"Conference Corn"

Twice a year we have the opportunity to receive guidance and assurance from General Authorities during General Conference. This also means that twice a year I use all of my saved Trader Joe's bags, get out the Air-Popper and prepare to make loads of "Conference Corn". It is the perfect treat to be physically fed while also being spiritually fed. Conference Corn can also be substituted for "Halloween Treat Corn", "Road Trip Corn" or "Sit Around and Watch a Movie Corn". 

Please be warned that Conference Corn is addictive and the hand-to-mouth-muscles can become overly exhausted. 

I use to just give out the bags to friends in the ward, but the amount of phone calls I receive asking for the recipe following conference changed the tradition - you now receive the corn along with the recipe. Please see below....

“Conference Corn”

½ Cup Popping Corn

½ Cup Butter

1 Cup Brown Sugar

¼ Cup Corn Syrup

¼ tsp Salt

½ tsp Vanilla

½ tsp Baking Soda

1. Pop the corn and put in paper bag
2. Bring butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and salt to a boil
3. Once you have reached 234 degrees, remove from heat, add the vanilla and baking soda.
4. Pour over popcorn and stir until well combined

Were still cool... right?

What happens when you mix a little Youth Conference, some crazy overly confident leaders, and a dash of Kelly Clarkson? A file of blackmail pictures and embarrassed youth is what! I don't know if I thought that we were being helpful by dancing in the middle of all the kids, but I think it was more like spastic bugs in a light zapper than helpful. In the moment we sure were having fun, and I guess, giving our girls a little glimpse into their future. I think this officially ends my days of being cool. Colin of course was right their to capture it all, knowing this could be evidence that he could some day use against me. 

Do you think I need to stretch first?

Serina and Mary so happy to be in a church cultural-hall.

This was before she saw my moves.

Just getting warmed up.

Where did you come from?

Where did you Go?

Where did you come from Cotton-Eyed Joe?

Lets pose while everyone around us runs away!

Heather and Mary so happy to have their favorite Kelly Clarkson song played. 

Look, even the Bishop got in to it! 

Please also note the crazy girl doing arm pumps on the far left.

Martha Stewart

I have only shared with Colin my concerns with Ms. Martha. I feel that this is some sort of Wife/Motherly sin to have feelings of angst towards her. While I can't get enough of her crafting, meals and overall domestic wonders, I feel she is rough, unmannerly and a really bad "Me-Monster". Continually she interrupts her guests and is one-upping them... SO RUDE! Is this acceptable because she is so good at what she does? Am I the only one who feels this way?

Beside these disturbances I will continue to look at her website everyday, attempt her crafts and make her recipes. Below are photos of the latest attempted recipe... Strawberry Tart. Also, the after pictures of our side-tables done in the re-painting Martha style. Such a double-edged sword!

Extreme Room Makeover

I love that show Extreme Home Makeover (even though I can't manage to watch without bawling). I only wish I had the skills to apply to be on the show and be on that design team. I love when they all run out of the house and hug the family. Below are photos of our room makeover. I wish I had before pictures... it was pretty crusty.

Karaoke FREAK!

Many of you know that Colin has an obsession. No, not with just ATV's, video games, food, or with his darling wife! It is with Karaoke. Any excuse to get out the microphones and he will. Every couple we have for dinner, friend that we talk to, and every person that stops by, usually gets an invitation. Please note: the invitation will sound like he wants you to sing, but really it is just an opportunity for him to show you his skills. We have SEVEN games and apparently there is a new one coming out that is better than all the rest. If I took a picture of every person that was conned into singing I could easily fill this blog. While he continues to make me laugh, and is totally entertaining, I think it might have gone too far. Consider yourself warned!

Look at the passion.... just try and stop him!

Me-Monster

I use this term quite a bit. I realize that not everyone understands what I am talking about. I think that Brian Regan described it best. But, like all monsters, there are good ones and bad ones. For Example....

Good Me-Monsters

Alexis - Couldn't be more fun and more "my type". I can always count on a good laugh and entertainment when I'm with her. What qualifies her as a me-monster, she LOVES to talk about herself, loves to discuss her likes and dislikes, loves to share her opinion and feelings on any subject and wants credit for doing just about anything. The thing is she is totally aware of it and doesn't need to be a brat about it.

Laura - The little Sis is a perfect example. There aren't enough pictures or videos in the world to make her happy. Case in point: One Thanksgiving my parents and grandparents came to Arizona and we all stayed in my parents time-share together. The first night my grandpa left his new digital camera out on the counter. Laura couldn't get enough of taking pictures of herself and looking at them (this was when digital cameras were new). The bad thing was that she couldn't figure out how to erase them. The next morning explaining 150 random pictures to my grandpa was pretty funny. This is only one story from the girl who never runs from cameras.

Side Note: They are both going to love having their pictures on the blog... I love you girls!

Bad Me-Monsters... Need I say more?

Maui

Hawaii was a blast! Neither Colin or I had been before, so it was even more fun and amazing for us first-timers. The trip and scale of fun wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for my job. The benefits of working for a high-end chain are: Cheap room nights at 5 diamond resorts, 50% off food and beverage at the resort outlets, and 30% discount on spa treatments. The not so good things: I have to work to get the benefits, which doesn't leave much time for all the traveling I want to do!

It was so nice to be taken care of and to have someone come clean our room twice a day, to hang up Colin's wet swim suit, to refer to us as Mr. & Mrs. McCoy, to bring us cool towels and pineapple skewers at the pool, and pretty much pretend that we don't work like dogs to have 10 days of fun and relaxation. There wasn't much we didn't get to do. It was also great to have Dallas and Laura there to share in the fun. Below are some pics...