreographers in the 5th annual Choreography Dance Project at UVU Jan. 26, 27 and 28.
Choreographers were given the chance to win a scholarship award of $1000 “to further their education and expand their careers and experience in choreography,” said Jacqueline Colledge, artistic director of URB.
The different pieces filled the night with a variety of ballet styles from classical ballet to modern ballet and even some contemporary pieces.
“It has a little bit of everything to offer,” Colledge said. “It’s very different; there’s bound to be something everyone will love.”
“Life: written” choreographed by Shayla Bott is one of these unique dances. The dance featured seven dancers acting out a story not to music but to spoken words. The story took the audience from childhood through adolescence to adulthood and into mature adulthood all the while URB dancers acted out happiness and heartbreak, joy and loss.
Another piece, “Pickles and Milk” by Terry Davis, told its story by using one white balloon that the dancers continually handed off to each other throughout the dance.
“It’s not what I expected. It’s a lot more modern; it is all very different,” said Arrianne Noland, freshman at UVU.
Many people attended the performance to support family or friends and some went to simply experience the dance.
“I like to see the different style of dances and how well they [URB] portray them,” said Lexie Billings, who came to support her sister.
At the end of the three day competition, three judges determined the outcome of the competition based off of the creativity, the creative process, the structure of the work and the characteristics of good choreography, according to Colledge.

Results can be found at www.uvureview.com/2012/01/30/scholarships-awarded-through-dance-competition/

Expression Through Music at UVU

Music creates a unique experience for everyone, playing on the listener’s emotions and experiences, pulling out hidden dreams and ideas from the recesses of the mind. Whether it is used to simply relax or while studying, music becomes a central part of life.

Utah Valley University’s music department shapes an experience for students to share their love of music with a variety of instruments through the Percussion Ensemble.

Students get the opportunity to learn to play different instruments from an electric guitar to a police whistle. The ensemble mixes a variety of vibraphones, wood blocks, marimbas, and other instruments that help develop culture in the students as well as provide entertaining and unpredictable music, according to Dr. Doug Smith, UVU’s new Percussion Ensemble director.

“The ensemble has played over 100 different instruments just this last semester,” said Nate Anderson, UVU senior.

Smith works to give his students the experience to do what they love, playing their music.

“It makes it an exciting group to be a part of, playing all of the different styles and genres. It’s exciting for the audience, too, hearing all of the different types of instruments in one concert,” Smith said.

The Percussion Ensemble is a place where students create music. They create these unique experiences for everyone to be a part of.

The ensemble is “very expressive,” according to Anderson. “There are lots of instruments, lots of styles, lots of opportunities. It’s a pretty diverse experience in expressing yourself.”

In the upcoming Saint Patrick’s Day concert on March 19, pieces will feature fast-paced, non-stop movement described by Smith as a roller-coaster as well as music that will immediately put listeners in a good mood.

Some of the pieces are unpredictable while others are “exotic [and have a] sexy, sort of tango feel,” Smith said.

The Percussion Ensemble performs in a way where each musician is continually playing and actively participating in making the music.

“You get to play all the time. The parts are more active and you play instruments that you can’t in other [musical ensembles],” Smith said.

Percussion is a different way of experiencing music. It is a combination of listening and seeing.

Percussion music is not just hearing the notes but visually seeing how the music is made and what goes into the sound, according to Smith.

Music can lead people on a journey wherever they need to go. The Percussion Ensemble hopes to lead that journey, not just for one piece of music, but for the whole concert.

“Human beings are music makers. Music’s uplifting, inspiring and educational. What better way to experience it while we play the oldest instruments next to the voice?” Anderson said. “Percussion has been contributing to culture all through history and it will continue to do so.”

Break Me Out

Wow, school takes up so much time! After having been in school for one day my planner already overflowed with things I needed to do. Maybe I need a bigger "To Do List" planner? Between trying to shop for textbooks that will wipe out my bank account and actually finding time to do all of the readings, get to know you assignments, and preparing for quizzes (who has quizzes on the second day of class anyway? We haven't learned anything yet!)there is practically no time to just sit and enjoy being back in school.

It's a good thing that today is Martin Luther King Day....Thank you Mr. King! I needed a break. Or at least time to catch up on everything. I know, I'm trying to "catch up" already. This is the first break of the new semester so it better not get wasted. I've been thinking about some ideas of what to do over this break so that it doesn't just drift off into a day of watching TV and reading all of the other fun things people are doing on Facebook.

In case these ideas don't work for today, the next break is on February 20, that's President's Day. I'm glad they are helping us out too ;)

1. Go hiking up to Bridal Veil Falls.
I did this on Saturday, which was definitely warmer than it is today. Man, our weather is so crazy lately. My guess is that by the time we hit June a freak snowstorm will hit us and last until September and then we will jump back into fall. Let's hope I'm wrong...I love the snow, but we kind of need summer.
Anyway, the Provo Canyon trail is pretty nice and dry, but once you cross the threshold over into Bridal Veil the ground is completely frozen, so if you do this make sure to wear good shoes. At some points the snow on the ground is actually pure ice so you have to slip and slide to get across it. A lot of people were up ice climbing the falls too so if you are in to that kind of thing. It looked sketchy to me though because the river and big parts of the falls are still rushing.

2. Go to Trafalga
This is even better if you have a Pass of all Passes. The Orem one is fun, they have outdoor and indoor mini golf, arcade games (which lamely aren't included in with the pass), 4D movies, batting cages, and the best of all.... go karts! The Lehi one I like better. There is way more to do up there. They have indoor rock climbing, laser tag, indoor and outdoor mini golf, a "Rocket" type of roller-coaster. It's like the mini one they have at Lagoon. They have arcade games, which also aren't included with the POAP, but their games are way more fun than Orem's. They also have an outdoor roller-coaster and bumper boats to get you soaking wet, but those are only open during the summer.

3. Go Sky Diving
Looking for an adrenaline rush this break?? Sky Diving is definitely the thing to do. Just make sure to go on a warmer day...so today may not be the best but if the weather keeps going the way it has been then by President's Day it might be the perfect time. Sky Diving is sketchy... yeah I know that, but there isn't anything like it.

I went with Sky Dive Utah and was very impressed. It's up in Tooele: www.skydiveutah.com It only cost us about $240 to tandem jump AND get photos. They have different prices based off of how many people you have, if you want pictures, videos, etc. It was the craziest experience in my life!

Going up in the plane was so much fun... I wasn't worried at all! Haha, okay, maybe a little bit, but nothing like what I expected. Mostly I remember just thinking, "Dang...I'm hungry." After having watched close to 30 other people fly up and come floating back down, my whole group was ready to just get strapped up and jump. It really wasn't that bad flying up in the plane.

The crazy thing was just feeling like you couldn't breathe the entire way down because so much air and pressure is hitting you, but it doesn't feel like you are falling at all. Just floating. Getting to see the world from that angle was the best experience of my life.

4. Tye-Dye T-shirts
If Sky Diving isn't really your thing and you hate being outside when it's cold then this is something you could do while being inside. Tye-Dyeing is one of the most fun activities to do when you're bored, especially if you have someone else to do it with. It's messy, it's fun, AND you get a new shirt out of it. :)< What could be better?

5. Murder Mystery Party
You better watch out because you are now the suspect in a disastrous murder! Don't look away, it's you that is in trouble. This takes a little bit more preparation than just getting up and doing it. You've got to invite people, set up the scene, have time to get costumes, and then all come together for a few hours to solve a murder! You may think acting as someone else is nerdy and that this couldn't be that fun, but trust me, if you get the right people then it can be awesome! And I am NOT a drama person saying that. The other cool thing with murder mystery games is that once you've played one you can't really play it again because you already know who the murderer is and so you can just trade the game with someone else and get a new game to play for free. It's the game that just keeps on giving ;)

6. Life-Size Board Games
We actually did this for FHE last week. Out of crate paper, tape, and card board boxes you can make a life size Monopoly game with huge die, houses & hotels, everything. If you have the electronic Monopoly then it's easier to keep track of your money, but normal Monopoly money can work too.
You could make life-size Clue, or Settlers of Catan. It really could work with any of your favorite board games.

Those are just some ideas that are kind of unique that I've done recently and absolutely loved. You could also play:
- Paint Twister (Paint spots instead of a Twister board)
- Go swimming somewhere: It's actually really fun to swim when the air is cold outside
- Go star gazing
- See a hypnotist show, or be hypnotized yourself
- If we could get any snow in Utah you could go skiing or boarding.
- Rock Climbing at the Quarry
- See a movie: but really, how lame is that to do on your day off?
- Make a movie
- Got to the Hot Pots
- Go tubing at Soldier Hollow: If you've never been tubing, you better go do this right now!

No matter what it is you decide to do, don't waste your break. We all know that school is going to get hectic no matter whether you are in high school, at a University or just working right now. Make the most of your break!!

No Excuses!

Left alone, Kyle Maynard struggled to dress himself for the first time. On a normal day, his mother or siblings helped him pull on his shirt or zip up his pants, whatever it took to make the job go faster and not let Maynard feel like he was different.
Maynard was born with a congenital amputation that left his arms ending where his elbows would be and his legs stopping just above his knees.
It was this day, as Maynard sat in his room, his best friend and his friend’s mother waiting outside for him, that he was forced to dress himself while his own mother was attending an event for a sibling.
Using paperclips Maynard spent 30 minutes pulling his left sock on. He began to sweat. Then the right sock; even more sweat. His shirt. His pants. After a painstakingly long hour of using paperclips finally he had dressed himself; the only task not completed was the button on his pants. Maynard, drenched in sweat, realized the importance of learning to do things for himself.
He has since accomplished one of his biggest dreams. In 2009 he became the first quadruple amputee to fight in the Mixed Marshall Arts.
After about a year of negotiating fees with Maynard’s manager, Joey Leonardo, the date was set for him to come speak to the UVU student body on Thursday, March 24, 2011, according to Chairman Jeffrey Kahn of the Advisory Board for the Center of Advancement.
Over 100 students from UVU and Salt Lake flowed into the Grand Ballroom on campus to listen to Maynard as he relived many of his trials and accomplishments to prove to UVU that there are “no excuses” as his speech was titled.
“I saw the posters and thought it looked interesting,” said Tyler Mower, UVU senior. “It was a very good message and worth the time to come and hear it.”
Throughout his speech, Maynard stressed the importance of choosing for yourself, whether you are going to be a victim to your circumstance or not.
“We all have a disability or challenge to overcome. You can choose to allow these things to control your life or you can be in control and decide what you are going to do,” said Maynard.
Maynard grew up pressing through many trials. His father began training him to lift weights, starting with 2 ½ pounds and then entering him into wrestling matches.
Maynard hardly ever won. In fact, during his entire 6th grade year he lost every single match.
As a senior in high school, he soon was able to lift 240 pounds; and in 2009, he reached his highest weight with 420 pounds.
“I think it is always good to look in hindsight; like he said, ‘look back at the progress we have already made’,” said Becca Hutton, UVU sophomore.
Later when Maynard announced that he was going to step into a cage to fight, people wondered how a guy with no arms or legs was going to survive.
“A lot of people said terrible things,” Maynard said. “They said that I would be picked up and punted out of the cage. . . . I would be bloody and unconscious in 15 seconds. One person even said online, ‘Why don’t you get a chainsaw and come cut off my arms and legs so I can get some attention too?’”
Maynard had to learn to accept himself and ignore what other people thought of him. In doing so he developed the skills needed to become a New York Times best-selling author, a model, an entrepreneur, an athlete, a motivational speaker, and to train in power lifting and Ju Jitsu.
He has learned to write, type, lift weights, drive, and do what most everybody else can.
“Where we are right now things might be challenging. I guarantee there are excuses; but if you changed one of them, it would change everything,” said Maynard.
Life is about learning, he explained. It is about learning to grow, develop, and refine yourself.
Maynard has set a goal for September 2011, to get a team of people to climb with him 19,500 feet to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.
“Anytime you begin something it is going to be hard; but once you gain momentum over that adversity, then it’s easy and the excuses become less relevant,” said Maynard.

To Do It All and Then Some

Riots erupted and chaos spread through the country. The trains were the only way out for two American teenagers, but they too were shutting down. Greece was falling apart with the two trapped inside. Running to the embassy, the teenagers argued with the officials that they needed to get out of the country. The embassy quickly put them on one of the last trains leaving just before they were locked in.
Traveling across Europe to Bulgaria and Hungary, Germany and England, Italy and Ireland, the two quickly learned that they must be cautious of the unknown territories that they were venturing into.
Romania surprised them when despite the lack of a common language they could feel that they were being followed. Eyes followed their bodies and lingered on their faces. Matters worsened when the realization hit that in Romania human trafficking is a problem.
“I probably would’ve been stolen 30 times if my brother wasn’t there,” said Liz Oakeson, junior at UVU.
European women are supposed to be timid, explained Oakeson, so when men followed her she looked them straight in the eye and told them to leave her alone, shocking them. It also helped that her brother, Isaac Reese, 19, stood over her with a trench coat to give the illusion that he was an assassin or hiding a gun, someone with the potential to kill.
“I spent four months in 19 different countries,” said Oakeson.
Although traveling to Europe taught Oakeson a lot about the world and life, it is the fact that she did it while managing a painful disability that makes her the extraordinary person that she is today.
Oakeson was born with Fibular Hemiophilia, a gene deformity. This deformity was the cause of a deletion of the fibula in Oakeson’s left leg and all but four bones in her left foot, creating a growth plate knee problem and hip problems.
“I was pretty much the guinea pig for the laser amputator,” said Oakeson. “It only took like 30 minutes.”
The ankle and foot were both amputated from Oakeson’s left leg.
Throughout the past 20 years, Oakeson has had a total of 28 surgeries, her first when she was just two hours old and 11 before she was 6 years old.
“[The deformity] accompanies a certain amount of pain,” said Kali Skidmore, past roommate of Oakeson’s. “It makes it hard to walk, climb stairs, or stand for long periods of time.”
The pain was described by Oakeson as feeling like the initial sting of stubbing your toe only it is constant.
Oakeson grew up through much teasing and ridicule, being told that she would never be normal. At that moment she decided that she could either be handicap and happy or handicap and sad, either way she would still be handicapped.
At age 12 Oakeson was told by her parents that she needed to follow the family tradition in learning a foreign language and figuring out where to go to experience life and the world on her own.
“I grew up with the expectation to go somewhere alone, with barely anything, and go figure it out,” said Oakeson.
Besides spending years learning Czech from the internet to be prepared for Europe, Oakeson has also managed to push through the pain of her deformity to enjoy the pleasures of life through dancing, occasional swimming, speech debate, and walking almost perfectly without a limp.
“She pushes through the pain and she does everything that other people do,” said Whitney Phister, past roommate of Oakeson’s. “She goes for her dreams and doesn’t take the little things for granted, like wearing high heels.”
Oakeson recently married Nephi Oakeson and, after being certified in social work at UVU, plans to move to the East Coast.
“I have learned that I can do anything,” said Oakeson. “Figure out what you want and make it something you think is impossible. Make it the biggest, craziest, thing possible, and go do it!”

"A Happy Accident"

A year and a half ago, Mallory Denison, a sophomore at UVU, had no idea that she would ever enjoy working out. She began going with her sister to a fitness class that focused on Latin dancing, taught by her sister’s best friend. This class is called Zumba Fitness.
At first Mallory didn’t love Zumba; in fact, she hated it, but she stuck with it based on the recommendation by her friends. Now at age 19, Mallory has fallen in love with the “party” that gets you to work your body while having fun.
Zumba is an “exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health,” according to Zumba Fitness.
Zumba Fitness focuses its workout program on learning different Latin American dances such as La Cumbia, Merengue, Samba, and Salsa.
Finally a workout program has been developed that is “super fun and works the whole body,” said Torina Moore, junior at UVU.
Alberto “Beto” Perez created the Zumba program in the mid-‘90s in Colombia when he spontaneously used Latin music in place of the traditional music to teach his aerobics class, according to Zumba Fitness. The class loved the energy that filled the room and Perez saw the future for the Zumba Fitness-Party.
“Zumba is something fun, a break. It doesn’t feel like a chore or that you are working out. You can just let loose,” said Hannah Loumeau Leonard, Zumba instructor at Ideal Shape in Orem.
The average age of people who attend Zumba is between 20 and 30 years old; however, there are people present at Zumba Fitness between the ages of 18 and 60 years old, said Leonard.
“I have been lifting and dieting and I haven’t been losing any weight, and now I finally am,” said Sharon Whipple, 51, after having been to six Zumba classes.
In the last 10 years the Zumba Fitness-Party has spread to over 110 countries where more than 10 million people are taking weekly classes in 90,000 different locations, said Zumba Fitness.
“It is a way to have fun and to feel better about myself. When you run you don’t feel sexy, but when you do Zumba you just feel cute about yourself,” said Mallory Denison.

The majority of Zumba students don’t dance and never have. Thinking that Zumba is solely for dancers is a huge misconception, said Leonard. Zumba is not for dancers; it’s for everyone.
“We aren’t here to be divas; we are here to burn calories!” goes Leonard’s motto.
UVU is offering an Aerobics/Zumba weekend class beginning on May 6, 2011, for 10 weeks, according to Deni Preston, UVU PE Fitness Coordinator.
“Don’t be afraid; it’s a big party for everyone. It doesn’t matter what you look like or what you are doing. No one really cares,” said Denison.