Some Favorite Things

As many of you know, this has been a difficult pregnancy for me. How have I survived? With a little help from my friends. I want to share with you some of the things they have shared with me that have made all the difference.
#1 - the TV show Alias. Jaime recommended this one just in time. We used our online subscription for the first few seasons, then borrowed the last few from a friend. It distracted me during all the sick months. I got through the day anticipating the next opportunity I had to watch it. Thanks Jaime! For those who haven't seen it: Jennifer Garner is an inspiring double agent super spy. This show held a impressive balance of action-packed missions spanning the globe with enthralling relationship drama and character development enough to satisfy anyone. Each season got better with more twists than an Italian breadstick. Just when I thought it couldn't get better, the super spy got pregnant. I was in big-bellied heaven watching an increasingly chubby agent combat world terror along with the aches and pains of child bearing. Suddenly, my own challenges weren't so difficult. I highly recommend it.

#2 - Books. My buddy Julie has been devouring literature like I can recently consume ice cream. She has been passing on her book recommendations to me, which can all be found at the library around the corner from our house. It feels great to be reading again! I will start sharing these with you. Right now, she has me reading, "Sweetness in the Belly," by Camilla Gibb. It is about a European orphan raised in a Muslim mosque and her struggles in Ethiopia during their period of government turmoil in the 80's which resulted in mass migrations and starvation. It is a fascinating book and gives me a better perspective on the current struggles I'm having with my own belly.

#3 - Good Food. I have to confess that I am finally learning to cook. Shameful, I know. Growing up, I didn't have time to learn. In college, I found a restaurant to work at that provided all my meals. During my mission, I was blessed with cooking savvy companions who took good care of me. Now I am out of excuses. My friend Niki, who is achieving her own goals, convinced me that I could learn and provided me with my first crockpot recipes. Incredible! It is so simple and makes the house smell like good food all day. Cool. This success caused me to elicit more help. Rich's mom, who is a cooking hero of mine, gave me the recipe for the Utah-renowned Cafe Rio Barbacoa Pork Burritos (let me know if you want the recipe... it is seriously the best burrito known to man) and the best breakfast idea. It is Bob's Red Mill Creamy Brown Rice cereal, which is healthy, delicious and only takes 5 min. to make. Rocky loves it! I recommend it for any of you busy moms with youngsters. Add a Tbsp of coconut oil, a bit of sea salt and 2-3 Tbsp's of pure maple syrup and you will be amazed! Then, on Rich's birthday, Rocky's Grandma Pam presented me with the most amazing cookbook to which Rich later said was, "The best birthday present HE could have gotten." It is called "Anyone Can Cook," which I was pleasantly surprised to find included me. It has big pictures, detailed instructions and different skill levels. Everything I've made has been healthy and extremely delicious. For anyone else that's struggling, I guarantee it will turn your culinary confidence around!

Feel free to comment and share your favorites. If you don't believe I can now cook, come visit us and I'll prove it to you! Just ask my mom, aunt Karen and Grandma Moulton, who were out here visiting last week ...