VEGGIE DOG ANYONE?

About a month ago I decided to give up most meats. I am still a huge fan of fish, and though it's not my favorite, I have also been eating a little bit of Chicken and Turkey. I started this crazy experiment after I heard a seminar given by Tony Robbins. He states that when you eat meat it causes your PH factor to go extremely acedic, and when you neutralize your body, it is a lot more capable of fighting off disease.



Anyhow going off most meat has been one of the greatest/hardest things I have ever done for my body. I hardly ever go to fast food joints anymore, leaving me eating a lot of whole grains, fuits, and vegtables. I have noticed that my skin has cleared up quite a bit, and I am fitting in pants that would not even button up in December.




Anyhow today I tried Morning star corn "veggie" dogs today, and I must say they taste exactly like corn dogs except with 63% less fat. So delicious! I have also tried their "veggie" burgers, and even though they are extremely spicy, it almost feels like you are eating the real deal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag2jONKMjwc ...Just a quick note! I did cheat once this month and had a J-Dawg...It was so good that it was ALMOST worth the animal cruilty...but as the popular R&B 90's song by Brandy says..."Almost doesn't count!"

I have never been a big supporter of animal rights, but after watching this movie it made me sick to my stomach. I think I am ready to cut ties with my feathered friends, and just stick with fish!

Want to know some facts?

>Of the 20 million tons of plant protein given to raise cows only 2 million tons of protein are used. That means 18 tons of plant protein are wasted! The 20 million tons of plant protein could have reduced 90% of the world's yearly protein deficit for humans.

>Being a vegetarian would alleviate human starvation and in return there would be an increase in growth of wild animals without additonal sufferings on humans or any other animals.


>By choosing the vegetarian or vegan alternative, the land used originally for farm animals would feed more people off of plant protein.


>Plants yield 10 times more protein per acre than meat.


>Chickens are raised in crowded, unnatural enviroments. There are usually 3,000 or more in one pen. The birds are not able to move about freely or even spread their wings due to the over crowding. They use "nests" made out of metal and they are bred by unnatural means.

>In order for hens to lay mass amounts of eggs, artificial light is on 17 hours a day. Each hen averages about 300 eggs per year. Once a hen's egg prodution declines they are slaughtered. Most hens live an average of 5 to 6 years.


>Veal calfs are raised in cages on an anemic diet. The cages are so small that the calves cannot stand or even move in order to clean themselves. The veal calves are kept in the dark most of their lives within the cages. They are subjected to a cruel and horrid death.


>More than 7 billion animals die yearly for human consumption.

TWO TRUTHS AND ONE LIE!

A couple of years ago my friend Kent and I decided to plan the perfect double date. We decided to take our dates to a pretty cool art gallery, and then to dinner. On the way up to Salt Lake, we tried to play the game "2 truths and 1 lie". It was so funny, because Kent's date refused to play...So ever since then Kent, and I have had the joke "Hey, do you want to play 2 truths and 1 lie?" in which we would both burst out in laughter.

So I thought it would be fun to play "2 truths and one lie" with my spectacular readers who sit through post after post, and still come back....

Okay tell me which one is the lie...

#1- I only had 3 wisdom teeth pulled, because one tooth fit perfectly in my mouth.
#2- I have a small birthmark on my right shoulder.
#3- My first kiss was on the Fourth of July, underneath the fireworks.

Good luck...and I hope that you will play!

THE WORST PUNISHMENT EVER!

On Thursday night's I teach three adorable kids, and depending on how good they are in class is the deciding factor on what kind of treat they get...Tonight I gave the following treats:

Harley: Fun Dip

Trevan: Smarties

Isach: Nerf ball toy filled with candy

Well as you can probably tell Harley and Isach were very well behaved today, but Trevan on the other hand was a little rough to say the least. When he came to class he announced to me that his lesson would only go for 5 minutes...when I told him he had 30 minutes he threw a temper tantrum and started crying. Then when I made him play a song with a whole gallimaufry of chords he threw yet another tantrum and out came the crocodile tears. Every other minute he asked if we were done yet, and by the end of the lesson I was asking the same question.
When the lesson was FINALLY over, his eyes lit up over the treat box. A calorie playground lit up before his eyes, and he awaited me to pick out his treat! I looked through the box, and when I gave him a package of Smarties, you would have thought that I gave him a spanking with a belt that had sharp nails coming out of it... You guessed it another tantrum.

Now call me crazy, but it is really embarrassing when you take crying Children to their Parents after a 30 minute guitar lesson! Does anyone have any proven methods with kids...because my Smarties...as we know rank #1 at the top of "The Torture List"...a curse worse than death!

PUTTING THE WEIGHT ON HAIR!

Well folks... I have lost 10 pounds, and it is time to lose 10 more...It's also time to get my hair done. I love getting my hair done probably more than any girl in the whole world....so I am announcing to my blog readers that I will not get my hair done until the next 10 pounds come off.

I am hoping that announcing this to all my peeps will help me stay away from all that sugar, and get me to the gym every night. So if you don't see me with fabulous hair within the next couple of months it is because I am a lazy pig!

I am thinking that I am going to go red with some highlights...but I could always change my mind. Here are a couple of hairstyles that I would love to have!

MY TENDER MERCY FROM GOD

Before J.K. died we both had a joke... I was Black Sheep #2, and he was Black Sheep #1. We both understood that even though we had life's "Ebony wool" thrust upon us, we had to make the best out of life...and so the "Black Sheep" nicknames continued in almost every conversation...not to mention phone conversation...and we were probably the only ones who thought we were funny!

J.K. looking sheepish!

After my dear brother passed away, I really had no closure. For months and months I struggled with not only my testimony of eternal families, but also knowing if he was okay. I didn't understand why he had to die just one day before we were going to take family pictures, and I didn't know who I was going to share my Sunday dinners with. Who was going to wake me up at 2 am, just so I could watch a stupid episode of "The Muppet's", and who was going to give me pep talks in my darkest of hours.

Last June we had the opportunity of doing J.K.'s temple work. As I walked into the Mount Timpanogous Temple, I had to stop... for there in the lobby was a giant picture of Christ holding a black sheep. I knew immediately after I saw the lovely artwork, that my "Black Sheep #1" was okay, and that he was safe in the arms of the Savior. As I waited for my family to arrive, tears fell down my cheek, for I knew that God had heard all 100,000's of my prayers from the following year.

...AND ALL YOUR DREAMS WILL COME TRUE!

This weekend I spent a couple of days enjoying my awesome family in Lehi. I had a blast taking my little brother James to General Conference, playing cards, eating my Dad's very good cooking, waking up to my brother Hayden's practical joke of tickling my foot, hearing me scream and hiding really quick, playing guitar hero...and guitars, and listening to the sweet testimony of our new Prophet, Thomas S. Monson. I also was getting really low on gas, and since I was already going to Chevron, my Dad had me pick up a couple of gallons of 2% milk. Now I'm just going to put this out there and say that I am not a fan of milk. I never drink it, and I pretty much think it's disgusting.

Well I got the 2 gallons of milk, and when checking out...the guy at the register, who happened to have about 8 piercings, and a good two armful's worth of tattoo's asked me if I was going to drink all that milk by myself. I then proceeded to tell him that I had a lot of brothers. He then asked me what my favorite cereal was. I thought about it for a minute, and told him that I would eat whatever we had, because I really am not a big cereal eater, let alone a milk drinker. He then exclaimed to me that I needed to buy some fruity pebbles, and if I did so all of my dreams would come true!

I looked at him, laughed. If only a bowl of fruity pebbles would make all your dreams come true, but maybe I will try them for their money!

HUMP DAY!

Elder Heber Chester Haws has been on his mission for 1 year...and I miss him!

SNOOP DOGGY DOG!

I am not sure if this was an April fool's joke, because it was published on April 1st...but if it's not a joke this is pretty sweet!



By Aaron NicholsCNN

DIAMOND BAR, California (AP) -- In what some may consider an unexpected move, rap artist "Snoop Dogg" has reportedly converted to Mormonism after nearly a year of study with the fast-growing, Utah-based faith.

Snoop Dogg says he "can't get enough of the Book of Mormon."

In a statement, a spokeswoman for Snoop Dogg -- whose real name is Calvin Broadus -- said he considers himself extremely fortunate to have discovered such a deep sense of spiritual fulfillment at this stage in his life.
“Mr. Broadus is also very pleased to find that his family is as enthusiastic about attending church services as he is,” the spokeswoman said.
However, Snoop Dogg has not been enthusiastic about publicly sharing his experience and declined to be interviewed by CNN for this article. In fact, he reportedly informed producers of his E! reality show "Snoop Dogg's Father Hood" that this particular aspect of his family's life was off-limits to the cameras. Still, he left open the possibility of addressing the subject in future episodes.
According to the Associated Press, Snoop Dogg was first introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the Mormon Church is officially known, after attending a Gladys Knight concert in an LDS meeting house in Los Angeles.
Knight, who very publicly discusses her conversion to Mormonism several years ago, invited Snoop Dogg to what is known to the Mormon faithful as “Family Home Evening,” a church program that encourages families to set aside Monday evenings for gospel-centered lessons and family togetherness.
Though Snoop Dogg has been hesitant to publicly discuss his recent spiritual journey, he commented on the experience of attending his first “Family Home Evening” in a recent interview with People Magazine.
“I was hooked from the start,” Snoop Dogg said. “We talked about the purpose of life, played Mousetrap, and ate brownies. The kids thought it was off the hook, for real.”
In what Snoop Dogg now thinks was anything but a coincidence, Mormon missionaries had knocked on his door just one week before the Knight concert. He said he had initially turned them away because of what he knew about the strict Mormon health code, which prohibits members from smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs.
“Y’all know me,” he said grinning broadly. “There were just certain things the old me -- the "natural man" -- needed to do. And these young guys are telling me that God’s not down with disrespecting ourselves. But it’s cool now.”
Snoop Dogg said his conversion marks the end of his old life, one that included frequent run-ins with the law. Snoop Dogg was convicted in 1990 of cocaine possession and charged with gun possession after a 1993 traffic stop. In 1997, he pleaded guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence.
In 1996, Snoop Dogg was acquitted of murder after a purported gangbanger was killed by gunfire from the vehicle in which Snoop Dogg was traveling.
Snoop Dogg dismisses critics who claim his conversion is intended to placate a Salt Lake County judge, before whom he is appealing an alleged probation violation.
“Listen, the haters will say what they will,” Snoop Dogg said. “I can only do what I feel is right.”

OH WHAT A NIGHT!

Tonight was so hillarious! I got a new guitar student named Harley. He just turned 6, and is adorable! Throughout the whole lesson, he kept screaming out "holy shoot", and then informed me that shoot wasn't a bad word. I couldn't stop laughing!

Then I taught Trevan. Trevan informed me that he wrote a new song called "If I see a dragon I will go mad". He started playing me the song and sang "If I see a dragon I wil go mad..." well after that he set down his guitar and started acting like a turkey....he then told me he went mad...so funny!

I also taught Isach tonight. Isach was so good in class, and didn't give me the silent treatment at all today. After class we walked outside in which he found a helicopter seed. Helpicopter seeds come from willow trees, and if you throw them in the air they come down looking like a helicopter....Gotta love learning from 7 year olds!

HOW I SPENT MY EASTER VACATION!

This year for Easter I decided to join my friends Matt, and Zach down at Bryce Canyon. I had a lot of time to clear my mind, and figure out yet another life's journey. I had so much fun playing "Scum", enjoying guitars, and guitar hero, water basketball/baseball, and just getting away from the city.

Whats Easter without bubbles?
Aunt Laura ( I think that's right?) resting after hiking!
Easter Egg hunts are for kids! I tried to race in the over 18 Easter Egg hunt, and I ended up tumbling, and getting a bruise as big as a 3rd world country.
Zach ignoring me!

Jen, Jess, Zach, and a cute baby hiking up Calf Creek.

Can I just express how amazing this hike was?
More hunting!

Bryce Canyon

The Adventures of Ruby's Inn!

Calf Creek Falls
Uncle David...he out hiked us all!

Gotta love coloring Easter Eggs!