"Ohhh Mexico..."

Yep, I'm here in the biggest city in the world. HUGE! It's my second time here and I'm still in awe. Wow! We ate the yummiest tacos al pastor tonight. Really, really tasty. I have been off of meat and caffeine since November, but decided I would have both while on this trip. I'm not sure if either of those things agree with me at this moment. We shall see. Viva Mexico!

There is nothing fun about being sick!

I was one of those un-lucky ones to get the flu yesterday. I woke up with a pain in my stomach (you know what I'm talking about) and nausea to boot. Horrible! I usually have a high pain tolerance, but having flu symptoms automatically puts me in little girl mode and unable to get through the day without whimperimg every other minute. All I want is for my mom to take care of me. Lucky me, my mom lives only about a mile away, so she came over and brought me some diet pepsi (which I have been off of since November), crackers and anti-nausea medicine (hoping it would help stop the throwing up). There is nothing glamorous about being sick. If I could've, I would have showered 10 times yesterday to rid myself from all the icky-ness I feel being sick. After all of the nausea, etc. my day was topped off by a painful migraine headache! I give, I give! Sheesh, what a day! After all of that, I must say I'm sooo incredibly glad it is over. Phew! Health is a darn good thing.

Birthday girl

I love birthday's, and I love that it's time to look forward to another even better year. My dear friend Melanee and I were talking about photo shoots the other day and decided to have one for my big day. So, we took 5 minutes out of work, went outside with the sweet camera and shot a few. We have a few choice shots I thought I'd share with the blog world. And here they are...



My co-worker and cube buddy Stephanie and I not freezing outside.

Hot-hot-hot-hot chocolate!

Last night before going to a Jazz game with some of my co-workers, we stopped off at a quaint little place called the Cocoa Caffe on 9th south in SLC. Whether you be a cocoa conossieur or not, it is absolutely imperative that you sample their chocolate fare! I have never been so taken aback by the thickness of a cup of cocoa. It literally tasted like a melted dark chocolate bar! About two months ago I stopped eating anything with sugar in it, but I was assured by Chris, a fellow non-sugar eater that this cup of cocoa would not enduce a sugar headache. Each sip proved to be better than the first. I was reminded of a familiar children's christmas book 'The Polar Express'. While in the train on their way to the polar express, Chris Van Allsburg describes the children drinking hot cocoa that taste like melted chocolate. Yumm... I always remembered that and with my first sip immediately likened it to what it must've tasted like on the Polar Express. Absolutely delicious hot, hot chocolate!

A Giant Among Men...

“The time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
( Conference Report, Apr. 1995, 95.)


We will miss you, dear President Hinckley.

S.A.D.

I've always been a winter person. I love a good snowfall, I crave being snuggly warm in a blanket with a steaming cup o' chocolate, and I adore running around in the snow with my nephews. However, the past week of winter has got me wondering whether or not I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) Read below:

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression, is an affective, or mood, disorder. Most SAD sufferers experience normal mental health throughout most of the year, but experience depressive symptoms in the winter or summer. The condition in the summer is often referred to as Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder.
(Wikipedia)

It's a blah feeling. This week especially I've been feelin' it. We've had extra dreary days. Not fun. Plus, I'm ALWAYS cold!! I'm actually at work right now with a blanket draped over me. Once I get home, I'm home to stay. There's almost no way to get me out of my little cave - because I'm wrapped up in the blanket(heaven itself)XanGo gave us all for x-mas (it is my saving grace this winter). I need some warmth! Suggestions, por favor.

Is anyone else feeling this way this winter, or is it just me?

Shannon says I'm a nerd...

...but I thought it was rather funny. Sometimes I think I'm funny - especially when Stephanie and I come up with funny ways of asking our boss to leave early. Here is the most recent absurdity...

Fearless Leader,

May we extend our heartfelt wishes for an enjoyable meeting in the ever-damp city of Seattle. Your absence is felt greatly, and lo, our faces do surely confirm the burden.

What doest thou in Seattle? Hast thou seen the ever-present and over-grown needle that points to the heavens? Or perhaps you have been so honored as to taste the fine cuisine of the western shores.

In our humble village of Lehi, we have experienced a great measure of cold. But alas, our hearts are warm.

If it be expedient unto you (and with hope in our hearts), we ask that we may, if our tasks be done, exit this majestic edifice through the southern-most facing door to be received at home by our ever-loving, ever-cherishing one hundred feline.

If this be agreeable to you, please answer in the affirmative.

Many thanks and happy journey,

Flight of the Conchords

Just in case you need to brush up, here is a lovely French lesson for your enjoyment...





(I love these guys!)

Reflections on 2007

Countries traveled to: Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico.
Business travel miles: 27,000
Weight lost: 13 lbs. :)
Weight gained: 10 lbs. :(
Nieces or nephews born: Zero. My married siblings better get a move on!
Number of jobs: 3 (all within XanGo)
Marriage proposals: Um, let me think about that one... oh yeah, none.
Number of Dates: Muchos
Favorite book read this year: The Kite Runner
Favorite movie of the year: Good question...

A thousand bucks!

You heard it here, folks. I, Erin, was the lucky winner of one grand at XanGo's annual christmas party! After being an unfortunate loser at the last three christmas parties and summer parties, I finally heard my own lovely name being called on Wednesday. "If your name begins with an E stand up" was the first I heard. Startled and excited by that phrase I sat up in my chair as they called the words I had been longing to hear for so long... "Erin Curran". Was it really me? Was it really MY name they called??!! I stood up, turned to the crowd and screamed like I'd never screamed before. All I could see were high 5's in my face waiting for their chance to be tapped by my lucky hand. I ran up to the stage to claim my prize and scream into the microphone like a mad woman. It still seems like a dream; a really wonderful dream.
Yes folks, it's true... I won! I won!

Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer...

I can't say enough how much I love this time of year! I am giddy at the lights that cover the homes in this valley, and it seems like every year more glorious lights abound. I love the sights, the smells, and the sounds. I love the feeling of Christmas. Everyone seems to have a kind of 'twinkle' in their eye.
I love my new found health food product of peppermint-chocolate soy milk. It is deliciousness itself! Yes, I'm a soy milk drinker - and proud of it!
Every night when I come home from work I'm welcomed by my little tree in the sitting room, then by the life-sized tree in my living room. Each night I leave the bright lights on while I sleep (don't worry, it's a fake tree) and I wake up to the same radiant sight. I think it's beautiful.
It wouldn't be christmas without songs and movies. Each time I enter my car, I'm greeted by the continuous x-mas music of FM 100. A little Johnny Mathis, Harry Connick Jr., and even Neil Diamond rockin' out to christmas tunes. Another day begins with with the feeling of christmas.
As is also customary this time of year, I've been watching some of the old christmas movies such as "White Christmas", "Miracle on 34th Street" and "Scrooge" (Although I had to end the movie before the ghost of x-mas future appeared. I'm a scaredy cat!) I decided to take the day off today to do some x-mas shopping, relaxing, etc. While at home, I watched an old favorite of Shannon's, "All I Want for Christmas". I think later on I'll watch "It's a Wonderful Life", which is probably my favorite christmas movie of all time. Jimmy Stewart has always had me at "Merry Christmas Bedford Falls!"
Yes, I love this time of year. It brings joy to my heart.

I give thanks...

~~~~~~~~

Thanksgiving

(Lizelia Augusta Jenkins Moorer)

Let us give thanks to God above, Thanks for expressions of His love, Seen in the book of nature, grandTaught by His love on every hand. Let us be thankful in our hearts, Thankful for all the truth imparts, For the religion of our Lord, All that is taught us in His word. Let us be thankful for a land, That will for such religion stand; One that protects it by the law, One that before it stands in awe. Thankful for all things let us be, Though there be woes and misery; Lessons they bring us for our good-Later 'twill all be understood. Thankful for peace o'er land and sea, Thankful for signs of liberty, Thankful for homes, for life and health, Pleasure and plenty, fame and wealth. Thankful for friends and loved ones, too, Thankful for all things, good and true, Thankful for harvest in the fall, Thankful to Him who gave it all.

Hawaiian paradise, Hawaiian heaven, land of make-believe come true...

So, I just got back yesterday from a lovely 5 day turned 7 day trip to Oahu. My travel partner was my lovely sister-in-law Sharon. Shane suggested months ago she take a trip to Hawaii with me after she made many mentionings of wanting to take a trip back. He offered to take time off from work and watch the boys full-time (bless his heart). The most ideal way to get to Hawaii is of course by air via Continental, since we have buddy pass hook-ups with Quinn and sometimes Megan. Getting on the flight from Houston was relatively easy, but getting back was another story. However, I think I'll just focus on the wonderful parts of our journey. Here is how it went down:


Nov.1st, Thursday:

Arrival to Honolulu, hook-up at the car rental place with a Sebring convertible (woohoo!), ate at Macky's shrimp truck in Haleiwa (yummy coconut shrimp, and our best meal on the island), went to sleep.


Nov. 2nd, Friday:

Ate spam, eggs and rice for breakfast at McD's in Haleiwa, bought nerdy tourist hats at Matsumotos (to keep the sun at bay), toured the Dole plantation and spent way too much money on pearls! Went on a tour of Laie town where I saw our old home at 55-455 Moana St. which will within the next year be torn down with all the rest of the old faculty houses. Drove to the beautiful Laie point, took a walk around the temple grounds and made a few purchases at the BYU bookstore. Took a walk down the shores of Hukilau beach, ate at the shrimp truck in Kahuku (not as good as Macky's), stopped off at Sunset beach to see my friend Emma Leigh, then went home and went to sleep (jet-lag will do that).


Nov. 3rd, Saturday:

The hunt is on for malasadas, rice cakes and shave-ice, oh, and chocolate haupia pie. We know where to get the shave-ice and haupia pie, but the other two we are desperate to find! We know where not to go to hang out with other haule's (Haleiwa cafe). Drove to the swap meet with the top down. Note: heard our "theme" song for the trip for the second time ('sweet escape' by Gwen Stefani). Drove the long way to Honolulu and were in absolute awe of the Ko'olau mountains! Got sunburned from having the top down and from being at the swap meet. Took the long way home via the north shore again so we could sample choc. haupia pie. Delicious! The food at Ted's bakery wasn't so delicious, though. Later on we had dinner with Sharon's cousin and hostess while in Hawaii, Jackie.


More of the trip to come...

Scary Erin

I must admit, I take great delight in watching someone get scared; particularly at this Halloween season. This enjoyment started at a very young age. As a little girl, I had a babysitter that loved the ghoulish and scary. Skipper Gleason babysat us every now and again, and I’m sure babysitting 6 + kids at the time, he had to come up with very creative ways of entertaining us. One of which was by scaring us to the point of not being able to sleep! As much as it scared me as a child, it brought to life my own creative, creepy juices. However, I believe it was my younger sister’s reaction to my scariness that only egged on this delight. I took every opportunity I could of trapping her at the end of a hallway in our house, or scaring her when she came out of the bathroom. I spooked her to no end! When Caitilin came along and was able to understand what was going on, I did things to scare her too. Before we went to bed at night (it was usually the three of us sharing a room) I would purposely turn off the light myself and disappear in the room somewhere. I had a knack for being able to keep totally quiet, and they never knew where I would pop up and scare them. I absolutely loved it! The reactions were always priceless. However, Shannon is now perpetually scared of EVERYTHING. I should probably take some responsibility in that. It's something I can't help laugh about all the time. I take great delight in scaring her and anyone else I can get a reaction out of. Am I mean or what?!

El Templo

(written last week)

So, I'm here in LA for probably the 7th time since June. I generally stay in the same area within easy distance to my work place. When I first started coming here I was out all the time exploring - dinner in Malibu, leisurely drives down the pacific coast highway, shopping, etc.
However, since the last 3 or 4 times I've been here, I've become stagnant. I'll order dinner in the hotel, go for take-out, or I might even see a movie by myself (which i really enjoy, btw). However, last night I opted for a change. I was to have met a friend of mine at Jamba Juice down on Santa Monica Blvd., but at the last minute his car wouldn't start - and of course we were at totally opposite ends of L.A., so I wouldn't be able to venture to his place (traffic would have been horrific). However, I decided to drive to our meeting place and just check out the area. So as I'm looking for my destination, I look up and see something very familiar - but my mind doesn't register what I am actually looking at. It's Moroni! The angel Moroni - standing so proud and strong in the middle of Los Angeles. Of course I completely forget my original destination and head to this all too familiar haven. There is traffic and madness all around me, but the moment I pull into the temple parking lot there is peace. I found a parking place, stepped out of my rental car and enjoyed a leisurely stroll around that majestic edifice. I was in awe. "I love to see the temple, I'm going there someday..."
I love the tranquility I find when I'm within its walls, but was grateful for the unexpected peace I found that evening on its grounds. The spirit resides there, and it is very evident. I'm grateful to have "stumbled" upon it that day. It brought new resolve to visit that place often while on my work trips. Next time I will be inside.