The Penny Saver

Today I actually read the Penny Saver to see if there was anything interesting for sale. I am on the hunt for old pieces of furniture to perform makeover magic on.

I also wanted to see how popular it really was, I mean hello...Craigslist, Ebay, Amazon...

I found this ad:
"Four Books of Morman for sale". They were 30 dollars each.

Now I dont know about the Book of MormAn, but I know some guys who will give anyone interested a Book of MormOn (or four of them if you really want that many) for free. 

I think I am going to stick to online shopping. At the very least there is spell check.

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

there is a good chance I am profoundly and irreversibly screwed up.

And not in a Julia Roberts, bride hitching rides on a fed-ex truck sort of way. In a horribly awful way. 


I watched the news tonight. (Which I usually try to avoid on the days I am sleeping alone)


I saw the earthquake in Japan. I saw that awful giant wave wiping out buildings, and cars, and people. It was painful and my heart sank. And while I definitely feel for those people(especially since Japan will always have an odd special place with me), my heart mostly hurt because I quickly realized that Japan is in the Pacific, and my husband is on a ship that serves the Pacific. A ship that just got home, but could, at any moment, leave again. And now it is quite late and I cant sleep because I am worried that tomorrow may take my husband once again, and nobody understands how terribly difficult it is to live with that kind of stress all the time. 

And now comes the evaluation...how profoundly and irreversibly screwed up is this? how horrible of a person do you have to be to see people dying and mostly think about how your life will be affected? Think about it.

In the meantime, I will get on my knees and pray that the casualties will be few, and those who have been hurt and lost homes and loved ones will feel comfort through this extreme trial. And until I figure out how to not be so screwed up, I will pray to be able to accept whatever tomorrow brings for me as well.

Out with the old and in with the...old?

Today I got a new calling...

      In the Primary, AGAIN.

          I cried (when I got home)...

for 2 hours straight. And then I cried in ten minute intervals every few hours after that.

I felt like the repeat button was just hit on the worst year of my life. And although primary wasn't the main reason for the intense (negative) emotional year, it was part of it and every heartache I went through came flooding back in. Its not like I can't do it, but for goodness sake can I get a break!? One more year to be in a ward where I can only tell you the names of about half a dozen six year olds and going on 2 years of living in San Diego and still no friends...unless you count the previously mentioned six year olds who happen to think I make the best homemade Oreos ever. I am thinking about joining a church that has one large family meeting and nothing else. In and out in about 45 minutes. Sounds quite grand to me. And maybe one that also allows women to wear pants to these brief meetings. hmmmm

cookies 'n cream

One of David's favorite thing ever is cookies and cream ice cream and shakes. So, in one of my bored moments (I bake when I'm bored), I thought I would make a cupcake out of that. I looked around for recipes and finally decided to add several together and make my own. It was a perfect week to do it because I took the resulting cupcakes to my parents house so that I would not have to suffer the caloric intake of an entire 2 dozen cupcakes.

I topped half with chocolate ganache and half with vanilla/Oreo frosting. And some I did with both. YUM!

This is the inside. Mine happened to look like a face when I bit into it. So cute!

Count your Blessings

I will be the first to admit I am too young to have enough life experience to call myself wise, but I have discovered that just when you think things couldn't get worse, they definitely can. I'm still not a victim of mass genocide and I have never been a starving child in Africa, but I am sure that my Heavenly Father is out to humble me. I have started singing (to myself because I would not put anyone else through the torture) "Count your Blessings" during the most difficult days and I have found that fervently praying to be humble enough to learn from my trials and strong enough to not be angry through them, has helped to soften my heart. As many of you know, this past year was extremely difficult for me, and I, with my lack of wisdom, thought it would get much better. And it many ways it has, but it some it has gotten more difficult. I have started listing blessings every day, and not only have I found that there are many, but that a lot of them have come through trials. So when the things you thought couldn't get worse, do in fact get worse just count your many blessings and I am sure you will truly be surprised to see all that God has done.

Hi, I'm Marissa and I'm a....

ok, Its time for me to come out about this. I am a foodie. I read cookbooks for fun...literally. I lay in bed with them and read all the recipes like I'm reading a New York Times best seller. I attempt to make at least one new recipe a week (though most everything I cook is some new version of something). I taught myself to cook. My mom cooks really well and its all super yummy, but she never ventures outside the comfort zone. I experimented some at home, but after I moved out is when I really started developing this..dare I say...talent. I read food blogs and love watching Food Network (and even got my dear taste tester husband of mine addicted to some of my favorite shows). Has anyone else noticed the new cooking trend involving alcohol in practically everything!? I know the meals don't make you drunk because it cooks out in 99 percent of the recipes I have seen, but there is no way I am going to buy it! I wonder if it really does affect the flavor of things. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

:(

My Husband is gone again.

I am sad.

And praying that time goes by quickly.