fascinating

did you know?...

Recycling one glass jar saves enough energy to watch T.V for 3 hours.

(see, you people need to recycle! yes, i'm that girl that keeps a personal recycling bin at work and collects it in the office to take home once a week.)

A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds. 

(i don't believe this...my fish, Big Boy, he knows me. and knows when i'm about to feed him too...he comes up and starts eating the air if i just put my hand over the bowl..haha)

A hard working adult sweats up to 4 gallons per day. Most of the sweat evaporates before a person realizes it's there. 

(no one drinks enough water these days. do you see why it's important?)

A hummingbird weighs less than a penny.

(i never see hummingbirds at my hummingbird feeder. lame.)

A jellyfish is 95 percent water. 

(ever seen the movie SEVEN POUNDS? it's good. see it.)

A sneeze travels out your mouth at over 100 m.p.h. 

(gross. cover that, plzkthanx)

 

All of the clocks in the movie "Pulp Fiction" are stuck on 4:20. 

(i used to love this movie. i never noticed though. 4:20, very fitting.)

 

Blueberry Jelly Bellies were created especially for Ronald Reagan.

(that's what happens when you are THE MAN. and he was THE man.)

Money isn't made out of paper, it's made out of cotton.  

 (how do people even counterfeit it then?)

Slugs have 4 noses.

(gross. i say pour salt on them all! if you don't know what that does...go try it :)

Texas is the only state that is allowed to fly its state flag at the same height as the U.S. flag.

(ugh. why don't they just become their own country already?)

The longest word in the English language, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.

(my dad actually knows this word. he can spell it to. typical.)

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are witren, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

(fcasntnaiig)

a m a z i n g  p a i n t i n g s....

artist link: Thomas Saliot

 artist link: Jasinski

artist link: Niki Gulley

artist link: R Young

artist link: Afremov

i want to perfect the skill of palette painting like mr. afremov.

new goal!




i have an obsession with

my playlist consists of it lately.

like everyday.

 and i've seen this movie too many times.

i'm not quite sure why it never gets old for me.

may-o

may is a great month.

1 - mother's day!

it was a lovely day - we grilled up the usual dinner for mamita:

steak and shrimp / grilled veggies

(DELiSH)

to follow

 i made angel food cake with fresh berries and real whipped cream

(none of that cool whip crap, no thankyou)

mmmmm!

2 - spring weather!

flowers, sun, a breeze, and my newly purchased hammock.
the scent of the honeysuckle make the location heavenly!

3 - may 13th marked my one year mark.

yes, i've been home from my mission a whole year.

definite time of reflection

nostalgia

gratitude

self-evaluation

.

boy, a lot can be accomplished - or not accomplished in a year.

puerto rico, i miss you.

(not to mention, some very dear people in my heart were baptized a year ago this may)

los amo.

4 - my BiRTHDAY!

it's true.

i'll be 24.

it will probably feel a lot like turning 23.

(last year)

i swear that was just yesterday.

... i had only been home from my mish a week

and it was my birthday.

needless to say, it got lost amongst the weird feelings of being home again.

this year, all i've asked for

is kevin.

we're bringing him out in july.

i couldn't be more anxious for anything!

(yes, i realize he looks drunk in this picture)

i already have my list of all the things we have to do while he's here.

his first georgia experience!!!

well....u.s.a experience.

c a n   i t   b e   j u l y   a l r e a d y??

other updates:

- i had my last day at work this last tuesday

- i start my new job tomorrow

goodbye-PLUMBING ... h e l l o PEST-CONTROL

- i've enjoyed the last few days off from work.

mom and i hiked stone mountain.

did some shopping.

i had time to try some new "summer recipes"

my favorites:

Fresh Tomato & Spinach Shrimp Pasta

(i didn't have shrimp, i used chicken...still amazing!)

Ingredients

8 ounces dry fettuccine pasta

3 cloves garlic

1/2 sweet onion, cut into wedges (i used red onion, it's all i had, but those are sweet, and delish)

3 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves

4 tablespoons olive oil

4 medium tomatoes, chopped (go for 5 - i like veggies)

3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

salt and pepper to taste

1 cup spinach leaves (i used like 2 1/2 - love that spinach!)

1 pound cooked shrimp - peeled and deveined (or chicken - cut into small chunks and cooked)

8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, diced

Directions

1.Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the pasta, and cook for 8 minutes, or until tender. Drain.

2.In the container of a food processor, combine the garlic, onion and oregano. Pulse until finely chopped. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion mixture; cook and stir until fragrant and almost golden. Mix in the tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper. Simmer for about 5 minutes while the pasta is cooking, stirring occasionally.

3.Mix in spinach until it wilts, then just before the pasta is done, stir in the shrimp. Cook until heated through. Toss with pasta in a large serving bowl, and mix in mozzarella cheese.

 

it's good even the next day cold!

 

WATERMELON SUMMER SALAD

 

Ingredients

3/4 cup halved, thinly sliced red onion

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1 1/2 quarts seeded, cubed watermelon

3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

1/2 cup pitted black olive halves

1 cup chopped fresh mint

2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

1.Place the onion slices in a small bowl with the lime juice. The acid of the lime will mellow the flavor of the raw onion. Let stand for 10 minutes.

2.In a large bowl, combine the watermelon cubes, feta cheese, black olives, onions with the lime juice, and mint. Drizzle olive oil over it all, and toss to blend. Dig in and be prepared for a pleasant surprise!

 

seriously - the feta + watermelon combo is yummy!

the fresh mint is a must!

and maybe even add a lil extra lime juice.

 

soREFRESHING!

 

new goal: improve my sewing skillz.

BOOM

first, i just ate completely fermented pineapple.

and more than i should have to.

i didn't MEAN to

and one would think i would have figured it out sooner.

i just thought the grapes they were in the container with made them taste funny.

HA

i figure mom would have noticed when she put it together this morning. 

(ok, yes, i'm almost 24 and my mother still packs food for me everyday

i'm sure it's more common than you think, right?!)

anyway...my stomach feels queeezy..blechk

this past saturday we put the garden in!

it was an all day family project.
i did the tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers (my least favorite)
FRESH GARDEN TOMATOES ARE MY SUMMER DELIGHT! a MUST HAVE!
we also have summer squash
zuchinni
red, yellow, and green bell peppers
jalapenos
poblano chili peppers
green beans
and for the first time this year we're trying:
sweet potatoes
strawberries
asparagus
and carrots (at my request because i want to pull them out of the ground!)

anyway. i'm excited  for
the "fruits of our labors"
:)


this past weekend i also had a breakdown.
my parents are troopers because MY frustration becomes THEIR frustration.
mom says i'm like a time bomb and they never know
until it builds up to much i burst into tears and let it all out.
the cause: kevin will no longer be able to make it in august.
so my new years resolution for a marriage in 2011 is out the window.
and so are all my plans i had.
my big question: WHAT NOW??

i'm doing much better since sunday.
kevin had his english test scheduled today.
though his mom has been in the hospital for the past 2 days,
i don't know if it all went through as planned.
he had to give her his blood for a transfusion.
BYU sent him a letter stating his application will be good for
 January of 2012 now.
they don't want him to have to rush all the visa/sponsor/housing/whatevers for august.
i won't be going to colombia for my birthday.
it's been decided that it would be better to put the money toward
bringing kevin out here for a visit.
especially since we have to wait for January now.
i want him to come in july.
his first U.S. of A. experience!!
and he could be here for the 4th!
i'm very very anxious for it.
i can cope much better when there's a plan and end goal.


lesson re-learned: My life is not run on

MY TIMETABLE.



BABY NEWS!!!!!
 Dacy found out she's having a boy!
(the chinese gender prediction chart
is always right.)


new goal: i've started reading The Biography of Thomas S. Monson
Q U A L i T Y.

I'm also reading A Million Little Pieces (very different from the book above)

both fascinating.



to keep in mind...

 in the words of Katy Perry:
"...after a hurricane,
comes a rainbow..."

(yes, i did just quote katy perry. let's all get over it now.)

how my mind works...

after much contemplation, it has been decided:


everyone at some point in their life has been asked the question,
"if you could have any super power, what would it be?!"
common answers:
 - flying (...sure, that'd be cool)
- breath under water (....meh)
- shapeshift (...sweet, but you'd be nothing but a liar)
- read people's minds (...creep)
- go back in time (...you're not God, ok)


i think the most rad thing EVER....
would be
the power to never need sleep.
am i wrong?
think of the possibilities!!!!
and of how that would change your life and what you could accomplish.
there are no down sides to this.
never getting tired.
iLOVEit


FACT: by the time we're 75 years old, averaging 7 hours of sleep a day,
we will have wasted 22 years of our lives SLEEPING!!!!!


i've gone through my times of avoiding sleep,
without fail, i make myself sick
then i spend a couple days in bed making up for the sleep i tried to avoid
it's no use.
so i've grown fond of my naps and plenty of rest.
it'd be great if my brain and body functioned without any of that though.




the next topic on my mind...

when things stay the same for too long or just don't agree with my emotions

i get antsy and frustrated and can't handle it

so i seek ways to remedy the situation.

i'll start by analyzing my goals and progress to make myself feel better and accomplished.
with the new year, i established many goals.
one being budgeting better/saving...
yet i find myself to be a therapeutic shopper, so my bad day or frustration justifies a new cardigan (which i will totally wear all the time)
or
$100 worth of oil paints.
they were on sale though! (30% off @ Hobby Lobby. deal.)
ok, the cardigan i didn't NEED
but considering another goal i have is to use the dozen blank canvases stored
under my bed and in my closet,
$100 out of my savings is ok, ......right???

usually then, to clear my head, i'll go to Borders or Barnes n Noble for a couple hours
and peruse the books.
it works well for me
but i ended up leaving with another purchase,
BlueCanvas.
it's a really rad art magazine and the new issue was out, i couldn't help it.

to complete my streak of impulsive behavior
which happens about once a month, do the math...
i ended up @ Paul Mitchell hair salon and came out a redhead.

  change is good.
it's refreshing.
and for me, therapeutic.
even if it is my hair color.
pathetic, yes.
don't judge me.

my weekly reminder: don't feel sorry for yourself. no matter how bad your situation,
things could ALWAYS get worse.
i was watching Ever After, and that quote hit home to me.

youtellme:
is it better to be born without sight, or go blind later in life?
is it better to have your heart broken, or to never have loved?
is ignorance really bliss?

...your thoughts would be greatly appreciated...

so this is the new year....

shaun, jake, nate and i went to downtown atlanta to watch the PEACHdrop!

we enjoyed our first hour of the new year on a downtown rooftop

i was sick and doped up on meds,
but we all agree that so far....2011 is the BEST YEAR EVER!

now...reviewing my past year

i've decided to post

the

*whitneylaurentutt2010BESTOF*

now...remember...i spent the first half of my year in puerto rico

and barbados - in a different life/world

and really NOT in the loop of anything going on

so my best of....is just that

MINE.

best book

in this case...series...

i couldn't put them down.

maybe i'm mainstream.

but i can't wait for the movies!

'nuff said.

top 2010 new albums WORTH my listening to

LCD Soundsystem

This Is Happening

and

Arcade Fire

The Suburbs

other noteworthy albums of the year:

She & Him: Volume Two

(Zooey Deschanel & M. Ward...if you didn't know, CLICK ME and know)

Vampire Weekend: Contra

 Camila: Dejarte de Amar

Aventura: the Last                     Gotan Project: Tango3.0

Sufjan Stevens: The Age of Adz

**MOVIES**

for me

my 2010

F A V O R I T E

for best all around

great cast.

classy.

intense.

intelligent.

made me want to see it AGAIN...

i loved it.

i'm not a movie-goer every weekend.

mainly because it's so dagum expensive these days.

but i also enjoyed these from the year...

...i cried more than i wanted...it had an unexpected ending.

i love my comic book movies!

and i am a scarlett johansson fan.

her and angelina jolie are my chick faves.

yes, i am a fan!

loved the books.

&

watch the movies.

i thought this was the cutest warm fuzzy girly movie!

HARRY POTTER 7 would probably be up here, but i still haven't seen it.

lame, i know!

and honestly, i can't even remember all the movies i saw this year to make this list.

2010 was a great year for me.

remembering great moments...

...my family i left in puerto rico

...my last day on the mish in puerto rico

coming home to see my family after 18 months...

my sister, Tamaron, got married in the Mesa, AZ temple

i went to Colombia to visit mi amorcito

and meet his family...

fast forward a bit...

the year ended great...

my whole family together for Christmas.

and a reunion of friends...

...happy times had by all.

i'm still compiling my "hopes and dreams for the future"/goals list for 2011...

as of now...

• budget better...save up/buy a car
• and a new digital SLR
• speak slower (when i talk to people @ work on the phone, many tell me i talk too fast..ha..i'm working on it!)
• be more social...you may laugh, but it's true. if you know me, you know what i'm talking about
• continue my education: get back to school/get good grades... and read more
• move west when kevin gets stateside and be :) con el amor de mi vida
• BODA!
• not so much lose weight...but get in shape..more exercise regularly!
• practice piano more
• get some paintings done
• put my art to good use...get some $$ out of it
• manage my time better - don't procrastinate as bad :)
• notice needs of others more - quit living so selfishly
• don't complain
• go back to Puerto Rico to visit
• improve guitar skills

...my list is growing on the daily...

dream big, right?!

HAPPYNEWYEAR!