BBQ Birthday & Baby Blessing

This last weekend was full of fun adventures. It included Brett's B-day BBQ and Breckin's Baby Blessing. And I just happened to bake a blackout cake. Apparently we like to do all of the "B" things in one weekend.

Friday started with me going to work where I hung out with kids all morning. I really do love my job. After I got off around 1:30 I headed home and then to the store. I was in search of chocolate, karo syrup, strawberries, and candles. After I had the supplies I headed home to bake a Brooklyn Chocolate Blackout Cake from scratch. For you see, it was Brett's birthday party that night and she had requested chocolate cake for dessert. I usually get put in charge of making dessert at these things because people know that I enjoy it and that I usually end up going all out. Hence the cake from scratch. After 2 1/2 hours of melting, mixing, stirring, chilling, spreading, baking, cutting and layering I ended up with a cake that looked like this

Once the cake was ready I went and packed my bag, wrapped a gift, and headed up to Wendi and Ben's house for the party, praying the whole drive that the cake wouldn't melt or slide off the platter. Luckily my prayers were answered and me and the cake arrived safe and sound and just in time. I ran into the house with all my gear and set about helping Wendi get things ready. We prepared the food, ironed a sheet for the movie screen, cleaned off the tables and all the while watched baby Breckin.

Somewhere in the middle of this friends started showing up. When everyone had arrived and all was ready to go we set Ben to work barbecuing hamburgers for us. He is such a good sport to not only hang out with all of us girls but cook for us as well. And he is a pretty good cook. The evening followed with us all gathered around the table eating, talking, and most of all laughing. Whenever we are all together it seems that we can just sit and laugh for hours on ends. We ate our hamburgers, had cake and ice cream, and cleaned up things and got ready for the movie.

We hung a white sheet on the back of the house and then set up a projector and chairs around it in the yard. Ben was even smart enough to set up mosquito sticks so we wouldn't get eaten alive. We ended up watching What Happens in Vegas. It is a funny show and we all laughed our way through it. Once it was over we cleaned up, said goodbye to Bree, and then went inside to figure out where the rest of us were going to sleep since we had all decided to sleepover for the baby blessing the next day. Once sleeping arrangements had been made we all continued to sit around and laugh into the early hours of the morning. We finally said goodnight and went to bed sometime in the morning hours.

The next day started bright and early with the sun shinning through the windows. It is the perfect way to wake up if you ask me. The morning proceeded with making chicken salad, getting ready ourselves, setting up canapes, tables, and chairs, making the chicken salad sandwiches, cutting up brownies, getting baby Breckin ready, and making lemonade. all of this was quite the adventure, but fun at the same time.

Family started arriving at noon and soon all of us were crammed into the house. Ben gathered the worthy priesthood holders around him and Breckin and then proceeded to give his first son his first blessing. It always amazes me to be a part of things of this magnitude. They are such simple things that come with the greatest power and significance. It is such a great feeling to know that men here on earth are worthy and able to hold and use the priesthood power of God. There was such a great feeling of peace and joy as Ben blessed his son. I don't remember all that he said but I remember the feeling that came with his words and the power that was with them

After the blessing we all headed out to the yard to eat some great food. It is times like this when I am glad I have a big family. It means lots of good food when we all gather together. We had chicken salad sandwiches, brownies, potato salad, watermelon, grapes, bow tie pasta salad, regular pasta salad, peanut butter cookies, cake cookies, chips, cookies bars, and lemonade. It was a great afternoon with great people. And the clean-up wasn't bad at all with many helping hands to do it. And overall, it was a great way to spend the weekend. What better way is there then to spend it with people you love.

Friday's Fabulous Find

Last Friday I had two Fabulous finds as well. Well, to be honest I had been to one of the places before, but I thought it was Friday Find worthy and I took a Friend there for her first time. The first Friday find is another movie. Once again I had not heard much about it beforehand and went just for fun. The movie was called Midnight in Paris

This movie was really cute and charming. It had an old school movie feel to it and was just fun to watch. It is set in present day Paris and is about a man who wants to become a writer. He is in Paris with his Fiance' and her parents. They drive him nuts and he starts going on walk through the streets of Paris at midnight. If you know your literature and arts such as Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Fitzgerald, then it makes the show a lot more fun. If you don't, no worries, it is still a cute story and you will still get the concept. Plus, the music was great and you just left feeling happy and ready to live to the fullest where you are at in life at the moment.

The second Find is an Italian Water Ice shop called Zeppes

Location: 1095 N. Main street, Layton
Hours: Mon-Thur 11am - 10pm, Fri & Sat 11am - 11pm
Description: Italian Water Ice
Cost: Decent
www.zeppesice.com

This is a great little place. Driving by, you wouldn't think to go in and you really don't notice it unless you are looking for it. It is located across the street from Hobby Lobby in Layton ans is absolutely fabulous. It is cute, small, and charming once you enter. They have a variety of water ice flavors such as root beer, coconut, orange delicious, mango, and so forth that change with the seasons. They also have frozen custard, gelata, and shakes. I like to get the mix which comes with your flavor of water ice and frozen custard on top. The portions are a good size and the flavors are great. It is the perfect treat for a hot summer day or a nice summer night.

Lambda Delta Sigma

Lambda Delta Sigma is an organization that will always be close to my heart. It is something that I was a big part of for four years of my life. It is something that gave me a safe place to go and a place to meet some of the greatest people I have ever met. And it is now a place that I must say goodbye to.

I joined Lambda Delta Sigma my first year of college. It is an LDS sorority that had 18 different chapters. There was also a LDS fraternity called Sigma Gamma Chi that had many chapters as well. Each chapter had a different name such as Xi, Delta, Nu, Phi, Beta, etc. I was in the greatest chapter ever, Omega.

I will never forget the night my mom told me to go and join a sorority at the U. She had told before about being in one when she was in college and part of me thought she was crazy. Why in the world would I want to join a sorority? She talked me into it though telling me all about the fun she had and the friends that she made. So, that is how I found myself walking into the U of U Institute on a Tuesday night in August of 2005, which also happened to be my second day of college. I remember walking in and being a bit nervous. After all, I was by myself, I had no idea what to expect, and I still didn't really know what I was getting myself into.

After filling out a name-tag and receiving a packet of papers I walked into the gym and the ciaos began. Imagine, if you will, a gym full of girls. Lots of girls. Then add to that 18 different backdrops, tables, and groups of people. Throw in a bunch of other girls you have no idea what they are doing and you get what I just walked into. But instead of it making me nervous or scared, it made me excited.

That night I walked around a gym and talked to a bunch of girls. After meeting with each chapter and getting some information on them I went to the chapel and filled out my preference card. I was sitting with some people I met and was debating between two sororities to put as my number one. I finally put down my choices and left the building. I knew that I would have to come back the next night to see where I would be placed. Upon returning on Wednesday night I reentered the gym. After waiting for what seemed like forever I was finally able to see what chapter I would be in. Then I was lead down the hall and walked into my new sorority room filled with girls that I would now join. I found some of the people I meet the night before and quickly joined their side. That is the night that I became a member of a sisterhood. That is night that I became a member of OMEGA.

For the next four years I was involved in weekly activities, firesides, date nights, battle of the chapters, football games, movie nights, slip n' slides, jello nights, carnivals, soup fests, dances and meetings. But most of all I was involved in something so much bigger. Something that included laughter, fun, growth, friendships, joy, belonging, and most of all LOVE. Sorority was something that changed my life and changed me for the better. From being a part of it and being an officer in it, it helped make me into the person I am today. It gave me a place to be involved. A place to go that was safe. A place to go to finally belong.

And now, after all of the years of laughter and memories, it is time to say goodbye. The church announced recently that they are going to end the program. In fact, it is already official and all members have been released. This news saddened me. Not because I will no longer get to be a part of it, because I really have not been for the last year or so, but more for the fact that the organization itself will no longer exist. I feel sad for the people who were never able to be involved and for the people who will now never get to experience it. The organization was such a great place of sisterhood and brotherhood among young single adults. It was a place to grow and learn and come unto Christ. It was a place to make friends and belong to a group of people who would stand by you. And now it no longer is and that is what makes me sad.

I will forever be grateful though. Grateful that I was a part of it. Grateful to my mom for making me join. Grateful that I was able to meet so many amazing people and have the privilege of calling them my friends. Friends that I still have today and will have long into the future. I will forever have memories of jello slip n' slides, ninja turtles, blackout football games, barn dances, clue date nights, winter formals, Richard Simmonds aerobics, exchanges with the Frats, Omega Man Pageants, Rush weeks, officer meetings, swallowing goldfish, Powder puff football games, and so much more. But most of all I will have memories of being with friends. Memories that are filled with laughter, joy, and love for each other and life that I will never forget. So goodbye Omega. Goodbye to Lambda Delta Sigma and Sigma Gamma Chi. You will always be remembered.

Omega Born
Omega Bred
Omega till the day I'm Dead

Friday's Fabulous Find

This last Friday I was able to find what I was looking for the one before. It is a shop called Ten Thousand Villages

Location:1941 South 1100 East, Sugar House
Hours: Monday - Saturday 10am to 6pm
Description: Unique and hand made creations from around the world
Prices: Vary depending on what it is and where its from
Web page: http://saltlakecity.tenthousandvillages.com/php/stores.festivals/store.homepage.php

This store is awesome! It is a non profit organization that helps people in villages all around the world. They call it a fair trade operation. What that means is that they have contacts in all parts of the world that go into villages and work with the people to sell their items. Ten Thousand Villages pays a price for their work and then sells in their stores for no profit. The whole store is filled with items from all around the world. There are things from India, Peru, Brazil, Philippines, Ecuador, and so many other places. The items range from Jewelry, soap, mirrors, picture frames, cards, pots, wall art, rugs, books, headbands, and so much more. What makes this store even better is that the whole place is run by volunteers. Everyone who works there freely gives of their time to help this shop succeed in helping others around the world. If you ever get the chance you really should visit this place. It has great things that are unique and pretty in style. And plus, you not only get the benefit of great items, but you get to help others while buying them.

Friday's Fabulous Find

fThis last Friday I happened to have two Friday finds and both turned out to be pretty fabulous. The first one I actually didn't mean to find. I was in search of another place and this place just happened to cross my path. Since I could not find the one I was looking for I decided to go on in this new one. After all, that is what Friday finds are all about; finding new and exciting things to experience. The place I found is

Salissa's Boutique
"A Unique Experience"
Location: 1950 S. 1100 E. Sugarhouse
Phone: 801-467-2909
Hours: Monday - Saturday 11am - 7pm
Prices: a little high

When looking at this place you don't really know what to expect. The shop is in an old house and is right by other cute and nifty shops in houses as well. In this place you will find really cool and unique clothing, hats, scarfs, jewelry, shoes, belts, and hairpieces. It is a little bit pricey but the stuff is really cute and fun. If you are looking for something cool and unique to wear or give as a gift then this is the store for you.

My second Fabulous Find happened later that night. I had gone to a friends baby shower with Kendra. After the shower we decided to leave and head to a movie. Kendra really wanted to see the show 17 Miracles.

It was a show that I had not heard of and didn't know much about. Kendra explained to me that it was about the Willie Martian handcart company and their journey west. We decided to go and see it and I am so glad we did. This is a show that reminds you what those people went through to get here and what getting here meant to them. Getting here to Utah meant freedom. It meant living in Zion. And most of all it meant having a temple where they could be sealed for time and eternity. How grateful we should be to live here with all that we have. This show made me cry, but not in a bad way. It made me cry for the joy of seeing miracles happens. It made me cry for remembering my time in Martins Cove and what it meant to me. It made me cry to see the joy that the gospel brings to peoples lives and the power that it has to restore all that was ever lost.

17 Miracles is also a show that reminds you of the work of God and what he can do in your lives. It reminds you of his presence and of the miracles that he does daily. But, not only does it help remind you of the past, it also gives you strength for the future. It reminds you that God still exists today and that he is a God of miracles. It reminds you what truly matters in this life and makes you think about what you are willing to give to achieve it. God never gave up on those people and God will never give up on you. But it is up to you to never give up on him and his promises that he has made to you. You must remember that you are his child and that he does love you and will always be there for you if you but only ask.

Nicknames

Growing up I have had a variety of nicknames. Some have come and gone, some are just associated with certain people, and some are the ones that seem to stick around forever no matter how much time passes. And then, of course, you have the universal nicknames of just shortening someones real name. Such as Austin to Aus and Christopher to Chris and Jessica to Jess and Brittney to Britt. For some reason when we start to become friends with someone it seems easier to shorten their name to just one syllable. I always felt bad for the people whose name was already one syllable. After all, you can't really shorten Ann to A.

My first nickname was probably "boo". When I was little I always remember being called Brittney Boo or just boo boo. IT is a name that I have always been called by my mom and dad. No one else calls me it, just them. And it is something that they still call me to this day.

Throughout the years growing up I became the victim of many nicknames. As a little girl my Uncle Cory would call me Gummie Bear, no, he doesn't anymore. Once I started playing baseball I always seemed to get called Walker and then somehow it got changed to Walkerkins. In Jr. High my friend and I liked a show on cartoon network and started calling each other the names, I was Bubbles. Then I had a friend who wanted me to have a middle name so she said it was Marie so that my initials would then be BMW. I had another friend who wanted me to have a different middle name so she said it was Jane so that she could then call be BJ. In High school my cousins and I thought it would be fun if we started saying things backwards. That was when I became Yenttirb. Some names are really cool backwards like Mackay becomes Yakcam and Wendi becomes Idnew. There was a time when I went bowling every Wednesday night with a friend and we decided that we needed bowling names. She became Groovy and I became Lucky. All of these nicknames have come and gone. On occasion someone will still call me one of them, but not very often.

And then there was this one night. A night involving three girls, dancing, Dr. Pepper, a camera, the Notebook movie, a sleepover, and no sleep. A night that we were all sure we would forget about and a night where we were sure the nicknames wouldn't be remembered and would never stick. But guess what...they were not forgotten and they have stuck ever since.

This particular night happened about six years ago. Brett, Wendi and I had all decided to get together and have a sleepover. We started the night off by going dancing at Trolley Square (this would be the old Studio 600). After a few hours of jumping around and singing along to songs we left and headed back to Brett's. Of course along the way we stopped and got huge Dr. Peppers from Taco Bell. Once back at Brett's house the night continued with movies, junk food, disposable camera's, and lots of laughter. Somewhere in the middle of it all and probably at about 3 in the morning, we started thinking about initials and what sounds the letters of our initials make. Don't ask me why, because in all honesty I really don't know. We started with Wendi's name. Her initials are W and then L. Somehow we just started calling her WL. Not very creative, but that's how it goes. Brett was next with the initials B and A. Now imagine three girls hyper beyond belief and very sleep deprived making the sounds of these letters and trying to put them together to make sense. Highly entertaining. And in all of our Letter sound making Brett became BaHa. That left me. Now since I don't have a middle name that also means I have no middle initial. Brett and Wendi were trying to come up with something that started with B. They went through a variety of things and somewhere along the way Wendi shouted out Sting. There was then this Ahah moment from Brett and all of a sudden I became B-Sting. We all started laughing at our new names for each other and kept calling each other by them the rest of the night. When we finally decided that we should go to bed and laid so when we were all sure that A) most of the laughable moments of the night would not be remembered, including the nicknames. and B) if the nicknames were remembered they would never stick and we would never use them.

Well, the next morning came bright and early. We all got up and got ready for the day. When it was time for Wendi and I to leave we all just looked at each other and started laughing. At that moment we knew that all nicknames had been remembered and that they would from that moment on be what we refereed to each other as. And they have continued to stick ever since that eventful night. Isn't great to have friends you can be that close with.