Things.

Things.

I really enjoy and like things. 

Many of us do and there is nothing wrong with that. 

A watch here, a car there.

But, an experience recently helped me see more clearly and in new light the importance of the scripture Matthew 6:19-21:

 "19 Lay not up for yourselves atreasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 

 20 But lay up for yourselves atreasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor bsteal: 

 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

As I sat in a hip restaurant in Washington, alone and contemplative I couldn't help but think of a recent acquaintance. Mid-thirties, pretty, successful professionally and financially, chic, well-dressed, and well-traveled. I felt a pang of jealousy as I thought about what her life must be like. In fact, when she commented on how little luggage I had in comparison I felt a little small that I didn't have a more complete wardrobe to pack and show off.

But, like I said as I sat there, alone and contemplative a small thought grew brighter and brighter, "Yes, it would be nice, but don't you realize that you everything."

And I realized it. was. true. 

I could hypothetically collect Gucci, Coach, and Prada shoes for a conference, or I could watch Adi grow through Swimming lessons, Dance, and Preschool. 

I could drive a fancy car, or I could plan a trip or two to Disneyland. 

Here's the rub: I can't have both. 

Yet.

The emerging conclusion in my mind flashed across my mind: each stage of life is accompanied by things (material and otherwise) whether great or small, but the important thing is being able to appreciate what it is that you have right now. 

Paniolo Coconut-Lime Cookies

So, when Heidi and I were in Washington, Sheri Dew gifted each attendee at the Management Society dinner a copy of Our Best Bites. I had heard so many good things and was ecstatic.

A couple weeks ago I started with the Strawberry-Lemon Butter Cookies, but substituted blackberry jam and lime zest out of necessity.

Blackberry-Lime Butter Cookies 

They were yummy, although a little too buttery. And I must say better than anything strawberry lemon I'd had before (score for random substitution).

Then over the weekend we headed to the cabin and I wanted to make some cookies, so I followed another Our Best Bites recipe for Lime-Coconut White Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies. I followed the recipe, down to the random melted butter.

Lime-Coconut White Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies

Again, they were yummy, although a little too buttery. And, the Diamond Macadamia nuts weren't my favorite (although to be fair, they weren't chopped or toasted). And while yummy, the cookies weren't what I was expecting, I wanted a more solid chocolate-chip cookie texture, and I created a plan for improvement.

So, tonight when we were at the grocery store and I saw macadamia nuts, I asked Ryan if he would be up for another go at it. For some friends and neighbors, and perhaps some friends that we visit and home teach?

Sure!

First thing's first, macadamia nuts. How many to buy? At more than $3.00 at ounce for the Diamond brand, I figured we go with as few as possible. Then we found the Archer Farm brand! They were cheaper and pre-toasted. Excellent.

After a little experimentation, a few miserable cookies, and some help from Ryan, we had the most delicious, beautiful cookie ever baked. (Yes, cookie, I wanted to start with just one.) And they kept coming!  Each batch, better than the previous!

They are super yummy, although I might reduce the sugar just a little because the white chocolate chips naturally add a very robust, sugary richness, but that is incredibly minor... (:

So, without further adieu, McKenzie's Paniolo Coconut Lime Cookies! (Paniolo means "Cowboy" in Hawaiian, and considering this recipe combines my favorite "Cowboy Cookie" recipe with the Lime-Coconut recipe, I thought it was quite fitting!)

Paniolo Coconut-Lime Cookies 

Ingredients (Yields approximately 4 dozen cookies)

1 Cup butter (room temperature)
1 Cup packed brown sugar
1 Cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 Cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Cup shredded coconut
1 Cup white chocolate chips (optional for texture: coarsely chopped)
1 Cup roasted macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped
Zest from two medium limes


Instructions

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugars until fluffy.
3) Add eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.
4) In a separate bowl, sift flour, soda, powder, and salt together.
5) Add flour mixture to creamed mixture one cup at a time.
6) Add coconut and zest and mix thoroughly.
7) Stir in chocolate chips and macadamia nuts.
8) Spoon 2 Tbsp dough into ball and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet
9) Back at 350 for 10-12 minutes (until very lightly brown)
10) Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes, transfer to wire cooling rack

Vintage Fun Repeat!

We had so much fun seeing Spider Man at the drive-in, that we decided to go back!

This time we saw "The Dark Knight Rises".

Adi was naughty. Naughty, naughty, naughty, and wouldn't go to sleep... But, despite my serious frustration in the moment and panic at her actually watching the movie, I can't blame her. Who wants to be stuck in a car for three hours? (Note to self: when going to the drive in, either a) get a babysitting, or b) bring real food (not just candy), a portable DVD player, and sit outside the car.)

Anyway, I actually enjoyed this Batman. I hated the Dark Knight, so I was pleasantly surprised.

Here is a wrap up of before the movie. I should have known that Adi would want to hop around the entire time.

Redwood Drive-in - August 11, 2012

HarvestMarket Co-op

A little over a year ago, my family started a food co-op here in Utah called HarvestMarket Co-op.

Side note: HarvestMarket is a great place to get delicious, fresh produce at a great price in Utah County. Check it out!

It has been a crazy learning experience especially considering I am very averse to even the smallest business risk.

Over the year, they've been trying to grow the business, but growth has been slow and instead of breaking even as they'd hoped, costs such as the website were making it a burden. Because of the pace and cost we had a family council a few weeks ago regarding whether or not we wanted to continue to offer the co-op.

And, despite the challenges everyone said let's continue. One of the biggest challenges in order to continue however was creating a website that was functional, professional, and ready to go by July 30th--rather than pay an arm and a leg to have it produced by another company.

So, many, many, many hours later, I am happy to present the new HarvestMarket Co-op website (harvestmarket.org), designed by me with a little help from Blogger and a fabulous Word Press template.

I am pretty impressed with myself, especially considering this was made by a complete novice.

But, novice no longer because I'm signed up for some Java/HTML/CSS classes to learn more!

My Fabulous GRB

As mentioned by Ryan, a good GRB is hard to find.

In fact, the last time I really had a consistent one was in 2008 when ironically my GRB ended up being the wife of our former bishop's GRB. Good times. Good times.

Anyway... almost a month ago exactly a gal in our ward posted on the neighborhood Facebook page, asking if anyone was interested in going for a morning jog. I had just started a BYU jogging class where I had to log 70 miles in about six weeks, so I shouted (figuratively) me, me, me!

I was a little nervous because with running it's so hard to tell if you'll find a good buddy, but it was the start of an awesome GRB!

Meet Maleen:

She is a stellar stay-at-home mom with five beautiful girls and she is fabulous as evidenced here. Honestly, when I get the chance to stay home, I want to do it with as much style as Maleen!

Check out what we've done:

Over the past month, we've run consistently every. single. M, W, F, and even threw in a long-run Saturday! We're even going to train for a 10K and maybe something bigger. Maybe... 

Either way, we've been logging some consistent miles, enough that both of us decided it was time for new kicks! So, Maleen took the lead and came running Monday morning in brand new neon-pink running shoes. I was slightly envious (especially because I hadn't had time to go shoe shopping)... 

So, we stopped by Runner's Corner yesterday and tried on a ton of different brands including Asics, Saucony, K Swiss, Mizunos, and Nike. 

I'm a tried and true Asics girl, but a bea-u-tiful pair of Mizunos were calling my name... 

And I love them. Can't wait to log 200+ miles in these babies! 

Distance makes the heart grow fonder.

Forty-eight hours in, and I miss my sweet Ryan and precocious Adi like crazy!

I mean, who really wants to come to the Strip?

I've found myself thinking about what they might each be doing and how at various moments I've felt "marooned" in this horrible place.

This is my second time in Vegas. Two too many. Yet again, I've found the spirit at the Bellagio Fountains.

On a separate, but equal topic that has been swirling in my mind... people..

Spending a lot of time with people outside your family causes (at least me) a lot of introspection.

This has occurred on study abroad programs, internships, business trips, and even when making friends with people I see on a regular basis.

The reason for the introspection you ask?

Well, six years ago on a study abroad, an acquaintance frequently called my brother and me weird.

"You're weird."

It startled me at first, me? Weird?

Then it upset me. Me? Weird?

Since then (and more recently within the past two years), I've started thinking and noticing various differences in families.

And as I've internalized my findings (to be honest) I've seen more weird, bizarre, and crazy things from others than I have from within the confines of my own family.

For example, I've witness dysfunctional families that have abandoned their wives and children... Nope.

I've seen OCD tendencies with housework and schedules... Nope.

I've seen spouses go on more "dates" with friends then with his/her actual spouse... Nope.

So, what is weird? It's relative.

And why does distance make the heart grown fonder? Because my Ryan is amazing. He is smart, funny, spiritual, patient, loving, and well... normal. And he loves me for me. And I love him for it.

And I can't wait to get home to my sweetheart and little girl so I can enjoy my own personal "weird".

Here's to Abbey

A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She's younger than me. 

Although I don't know much about this particular condition, I am grateful that she is optimistic about the future and that she's willing to fight. So, when I was asked if I wanted to donate to MS reserch, I said yes! 

Here's to you Abbey!

Domesticity.

Is that a word? Who knows, I just coined it.

Yesterday was such a great day! After work, Ryan brought Adi to me along with the running stroller and my workout clothes while he went to an OChem review. It was a little cold to take Adi outside (she has a little bit of a cold), so we hopped on over to the indoor track.

Let's just say it was exponentially easier to run the Rex Lee route the other day, but I pushed myself here and there and ended up doing about 4 miles. Yes. Day 1 of 126 of my training regimen. Awesome.

After my workout, Ryan and I headed home and whipped up some delicious homemade macoroni and cheese--thanks again to the Food Nanny.

And... because I am trying to plan for the week, I decided to make some homemade French bread for dinner tonight.

I was a little nervous because I'd never made homemade bread before...

but it turned out so well! It looked amazing and was so delicious--especially warm out of the oven. 

I love to cook--did you know that? 

I often don't have the patience or time. 

But, domesticity sure is fun. 

And yummy.

Blonde Moment.

Last week, I learned that the director of our large department would be leaving to accept a position at Florida Pacific. I was sad. When I got back to my desk I googled...

"Florida Pacific".

Hum... why is it giving me California, I want Florida. 


I tried "Florida Pacific" again.

This is getting frustrating. 


Okay, one more time...

I give up. 


It wasn't until days later that I mentioned that I couldn't find "Florida Pacific". Then my colleague looked at me and said "Florida At-lan-tic."

Huh. That explains a lot.

True blonde?

I think so.

People Are Mostly Good

While I like to say that I am 150% productive each day, I am not. For some reason, each week I look out my window at the precise time that a particular student walks past my window. Why do I notice this particular student? He is blind.

A few minutes ago, I looked out my window and there he was. Smiling, talking to a girl who was holding onto his arm. That is why I notice. Because each time I see him, he is flanked by a different person. Good samaritans.

And that gives me hope that the world is actually full of people who are mostly good.