And... Boom Goes the Dynamite.

My Zags dominated last night! Final score: Zags 86 St. John's 71. BOOM! Next up... BYU. It'll be tough, but I have faith in my Zags! My bracket has Zags vs. UW in the championship with Zags winning the whole shebang. Possible? Yes. Probable? Well... I can't say no. I would feel disloyal to my boys. I'm definitely feeling Sweet Sixteen or Elite Eight this year. Come on Zags!!!

Let me just leave you with this. It's probably the most awkward video you will ever watch, but equally entertaining. The best part is about 2 1/2 minutes in when the poor guy finally brings out his best line. The hubby and I like to randomly bust it out whenever possible. Awkward moments. Small victories. Extremely awesome events. It works for everything.

And.... Boom goes the dynamite.

St. Patty's Day Rice Krispies

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Time for some festive treats for the holiday. We always love my mother-in-law's rice krispie treats. She just whips them up and the whole family ends up eating them by the handful while they're still hot. I decided it was time we made some of our own rice krispie treats, but with a St. Patty's Day twist.

Here's my recipe (found on the Rice Krispies box) for St. Patty's Day Rice Krispies:

Ingredients

6 cups rice krispies

3 tablespoons butter

10 ounces (1 package) marshmallows

Some chocolate chips (as many as you want to add)

Food coloring (if you're feeling festive!)

Melt butter in pot on low.

Add mallows.

Keep on low until mallows melt, stirring constantly. 

(Looks kind of gross...)

Add food coloring.

Mix in rice krispies.

Here's where it gets interesting (and where we kind of failed). My plan was to mix in the chocolate chips, but it turned out to be too hot and they just ended up melting. Thus, why it's a little brown.

I ended up sprinkling some chocolate chips on top instead. I think it will still be pretty tasty!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

(Have you filled out your bracket yet??? Go Zags!)

The Great Ostrich Race

Saturday we went to one of the most ridiculous, yet entertaining places we've been in Arizona so far. The Ostrich Festival was basically a fair with rides and booths and lots of deep fried food. The kicker was the exotic petting zoo, the pig races, and of course the ostrich races. We actually had a great time hanging out with new friends and enjoying the beautiful day!

The announcer kept saying, "Ostriches have brains the size of a pea. The only thing dumber than an ostrich is the person that gets on one." He must have said it five times.

First, they had the chariot-style races. The ostriches were hooked up to these chariots and the "ostrich wranglers" jumped in the back in their fancy glittery capes. None of them made it the whole way around the track in any of the races.

Next came the bare-back ostrich races. The wranglers basically hop on and grab on to any feathers they can. You can see the ostrich heads poking out at the top of the gates.

Then, we had the Emu Chase. The announcer picked three kids out of the audience and the kids literally had to chase the emus around the track. The big old birds definitely had a mind of their own and kept running in circles instead of straight to the finish line. It was pretty funny to watch.

And finally, the camel races. That's right. You didn't think there would be such a variety, did you? And of course, the wranglers had to dress in the Arab garb and carry brooms to "encourage" the camels. Apparently they used to use those fake curved swords (not racist in the slightest).

We rounded out the night with a Led Zeppelin tribute band, Eddie Money (in the flesh), and the mister finally got to eat his ostrich burger (it tastes just like turkey). We couldn't forget the funnel cake, either. Not a good day for the spending diet, but we had a great time!

Thankful & Praying

I am very thankful today. Thankful for the little things. Thankful for a roof over my head, thankful for food in the fridge, thankful for my warm cozy bed. Many people don't have these bare necessities right now. No house to come home to, no fresh water to quench their thirst. It's times like these that make you reflect and realize how lucky you really are.

Growing up on an island, I used to have nightmares about tsunamis. I had at least three specific recurring dreams that I can still remember to this day. It was frightening and scary and thankfully, only in my dreams. I cannot begin to imagine what the people of Japan are going through these past several days. A reality for them, their lives changed forever. No notice, just devastation.

It's easy to get wrapped up in your own problems. For instance, I had a pretty crummy day at work yesterday. I was tired, stressed, and everyone wanted everything right now. Blah, blah, blah. (Shall I complain some more?) I gained perspective pretty quick when I realized my problems were nothing compared to what others are dealing with right now.

This is also a good reminder for me of what I'm trying to get towards in my life. Living it to the fullest. You never know what is coming. An earthquake. A tsunami. Life can change in an instant. I just want to make the most of it, focus on being present in each moment, and try not to get bogged down by waiting for the next exciting thing to happen. I want to live now.

My prayers are with Japan. I pray that their nation will come together, get through this extremely difficult time and make it through stronger. I pray that someday soon they too, will be able to enjoy the little things again.

Find information on how to help here and here.

Auf Wiedersehen!

This morning my baby brother leaves for Germany. He got the amazing opportunity to go overseas and play football for the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns (see more on that here). That's right, I said Unicorns. A very manly mascot for football. You can see the article on my brother from the Unicorns website here - it's fun to read it translated from German to English.

I am so excited that my brother gets to have such an amazing experience. We are planning on going over there to visit in July sometime, but have yet to find a plane ticket price that we like. Hopefully prices will go down soon, but until then... save, save, save! His first game is April 16th (that's like one month away!). We're working on figuring out how to watch his games from the U.S., but it might be a bit challenging. Here's some photos of my brother from his Linfield glory days... Also, he's starting a blog of his own, Dude's Days in Deutschland (his nickname is Dude), so check it out!

Go Unicorns!

Friday is the New Thursday

At least for me that's how it is these days. Six days and and sixty hours a week, I'm at the office. I'm not complaining - it definitely pays the bills. But it is exhausting!

             Source: kaboodle

I realized yesterday that five days a week my pasty white skin doesn't even see the sun (sad, right?). I go to work before the sun rises, get home after it sets. Yesterday, the mister had stopped by my work to pick something up and I went outside to meet him. Immediately when I hit the fresh air it was like a big bright warm blanket enveloping me and I was instantly toasty. I was wearing a short sleeved shirt and realized that I was probably blinding the mister because my arms are so white. It was slightly depressing, but then the mister dubbed me his Vampire Wife. Awesome. One step closer to Edward (oh yeah, I'm Team Edward, all the way).

Yes, Edward likes to occasionally visit me at work.

So now, even though I will be chained to my desk Saturday morning, I am determined to get out and enjoy this beautiful March weather and soak up some rays (don't worry Dad, I'll wear sunscreen). It's been in the high 70s/low 80s consistently for the past week, which is my kind of sunshine! Plans for the weekend include visiting the Ostrich Festival in Chandler (that's right, I said Ostrich Festival... and yes, there will be ostrich races), catching up with a good friend that's visiting, probably some sun-bathing, and most definitely some cookie-baking. Oh, and wishing I was relaxing here...

via pinterest

What are your plans for the weekend? Doing anything exciting? Just relaxing? Either way, Happy Weekend!

Buster Loves Foxy

This is a love story. A tragic love story, something like Romeo & Juliet meets Fatal Attraction. He saw her. She saw him. It was love at first sight. His name was Buster. Hers, Foxy Lady. There was an instant chemistry, an instant connection that no one could deny. Seeing the way Buster chewed on Foxy and dragged her around with him every where he went, we dare not separate them. It was something special.

Until one fateful day, Buster became obsessed. Was he too clingy (he was always dragging her everywhere with him)? Was he too hyper (most of the time, Foxy just just liked to lounge around)? Too rough (he was known for his chewing)? We'll never know for sure. But one thing we do know is that Buster loved Foxy to death.

First he got to her nose, then her ears, then her eyes, and then he split her in two. He got too excited and Foxy Lady was no more.

And that was the end of this tragic romance. It was good while it lasted, but Buster will have to move on. Someday, somehow, he will find another love. But he will always have the memories of Foxy Lady.