Can She Do It?

For the month of May, I will be attempting something so paramount that I'm not sure if it can even be done--no sugar for one month. I hear the gasps of horror from you, it's a scary thought. No brownies or ice cream! Oh the shame!

Even when I started with my trainer and developed new eating habits, I still indulged; however, lately I've been feeling like I'm letting my love of sweets take a higher precedence in my eating habits than it should. So I'm conducting an experiment--no sweets for the month of May . . . or else.

Mostly, I want to see if I can actually do this. I really do love sweet foods, but I want to see if I can regain control of my sweet tooth. Also, I'd like to see how it will affect weight loss. Frankly, if it doesn't do anything than I'm off the hook! I can eat all of the sugar I want and not feel guilty. If it helps me lose those pesky 5 pounds that I'll be trying to drop during the month of May then I can't complain. The way I see it, it's a win-win situation.

Anyway, tell me what you think. Do you think I can do it?

Tagged by Sarah!

I guess it's my turn to be tagged--this time 100 interesting things about me. I'm not sure if I even have 50, but here goes:

1. My full name is Melissa Ann Phillips.
2. I was born on August 15, 1980.
3. I was born in Palmer, Alaska and lived in Alaska until I was 12.
4. I loved the winters in Alaska, even though they're a little long.
5. My family and I moved to Zillah, Washignton when I was 12.
6. I learned how to read when I was 3 years old.
7. The first words I read were Crest and All, as in the detergent. Who says you can't learn anything from TV?
8. I haven't stopped reading since I learned how, it quickly became a favorite pasttime.
9. My favorite books are: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
10. Mama Day by Gloria Naylor.
11. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin.
12. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
13. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.
14. Can You Keep A Secret? by Sophie Kinsella.
15. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.
16. In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez.
17. I could actually keep going on about books, but I won't since it bores a lot of people.
18. I hate doing laundry.
19. Sometimes, I will neglect folding my clothes. Finally, I'll just rewash everything because I don't want to hang up or fold my wrinkled clothes.
20. I do like to do dishes and vacuum, however, so I'm not a complete slob!
21. I'm not much of an animal lover, but I love my parents' dog Licorice to pieces.
22. I'm the oldest of five kids--four girls, one boy, and one sister-in-law.
23. I went to BYU--Go Cougs!
24. I majored in English with an emphasis in Editing and Writing.
25. I dream of writing a book one day (see, I can't stop talking about books even when I try).
26. I love old movies. My parents didn't like a lot of the movies that came out when we were kids, so we watched a lot of old movies instead as a family.
27. My favorite old movies are: Charade.
28. How to Steal A Million.
29. Roman Holiday.
30. The Philadelphia Story.
31. Father Goose.
32. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
33. The Parent Trap.
34. Summer Magic.
35. Vertigo.
36. I think old movies do a better job because they rely more on the story and its characters rather than flashy, special effects and typical, washed-out storylines. Don't get me wrong, though. I appreciate a good chick flick just like any other girl, but I wouldn't exactly call them original ideas.
37. I'm not really impressed with any of the presidential candidates this election season.
38. I'm kind of skeptical of the whole "going green" phase.
39. Mostly because it reminds of 10 years ago when everyone was all about AIDS awareness, but really it was just a trend. Is anybody pushing for AIDS awareness now? Do you see anybody wearing those red HIV ribbons at red carpet events now?
40. I am somewhat cynical.
41. Ironically, there's a part of me that's wildly optimistic as well.
42. The best day of my life was my first time through the temple.
43. I've read the Book of Mormon more times than I can remember.
44. I don't hold grudges.
45. Mostly because I forget about that stuff pretty quickly.
46. I love to laugh and have a pretty loud laugh.
47. I kind of wish it were a little less loud . . . maybe more demure, instead?
48. I was really into red for about five years. Now I've segued into tiffany blue and chocolate brown . . . is there anybody else who has such specific taste when it comes to colors?
49. I've lost 40 pounds since getting a trainer and I want to lose about 20 more.
50. My favorite forms of working out is spinning and lifting weights.
51. I think training is the best form of therapy I've ever had. It's so empowering to think you can't do something, and then somehow you do it.
52. I've never colored my hair. But I'm not necessarily opposed to it in the future.
53. I've had knee surgery twice. And to this day my knee still hurts.
54. When I first started training, my "bad leg" was a full two inches smaller circumference-wise than my good leg.
55. Even though I've had a trainer for over a year, I still struggle with my "bad leg". It's just not as strong as the other one. The muscle on my "good leg" pops out now and I kind of don't like that. I feel like I look like a gladiator.
56. I love chocolate, ice cream, and brownies. And I try never to buy it because when I do I can't stop eating it!
57. I don't enjoy dating . . . at all. Pretty much, I consider myself one ginormous retard when it comes to the whole thing.
58. But since getting a trainer and undergoing what I like to refer to as "my personal cleansing process," I have tried to put myself out there more. The ironic thing is guys I'm just barely forming opinions about as to whether or not they're dateable, everybody else already seems to have formed their opinion and called dibbs. Is that the sign I'm a late bloomer?
59. The older I get, however, the more particular I get about the men I'll consider for marriage. I wouldn't consider myself as unrealistically picky, but just I have developed a very acute idea of what is negotiable and what is non-negotiable. For example, a college degree is a non-negotiable. Church activity and temple attendance, a non-negotiable. Plans, goals, ambitions, and aspirations (this is usually the kicker), a non-negotiable. It seems that a lot of the guys don't seem to get it.
60. Sometimes, the lack of prospects in the dating world makes me want to cry. Usually, it just makes me want to laugh because it's just so ridiculous.
61. I went bowling this weekend and bowled a 55. A personal high for me! Someday, I want to break 100 . . . just once!
62. My favorite thing about going home for Christmas is the fact that we sit around, eat a lot of food, and watch a lot of movies. I'm a low-maintenance gal.
63. Christmas in our family is HUGE . . . which I love. There are decorations everywhere and people always stopping by my parents' house to check out the newest addition to my parents' already massive Christmas collection.
64. I look around at the terrors running around Church, the store, or their homes and I wonder how my parents were ever able to raise 5 kids to be so grounded and well behaved (well, comparatively speaking :) ), when it seems that so many parents nowadays have no idea how to do that.
65. I've had really good examples of good marriages, from my grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and friends. I consider myself lucky because I know so many people who have never had this luxury of seeing a stable marriage.
66. My favorite word is pedantic--it means to be ostentatious or showy in one's learning, which is kind of ironic because I always feel smart when I use that word correctly.
67. The news depresses me, yet I still try to watch and read it.
68. I resent the news a lot because I always feel like I'm being manipulated when I watch it. No, I don't want to know if there is mold on my walls or if my identity is at risk of being stolen. I guess these are relevant issues but I get so tired of being told by the media that I should be scared of everything.
69. After traveling to Boston I realized that I like a much simpler way of life, and living somewhere where parking is available.
70. I think this is why I like Salt Lake so much . . . it offers a small-town feel, yet there are a lot of people, events, and places to see.
71. After seeing The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants I've always wanted to see Greece.
72. I think a Mediterranean cruise would be my ideal vacation.
73. Or visiting England so I could chase my literary heroes.
74. I love all things British: British boys, British accents, British TV and movies, and British books.
75. I really want the TV station BBC America, because it shows all of the British TV and movies that I always hear about but never get to see.
76. I also would like to go to Buenos Aires, Argentina. That place just sounds cool.
77. I don't really like sports, but I do find it fun if a large group is watching it.
78. Except I do love BYU football.
79. If I could change any physical feature of mine, I would wish for long, slender fingers and nails that actually grow and don't break or peel, especially after getting wet.
80. I kind of feel like nobody will find this interesting because I'm such an open book about my life I think everybody knows all of this stuff already.
81. If I could have any car in the world regardless of cost it would be an Infiniti G35. That is just one sexy car and it purrs like a kitten.
82. I hate jobs that have anything to do with customer service, mostly because of my 3 years spent at Enterprise.
83. While at Enterprise, I got really good at washing cars and have a surefire method for getting the smell of cigarrette smoke out of cars. But if I told you what I did, you'd probably be disgusted. It's nice to see my college degree at work while at Enterprise, don't you think?
84. I get along with girls better than I do guys. I think girls who tout themselves at being better friends with guys than girls are secretly desperate for male attention and a boyfriend so they hang out with guys all in the hope of snagging one. I don't trust those kinds of girls because frankly, you've gotta have your girlfriends!
85. I ran out of interesting things to say at #22.
86. I love the show Gilmore Girls and watched it religiously every week. I personally felt responsible that if I missed an episode it would get cancelled. Its cancellation was so disappointing and I think Amy Sherman-Palladino is responsible for its demise. Because of this, I'm no longer a fan of hers and will probably not watch anything else she creates.
87. I identify with Rory's character, but like Lorelai's fashion sense better.
88. I prefer vegetables to fruit.
89. This wouldn't be complete without sending a shout out to my new favorite show Psych. Every time I watch this show I laugh my head off. It's witty a la Gilmore Girls.
90. I don't like being called ma'am. Do I look like a ma'am?
91. Give me historical dates, events, and people and I won't remember a thing. Ask me to memorize the latest People magazine and I can do that with flying colors. I don't consider this a gift but a sickness.
92. I love sarcasm. Sadly, not everyone gets it.
93. I love Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and Gregory Peck. George Clooney and Brad Pitt don't hold a candle to these fellas.
94. And of course, Audrey Hepburn. There is no one greater than her.
95. My prime operating hours are from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. at night. I'm useless anytime before or after that. I can't even make coherent sentences.
96. I love water. I don't really drink anything else.
97. Life wouldn't be complete without meat, specifically red meat.
98. I love The Office. I heart Jim Halpert with a fiery, megawatt passion!
99. People always compliment me when I wear green because I have red hair, but I've never understood why redheads and green go together. I do like green, however.
100. One of my guilty pleasures are Matlock reruns.

Okay! I'm sure everyone was ridiculously impressed just now. Anyway . . . I tag Charlotte and Holly, if they're willing.

Licorice

I just came across this picture and I couldn't resist.

Happy Birthday, William Shakespeare!

William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564. To celebrate his birth, here is one of my favorite sonnets.















My Mistress' Eyes are Nothing Like the Sun
Sonnet CXXX

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red:
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound.
I grant I never saw a goddess go:
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.

Not Just A Game

I watched an interesting show the other day . . . the famous pairings of guy/girl interactions. I'm not talking about it being spring and how there's love in the air. Instead, I'm talking about women's vain attempts to win over a man. Here's how you know when a girl is interested:

1) She laughs really loudly.
2) She leans in to the guy she's speaking to.
3) She tosses her hair.
4) She touches his arm.

I know this isn't news to anyone, particularly myself because I find myself doing this from time to time (but in my defense, I laugh loudly). However, I watched as every guy in the room found himself amongst a bevy of ladies--all who were displaying the typical signs that she had zoned in that guy as a potential partner. It didn't matter who he was, his singleness seemed to be his number one trait.

I even watched one guy take 30 minutes to cross the room about 5 feet long. You see, he was approached by a pack of girls every step he took. I was actually embarrassed for all of these girls. Who knew if he even wanted to talk to them! They came to him.

Now, there is no easy answer to the highs and lows of dating. And I'm not complaining (necessarily). But yesterday I heard something that disturbed me more than watching the girls flock to guys desperately hoping he would choose them out of the huge mass of available women.

Yesterday's lesson in Relief Society and Elder's Quorum was about the Melchezidek Priesthood, which had all of the potential to be a deeply powerful lesson. The priesthood is the channel through which God works, it's the basis of how our Church operates so effectively. And yet, I heard on multiple occasions girls mutter under their breath and even make (jokey) comments in Relief Society how they didn't understand people we considered to be just boys (read: immature) could have something as precious and powerful as the priesthood.

I'll admit, I certainly am a little jaded when it comes to my faith in men, but this shouldn't be how it is! We should not disparage the group that can give us priesthood blessings, baptize, administer temple ordinances, or bless the sacrament because we as women are feeling frustrated by our lack of prospects. Sadly, this is the way it is. There's no way around it. However, I choose to be happy with my life regardless of my marital status. Instead, we should show respect to the men in our ward because they are able to carry the priesthood. I couldn't ask for anything more than to know that I can call on my home teacher to give me a blessing if I needed one. And, if women really wanted to stick it to The Man, they would demand that their men are better. They wouldn't seem themselves as the inferior ones, instead they would insist on having a partner with whom they could be equally yoked.

Anyway, I know not all of you have to deal with this anymore (bless you :) ). But, I think it's important we teach our daughters and our friends to respect the people who righteously carry the priesthood.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: I am told that a lemon raspberry cake is not the way to a man's heart because well, it's an effeminate flavor. Because of this, I apologize profusely for misleading you single gals, wives, and mothers with the promise that lemon raspberry will charm your men and get them to either take you out or even better, take out the trash. To better serve my friends, fans, and family, I am searching desperately for a "non-effeminate" cake flavor that you can use to win over the opposite sex, but, ahem, is there such a thing as a non-effiminate cake? For example, a quick search for cake flavors yielded: vanilla butternut, chocolze hazelnut, almond poppyseed, chai-spiced, cheery cherry, chocolate honey bun, and my favorite, peach cake with sour peach frosting. Do any of these sound manly to you? Perhaps instead we should infuse a shot of Old Spice into the batter.

The Experiment

How many boys do you get when you make LOADS of cupcakes? Um . . . I don't know. However, for Conference Kaylin, my friend Mindy, and I made cupcakes in order to stave away the inevitable--falling asleep during the good word. Does anyone else feel guilty when this happens?

Best Idea Stolen from Martha Stewart and Subsequently Made Better:
Corn on the Cob
If you look closely you'll see we made little butter pats out of yellow laffy taffy.

Cupcake Most Likely To Win A Man's Heart (because they tasted so darn good):
Lemon Raspberry with a raspberry jelly filling.

Best Reason To Subscribe to A Strictly Chocolate Diet:
The Fuzzy Bear
Really, this was just a chocolate cupcake with chocolate icing dipped in toasted coconut. I made up the name as a joke and it just stuck.

Discipline

The other day I was at the gym running, which in my opinion is one of the most laborious tasks out there. But I was determined (actually, trying to be determined) to finish my half hour--that's really about all I can take. A girl in front of me was running as well and on the back of her t-shirt it read: The pain of discipline is far less than the pain of regret. That quote (albeit cheesy) really struck a chord with me so over and over I repeated it in my head as I finished my run. I was surprised how much it helped--it got me through those last ten minutes! Even though it was on the back of someone's t-shirt specifically geared for people who are athletes, I liked the idea . . . especially the real world application. While I'm far from perfect, I don't have a lot of regrets in my life, I think because I have strived to act to the best of my ability. I accept my shortcomings, but I don't think that weaknesses are a proper excuse for not trying. Some of us may shy away from the idea of discipline, but I've found that when I'm disciplined in certain aspects of my life I'm much happier. I've found that discipline is often undermined, but it is usually the place where I find my true grit, my strength to see something through. I'm sure there are a lot of us out there that are trying to see something through, it's nice to know that we're not limited to waiting and seeing, but we are actually capable to take life in our own hands and shape it ourselves.

More of Boston!

Here are a few more of Boston--hope nobody is tired of them! I just wanted to share with everyone all of the places I visited.

The first two pictures were taken in Marblehead which is right outside of Boston. This was the cutest, quaintest town and it was right on the shore, I think it was my favorite part of traveling to Boston. The water sparkled in the sun (but don't be deceived by that sparkling water, it was wicked cold even in the sun!) and there was a faint fishy smell in the town. I thought it was funny that since moving to Utah I've always been attracted to bigger places and more people, but after visiting Boston I realized I really like a simpler way of life. I think that's why I liked Marblehead so much.

We also visited the Boston temple--so beautiful! I love that regardless of what part of the world you're in, the feeling of the temple is always the same.

Also, we visited the Salem Witch Museum where they had a mock trial that we could sit in and observe. They really love their witches! In fact, the employees all seemed to cackle like witches. I almost thought they were getting into character, but I really think that's just how they laughed.

Boston, Day 2

More pictures from Boston, the second day.

Another picture of the Boston skyline, but I really like this picture of the harbor. You have no idea how unbelievably cold it was! I anticipated a chill similar to Salt Lake City, but it was nothing like Utah cold, or Alaska cold for that matter. The humidity caused a bitter chill that penetrated to the bone! I was not prepared and froze practically the whole time. The best part was when Anna and I visited the Harvard Singles Ward and someone mentioned how grateful they were for the spring weather. That made me laugh.





This picture is for my dad--it's Bill Nye the Science Guy! He was at the conference I attended. I should have gotten my picture taken with him but there was a crazy long line. I don't do lines. Every time I tried to take a picture of him, people kept walking right in front of my camera. So it took a few tries to get this pic.









One of my favorite parts of the trip--Beacon Hill. This is where all of the brownstones are located, and all of the apartment buildings are located on a long, steep hill. We just walked up the road and I took picture after picture. It was just beautiful and quaint, it felt like we had stepped out of the city and into a sweet little neighborhood.









Another brownstone, but these were the nicest of the bunch, which is saying something because I peered into the windows of some of those brownstones and they were surprisingly big and pretty on the inside! You can't tell, but all of the cars lined up on the road were BMWs, Audis, Volvos, and Escalades. So posh. We met this nice woman who told us that John Kerry lives in one of these brownstones. Apparently this is what you get when your wife is the Queen of Ketchup. If I ever get to build a house from the bottom up, I think I might have to "mirror" the red/brown brick with black shutters. This same lady told us a funny story about this rude guy who was honking at her one day because she was in the middle of the street talking to someone else--which she thought was so rude and so she refused to move. After he "whizzed" on by, the man she was talking to asked if she knew who the man honking at her was. "Of course, not. I don't care," was her reply. He promptly responded, "That was Mitt Romney, the governor." She got a kick telling us about that because we told her we were from Utah.