AML Happiness Is...

#AMLHappinessIs

Last year, I somehow started using "Happiness Is.." for posts/thoughts/photos/moments that just made my whole self smile.  It has stuck!!  I even have a hashtag (my first and only one) to document all those things that fill me with true joy.

Mission President Seminar 2015

Working with this bundle during the Mission President Seminar has been a blast.  We've survived another year of being displaced and relocated from our office.  We worked in cubicles, shoved in the depths of the dungeon.  AND WE HAD FUN!!

St. Memorial George Day

Memorial Day weekend marked my first time ever going to Zion's National Park in St. George.  My friend Terrance had never been either so we planned a day and went for it.

Since we wanted to get an early start in Zion's, Terrance and I decided to go down and spend the night with my aunt and uncle.  Jan and Frank took us on a lesser-known Petroglyph hike that night.  The area near their condo has a lot of little hikes and sites BYU has used for geological digs.  There is a lot of stuff just waiting to be found.  We started off walking up the standard tourist walking trail.  Then, Frank took us off-roading down among the rocks and cliffs into the hidden stuff you have to be an adventurous local to know about.  We saw some AWESOME history down there!!  Each Petroglyph we found prompted theories and questions about what the people were doing and thinking as they scratched the surface and marked the rocks.  Pretty neat stuff!  I'd never seen Petroglyphs in person (Disney's Pocahontas being my only source) so I was fascinated.

The next morning, Terrance and I got to the BIG GUNS --- Zion's National Park.  We decided on various hikes and just took off.  The park is closed to traffic so you have to take park-provided shuttle into the park, then pass through the entry gate, and THEN take another shuttle to the individual hikes and formations.  Lots of work, but well worth the waiting.  AND...it was nice to sit down and be out of the sun in parts.  I was surprised at how un-busy the park was on a National Holiday, but I wasn't complaining.  Of course the busiest hike in the park was Angels Landing (but you DEFINITELY will not catch me doing that one).  Other people on the shuttle who came from that hike said they could only take a step or two before having to stop because the path was so crowded.

It was really nice to wander and hike at our own pace, and just enjoy and take pictures any place we wanted.  The first hike we did was called the "Emerald Pools".  It's one waterfall broken up into three separate sections.  You walk under the first waterfall, on top of the second, then to the third..

1st section

1st section

At the second section, there's a little pool about ankle-deep at its deepest point and then flows out and over the rocks to form the first section (the one you walk under).  On this one, I lost my balance trying to walk over the pool on a log, and got one ankle full to last all the hot day.

between 1st and 2nd section of the waterfall.

2nd section -- here is where it flows over the rocks to
create the 1st section

2nd section -- this is right where I decided to dunk one foot

I think the last section of the hike and waterfalls is my favorite.  On this one, you actually hike down into it.  The rock walls open up to, what feels like, a little oasis.  There's a little beach on one side beside a lake, and on the other area there are huge rocks to climb on, and that's where there's a knee-high bundle of rocks with water flowing over them back down the mountain to the first two waterfalls.  My favorite spot of the day!!

That tree was determined to grow

From the shuttle

One of the other hikes we did was Temple of Sinahwava.  This was the easiest "hike" I've seen.  It was a paved walking road the whole way to a gathering spot.  You can get water gear and keep going through the river to the actual Temple of Sinahwava, but we didn't plan to do that.  The walk was nice and cool, but still really pretty. 

From the shuttle

Overall, the trip was AMAZING!!  I want to go back again soon -- maybe next summer!

Time to Catch Up

Little One sternly reminded me that I needed to do some blog updates.  Here's a run-down of the past 12 months.  (I'll try to do a post on each of these...at some point)

May 2014 -- Baby Brother married

June 2014 -- Summer yard and garden fun

July 2014 -- Got to visit all the East Coast Lind families

August 2014 -- Spent lots of time with new family

September-- Got to be a Wedding photographer

October 2014 -- Sports and time with Keri

November 2014 -- BYU Football

December 2014 -- Gettysburg Christmas

January 2015 -- Experimented with fancy foods

February 2015 -- Professional Cooking Classes

March 2015 -- Made LOADS of new friends

April 2015-- Grad-a-ma-nation

May 2015 -- Adventures in Zion's National Park

June 2015 -- Wedding Season

June 2015 -- Craft Central Station 

CSP Photography

Lately, I've had a lot of people ask me to take their pictures; whether it's graduation announcements, engagements, or just be the fly on the wall with their kids.  Taking photos has always been a hobby of mine on a small scale, but I never thought anyone else would enjoy looking a what I do for fun.  The result = Curly Southpaw Photography.  You can see the link to where I'll post photos above in "CSP Photos"

Crazy Cuisine

Just a little insight to my current culinary-creations!

Mint Chocolate Chip with Mint Oreo Cookies (and my St. Patty nails)

Cinnamon rolls

Wontons

Crockpot Carribean Jerk Ribs

Rolls

Christmas Sugar Cookies

Butterscotch rolls

Nailed it -- Fun

Since I got home from my mission, I've had this weird fascination with "fun-painting" my nails.  I love to decorate for the holidays, but nails are my newest canvas-obsession.  I'm not a big fan of painting the ring finger differently, but I do like making my thumb different.  I like having the four fingers match, and then BOOM...a cute little thumb design.  Here's my escapades as of yet:

Valentine's Day kiss

Hearts and Kisses

St. Patrick's Day buckle

St. Patrick's Day gold coins

Ready to Cinna-OH-YEAH

Tried my hand at making homemade cinnamon rolls...sans raisins (yucky).  Verdict - - - FAN-TAB-U-LOUS!!

I don't have any mixing pictures, but here's when the magic started.  After rolling out a tablet of dough, I brushed a little butter on and covered with sugar and cinnamon...and more sugar and cinnamon...and more butter.  After the tablet, I rolled it into a log, took some floss and cut it into discs (I felt a little like a ninja with the floss...that stuff is awesome).

Rolled out and read to roll up and cut

Rolled up and ready to rise

Risen and ready to bake

Baked and ready to glaze

Glazed and ready to devour

CINNA-OH-YEAH

If I lived in the past

Here's a little look into what I'd look like, if I lived in the Seventies.

70s glasses