Friday, November 25, 2011

I'm Thankful For:

This year I am very thankful for friends that made the big hole in my heart a little smaller Thanksgiving day.

I made my first turkey this year - with many phone calls to my mother - and it turned out wonderfully! I also made three pies, stuffing and an appetizer. I hosted the dinner at my house and had eight people in the same situation I am in join me.

I couldn't believe the mountain of food that showed up! We had enough food to feed a small army! :)

After we stuffed ourselves full - we took a break and had a fun time talking, playing games and enjoying each other's company. Then we decided it was time to jump into the holiday spirit with "Elf" and tried out the delicious pies. This year I made the traditional pumpkin pie, blueberry pie and an apple pie. They were delicious!

Getting excited to eat!

Food - Food - Food!!

The table is always beautifully decorated at home, so I wanted to continue the tradition.

Carving of the turkey

Let the feast begin!

The "kiddie" table

Alzheimer's Walk 2011

I am playing a little catch up on a couple of things. The first is completing my fourth walk to end Alzheimer's.

Working in the place that I do, I see the effects of this terrible disease on a daily basis. I have watched family members struggle to understand why their loved one doesn't understand they aren't a child anymore. I have seen as an individual as slowly forgotten how to walk and eat - it really is a terrible disease.

Without fail this walk always brings a tear or two into my eyes as I see the crowds of people walking for the same cause I am.

This was a beautiful day for a walk and we had a GREAT team! We raised a total of $850!!! I was so proud of the team! We also had eight walkers, although a couple ended up getting a stomach bug and couldn't join us on the actual walk.

I am so grateful to all of those who supported me with this. I know that this is making a difference in the fight!

Speaking of fight - I had the song, "Eye of the Tiger" in my head the whole time and since I only know the one line sang it over and over! Most likely annoying the other walkers! :)

Here are a few shots from the walk!

At the beginning totally pumped to walk the 3 miles!

Lots of people joined us this year!

So excited!!

We reached the halfway mark - lost half of our team, but still going strong!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

I'm Happy!!!

I can't pinpoint why - but today I woke up and I was just sooo happy!

I feel cute, I am listening to Christmas music, I love my job, I have awesome friends and I am just one happy girl! :)

It's going to be a great day!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

I said what on Facebook!?

Day 24 - Last five facebook status'

5 - "My thoughts and prayers are with the Strong family today. I wish I could be there to show my support and attend the funeral, but I know they are surrounded by family, friends and an amazing ward."

4 - "What makes me different from everyone else?"

3 - "Found out just how close I work to Georgetown Cupcake today - dangerous!!!"

2 - "It's a sad, sad day.... Updated my iPod and lost all of my music that I had purchased... I wish my brothers where here to make everything all better... :("

1 - "Is it bad that I just had steak last night and already thinking of when I can have it again??" Ha ha, this is really funny considering my last post was actually about steak! :)

I was reading through some of the status updates I have made over the years and can I just say that sometimes I am REALLY FUNNY!!! Ha ha ha!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Craving's happen!

Day 23 - Something you crave for a lot.

Those that know me, know that there is one thing I am ALWAYS in the mood for - STEAK!

I love it!! I can't have it as often as I would like, but I love every morsel of that medium cooked delicious piece of meat! I may not remember lines in a movie, but I will remember if they served a delicious looking steak (i.e. Captain America).

I recently went and grabbed a steak with a friend to celebrate an "A" on his recent paper and work going well for me. We went to Outback Steakhouse, it was his first time - my 999th. :)

The food wasn't as good as I had hoped - don't get me wrong the steak was alright just not what I was craving... Looks like a trip to Bobby Van's Steakhouse is in order! Anyone care to join me!?

And to all of those that feel you have to put something on your steak - meaning a sauce of ANY kind - that just means you haven't had a steak that has been cooked right. And if you have to put ketchup on your steak, make sure I am not around, that is just WRONG!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Emerging Adulthood

I'm still "Holding out for a Hero"

Tonight our lesson for Family Home Evening (FHE) was quite interesting. It was on being in the phase of single and the differences that there are from today's singles to a couple of decades ago. But even more specific to being a Latter Day Saint single to those outside of our religion/culture.

We had a guest who was a practicing therapist working on her doctorate degree on this very subject. I was intrigued....

She spoke of those that had a life plan figured out when they were younger of being married, gaining an education, raising a family, etc. Growing up, I had a life plan of being single for a few years and then getting married around 23-25ish and living happily ever after. Funny thing was it didn't happen...

She spoke of how being single was viewed as being able to be spontaneous and could travel the world with a moments notice, being independent. Whereas being married was viewed as having stability and interdependency. She then spoke of how she found that young women in this phase (ages 19-29) wouldn't plan for a stable lifestyle as they expected to start that when they were married. And it was an opposite response from the men in that same phase. So, I was quickly reviewing my own response to this and found that although I don't agree with most women, I have found myself holding back on certain purchases with that in back of my mind. Luckily, I have started to change that, especially recently, and starting to make purchases and live in a way that I have always wanted to and can.

She brought up the topic of who was responsible for still being single... Is it the men or the women? I have found that both parties are guilty of this. She spoke of the fear guys have of asking a girl out - and honestly I almost rolled my eyes. I have asked a guy out, been rejected, and moved on. It is one of those - if I can do it, so can you! If you are scared to death to ask her out in the first place, how do you expect a relationship to happen!? Take that first step - if you are confident in yourself - she will see that and appreciate it! If she says no, don't be afraid to try again - sometimes it really is a scheduling conflict!!

Although I have found that I am in the minority with this but - I find NO problem with a girl asking a guy on a date. If a guy has a hard time with that then I simply won't ask him... Ha! Because I feel like a relationship is mutual and that includes the asking.

So, it made me reflect on how I am feeling still being single and almost the big 30! *gasp*

And this is what I discovered. It's okay that I am still single. Do I sometimes feel frustrated - - - yes. But I am trying to get out there more and just be okay with being where I am and who I am. Eventually, there is going to be someone that will like what they see too. :)

I'm Different and that's Okay!!

Day 22 - What makes you different from everyone else?

I have thought long and hard about this question... What makes me different from the average person you pass on the street? I actually posed the question to my facebook friends to see if they could help out. I felt a little silly once I saw their responses, but it isn't like I can google search "Why is Taci different from everyone else?" right?

I hate talking about myself and what makes me different - so this post will be a short one! :)

I am what you could call a loyal friend. I will make sure that you celebrate the good times - I love to throw a fun party! I am always there with tissues in hand for the sad times. And you really have to hurt me to ruin the friendship, because I believe that there is always good in people and they don't mean to be rude or hurtful.

Once a friend of mine, always a friend! :)

Friday, November 11, 2011

If it makes you happy!

Day 21 - Picture of something that makes you happy!

I love to COOK!
Cooking has become something of a passion of mine! I love to browse (yes, browse) through cookbooks, recipes online, daydream, anything that has to do with cooking.

I can't wait for the day that I have awesome kitchen tools to cook and present an amazing meal with. Right now, my selection is limited and my most prized cooking tools are a ceramic knife and the Pampered Chef chopper. But I am dreaming of the day when I can just call up people and have them over with matching dishes and adorable center piece and the most amazing meal they have ever tasted.

I have a friend whose husband went to cooking school and will be showing me in the next few weeks how to cook a red snapper. SO EXCITED!!!

This has been a new favorite of mine in recent years because I had amazing people to show me that good food can be made at home! I also learned that it was okay to have a failed dinner or two because someone still ate it! Ha ha ha! ;)

So, I am going to strengthen my cooking skills and really test out new waters in the coming months! Wish me luck!

Personality Test - Myers Briggs

I went to my first book club meeting last night and had a blast. I, of course, kept saying the dumb comments and just needed to shut it sometimes. Ha!

One of the girls made the funniest comment as we were talking about personalities - about being smarter than another person. I loved it! Then thought about all the dumb comments I was making and decided to try and shut my mouth for the rest of the evening... It didn't work, but I tried. ANYWAY - in the beginning they were discussing personality test that I had heard about but never taken.

So, when I got home last night I took the test and these are the results... Agree or Disagree??

E - S - F - J



YOUR TYPE
E S F J

Based on my personality type, these are the best career choices I should look into:

Career Educational Institutions
Management
Public Administration
Hotel & Restaurant Management
Sales/Marketing Specialist
Fashion Merchandising
Health Care (Does working in a CCRC count?)
Nursing (Uh, thanks but NO thanks!)
Social Service
Education
Social Work

Famous people of your particular type
Martin Luther King
Eleanor Roosevelt (Married to the President of the U.S., and an amazing women - I wouldn't mind following in her footsteps!)
Elvis Stojko (figure skater Olympic champion)

Guardian category: Provider

"Providers take it upon themselves to insure the health and welfare of those in their care, but they are also the most sociable of all the Guardians, and thus are the great nurturers of social institutions such as schools, churches, social clubs, and civic groups. Providers are very likely more than ten percent of the population, and this is fortunate for the rest of us, because friendly social service is a key to their nature. Wherever they go, Providers happily give their time and energy to make sure that the needs of others are met, and that social functions are a success.

Highly cooperative themselves, Providers are skilled in maintaining teamwork among their helpers, and are also tireless in their attention to the details of furnishing goods and services. They make excellent chairpersons in charge of dances, banquets, class reunions, charity fund-raisers, and the like. They are without peer as masters of ceremonies, able to speak publicly with ease and confidence. And they are outstanding hosts or hostesses, knowing everyone by name, and seemingly aware of what everyone's been doing. Providers love to entertain, and are always concerned about the needs of their guests, wanting to make sure that all are involved and provided for.

Friendly, outgoing, neighborly - in a word, Providers are gregarious, so much so that they can become restless when isolated from people. They love to talk with others, and will often strike up a conversation with strangers and chat pleasantly about any topic that comes to mind. Friendships matter a great deal to Providers, and their conversations with friends often touch on good times from years past. Family traditions are also sacred to them, and they carefully observe birthdays and anniversaries. In addition, Providers show a delightful fascination with news of their friends and neighbors. If we wish to know what's been going on in the local community, school, or church, they're happy to fill us in on all the details.

Providers are extremely sensitive to the feelings of others, which makes them perhaps the most sympathetic of all the types, but which also leaves them somewhat self-conscious, that is, highly sensitive to what others think of them. Loving and affectionate themselves, they need to be loved in return. In fact, Providers can be crushed by personal criticism, and are happiest when given ample appreciation both for themselves personally and for the tireless service they give to others."

I love you - Zues!

Day 20 - Someone you love.

Dearest Zues,

I just wanted to send out a little note to let you know how much I love you! I still remember the first time I met you and was so excited to have a nephew with such an awesome name! I mean, COME ON, you are ZUES!!! Can't get any cooler than that!

I am amazed at what a strong, kind and loving young man you have become over the years. I just wish that I lived closer to see these changes. You will never know how much I loved hearing you talk about your band, cars, art, etc. I felt that I was young and hip again!

I won't ever forget the car ride from Tridell to Salt Lake when we listened to your music at full blast in my car! I loved every minute of it! I still remember thinking I was going to go hoarse from shouting our conversation over the music. I don't know if I have listened to music that loud since... ;) (hint, hint - time for a visit!)

I hope you know how proud I am of you completing school and starting your career. I am secretly hoping that you move to Tridell, because I think Grandma and Grandpa need someone to keep them in-line!

You always have and will have a special place in my heart! I love you!

Aunt Taci

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Hey YOU!

Day 19 - Nicknames you have had and why.

I went probably 80% of my life thinking that I didn't have any nicknames. It was a sad time in my life, I was so jealous of the friends that had them. And then I heard someone call me one and I jumped for joy! I have now realized that I have had a couple of nicknames for quite a few years.

Chub-a-lub: Yep, this one is on the list. My mother told me this was my nickname as a child - - can you guess why? It was my amazingly cute personality and thunder thighs, right mom?

Tauci: My friends gave this to me in high school. It didn't stick for long, but every once in a while it will pop up in a conversation and it makes me happy!

Tacky: Since I have started working at Knollwood, this has become my nickname due to the CEO introducing me to everyone and saying that was my name. Even after someone politely corrected him, he proceeded to argue that he said it right... He even spelled it out... This point my face was beet red and from then on people fondly call me Tacky.

Tac: This has been my typical nick name. Apparently two syllables is a lot in a name, so everyone shortens mine to one.

Sis: My mother calls me that name all the time, especially when I am home. I don't know if it is because she doesn't want to go through the other sister's names before she finally reaches mine or she just can't remember! Ha ha ha! Love you Mom! :)

So, I have actually been pretty lucky in the nicknames department. There is one other one, but it is just too special to put on here right now!