Capitol Reef

I went to Capitol Reef for the first time with my future roommates and some new friends from my new ward. It was a blast!! It was soo beautiful, and we got caught in a huge rainstorm. It was crazy! Places that were dry as a bone on the hike up became rivers and waterfalls on the way down. Luckily, we were all safe on our adventure. :)

 

First time I've ever seen a cactus blooming in nature. So beautiful!!



Notice the muddy river.

 

Rainy...

 

Rockin' the poncho...

 

 

 

View from the cabin:

 

 

Some of the precipitation craziness...

 

 



 

Here's more of the view. It was a gorgeous and relaxing weekend :)

 There is beauty all around. :)

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy

I'd heard about this book from my Bishop, a good friend, and an article on LDS.org. I finally checked out the free preview on Amazon. Feeling Good, by David Burns. It's probably the best book on cognitive therapy I've ever read.

You have my permission to skip the entire intro and first chapter (I did), it's a little boring.
What first caught my attention was the checklist at the beginning of chapter two.
I've included a picture of it below if you want to complete it.

 Dr. Burns explains that a normal, happy, functional person would have a score around five, and anything below ten is considered normal. Someone who scores higher could use some of the techniques and exercises in this book to improve their level of happiness.

What I loved about this checklist and book is that it didn't just focus on feeling "sad," and it didn't focus on feeling depressed "for no reason," two things we commonly think of when we think of depression. It focuses on negative thinking being the primary cause of feelings of anxiety, guilt, pessimism, procrastination, low self-esteem, hopelessness, and other feelings of depression. It also addressed how most of these things come from how we perceive real problems and challenges in our lives. By changing the way we think rather than feeling we can't be happy until we change the situation, we are able to find happiness at all times throughout our lives and ironically find more motivation for change. (Where have I heard that before, OH YEAH, the gospel of Jesus Christ. And it's also a key principle of existentialism:)

Dr. Burns presents 10 common negative thinking patterns that cause one to feel those negative feelings. I hesitated to list them here, because I really just want you to read the book. It explains so much more.


1. All or Nothing Thinking. This refers to your tendency to evaluate your personal qualities in extreme, black or white categories.
2. Over-generalization. You arbitrarily conclude that since something that happened to you once will occur over and over again.
3. Mental Filter. You pick out a negative detail in any situation and dwell on it exclusively thus perceiving that the whole situation is negative.
4. Disqualifying the Positive. Transform neutral or even positive experiences into negative ones. (Including mind reading and fortune telling errors.)
5. Jumping to Conclusions. You arbitrarily jump to a negative conclusion that is not justified by the facts of the situation.
6. Magnification and Minimization. When you look at your own errors, fears, imperfections and exaggerate their importance, and when you think about your strengths, you may to the opposite.
7. Emotional Reasoning. You take your emotions as evidence for the truth.
8. Should Statements. You try to motivate yourself by saying "I should do this" or "I must do that."
9. Labeling and Mislabeling. Creating a completely negative self-image based on your errors.
10. Personalization. You assume responsibility for a negative event even when there is no basis for doing so.

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by Dr. David Burns Pages 60-70

One reviewer said the book was almost too "cheerful" for someone who is depressed to take seriously. I loved that description. :) It is very cheerful, but the scenarios and conversations recorded in the book make it accessible and relatable. Dr. Burns explains that it is, of course, normal to feel sad and have some of the above mentioned symptoms sometimes. But he makes a sharp distinction with examples between normal sadness and depressive hopelessness. He also explains how learning to think realistically takes time and improvement may ebb and flow, but that improvement will happen. He shares how he still does exercises from the book and how it helps him be happy in his daily life to deal with feelings and internal dialog in a realistic, honest way.
The book also goes into detail about the use of anti-depressant drugs in the last section, which may also be helpful for some cases.
David Burns also wrote a book on relationships and loneliness available here for free that is really great.


*Disclaimer: while I strongly recommend this book for it's superb presentation of cognitive therapy, I don't necessarily support all of the opinions and attitudes expressed by the author on other topics. :)

Pre-Fourth Celebrations! :)

I dropped by my family's home for a surprise visit! We were all dressed super patriotically! Didn't even plan it. Also, family #nomakeup day. Also unplanned ;) Happy summer!

Aw...Look how patriotic they are!

The flag kept falling down, so mom was holding it and pretending it was staying by itself.

Too much cuteness for one photo.

My mama's literally the greatest.

Sometimes, you just hug your mom. 

Mom made such a cute table cloth and runner for the 4th of July!

Delish!

What is the Hardest Thing You've Ever Done?

My sister was asked this question in an interview and I've been thinking about it all week.  Thinking about what my response would be.
Like all of us, I've gone through some pretty hard stuff.  Pretty serious stuff.  But the answer I chose was not something that may seem like the hardest thing in my life on the surface, but I think it's the most true answer I have.
The hardest thing I've ever done was ending a relationship with someone I loved very much because the relationship was not going somewhere that was consistent with my values. The reason I'd say this was the hardest, is because I had to have the courage to self-inflict that pain. But I know that happiness isn't found in avoiding pain. It's found in living a life consistent with your values. :)

What's the hardest thing you've ever done?

Jessica's Wedding!

Lori, Shanna and me celebrating for Jess:)

Jessica got married! She's my coworker:)  I'm here with my other two babe coworkers, Shanna and Lori. It was so much fun.  Jess looked gorgeous. I really liked the venue, Bella Vista, because it's where one of my best friends and old roommie Rosi had her reception as well!  So that brought back memories.

The flowers were gorgeous.  The had a waffle bar, which was a really fun idea! I loved the whole evening.:)  Marriage makes me happy.  Trav and Jess are perfect for one another.

OG

Next time you go to Olive Garden, ask for the extra supreme celebratory party platter deluxe for your water.

Just kidding, that's not a real thing.  

But you should ask for Chase if you go to Orem.  Cuz that's a real thing. :)

He was the best waiter ever and brought us fruit all night.

What If We Chose How We Look?

I was ready to leave for work this morning.  I had gotten all packed up for Thanksgiving break so I could head straight for home right after closing time.  I was standing in the living room, eating my cereal mentally scanning for anything I forgot to pack.  The sun was coming up and soft morning light was coming through the windows, and I could see the frost on my car outside.

I have a big, rectangular mirror hanging on the wall in my living room.  As I was finishing my cereal I absent-mindedly started gazing at myself. I was having those rolling, dreamlike thoughts, the kind you're barely aware you're having.  I had my hair pulled back in a bun with no make up on except a little red lipstick.
I was thinking to myself, "Yeah, I look pretty good:)  I like the way I look.  I mean, if I were choosing, I'd probably have tweaked a couple things a little differently...." Then I chuckled at the thought of my spirit in Heaven before I was born getting toddler-excited and picking out a bunch of crazy features:)

But then I stopped and thought, "Well, why not?"  I'm pretty dang sure this is false doctrine, so most def don't quote me in general conference when you become a general authority, but I thought, What if we did?  What if, in Heaven, we got to choose how we would look?  And everyone picked out what their tastes truly dictated was the most beautiful to them?  And we didn't think otherwise until we came to Earth and society imposed false standards on us and we lost our ability to see all beauty?  What if we are all the most beautiful?  And some of us just forgot? What if we picked everything about ourselves?

Food for thought:)

However, we are all created in the image of God by a loving Father in Heaven.  Isn't that kinda enough to make you accept the beautiful gift of your body?

52 New Things: Got a Kitchenaid! (14 to go)

Let's just say, Christmas came a little early this year and I am the happiest woman on the planet:)  I've already made cookies, pizza, bread, cinnamon rolls and frosting, and I can't WAIT to keep using this beaut:)  Baking just got better.

Ahhhh...sooo beautiful:)

52 New Things: Ate and Made the Liège Waffle (15 to go)

Part One: Eating the waffles

I'm counting this one as two new things.  A couple weeks back, Chris' parents were in town. His dad had served and LDS mission in the Netherlands and wanted to get these authentic waffles in downtown Salt Lake at Bruges Waffles & Frites.

Bruges Waffles & Frites downtown Salt Lake

They were indescribable.  But let me try anyway.  The liège waffle goes by many different names: Brussles waffle, Flemish waffle, Bergische waffle, or simply, sugar waffle.  

It was like no waffle I'd ever had.  They were crusty and carmelized on the outside with a little hint of cinnamon. They were doughy, gooey, sweet deliciousness on the inside.  The flavor was complex and tasted nothing like any other waffle I'd ever had.  They were very sweet, but that didn't inhibit the flavor.  The texture was so variable, my mind was blown.

Chris and I went back twice in the next couple of weeks to have them. 

To Salt Lake. 

They were that good.

Okay, we were already in Salt Lake both times, but I WOULD have driven 60 minutes to taste these waffles.  I knew I had to create them myself.

Most of the ingredients in these waffles are common, except for the Belgium pearl sugar.

Belgium pearl sugar is different from Swedish or Swiss, because it easily caramelizes with heat, where as the others stay solid. Important, because you don't want crunchy chunks of sugar in your waffles, just crusty caramel.:)

Part Two: Making the waffles

As I have expressed, these waffles are VERY unique and VERY different from regular Belguim waffles.  I wanted to make them right.  I researched and read a lot about how to make them and compared a lot of recipes. I finally settled on this baby.  

Why?  Primarily because this guy has an entire blog, no no, not blog post,  an ENTIRE BLOG dedicated just to these waffles.  Yeah, they're good:)  This recipe was very specific and explained why each step was essential to creating an authentic liège waffle.  

This recipe starts the dough making process the day before.  It's quite specific about amounts and mixing times.  I was sooooooo happy when my dough balled up within 30 seconds of when he said it should!  Victory, part one:)  But I'm not gonna lie, I skimped a little on the 4 hour rising period to "develop the flavor."  Because I wanted to go to bed before 2:00.  Silly me.  Baking should always come first;)

     *Side note; the morning after rising, I made pumpkin pancakes with some leftover pumpkin from

pumpkin bread. Can I just state that I love fall and baking with pumpkin:)))??? But I thought it 

would be inappropriate to serve simple pumpkin pancakes along with these gourmet waffles, 

so we ate them all this morning.:)

Anyway, the dough sat in the fridge all day (under heavy objects of course, wouldn't want that dough getting all crazy and trying to rise...) while I was at work.  After work I came home and my pearl sugar had arrived!  I ordered it off Amazon.  Lars Own was the recommended brand, so that's what I bought. 

I mixed it into the dough, let it rise 90 minutes and threw them in the waffle iron.  I played with turning the iron off and on because it was hotter than the recommended fancy cast iron Liège waffle iron.

They turned out perfect!!!!!

After crouching with my chin on the counter watching them cook, I took my first bite and was literally jumping for joy.  They were just like the ones we had:)  VICTORY!

                  

Grandma Wilcox's Funeral

It was Grandma Wilcox's funeral.  I've been to services for various people before, but this was my first time being there from the viewing to the graveside services.  It was quite an experience.  I've never lost anyone so close to me.  There were a lot of emotions and thoughts.  I wished I'd been able to call her one more time, visit her one more time.  But then I realized I would probably have always felt that way.  

It was strange to spend a few days talking about life and death, reflecting over her entire existence, her posterity, her future.  It was hard to come home after that and face life.  To think I need to keep on keepin' on for 60 more years.  To think I'm already about 1/4 of the way through my life.  I think it's good to focus on the eternal perspective, but it was strange to think of life and death as so close that it seemed nothing in between is very significant.

In a way, I suppose that's true.  But the other thing that's been on my mind is how influential people's lives are.  I think of the way things happened, choices my predecessors made, and how they affect me. How my life would be different if they had chosen differently.  How my posterity will be affected by me and my choices are important; not just for me, but for them too. I need to keep on going, not just for me, but for all who will follow in my path.  Heavy stuff, but good to think about once in a while:) I'm just grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and temple covenants.  I know I will get to see Grandma and all of my ancestors again:)

Me and Chris

Family is forever:)

Thanksgiving point gardens!!!

The glorious central lawn at Thanksgiving Point Gardens

 We went to the Thanksgiving Point gardens for $2 Tuesdays in August.  They were soooooo beautiful!  It felt like we were in paradise.

 The waterfall there is the largest man-made waterfall in this hemisphere. So awe inspiring!!!

One of my favorite parts (every second was my favorite part...)  was the secret garden.  It's tucked away, just a small wooden door in a wall in a brick archway.  

When you walk inside, you see this beautiful fountain.  There are a few little "rooms" to wander through and some sculpture.

We got caught in the rain:)  It was actually pretty fun. And as stunning as nature can get.  We saw the bronze statues of Christ in the rain.  I felt like it was their natural state to be seen in.  Particularly the life-size one of the Savior walking on water during a storm, and the one of him in Gethsemane.  They rain made tears stream down His face.  What a beautiful experience.:)  We were so lucky to be able to come.

You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile

You're never fully dressed without a smile:)

52 New Things: Imagine Dragon's Concert! (34 to go)

We went to the Imagine Dragons Night Visions concert!!! It was amazing:) It was my first time going to a large arena concert like this.  It was awesome.

Waiting outside before the concert

We were so lucky.  We were on the floor, right by the stage! We got pushed off to the side towards the end though.  That's okay, everyone should have the experience of being right in front!

Incredible stage presence!

Yeah.  Doing mid-flight backflips.  No big deal.

Please believe he played the drum ON THE CEILING. 

Just flying through the air. Like a boss.

We love you too!

The set list. That's how close we were:)

He played the drum.  On the ceiling.

Descending out of the lights like a God of Rock...

We were sooo close!

They released giant balloons full of confetti! The best part is that no one popped them until the end of the song.  Then everyone popped them and there was just masses of confetti twirling everywhere!