How Smart Are You?

My brother just sent me an email with this link. Supposedly it's a Japanese IQ test they give to people applying for jobs. Read the rules and then give it a try.

Japanese River IQ Game



Rules:
1) Everyone must cross the river
2) Only 2 people on the raft at a time
3) The father cannot stay with either of the daughters without the mother's presence
4) The mother cannot stay with either of the sons without the father's presence
5) The thief (striped shirt) cannot stay with any family member if the policeman is not there
6) Only the father, mother, and policeman know how to operate the raft


HERE is the link. Click on the blue circle to get started! Click on the people to get them on the raft. Then click on the red pole on the opposite side of the river to move the raft.

It took me about 30 minutes to figure it out. 30 minutes full of mumbling, "this is HARD." "No, this.... is IMPOSSIBLE!" It's definitely a fun kind of frustrating. But my friends, it is not impossible. I was feeling pretty proud of myself for even getting it done. That is until I gave it to my mom and she did it in 3 minutes. Apparently I would never get hired in Japan. All you smarties will probably get it right off. Give it a try!

Cookie Monster

I like to consider myself as a pretty healthy eater. When I've got it around, I eat handfuls of spinach every day, just because I like it. I can single handedly finish off one of those huge spinach bins from Costco in about a week. I add flaxseed to my Zoom (yummy whole wheat cereal), I don't like red meat, and I'd eat handfuls of fruit everyday if it wasn't so darn expensive.
However, when it comes to certain baked goods... I'm a goner. There are no limits. I can easily take down five chocolate chip cookies in a single sitting with little shame. Brownies or Rice Krispie Treats are worse, especially when they are still in the pan. When I can't count how many I've had, I take 'just a little more.' And then, "uh-oh, that corner is sticking out... I'd better take that off just to make it even." Before I know it, half the pan is gone, with no one around to blame but myself. But then again, who's blaming anyone? I'm really doing you a favor, right? I mean, somebody's gotta eat those...

Things I Love: ZUMBA!

Pronounced ZOOM-BA
(Only clarified here because when I first saw it advertised, I thought, what the heck is 'ZUM-ba'? Silly me.)

By far my favorite class at the gym. So good it helped me finally figure out a workout schedule for myself that I actually look forward to.

I've been going for months now and I never get bored of it. I was hooked from the start. I LOVE it!

Every Monday at 4:30, you know where to find me!

Never Alone

Whew... Well I think I made it through! Some of you may have noticed from a previous entry that I've been feeling a little discouraged, to say the least. This past week I feel like a hurricane swept through my life. I was doing just dandy, feeling pretty good about things, and then WHOOOOM! Every major aspect of my life just seemed to fall apart. Even my immune system! I really never get sick, maybe once a year. Of course it happens when everything else is going wrong. I don't think I got one thing done this week I planned to do, as I was too busy just trying to hold everything together.
At times I felt so completely alone and overwhelmed with doubt. However, looking back over the week, I realize I wasn't left alone for even a second. I can see God's hand in so many instances, even my worst moments. I see him working through all of you.

Like when you came home from a hard day at work, but patiently listened anyway, as you always do.

Or when several of you sent me a text or a kind word. You didn't know how much I needed that.

And of course when you, make me laugh no matter what mood I'm in, share your sweet potato fries, and take me to the movies.

Or when you, who know me all too well and have been through this with me numerous times before, were still so patient and understanding, and brought me a smile with your 'happy thoughts'. (Not to mention the Nyquil and cough drops)

And when all of you, let me come over any time I need anything and feed me truffles, "cookies," and chamomile tea.

Or you, a friend who hardly knows me, amazingly seems to know me better than I know myself. :)

And you, being SO busy yourself, were willing to come over late at night, just to talk.

Thank you for being in my life. I am thankful our paths have crossed. I know Heavenly Father places people in our lives at certain times for a reason. I know why you are in mine.

Things I Love: Websites

Recently I've discovered and have been using some great websites that are helping me keep up on my goals. Just wanted to share them with you...

www.mint.com
"The Best Free Way to Manage Your Money"

I used to do my budget on an excel file, but that was a pain, as I had to keep every receipt, and enter it into categories, etc. Then I found Mint! It does that for you!
Warning: It does require your bank account info, credit card info, however much info you feel comfortable giving. (It has to have that info or it wouldn't work) It really creeped me out at first so I did a little homework. I emailed the channel 2 guy "Get Gephart" and asked him to take a look at it. He said he didn't know a lot about it, but he has seen it "listed in several articles by reputable news outlets." Whatever that means. Anyway, I've been using it a few months and I feel pretty safe about it. The website is also secured by VeriSign, TRUSTe, and McAfee, which makes me feel pretty ok about it. It's made my budgeting life much easier!


www.shutterfly.com
"Tell Your Story"

This one is my creative outlet. I love organizing and scrapbooking my photos, but I never have time or money for that anymore. Shutterfly has been great for me because it's like 'online scrapbooking'. I've recently been working on a Photo Book of all my pictures I took on my trips to Mexico and I've loving how it's turning out. It's fun because when I need a quick break I can sign on and work on it for just a few minutes. Then when I'm done, I'll get it printed and have a scrapbook of these trips I never would have had time to make before!

www.etsy.com
"For All Things Handmade"

Ok, so honestly this may be more of a hindrance to my goal of "saving money," but this website is so fun. I am continually amazed at the talents people share here. I also love the idea of being able to buy completely unique and beautiful items that you would never find at a Target, or Walmart, or anywhere else for that matter. It's a great place to find gifts, decorating ideas, jewelry, etc.


www.allrecipes.com

This is where I find and organize most of my recipes. You can search for recipes and each one has reviews and suggestions of people who have tried it. You can also start your own free recipe box to organize your favorites. It's also great when someone asks you for a recipe, you can email it easily! Another of my favorite features is this: with recipes already on the site, you can change the number of servings you want to make, and it changes the amounts of ingredients for you! Love it.

Confessions of a Troubled Heart

Allow me to be quite personal in this post. I have been thinking a lot, and I just need to sort through my thoughts. If you have any thoughts or advice I would love to hear from you.

Earlier this week, I had one of my hardest days at school. It had nothing to do with what we were doing, but more with what I was feeling. In class we were talking about preparing for our National Board Exams. At first I think I started to feel nervous about how I could ever be ready for such a daunting exam. I had this overwhelming feeling of discouragement and doubt. After class I went to my car and just cried.
I kept asking myself, "what is wrong with me?" and "why am I so worried about a silly test?"
I realized then I wasn't really worried about dental hygiene or exams, or school at all. I was just so disappointed in myself. Mostly in my lack of confidence and feelings of inadequacy.
Later that day I had more time to think about what was going on with me. It was hard to think clearly, as I had stressed myself out so much my head was pounding. I think this day is something that had been coming for a while, I just didn't want to deal with it. These are thoughts I have had for years, but I somehow convinced myself I had conquered these issues, when I now realize I have just been suppressing them.

I have come to realize I don't know myself at all. I feel I have been living the way I think others want to me to live for my whole life. I am ashamed that I don't have many strong opinions of my own. I have watched people I admire my whole life, wishing and trying to be more like them, and then falling ever so short. I don't know what my strengths are. I know all too well my weaknesses. I feel selfish.

I want to live purposefully.
I want to have meaning in my life.
I want to live for the happiness of others and not just myself.
I want to know who I am, and what I believe in.
I feel weak. I want to be strong.
I want to value myself.
I want to believe in myself
I want to be able to look at others and admire their strengths without feeling inadequate myself.


I have no idea how to do this. I have been struggling with this my entire life. I feel I do everything I am "supposed" to do. Some days it helps, others days I feel more frustrated. Several of you have encouraged me to blog more. The truth is, the reason my blog is so empty is because I am afraid of myself. I am afraid to say, 'this is me,' 'this is what is important to me.'
But I am tired of being afraid. And so, as one effort in finding myself, I will be using this blog as a means to my self discovery.

If you care enough to be reading this, you are probably someone I love and admire more than you will ever know. I thank you for being a part of my life and allowing me to learn from you.

12 hour Wednesdays

School started up again at UVU today. My last semester of dental hygiene!! Whoo-hoo. (Well, at least until I get my license. I've still got more school later)
So, my class schedule isn't too bad this semester... except for Wednesdays. Wow. Between two clinic sessions, an Oral-B presentation, an ethics class, and another dental hygiene class, the longest break I had today was about 12 minutes! I got home at about 8:30pm making it a 12 1/2 hour school day! My brain is moosh... pudding...soup...soft and squishy... discombobulated.

I am tired.




Such is the life I suppose! It was quite the adjustment going from holiday break, doing whatever I pleased, to a schedule set out for me every minute. It's enough that it's got me blogging, just so I can feel like part of this day I have a life that is my own.

In other news... the heater is working! And I couldn't be happier about it! (More to come on this story later. Be excited. It's a good one.)