beauty pagents and sugar consumption.

Hey team! :) So, I want everyone to be proud. I made a REAL dinner today. Trust me, it doesn't happen that often...if ever, so today is a real milestone in our lives. What did I decide to make? They are called chicken -rollups. It involves an 8oz. thing of cream cheese, a can of cream of chicken, chicken cut up into cubes (which I did so well, even though Aaron told me that in the future "cubing" chicken shouldn't take 15-20 minutes, that in reality it is a 2 minute tops job...grrrrr), and croissant rolls. Mix it together and what do ya got? deliciousness in every bite.

Seriously, Aaron can attest, whenever I do spend the effort making something REAL, it NEVER works or tastes right or it burns...or something. Then I am left upset crying into a sink full of a million dishes! So, today...my friends, a real victory was won. If nothing else, I am totally full of pride. :)

Now, I am going to give you this link. I worry in some ways, I'm not trying to make fun of this Miss Teen Contestant from South Carolina, it is just the saddest thing. Truly, as I was watching it, my heart broke for her. It was so awkward and sad, yet a tinsy bit funny at the same time.

Hmmm....with that said, see for yourself. Aaron found it and showed it to me a few minutes ago. And, you know, with all new and interesting things I find, I love to pass it along to ya'll. Let me know what you think, okay? good.

Also, another tidbit I just found out from Aaron...In colonial times, sugar consumption for americans was 2lbs. a year. Guess what it is now? 3 lbs a week!!!!

What do I have to say to that? Pass me those left over chocolate chip cookies and let me finish that bowl of Fruity Pebbles!

this is me, updating our blog.

well, I took a look in my history book and realized, wow, I haven't posted for a long time. Even more, I haven't checked my email in a few days. What is going on? Is this Melissa-esque? I think not. Weird. Sorry team. I guess I am becoming that word...hmmm...what is it? oh, busy. Sheesh. Lo siento (for all my non-bi-lingual friends, that means "I'm sorry" in spanish).

what's new? why am I not making time for these normal "essentials" in my life? :) well, the fact that Seminary starts Monday (dom dom dommmm---can you picture me saying/singing that?). The fact that I'm heading over to the new store (for those of you who don't know the ins and outs of my life, I have been working at a stationery store as their graphic designer for the last year, and the owner is opening up a new store and I get to go and be there in a brand new space and be the graphic designer over there). This next week we are going to be unpacking boxes, organizing and literally, "setting up shop". And then, just life. You know? Sometimes it can get crazy in a "blink of an eye". (i feel like I am using so many colloquial-isms today).

I mean, it is 5:40 a.m. right this minute. I have been awake since 4:37 a.m. Don't feel bad, I don't. Actually, it is kind of nice being up so early and being able to do whatever I want, because normally, I would be asleep. It's just one of those times where you wake up because you have so much going on in your mind. I'm sure you've experienced the same thing. It's a nice thing to use the brain more than I normally do. :)

Anyway, I just wanted to drop a few lines. Say, "hey!" and apologize that it has been a while. I know what it's like to click on the blog link and say, "Come on, update your page already!"

Before I leave, I wanted to give a personal SHOUT OUT to Adam, Aaron's brother. He just got home on Thursday from Brasil (they spell it that way down in South America, so I should too). :) Even though I was asleep when Aaron was talking to him and the rest of the family that night (mind you it was 8:45 ish p.m.---see I told you that I'm not normal right now), I am so glad that he is home and the Wood family is complete for a minute. So, Bienvenidos Adam! That is in spanish, not portuguese, sorry...but it's all I know. :)

aNtS!!!!!

eww. so, you want to hear a sick story? I'm sure you are saying to yourself, "Yes, please." ok, i'll tell.

So, it was about 2:00 this afternoon and I was typing via Google Chat to Aaron at school. He was telling me that he was bored in class, and I was telling him about all of the billions of things I've been scanning into my computer.

I told him, "Huh, I guess I haven't eaten lunch yet." (is that even a word? "eaten") We both agreed that I should go eat. Nuff said.

Not!

So, I go to grab my usual for when I'm home and not working, my big bottle of Pace Picante salsa from costco and then the big 3 lb. bag of tortilla strips (also from my favorite store, costco). Today, I decide to get a little gutsy with my sandwich, so instead of pulling out the usual mayo and lettuce, I grab the ranch dressing instead. I know, gutsy, but it was just one of those adventurous days. So, I do that, add cheese and turkey and put it in our toaster oven. Nuff said, right? Wrong!

As I am sitting down at the kitchen table with "Return to Me" on in the family room, I start eating my chips and salsa. Alls well, until I feel a little "tickle wickle" on my hand. I look down at my wrist to see a little black ant. "Huh?" I thought to myself. "How on earth did a little black ant get up here, did climb all the way up my body?" and then I look at my plate!!!!!

CHIPS COVERED IN ANTS!!!!! I was so into the movie and my normal routine that I didn't even LOOK to see what I was shoving in my mouth! WHAT?! EWWW SICK! I notice I have a weird after-taste in my mouth and I think to myself, "How many disgusting ants did I just swallow!?!??!??!"

gag. gag. gag. sick sick sick!

So, I look inside the bag of chips...TONS of ants crawling around inside! Then to my horror, I look at the bottom of my pantry and see even more crawling on some cans of food, my beloved 3 gallon vat of Hawaiian Soy Sauce, and other food stuff. Eww.

So, I chucked a few things in a big black trash bag, including a brand-new-never-opened box of Honey Bunches of Oats...Aaron said that I surely could have salvaged that...and that the bag is sealed inside, but I didn't want to open up the box and wipe off any more ants (see they were crawling out of the little seams of the box). EWWWWGHSHsh galskjgal;sdfkja;lsdjkf!!!!!

sick sick sick! just thinking of it all, makes me itch.

Was there a happy ending? Did I get to eat my delicious sandwich in the end? Well, I ate about three bites and had no appetite. So, I tossed my sandwich in the big black bag with the ants...hopefully they enjoyed it as their final meal....because promptly after I squired a bunch of RAID Ant Killer spray in there to kill those little punks.
Die ants, die.

no...we're not pregnant, are you???

the finished product. even washed too.

the infamous alamo that took entirely too long to stitch.

well, who knew that posting a few random blocks that I embroidered would create such a stir?! not I, folks, not I. I've received phone calls, emails and all sorts of funny comments, and for that, I have to snicker.

Here's the 411...One of my absolute favorite things to do in Utah is to buy more fabric.
Love it. Favorite.
Do you realize how many stores are dedicated to selling ONLY fabric? AND in Utah County alone...it is...well, absolutely wonderful.
My mom, becca, and lizbert (2 of my 3 sisters) were out and about one afternoon and found some clearance fabric at Broadbent's in Lehi (just off of main street). It is that cactus green fabric. So, because we all love a good deal, I bought 3 yards of it. I had some left over brown fabric from a quilt I had made for Kirstin (aaron's sister) and thought to myself, why not make another quilt! I have been making a bright (non flannel) quilt for our bed (try a king size...ahh! way in over my head) and I thought, why don't I practice the actual "quilting" part on this mini blanket before I ruin the one that I'm making for the big time bed. That was my intent. As you look closely, you will notice NO real quilting done. Darn. Yeah, I messed up in the cutting stage. So, I did the old standby "rag quilt".

But is it for a baby? yes.
Mine? Sure, whenever I have one.
Am I pregnant? Nope.
Are you? Let me know.
Should I give it to you? Maybe.
Will I? probably not.

ha! I took those pictures this morning on my front porch. Some of them look like the thread is almost glowing. I don't know why. I am thinking my flash might have been on. They aren't the greatest, but you get the idea. Oh, and don't you love our flag on our front porch? me too.

posted with love, from your non pregnant friend, melissa :)

roar...and other stuff

i have been really into drawing animals lately. Remember how I used to (I asked that question like you were there and remember with me--ok, you don't remember, but I do!)-- get so mad at Jesse (my brother) for making fun of me that I wanted to work at a pet store when I was older. He always would say, "Melissa, that is like saying that you want to work at a gas station when you grow up!" how rude! I thought it would be so cool to hold all the animals and play with them all day... FAST FORWARD to NOW --- I am soooooo not an animal person. Sure, I like the little puppy and tiny kitten to hold for a little bit, then I'm done. and, FYI, I hate HaTe hATe little rodents. eaqsah! Just the thought of them makes me cringe.

I think it is because I was a child of California earthquakes...the ground shifted and the mice came. It's like the song, "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man" tune... "the earth shook up and the mice came out, the earth shook up and the mice came out..." (i love primary). Seriously, it was awful. I remember going with my mom to Ace hardware and learning that ALL of the mouse traps were sold out...we had already been to the grocery store too...SOLD OUT! I remember we would be sitting around the dinner table or wherever and if you stopped to listen at any one time, you could hear several traps going off around our house!!!! agah! Just remembering it gets me sick to my tummy. :) gag. I am deathly afraid of all things that creep, scurry, crawl and scamper (take a time out = Babies crawl...they don't fall into the "hate" category).

Anyway, enough memoirs as to my disturbed childhood (it's not your fault, mom). I have been doing a lot with the computer and animal/bug drawings and stitching...so much so, that I have pulled out my wrist brace. yuck. I haven't really pulled it out since college.

So, here's what we've been up to lately...as in the last two days.

do you have any guesses as to what I might be making? Hmmm...I'll leave you to your guessing. I'll post the project as soon as I am finished...I think it will be done today.

Get excited. I am. Aaron is too.

Now, these cute kiddos are our neighbors. Well, AR-Jenni (I have NO idea how to spell his name, but that is the pronunciation) and TOE-mas (thomas with a Porto Rican accent) is his cousin that have just come to stay for a few months? indefinitely? But we LOVE our cute Porto Rican family next door. They are great! I practice my rusty rusty spanish with arjenni and he practices his english with me (he is really really good for only living here a little longer than a year!)...anyway, they are so cute. Every time they see me and I am coming home with groceries or whatever, they ask if they can help me carry stuff in. And then they give me hugs all the time (which, I am definitely not a "hug" kind of girl -never really have been, but they are just so cute). Here they are playing in the backyard. Aaron took some pictures. Yes, Arjenni is doing a back flip off of the ladder. Here's the play by play... don't worry, as soon as I know backflips were happening in the 3 foot pool, I put an end to that. How UNcool would it be for a broken neck, I ask? Nope, not on my watch. (yes, I am doctor).

oh, and if you haven't heard the new Colbie Caillat cd...get hearin' soon. (click on this link and you can listen to her songs on her website...left hand side). It is pure delightful. I love each song on the compact disc. True enjoyment. Thanks becca, you're the bomb.com.

lots of love to my peeps. adios. oh, and thanks for the birthday wishes. all ya'll were so nice. :)

24th year of life...ahh, memory lane

well, well, well...another birthday has come and gone. Yes, I am now 23. Can you believe it? Wowzas. I decided to take a quick stroll down memory lane. This above picture was taken in Hong Kong when we lived there. Now, they know how to do it right! Don't you love the yellow background? sheesh, me too.

remember how it is now cool to "pop your collar"? well, here is proof that I started the trend.

I just wanted to do a compare/contrast. Look at my face I made when I was four? And then compare it to last year's picture below. Hmmm...is this the same girl? I think so. (By the way, I LoVeD playing with barbie and ken---and look how cute lil' jesse boy looks in the background).

yep, same girl...20 years later.

Here's a picture from Aaron and I going out to eat yesterday night. It was great, we went to Pei Wei's and then to target for some more AwEsOmE basketball shorts (i'm a total baller now...ha!) And saw our friends there celebrating their anniversary. So, we all decided to go to Cold Stone to finish off the evening. (Actually they had planned on it and so had we! what luck!) It was delicious and really fun company. Then we came home and watched "Music and Lyrics"---pretty cute. I LoVe the song from it. Then fell asleep. It was a good day.

We also had some fun tonight (sunday)...it was a party and a half with my favorite Costco "Great American Chocolate Cake" that I have been craving for MONTHS AND MONTHS. It was really fun, I'll post some more pictures and fun stuff later, skaters.

watch out for our tiger!

whoa! I wouldn't want to mess with this tough guy. (whoo whoo! hot bod, by the way!)

why would he be making this face? please, read on.

Alas, here we are...saving your eyes from reading my last post. Talk about way too much information from Melissa in ONE sitting. You were all nice to even attempt reading it...even though you didn't need to. And, thanks for the well wishes in the seminary department. They are much needed. :)

Anyway, on a more pressing matter... I am sure you are wanting to know the reason as to why my "usually delightful" husband would be making such a "i'm gonna tear out your liver with my teeth" face. Get a load of this: Yeah, this was our welcome home party. You know, the one our pool threw for us upon our return home from Utah.

Apparently, when there is a lot of rain the pool throws up. Eghwww. Sick imagery, but I'm pretty sure that is what happened.

However, I am proud to announce that our pool is on the "up and up" (i love that phrase). After a Saturday morning filled with Aaron scraping out the DISGUSTING - algae filled - mosquito larvae infested - slimy - stinky - abyss (while I so dutifully sprayed the hose, making sure not to get anything on my freshly washed jeans), the pool is looking much better.

Who knew something could be so gross in such a small amount of time? Not I. Anyway, it is ready to be filled and chlorinated...for a second time this summer.

Whew! Who knew pools could be sooo much fun?!

grrrr...

tag! you're it!

hmm...well, I guess I have been tagged. By TWO people! Thanks Jill and Michelle...NOT! :) Man, I have been avoiding doing it, because I haven't wanted to really sit down and use my brain. When I sit at the computer, I try to avoid using that part of my life. I am like a computer vegetable when I look at blogs, so this is going to be a stretch for me. ha! now, don't I sound like a winner or what?!

Seven things about me that you may know, may not know that is "funny, random, silly, whatever" (taken from Michelle's blog) and "These facts can be happy, sad, or whatever" (taken from Jill's blog). Hmmm...ok.
(p.s. these are in no particular order.)

-i love sound. When I am by myself at home or if Aaron is studying on the kitchen table and it is like I am by myself, I always like having some type of sound going on. For this reason, I have the t.v. on low most of the day or turn on my computer and have music or podcasts going. Like right now, for example, I have an australian radio pod cast with Nicole Kidman as the guest going in the background. Am I listening to it at all? No. But...it is sound. Should we analyze this? Feel free. I have some speculations, but I won't bore you with those right now. Oh wait! you already are bored! :) oh well. I'm tagged, what do I do?
In case you want a cool website to listen to different sounds/music/audio books...go to this site. Aaron showed it to me. It is neat because you search for songs or whatever and then you can make a playlist and then it plays ...it. Pretty complex, I know. It is good because I can listen to songs from High School Musical and other great things :) (me too michelle).


-i just got asked to be a seminary teacher. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that was me, freaking out. I use the word "asked" and not "called" because, apparently you can turn these things down. Yeesh. But, alas, I said yes. So, beginning August 27th you can know where I will be every single weekday except school holidays...at the chapel. Class begins at 6, but since I am the teacher (go figure) I should be there at 5:45 a.m.
Wow. I told Aaron a few weeks ago that we should make some goals to be better at scripture study and really study. ha! Well, guess who got a call that VERY NIGHT! :) It's my fault, I know. jk. I really am excited about it...and wow, what an excuse to really get into the scriptures.
I'm just overwhelmed. I mean, I was IN seminary approximately two minutes ago. !!! You know, the STUDENT! And I had teachers like Brother Halverson, who is incredible and knows the scriptures and their applications like the back of his hand! Me? When I found out I am teaching Old Testament I wanted to cry. Oh, wait! Did cry.
Anyway, so get excited. I am.


-i have a love/hate relationship with the phone. I am not a fan of talking on the phone unless I am really in the mood. But I love to text message. What a beauty. You can communicating without really "talking". Love that. Also, if you try calling my house phone, you'll probably get my answering machine (if it is working). Every time the power goes out, it shuts down the answering machine...so, because it has been so stormy for practically the entire summer, we consequently don't get messages. We don't really answer the home phone, b/c we only got it for the internet (which we use WAY too much).
So, if you want to get a hold of us, call our cell phones.
And if you don't have one of our cell phone numbers, well, sorry charlie. Guess you can't talk to us. :)
And, my friends know that I am pretty bad with calling back in a prompt manner. I call back, but don't be mad if it is a day or two later. :) Hope no emergencies happened. Oh! and leave a message if you want me to call back. Oh! and I don't answer numbers that aren't already on my phone...so, again, leave a message. Way too much information.


-i am a procrastinator/deadline/wait until the absolute last minute person. 'nuff said.


-i love naps. LoVe love love naps. One of my best friend's mom always used to take a nap in the afternoon. I love that. I hope I can be just like that when I grow up. It doesn't have to be an hour or two hour deal, even for a half hour is good. I just LoVe to sleep. We could analyze that one too, couldn't we?
My mom always says this "how would it be!?" when she finds out that I have been napping (that word sounds like i'm a little baby or something), and to that I say this: "It is all about priorities. If a nap is important to me, I schedule it into my day." and then she tells me all of the things that need to get done by her in a day, and I again say, "where are your priorities mom? obviously a nap isn't one of them, and if it was, you'd take one yourself." and then we finish our conversation and then I'm tired. So, I sleep...again. It's my priority :) just kidding.


-i love to surf. the internet, that is. I love looking at crafter's blogs and getting inspired to create my own unique things, (notice my list of inspiration links). I use their ideas as a jumping off point. I love how you can learn how to do ANYTHING on the internet. I wanted to learn how to hem pants, so I searched for it and viola! I see step by step how to do it. I want to make a new quilt, so I search for it and get crackin'. Love that. Love the internet. So does Aaron. Lots of days you can see us at our kitchen table with both of us on our laptops just surfin' (as we fondly call it). What is funny, is that Aaron probably loves it even more than I do. Now that is a strong love. We probably will always have wireless station in our house with laptops by our side. Always.


-last one? hmmm....I better make it a good one. hmmm.... i told you that this deep thinking is hard for me.
Okay, maybe I can combine this one. Life is good. I love the fact that I have the knowledge of the gospel and it touches EVERYthing in my life. I mean, without it maybe I wouldn't have had the desire to really get married to Aaron. We could have just moved in together had a fling and when we want out, we just give back the apt. or house key and leave.
Had we not wanted to develop a REAL deep love and make covenants to be each other's support and promise to grow spiritually together and all that other good stuff, I don't know if we'd be here right now. You know?
Even now...I think to myself, how did we really do it? I mean, I was so fickle while we were dating, back and forth, saying "maybe we should take a breather for a minute..." but, I knew it was right. I had a confirmation that it was right and that we could/would be happy. So, we did it.
Best decision ever. Best ever.
I love having the tools to happiness. I know what to do to be happy. I love knowing. Knowledge is power, isn't it? The hard part is really DO-ing all those things to be happy. Luckily, I married a DO-er. And that I have a support system of DO-ers that inspire me to be better. Basically I am a lucky girl. Thanks team. Thanks for helping me use my brain.


TAG. you're it. I officially tag whomever is reading this blog (and if you've already done it, you don't have to do it again unless you want to or if you want to add anything to your list, feel free. You can have an addendum. Love that word).
BUT! if you must need an official tag...then I tag:
Natalie J. Monson, Sarah Stucks Craig (yes, that means you have to update your blog again), Sarah B. Johnson, Jandee M. Jones, Kirstin W. Starr, Kelly ? Babcock (i don't know your maiden name's initial!), Kajsa Nielson, Melissa Jessop, and Kemy Nielsen Bates (this is an excuse to finally do your blog!). Again, ANYONE who wants to has an excuse to list 7 things about themselves, even if I didn't officially "tag" you. Consider this your tag.

Whew! Breathe first. Now, get crackin'.

details, details...

So, I was just looking at pictures on my family's computer of old pictures. I came across these photos from a little bit over a year ago. Yes, we have lived in Texas for longer than a year. Holy Cow. Strange, I know. Here are just a few pictures I found of us right before the move and when we arrived in San Antonio.

gettin' ready to move down to texas! (my sister Becca, me, Aaron, and his little bro. tyler).

look at how naive we were, we had no idea it would take THAT long (well, at least I didn't).

me & becca on the riverwalk

tyler and aaron...same picture posed spot

Topic Change: So, I just read that last post for the first time. Umm...remember how I didn't even give the link to my melimba blog? yeah, sorry. details...these are the things I forget most days.

This is the link to my other blog.

Well, our Utah trip is coming to an end. We leave today. I am writing this post on our family's computer in the room we call "the scrapbook room"--but, do we EVER scrapbook in this room? no, never. This is the desk I wrote all of those high school and jr. high papers from. This is where I first learned about the internet and would LOVE sneaking in here to sign on to that hotmail chat thing. I was pretty much addicted and when I would get in trouble, my parents would take away computer "chat" privileges.

Ahhh...those were the days.

Anyway, it has been a good little trip. We love being home. We love seeing our families and friends and just hanging out. Thanks for all of the fun, team Utah.

melimba...and who doesn't like cupcakes?

enjoy the cupcakes I made for a work party the other day. they were quite delicious, if I do say so myself.

dear team,

so, i spent a morning and updated my *melimba* blog. I have an actual website for the company at www.melimba.com
but there aren't tons of pictures of actual cards that are available. Alas, I posted a BUNCH on the *melimba* blog. Eventually, I am going to figure out a way for people to go to melimba.com and automatically lead them to the melimba blog until I am really happy about the REAL layout for the website. You know? si. It is hard to figure out website coding and all that jazz...but Aaron did a good job for now.

Anyway, if you are curious to know what I've been up to, feel free to take a peek. And if you are interested in ordering anything, let me know. I'm excited, today I am going up to another store in SLC to make a big delivery. Fun fun fun.

check it

So here we are in utah. This is a picture of us sleeping. Look at how peaceful Utah is. Really peaceful.

Uh-huh... melissa accidentally spilled bleach on her collar and so it is her sleeping shirt.

We went and watched my nephew play baseball yesterday. I thought it was great cause i got to yell at the umpires a couple times (payback for all those years when I was the ump) and melissa felt really bad each time an 8 yr old struck out and had to walk back to the dugout with quiver lip.

Not really sure what we're doing today, but I'm sure it doesn't involve 1) anything to do with UTHSCSA 2) work of any kind and 3) mosquitos & crickets (San Antonio's gettin' taken over).

Oh yea, we are going to HP5 tonight.

Also... shout out to sarah craig for her uncharacteristic-non "bi-annual" update. We're all very proud. Oh, and congrats on getting the cast off.

Hopefully we can see some of you Utah people while we're here.

Adam and Ashley... you need a blog.