Tailgate EXTRAVAGANZA

The other day I was telling my team about a DELICIOUS recipe that I like to make. Mamma D says, "Mern, You should bring it in!" So I did. We decided to celebrate Cinco De Mayo a little early. That is the 5th of May for those of you who don't speak Spanish ;). It turned out very well and everyone like it.

This is what it looks like inside my work. SOOO exciting.

This is my burrito

Erin and Ben. He is kinda creepy.

Dina and Lara. Poor Lara sits behind me. She sees me more than my mom does. See creepy Ben lurking...

So that was our lunch today. OH we called it Tailgate because you have those BEFORE a game and our meal was BEFORE Cinco De Mayo. Now the moment you all are waiting for.... The recipe right?

Mexican crockpot chicken

3 chicken breast

1 can black beans

1 can chili beans

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can green chili

1 packet taco seasoning

Put chicken in bottom of crock pot. add ingredients in order listed. cook on low 7-8 hours. take out chicken, shred and return to pot.

Enjoy as burrito or over chips or salad. Let me know if you like it! >:)

QUESTION FOR TODAY

If you keep achieving all your dreams, what on earth are you going to dream about?!?!

LIKE NEW..... almost.

Well, Yesterday I did something I have been wanting to do for a long time. I WASHED MY CAR. Thats right, I washed it. Not at a car wash, not at a drive thru car wash, but at my house. I got the bucket, the sponge, the water, car soap, car wax, interior shiner, and a microfiber cloth. Holy crap it was a work out and the sun felt great! You know how when people get a make-over they do a before and after shot? Well you guessed it, BIANCA got a make-over, so naturally we needed before and after shots. I think she looks GRRRREAT. Note: she is for sale so if you like, please feel free to purchase. :)

BEFORE.

CLOSE UP.

AFTER

So its not PERFECT but it looks pretty dang good. I also shined up the rims and took a Q-tip to the vents. It was like a Bianca spa day. Now...about MY spa day.... hmmm.... yeah thats not happening.

If you need a good distraction I would recommend washing your car. Its kind of theraputic and it feels good driving around in a clean whip.

I met an Angel.

[ANNIE]Yesterday was plain awful
[WARBUCKS]You can say that again
[ANNIE]Yesterday was plain awful
[WARBUCKS]But that's
[ANNIE]Not now
[WARBUCKS AND ANNIE]That's then

This explains my day yesterday! Plain awful! You know those days when everything is building and building and at the end it just all clashes together in what you feel at the time is the storm of the century and nothing will every be in its right place again. I can just see my bestie Meagan B. reading this and shaking her said saying "yep" "uh hu" and then saying "aw poor mern" Don't worry Meagan, you don't have to poor Mern me BECAUSE I met an Angel at the end of it all. :) I want to focus on the part of the song that says "BUT thats not now, thats then!!!" I really met an angel, at walmart of all places! He was a random old scary guy that I wanted to run from at first. I am glad I didn't though because he said EXACTLY what I needed to hear. The only way he could have known that is if he was an angel. If I would have run away from the "scary" situation I never would have felt the peace that my father in heaven was trying to give me. He reminded me that I am a Daughter of God and he loves me. He is mindful of Mern and her retarded problems of self doubt. This life isn't going to be easy and dissapointments happen, but only to help us grow. I am glad to be a better person today than I was yesterday. Being perfect is the goal, but it takes day by day to get there. Now in looking for those Annie lyrics I found the following picture and it made me ROFL so I had to include it....

Lucky for me the sun did come up today and its going to be a great day! As grandpa would say

IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR THE RACE! THE HUMAN RACE.

Because thats what the sister does...

Dallin has been hounding me for YEARS to drive my car. It's always the same

Dallin: Can I drive?
Me: No
Dallin: Why
Me: Because you don't have your license
Dallin: Oh come on. I am real good
Me: No thanks
Dallin: But I have driven so and so's car and this girls car and that car.
Me: Lucky you, I guess you have driven enough
Dallin: But I need to practice
Me: You can practice when you get your permit
Dallin: Just let me drive up Amity Lane
Me: You don't stop do you.
Dallin: no
Me: Well I am not going to stop either.

Its always the same and the little bugger is just so persistent. Well this past trip he doesn't ask me once. Not a peep. I was shocked. So shocked that I wanted to shock him! So we were driving back from Circle K late Saturday night. We were at Circle K because lets be honest, there is nowhere else to go in Eagar. I stop at the Amity church and get out of the car. He didn't really know what was going on till I open his door and he gets the BIGGEST grin on his face

and jumps over into my seat. He got to drive the 1.5 miles home and I must say is an Excellent driver. At first I was a little scared....

He only ran off the road once and that was because he was trying to look cool for a picture.
He is the best little brother a girl could ask for! I would say him and Preston would have to be tied for first. Now if only I could find a boyfriend who is as sweet....

VEGAS OR BUST!! Pickle and I wanted a little VACA and she was able to get some cheap rooms in VEGAS so off we went! Both of us had never been before so it was going to be an experience. We didn't know what to do or where to go but 2 smart girls like us are bound to figure it out, and WE DID. We had a blast and were able to see A LOT. We were able to check out the VEGAS temple the first night and that was BEAUTIFUL. We went inside Cesars palace, Bellagio, Excaliber, MGM grand, Stratosphere, and others I am sure. They all kinda look the same inside so its hard to remember where we were! lol. We ate at Sushi Roka, Hard Rock cafe, La Salsa Cantina and Jack in the box. It was my first time riding in a taxi cab too so that was fun. A Kiss of good luck for a fun trip.ummm....Calories don't count in VEGAS.NAKED men in Cesar Palace.
ummm..... What happens in VEGAS stays in VEGAS? haha I don't really know. I think I was flashing Pickle or something. Notice the nike Shoes? YES we did work out while we were there. Good girls.

RRRAAWWWWWWRRRR.

Oh yeah, I own this house.

Fun night out.

We didn't win, AT ALL. But the slots were fun. For about 20 minutes...

At La Salsa Cantina. This is me getting into the music no doubt.

On top of the Stratosphere. I think Dane Cook has a joke about paying money to go up really high and then paying more money to look at things on the ground where we just were. LOL.

We rode the INSANITY and that was fun. Its a swing that goes off the edge of the stratosphere. If you are scared of hights DO NOT get on this ride. I thought it was uber FUN.

On our way up up up up up up up to the top of the tower. Do you think there is a princess captive at the top of this thing?

Me and the snapdragons at the temple.

VEGAS temple.

Who is that studly man in the background? OH, That is just MORONI

Check out the guts on that one!!! haha gross.

It was a GREAT trip and lots of fun! Pickle is always a fun one to take along. I call her my jukebox of noises. You never know what you are going to get!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

It was Annies 3rd birthday yesterday! All she wanted to do was "go to the Jungle" so we met them at the Rainforest Cafe. Turns out she is terrified of the Jungle! There was a cougar up in the tree that scared here everytime it growled! She would cuddle up to mamma and just shiver with terror. I felt bad for thinking it was so cute because she really was so scared! she loved opening Lindseys present to her. Lots of Princess stuff.
This is pretty much the way Jensen looked all night. Eyes wide and kinda scared but mostly curious!Yeah for Coconut Shrimp. YUUMMMMM

The only thing they werent scared of was the fish. They found NEMO. Finding Nemo is Jensens favorite movie.

Here is the cat that was soooooo scary.

Check out Jensen! So curious! All his hair has really started to grow in and he is looking more like a toddler and not so much a baby anymore.

SUSHI

YUMMMMM...

One thing on my bucket list was SUSHI and it is now crossed off! Elicia had me try it while we were in Vegas (I will add pictures from that trip later). We had 3 different rolls but I don't remember what they were called! I know there was crab.Veal. avacado. rice. i LOVE wasabi!!! oh my heck it burns straight up to your brain but feels fantastic! Its weird how the burn only lasts for 10 seconds and then goes away. Its not the same as salsa that lingers on your tastebuds. Now the question is.... Was the sushi worth the $70 we paid for it? The jury is still out on that... ALSO sushi is challenging to eat. Its too big to just put in your mouth but if you try to bite it in half you have to fight with the sea weed stuff and it usually wins!

My life

Things I have done... Just copy and paste this to your blog and bold the ones that you HAVE done. It got me to thinking about what I would like to do in life. A few of my goals are on here like Visit The Vatican city, Skydive, go on a cruise, get stung by a bee (okay not that one).

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Gone without food or water for 24 hours or longer
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Stayed up for 24 hours with NO sleep at all
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Changed a lightbulb
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Mowed the lawn
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

LUNCH DATES ARE BEST

I love lunch dates! There is something fun about having a little fun in the middle of the day. It breaks up the boring. Monday we had a visit from Preston and his non-girlfriend girlfriend. They met up with Lindsey and I for lunch at our fav. place Haji Baba's. It was something new for them but I THINK they liked it. We had them try Hummus, Gyros, and stuffed grape leaves. Alyssa, the non-girlfriend girlfriend, is such a sweetheart! She is lots of fun to be around and is always smiling. I never realized she was a shorty till I looked at this picture! lol.

Happy 4th Birthday Chloe!!

My oldest Niece Chloe Turned 4 this week! She is such a cute girl!

Its so funny how kids just like to open presents. Mostly it doesn't matter what is in the package, they are just looking for the next bag to tear into! So why do we stress about getting them just the right gift? Just get a bag with lots of tissue paper! :)

Cookie Party

Its time for our Holiday cookie decorating party!! For those of you who don't know my friends and I get together at my house to decoarte sugar cookies for every holiday. Next is Cinco De Mayo...

Not sure if more frosting gets on the cookies or in our mouths. Roy Bryant makes THE BEST frosting.
The MERN and The SCOTT

Check out how hard core people get! I am always way impressed with their skills.

Some of the people who were around at the end. No one can resist the sugar so we always have a great turnout.

Tanner, Elicia, Mern and Meagan all wore plaid shorts!! GREAT minds think alike.

Helping hands...

Mern and Pickle decorating up a storm

SPRING!!

I love spring time. We don't really get one here in Mesa because there are flowers all year long. We don't get that anticipation of watching the snow melt and the earth soften to allow the little splotches of green to come up. It is nice to have flowers all year long though. I have a favorite flower! Yep! The snapdragon!! I love it! The temple always has beautiful snapdragons. I think my love came from when I was a kid. I remember in our front yard at home we would have many different colored snap dragons! I would always pick one before I walked down to the bus stop to play with while I waited. Still to this day I can't resist picking one off the long line of them and pinching the sides to make it say something funny. Maybe it was because I am the middle child and had noone to talk to or maybe it was because I didn't have any friends growing up that I had to make the snapdragons be my friend. They only stuck around for a little bit. In the end I would always squeeze it a few too many times or to rough just once and the head would tear into 2 pieces. That was the end of our friendship.

Grandma & Grandpa Jensen

I am pretty sure I have the cutest Grandparents in the WORLD! Grandma and Grandpa Jensen drove down from Idaho to spend some time in the Arizona sun. As it always does a little snow followed Grandpa down so they didn't fully escape it in Eagar but I am pretty sure they had a good time in the Mesa sunshine!

On day was spent on Buddy's boat.

Grandma in Lindseys Stunner shades.

Grandma In Dallin's Shades.

Takin a little break


Hates off to a GRRREAT boat ride!

They had a birthday party for Mom and Dad since their birthdays were the next week! Here is Grandpa with the Great Grandkids.

Grandparents at the Birthday party.

I was in Mexico and it looks like I missed out on a great weekend! I was lucky enough to head up to Eagar the weekend before and spend some time with the parents and grandparents.