New Great Taste vs Classic Recipe

I have been eating Instant Quaker Oatmeal since I was young.  Maple & Brown Sugar has always been superior to all other flavors...until recently. I bought my oatmeal some months back and on the first bite was caught off guard, I thought that it had possibly gone bad. I checked the box and the expiration date was far into the future. I then noticed on the top of the box a little check mark that said "New Great Taste"...Are you joking me?! There was honestly nothing GREAT about it. I tried it again and just could not do it. I decided that my instant oatmeal days were over. After a few weeks of being slightly saddened about this I decided to check out the www and see if anyone else was as ridiculously upset as I was. Long story short... I joined an online forum....joined a facebook group with cause to get the original back...and after a few short months received an email to check my local grocery store and on the shelf there should be boxes that say "classic recipe" in the corner. YEAH!! I would like to think that our voice was heard....if the truth be told I think that Quakers sales probably dropped an absurd amount due to the "New Gross Taste". Either way.... I am glad it is back! :)

An incredible past...and a spotless future.

Long story short...I joined Google+ and all of my picasa photos were attached to my profile. I didn't so much love that, so when asked, I opted to delete them from my Google+ account. Little did I know that is where Google stores all of my blog images. Conclusion-- a very unhappy me and NO images on my blog. I guess that means a fresh start and a lot of work if I want them back. In the meantime, here's to one of my best years yet...

2011

Went snowmobiling in Christmas Meadows. Made my first cake with fondant. Somehow mended a friendship I thought I may have lost. Chalk and Holi Krishna. Vacationed in Maui. Loved running Ragnar/Wasatch Back. Witnessed closely the circle of life in nature. Used my passport. Repelled a 250 ft waterfall. Went to the temple. Blessed by seeing the birth of a child. Lake Powell (‘nough said). Saw the largest copper mine in the world (for the first time). Ran a marathon. Went Canyoneering. ALL of my immediate family in the Celestial Room…kind of amazing. My oldest niece was baptized. Festival of Trees. Season tickets BYU football. Paid off my car. Went to Costa Rica.Once again realized…
I have a VERY GOOD LIFE.

Laney and London

They don't come any cuter than this :)

London Rebecca Pehrson

Laney Addison Heath

A few highlights..

A few highlights from my last post.

Maui -
I have been fortunate enough to have been to Hawaii multiple times in the last 5 or so years though until recently I had never been to Maui. It did not disappoint. My dad has to work over on the Big Island and Oahu about every 6 months so occasionally I get the chance to go and hang with my mom while my dad works. We stayed at the Westin in Kaanapali and it was gorgeous. We had a few days of sight seeing and some great days of just lounging on the beach. We went snorkeling, zip lining, did a great hike, ate shrimp from the shrimp truck, went down to Lahaina, went to the top of the volcano, all in all had a wonderful time. Thanks Dad for giving me an excuse to go :)

Ragnar -
Prior to running the Wasatch back I had heard many stories of people who have had both wonderful and terrible experiences running Ragnar. I am happy to say that my experience was fantastic. I absolutely loved it. My van included 2 of my best friends, a girl I knew just a little bit, and 2 gals I had never met prior. I could not have had a better van of ladies to run with. They were all very positive and supportive of everyone. I ran the better part of two of my legs in the dark, 2 in the early morning and one in the later evening. Meaning for me....my first and last run were both pretty cold, at least the first half of both of those runs. I was runner #1 which meant that I was first to start and first to finish. I think I got the best deal. I had the most mileage of the 12 runners on our team but my runs were not the most technical by any means. They were rated hard, very hard, and easy...in that order---ideal. My first run was around 6 miles, my second about 11, and my last near 4. I would run it again in a heart beat, if you have the opportunity I would take it. It was something I had always wanted to do and am grateful I got the opportunity.

Costa Rica -
WOW! Costa Rica was like no where I have ever traveled before. The living conditions in Costa Rica were very humble in most places we visited. The roads are like nothing you have ever driven before. We rented a car and driving there is insane. Paved roads did not exist for a good portion of our driving, most were tiny dirt roads, super windy, tons of one lane bridges, giant holes in the road, uneven from the rain, and a lot of crazy drivers. You could get stuck behind a truck for long periods of time with no opportunity to get around them. Though driving was crazy the land was amazing. The landscape while you travel was beautiful.
We first drove to a town called La Fortuna which is right near Arenal. We rode horses up near the volcano and saw sloths, Toucans, falcons, snakes, gigantic spiders and bugs, armadillo, salamander, frogs, lots of wildlife. We also went canyoneering in this area. Repelling was one of my favorite parts of this trip.
The second place we went was to Monte Verde and the cloud forest. The drive to Monte Verde was probably one of our craziest driving experiences. The roads there were all dirt and it was a good solid 3 hours or so of crazy. Monte Verde was beautiful. We went zip lining at a place called Selvatura Park in the cloud forest. The lines were longer than any lines I have ever done and we did somewhere around 16 lines. The platforms at the top of the trees that they load you on are a bit nerve racking but the zip lining was awesome. We just stayed in Monte Verde for one night. The little bed and breakfast we stayed at was owned by the kindest German man but was something like a step below camp oakcrest. No windows, just slats you could shut with the wind blowing through, a good solid inch of space to outside around the door, no hot water, and a septic tank just to give a brief beginning to our little abode. The service and kindness of the man...incredible, would I change the experience...no, the room and such....something else.
The last place we visited was the Gulf of Papagayo near Guanacaste. The resort was beautiful and it was nice end of the trip to hang out at the beach and just relax by the pool. We went snorkeling (where I got stung by a jelly fish), kayaked, played volleyball, and just enjoyed. Loved every second of this trip...

Lake Powell -
It is still there and I still love it. I was not able to go to Lake Powell the first time my family went this past summer and so I was really excited to be able to go for the second summer visit. I love that place and I love spending time away from reality with my family. We did a lot of wake surfing, the kids as well as the adults enjoyed tubing, we played a lot of games, and did a lot swimming. Still love it, every time.

'Here' -
If you haven't been here.... you should go,
if you have... you should go again.
Best decision I have made yet.

uh..hum

The last few months have been kind of incredible.

Oh, Hawaii, how I love you

Ragnar - Wasatch Back

Costa Rica - absolutely beautiful

Lake Powell - perfect mixture of relaxation and plenty to do

I went here - nothing compares :)

LIFE IS GOOD

Can't help but smile :)

I am not sure how it is that I have not come across this until now, but I absolutely love it. This adorable couple near 90 years old, who perform at nursing homes, hospitals, care centers, and churches primarily seem to have a few things figured out when it comes to being happy.

Check yourself.

I have been reading a book called Mile Markers. It claims to be a book about running and why women do it....it seems to me that it is a book about life, real life, and how running plays a part in most every part of this specific woman's life. If you know me I like books that are real, raw, and believable...this book fits all of those categories. I do not claim to be a runner, but I do run (well I jog)in races here and there. I actually love running. Sometimes I forget that I love it up until the moment I am actually doing it, but once I am on my way I remember all of the good things running does for my mind and body. This is one of the many quotes from the book that I love.

Good reminder to put myself in check.

"I wish we could always support each other without comparing. I wish we could always allow others to be sad without trying to fix it. I wish we could always be happy for someone else without seeing the holes in our own lives. I wish we could always share in another's gratitude for good fortune instead of poisoning it with our own regret. I wish we could always laugh together without our mirth coming at the expense of someone else. I wish we could always lift each other up without having to be on top. I wish we could always applaud others' gifts without pining. I wish we could always freely celebrate our own gifts without feeling the need to play small."

This quote does not really have much to do with running at all, that is why I like this book. It takes something I can relate to, running, and after each chapter I realize I have learned important lessons about life.

Honest Abe

I am grateful for this guy and many others like him for so many reasons......today it is for a paid day off.

It is not what brings us together today....

Today, my nieces, who are 5 and 7, decided they were going to try and find me someone to marry.

The options consisted of:
a few guys I am related to,
a few who are currently married,
and Justin Bieber.

Guess that didn't work out.
In all fairness to them...
none of my ideas have worked yet either.

and the search continues...

to know her is to love her...

If you know me, you may be blessed enough to know my mom. Today was my mom's birthday and I have over and over, today especially, recognized how lucky I am to have her. I do not think there is anyone who knows my mom that would disagree with me in saying my mom is simply amazing. She is one of those people that seems to be good at everything she does. She is a wonderful wife, the perfect mom, and a wonderful friend. She has faith that could move a mountain and her love for her Savior is very evident in the way she lives her life. She is constantly thinking of what she can do for those around her. She has a day every week that is devoted to one of her daughters, daughter-in-laws, or mom. She will do whatever it is that they want her to do...she will clean your house, watch your kids, take ya to lunch, you name it-- she does it. This is just a small example of the kind of person my mom is. Who else do you know that does a cartwheel everyday just to make sure they never forget how?! My mom is that lady...you know the one with the cute little figure, great coordination, always dressed in perfect fashion, her house always seems to be clean and organized, and she somehow seems to always be on top of things.. The thing is, it isn't just a facade, she really is just that good. I feel blessed to be her daughter and love her dearly. Happy Birthday Mom.