<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768</id><updated>2011-12-20T12:28:33.214-07:00</updated><category term='i'/><title type='text'>Benita</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>34</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-4665427936793211080</id><published>2010-02-28T17:32:00.004-07:00</published><updated>2010-02-28T19:48:26.437-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Saturday = Favorite Day</title><content type='html'>Saturdays are by far my favorite day of the week. It's a whole day for me to do whatever I want.  I'm not a big fan of sleeping in anymore, so I try and get started right away. Yesterday was no exception.  I woke up and went to my usual Saturday morning kick boxing class. Love it! It was even better because there was a new round (which means new choreography and new music)! The new rounds are always my new favorite round.  Then I headed home and made some zucchini cookies.  When I lived with Megan, she was always sure to keep our counter/freezer stocked with them and ever since I've moved out, I have only been able to sneak them here and there when I remember and I'm at house, which is not even close to enough.  They are pretty healthy (for cookies) - which is definitely a perk.  I mean who puts zucchinis in their cookies? If you want the recipe and other great healthy ones click &lt;a href="http://munchercruncher.blogspot.com/2008/02/low-fat-zucchini-cookies.html"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; to see Megan's Muncher Cruncher blog.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4sN72bcw-I/AAAAAAAAAOs/HHhc5ihxk0M/s1600-h/cookie+cutout.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 216px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4sN72bcw-I/AAAAAAAAAOs/HHhc5ihxk0M/s320/cookie+cutout.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443459896481465314" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Following the cookies I went and met up with Megan and Rox to see a matinee, Dear John.  I had mixed feelings about, but over all I think I really liked it.  After the movie I went to meet up with these amazing girls&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4sN8UMxx2I/AAAAAAAAAO0/5xoB_39YYe4/s1600-h/DSCN1164.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4sN8UMxx2I/AAAAAAAAAO0/5xoB_39YYe4/s320/DSCN1164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443459904472991586" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;for Hilary's birthday.  We went to Texas Roadhouse, standard for the 5 of us for birthdays.  It's always so good to see all of them  - we don't get to near enough! I am pretty sure we could just stay and talk the whole night away (or a few of them).  To finish out the night, I headed back down to Provo to meet Megan, Roxanne and Krissy at Farr's Frozen Yogurt.  I had been thinking of that place all week, seriously.  They quite possibly have the best cookies and cream frozen yogurt I've ever tasted. We are pretty on top of all the newest frozen yogurt places around, since for some reason Provo/Orem doesn't think they will ever get enough of them. But I'm not complaining.  Then Megan and I began going through all our old pictures from old trips and laughed for a few hours. Not much is better than one of those nights. (Thanks for being my friend during those rough times midge)  AND my sister Holly got engaged! I am so so excited for her! He is such a great guy and they are adorable  together.  What more could you ask of a Saturday?&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-4665427936793211080?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/4665427936793211080/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=4665427936793211080' title='10 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/4665427936793211080'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/4665427936793211080'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2010/02/saturday-favorite-day.html' title='Saturday = Favorite Day'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4sN72bcw-I/AAAAAAAAAOs/HHhc5ihxk0M/s72-c/cookie+cutout.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>10</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-4319625370329824515</id><published>2010-02-27T00:16:00.004-07:00</published><updated>2010-02-27T00:46:55.550-07:00</updated><title type='text'>I could bake ALLLL day</title><content type='html'>I really could.  I love it. I don't know if it's because I love eating the pre-made cake batter, brownie batter, cookie dough...etc, and because for some reason I don't think the calories count if I am just test tasting...&lt;span style="font-size:78%;"&gt;just a little bit here and there&lt;/span&gt; OR if I love the taste of warm treats straight out of the oven, nevertheless, I LOVE IT.  I moved in with my sister a couple months ago and she went and bought 10 bags of chocolate chip because she figured I would be baking up a storm.  Every time I ask my nephew Cohen what he wants to do, he says "Let's make popcorn and cookies!"  He knows me well.  I have tried to slow down on the treats as of late because, well,  it was starting to get a little out of control.  But this week I hadn't made anything yet, and my bananas were beginning to rot, so I decided chocolate chip banana bread would be the perfect remedy.  One tiny problem I have when reading recipes is my eyes somehow refuse to read recipes in a straight line. I think they deliberately try to block words out just to see how I react each time.  I haven't been cooking long enough to realize that what I read shouldn't have been there, or that would have been way too much salt to add to a certain recipe, or of course there should have been much more flour in that... I just do what the recipe tells me or what my eyes think it tells me. No questions asks.  So this time, I purposely added triple the salt, (didn't think a thing about it, naturally) - even sprinkled it all the way across the bowl (not just one mound in one place) so that it would mix evenly. Then I got to the next step which was baking soda...that's when I noticed.  I almost started crying right there, but I told Jeremy what happened and he said it would probably be just fine and to continue with the recipe.  Very skeptical, I did.  Somehow it still turned out great!  The recipe I got was from thegirlwhoateeverything.blogspot.com, a site that I love and want to make everything she has made! You should check it out.&lt;br /&gt;Here is what the final product looked like... is it weird that I think its kinda cute with the chocolate chips on top instead of inside? Maybe its just the baby loaves?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4jM8S7jFpI/AAAAAAAAAOk/c01xx5_Jkt0/s1600-h/DSCN1158.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4jM8S7jFpI/AAAAAAAAAOk/c01xx5_Jkt0/s320/DSCN1158.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442825485923063442" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4jM73YpUcI/AAAAAAAAAOc/h98pP5Pmkgg/s1600-h/DSCN1157.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4jM73YpUcI/AAAAAAAAAOc/h98pP5Pmkgg/s320/DSCN1157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442825478528913858" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-4319625370329824515?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/4319625370329824515/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=4319625370329824515' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/4319625370329824515'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/4319625370329824515'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-could-bake-allll-day.html' title='I could bake ALLLL day'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4jM8S7jFpI/AAAAAAAAAOk/c01xx5_Jkt0/s72-c/DSCN1158.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-1172376045631590452</id><published>2010-02-21T20:51:00.004-07:00</published><updated>2010-02-21T21:50:08.416-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Much needed vacation</title><content type='html'>For a few weeks Lori and I had been trying to figure out a time for me to come down and spend the weekend. We began talking about valentines weekend and realized that it was a 3 day weekend and I could probably make it work.  I am pretty sure I live for vacations and road trips - no matter what the length. So naturally I asked the best road tripper I know of, Megan, and she was immediately on board.  So Friday at noon we set out for our 10 hour road trip (8 for me, 10 for Megan).  We had a few complications on the way there...The tire pressure light kept turned on, so we did the responsible thing and pulled over 2 different times to make sure our tires weren't flat.  We continued on our way and I guess we got a little distracted because we somehow missed our exit towards highway 89. OOPS! We made it to Cedar City, and finally pulled off realizing we had never gone that far to get to Kanab before.  We pulled over and asked for directions to see if there was an easy way from there that we didn't have to turn around and go how ever far back it was to our correct turn off. So we took the 16 year old Cheveron workers advice, and continued from Cedar City.. Bad idea? maybe, but 40 minutes up a windy mountain road, it was too late to turn back.  The snow was piled so high that we couldn't see any signs as to how far we were to a city, or if we were even going in the right direction.  I just kept telling myself we were headed in the general eastern direction so we should be able to meet up with the 89 at some point right? My silent prayers were answered and we did! yay! Still not sure how far back we were set but at least we got to see some really pretty views from the top of the mountain! So we made it to AZ safely with no other complications.  On Saturday Lori, Kingston, Lily and I headed up to the Phoenix Zoo and it was so much fun! The weather couldn't have been better.  Seriously perfect for Arizona and being outside walking around all day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4IHVeq-sEI/AAAAAAAAANk/6NqVMFx-6Yg/s1600-h/HatLily.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4IHVeq-sEI/AAAAAAAAANk/6NqVMFx-6Yg/s320/HatLily.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440919365408960578" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;This is the most adorable picture of Lily.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4IHV7WHDGI/AAAAAAAAANs/OSkSKxYltkY/s1600-h/BK.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4IHV7WHDGI/AAAAAAAAANs/OSkSKxYltkY/s320/BK.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440919373106056290" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Kingston and me&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4IHWB4B9aI/AAAAAAAAAN0/VG46hxJKGZY/s1600-h/IMG_1941.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4IHWB4B9aI/AAAAAAAAAN0/VG46hxJKGZY/s320/IMG_1941.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440919374858941858" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Kingston wanted a ride in the jeep. he is the cutest little guy you will ever meet. I learned very quickly that I was not to put him into his car seat or take him out... other than that we were best buddies.&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4IHWTdBnuI/AAAAAAAAAN8/L8xn920JpSo/s1600-h/LLandEl.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4IHWTdBnuI/AAAAAAAAAN8/L8xn920JpSo/s320/LLandEl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440919379577511650" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lori and Lily with the elephants.&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4IHWuv9xPI/AAAAAAAAAOE/-LkgM42RBUs/s1600-h/me+and+kingston.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4IHWuv9xPI/AAAAAAAAAOE/-LkgM42RBUs/s320/me+and+kingston.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440919386904708338" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Lori and Kingston with the rhinoceros - who finally decided to move.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4IIJmkLSAI/AAAAAAAAAOU/H73A1T3SAzY/s1600-h/Orfam.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4IIJmkLSAI/AAAAAAAAAOU/H73A1T3SAzY/s320/Orfam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440920260881106946" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;This cute little chimp was adorable! He had a big audience and I guess he got a little shy and ran and grabbed his sheet - or blanket and covered his face.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4IIJVH2psI/AAAAAAAAAOM/OyzgjWO79mE/s1600-h/MeandB.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4IIJVH2psI/AAAAAAAAAOM/OyzgjWO79mE/s320/MeandB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440920256198911682" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Lori and me. love her.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;After the zoo we went and met up with my mom for some dinner and shopping. We got to stay the night up there so we turned in early to get the kiddies to bed. We continued the next day with more shopping and sushi in the park.  Another beautiful day.  Eventually Lori dropped me off to Megan and I stayed at Megan's parents house in Gilbert that night.  We woke up got pedicures, went to lunch with her mom, sister and niece and then headed on our way!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It couldn't have been a better weekend to get me back up and rejuvenated.  I need those every couple of months.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-1172376045631590452?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/1172376045631590452/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=1172376045631590452' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/1172376045631590452'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/1172376045631590452'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2010/02/much-needed-vacation.html' title='Much needed vacation'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/S4IHVeq-sEI/AAAAAAAAANk/6NqVMFx-6Yg/s72-c/HatLily.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-2865261283839466831</id><published>2010-02-21T19:39:00.005-07:00</published><updated>2010-02-21T20:49:30.932-07:00</updated><title type='text'>I've changed.</title><content type='html'>Growing up I was a very picky eater.  I don't think I ever tried anything if it wasn't from the freezer or a nicely packaged bright box from the pantry, or the nearest drive through I could find.  I've changed.  If you would have asked me a year ago if you could eat some of my cookie dough mid baking, I probably would have said yes, but I definitely wasn't happy about it, nor did I ever even attempt to taste my own cookies before I baked them. And now I can't keep my own hands out of the bowl. I never realized the goodness I was missing out on! Unfortunately this wasn't the only thing I have been missing out on.  Here's a list of foods that I have learned to try/love in the past year:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Avacado&lt;br /&gt;Guacamole&lt;br /&gt;Bananas (i'm still working on the loving part)&lt;br /&gt;Sushi&lt;br /&gt;Asparagus&lt;br /&gt;Green Peppers&lt;br /&gt;Cucumbers&lt;br /&gt;Protein bars&lt;br /&gt;Any type of fruit salad&lt;br /&gt;Blackberries&lt;br /&gt;Grapefruit&lt;br /&gt;Pears&lt;br /&gt;Beans (Black and refried)&lt;br /&gt;Tomato bisque soup&lt;br /&gt;Sweet Potatoes&lt;br /&gt;Squash&lt;br /&gt;Salt (okay I know what you're thinking, but I NEVER put it on anything unless it was homemade popcorn and I never realized what it did to things until I put it in some soup a couple weeks ago and it made it taste so much better!)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So I'm growing up! There aren't many things I won't try anymore and it has really made a world of difference...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:78%;"&gt;**Did you notice that I tried not to mention the long blogging vacation that I was on for a while...? Let's just leave that in the past and go forward from here :) &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-2865261283839466831?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/2865261283839466831/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=2865261283839466831' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/2865261283839466831'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/2865261283839466831'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2010/02/ive-changed.html' title='I&apos;ve changed.'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-4241015949106941240</id><published>2010-02-19T21:19:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-02-19T21:20:19.190-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Yep. I'm back.</title><content type='html'>Hi Guys. Glad to be back in the blogging world. More posts to come :)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-4241015949106941240?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/4241015949106941240/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=4241015949106941240' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/4241015949106941240'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/4241015949106941240'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2010/02/yep-im-back.html' title='Yep. I&apos;m back.'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-3336686078567405920</id><published>2009-02-06T21:14:00.003-07:00</published><updated>2009-02-06T21:26:43.295-07:00</updated><title type='text'>the best kind of test</title><content type='html'>You know what the best kinds of tests are? The kind where your professor gives them to you before you actually have to take them so that you can know all the answers when you go take it.  Its kind of amazing.  I have the same teacher for 2 classes and he is foreign which is very common at UVU... so I can't completely understand what he is talking about all the time.  But I go to class and I write word for word all of his power points down just to stay awake, but mainly I go to class to sign the roll. This is the style for both of his classes that he teaches.  It's realy hard to pay attention and I was even more scared thinking about what his tests were going to be like because I wasn't picking up one bit of anything he was throwing out.  Until he emailed us the "review" which was actually a copy of the test.  When I got to go through that I actually learned a lot about the topic and it turns out that he does actually know what he is talking about.  I wish all my teachers had tests like this.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-3336686078567405920?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/3336686078567405920/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=3336686078567405920' title='9 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/3336686078567405920'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/3336686078567405920'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2009/02/best-kind-of-test.html' title='the best kind of test'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><thr:total>9</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-7865229907633451352</id><published>2009-02-06T20:49:00.003-07:00</published><updated>2009-02-06T21:13:16.342-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Changes</title><content type='html'>Why is it that the times that you have all the time in the world to do something and you have a million things that you should be doing, you don't want to do ANYTHING. I really don't get the way my mind works. I think I need to train it to want to do things all the time even if I am so bored all I want to do is sit here.  I know, I know its been forever since my last post...really embarrassing. But the more I thought about how much need to do a post, the more I didn't want to and more things I found to do instead of it. Such as sleeping, watching the TV show that I had missed because I now work at night so I can never see them the night the air, thinking about doing my homework or just avoid the thought of it, you know the really productive things.  But here I am on a Friday night - the first Friday night of my new working nights career. I have always been a 9-5er so this is going to take some getting used to.  But the nice thing is that its usually pretty slow so I have time to do things like blog :)  Lots of new things have happened these past few months such as starting school again, getting a new job, moving into a bedroom where I have a room-roommate, not being able to go to my gym classes at night and just getting used to the new schedule.  I am one who usually really likes change, but I'm not sure how I feel about so many things happening all at once...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So in the past about 4 times a year I lose my voice. Its so weird and I usually don't feel too sick other than just not being able to talk.  Since I got my tonsils out I was sure that I wouldn't get sick anymore, and I was positive I wouldn't lose my voice.  I was wrong.  Yesterday I woke up to a pretty scratchy throat and I had a very annoying voice, but as the day went on, it got better and better. This morning when I woke up, I couldn't even talk at all. Just a very quiet whisper. I don't get it.  It doesn't help at all that for my job at Nuskin I am the technical support person so I talk on the phone the whole time. I wasn't sure how this was going to work out, but I had to go to work! I couldn't just not go to work because I felt fine and I have got to pay rent somehow!  So I came in anyway and once people heard me talk they were like umm... you shouldn't be here.  They were probably right, but I didn't care.. where there is a will there is a way.  So here I am 5 hours into my shift and not one person has even mentioned the sound of my scratchy voice.  I talk a little bit deeper but it seems to be working! &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But now I want to go home...&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-7865229907633451352?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/7865229907633451352/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=7865229907633451352' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/7865229907633451352'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/7865229907633451352'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2009/02/changes.html' title='Changes'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-5899354139955793832</id><published>2008-12-07T13:13:00.005-07:00</published><updated>2008-12-07T14:15:26.915-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Novemberish Things</title><content type='html'>I have been avoiding ever even looking at my blog since its been so long since I last wrote.  This way I pretend its not a big deal, cause I never see it so it doesn't matter which maybe it doesn't..  I hate it when I put stuff off like this. You know like when you have to do your laundry and you really don't want to, so you just don't think about it cause that way it goes away. When really you could do it so easily and its not that big of a deal. If you can't tell, that is also what is on my mind.  I should use my time wisely and while watching "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" and blogging, I would have a load going. That would be much to easy, I think I'll just sit here and think about it instead.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/STwyxfGJtjI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/jIQWKdQ6lyw/s1600-h/DSCN0557.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/STwyxfGJtjI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/jIQWKdQ6lyw/s320/DSCN0557.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277148689113658930" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;All the November birthdays in the family except Cory.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The month of November was such a good month! I am sad I haven't written in here every day to tell you all about it.  Not only was it the birthday month of many people I love...it was MY birthday month.  My birthday was on November 16th.  A Sunday.  I don't actually love Sunday birthdays as much as I probably should.  You just don't get to do as much as any other birthday day.  Although its nice and relaxing and you can take all the naps you want.  But I didn't do any of that.   On Saturday Megan planned a birthday dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Mi Ranchito.  I loved every second of it.  Although I wish I could say the same for the rest of the group who came.  It was the talk of the night of how awful it was.  So if any of you reading this know how great Mi Ranchito really is, please reconfirm this to me because I was starting to doubt it, I just don't know why they hated it so much! Sunday we went to church as usual and then I went to my sister Heather's house for dinner and cake and a combined birthday for Heather and me.  We had one of my favorites broccoli soup and Jeremy made clam chowder...not so much my favorite, but since I haven't tried it, I can't say I hate it.  Then we sang the song, opened presents, and ate cake and ice cream...all good things.  Then I went home in time to make treats for friends who were coming over.  It was so fun to see all my friends who I don't see as often as I like to.  Well planned by Megan...Thanks megan!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/STwyxsysktI/AAAAAAAAAMY/P-MS4stX4zo/s1600-h/DSCN0568.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/STwyxsysktI/AAAAAAAAAMY/P-MS4stX4zo/s320/DSCN0568.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277148692790153938" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Bethany me and stephanie&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I don't exactly know how this happened, but megan and I didn't get one picture together during my birthday activities. So sad.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So then came Thanksgiving.  Sadly I don't have any pictures to document this day :( But it was such a great day.  I was in charge of the potatoes beit mashed, baked or fried? I chose to do the mashed, standard for thanksgiving I thought.  I followed this blog my friend Jenna showed me.  It was just what I needed, directions with picture by picture of what was supposed to be happening ot the food along the way.  I promise one day I will learn all the tricks of the trade but until that day comes, I will just have to cook at Heather and Jeremy's so that Jeremy can show me them.  I think they turned out pretty good to be honest, as least I didn't hear any complaints about them so I will take that as a success. Dinner was at my sister Lisa's house this year.  It was so so good. Stuffing is my favorite...too bad I didn't try it til 2 years ago, I have really missed out! But I know how, and if there was one thing that I would choose to have for thanksgiving dinner it would be stuffing.  Later that night Lisa and I went and saw Australia.  I had no idea what it was about, and thats the way movies need to be for me.  That way I have no expectations and I won't be disappointed.  It was a really good movie though.  Long, but very good :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On Friday morning I woke up early and flew to Vegas. I went ahead and bypassed the dreaded black Friday.  Unless you know exactly what is on your list and know the deals that are out there its really not worth going anyway.  I figured Vegas would be much more fun.  A couple of my friends, Kelene and Jenna moved out there to dance in some of the amazing shows they have.  Friday was filled with lots and lots of shopping, eating, and then going to Kelene's show.  She dances in the Donnie and Marie Osmond Show.  Luckily it was Jenna's night off so she got to come to it with me.  Kelene was amazing in it.  I wish I would have known more of Donnie and Maries songs..but they did a lot of covers so it was still entertaining.  On Saturday we did more shopping, eating and then I went to Jenna's magic show.  She is in Steve Wyrick's show at Planet Hollywood.  This time I went by myself and the seat that I had was next to this old lady who would not stop looking over at me.  I think she was more sad that I was alone, than I was.  I just pretended I couldn't see her staring over at me for an obvious 5 seconds at a time.  The magic show was cool and I kept trying to figure out if I could see how they did things, but I couldn't. I had my suspisions, but didn't know for sure.  After the show I talked to Jenna and she told me a few of the tricks.  Lets just say I knew that magic wasn't real, but somehow I believed a little in it but after the show it sort of ruined magic for me althought it was my fault and I should have never asked how things were done!&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/STw4oZMspFI/AAAAAAAAAMg/2fVA4SrvU4c/s1600-h/DSCN0586.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/STw4oZMspFI/AAAAAAAAAMg/2fVA4SrvU4c/s200/DSCN0586.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277155129981445202" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/STw4pu0_1zI/AAAAAAAAAMw/r1I39aE1m0k/s1600-h/DSCN0594.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/STw4pu0_1zI/AAAAAAAAAMw/r1I39aE1m0k/s200/DSCN0594.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277155152967489330" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/STw4pXlCCyI/AAAAAAAAAMo/WyXScY7tDf4/s1600-h/DSCN0593.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/STw4pXlCCyI/AAAAAAAAAMo/WyXScY7tDf4/s200/DSCN0593.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277155146726509346" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;On top of my Thanksgiving week, I got asked to give a talk on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  The topic was the obvious one of the season, Gratitude.  I hadn't spoken in church since I was about 13 and suddenly I have talked twice in the past three months?? When I was asked, I didn't know what I was actually going to be doing that weekend, so I told them I would.  When I planned the trip to Vegas, I talked to Kelene and luckily she was going to drive home late Saturday night after her show.  So I wrote it before I got to Vegas and decided I would practice in the car driving home.  We didn't leave until about 10pm vegas time, which was 11pm Utah time. Probably not the smartest idea we came up with. But we made it home at about 4am which was just in time to get in a quick nap before my 9:30am church. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Wow I am really lacking in pictures here... I need to better.  and I will.  Overall November was a great time.  This post has gotten pretty lengthy so I will end it here..but there are more stories to come...&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-5899354139955793832?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/5899354139955793832/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=5899354139955793832' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/5899354139955793832'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/5899354139955793832'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/12/novemberish-things.html' title='Novemberish Things'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/STwyxfGJtjI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/jIQWKdQ6lyw/s72-c/DSCN0557.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-144895673168740743</id><published>2008-11-12T23:28:00.005-07:00</published><updated>2008-11-13T00:52:43.654-07:00</updated><title type='text'>everyone needs a heather..</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SRvb3NjRiBI/AAAAAAAAAME/Xxyt6Ge4ytI/s1600-h/DSCN0318.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SRvb3NjRiBI/AAAAAAAAAME/Xxyt6Ge4ytI/s320/DSCN0318.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268045930716825618" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Seeing as I am doing this new thing with birthday shout outs, this is one that couldn't be missed.  Heather, my second oldest sister, had a birthday on the 10th.  Here are a few of my favorite things about her...&lt;br /&gt;**She always takes care of me.  She was going to have me get a bike just in case there was some disaster and my car wouldn't work or I couldn't drive on the roads, I would still be able to make it to her house. and she would wait there til I got there.&lt;br /&gt;**She is such a good friend. I can call her up any time and she will talk to me and listen to me vent.&lt;br /&gt;**When I was 10 she bought me a pair of shorts and a blue t-shirt from old navy that I couldn't have been more proud of.  We share the same fashion sense.&lt;br /&gt;**She always gives very practical advice on things I should do.&lt;br /&gt;**She would do anything for anyone especially if she knew it would make their load a little lighter.&lt;br /&gt;**She cooks me dinner all the time and they are always great home cooked meals and I love them...so maybe its a lot Jeremy too...but she helps a lot!&lt;br /&gt;**I have always looked up to her as an example. She has such a good attitude and perspective on things.&lt;br /&gt;**She is so crafty.&lt;br /&gt;**She always supports me in whatever I am doing. She used to always come to my dance competition solos and it would make me so happy.&lt;br /&gt;**so as you can see, everyone needs a heather..there are so many more things I could list off about her that are so great. She is really so amazing and I am so so grateful that she is one of my sisters. I don't know what I would do without her....I don't even really want to think about it.  I love love love her.&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SRvb2q2QJpI/AAAAAAAAAL8/6w_1ywTjVDI/s1600-h/DSCN0320.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SRvb2q2QJpI/AAAAAAAAAL8/6w_1ywTjVDI/s320/DSCN0320.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268045921401185938" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-144895673168740743?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/144895673168740743/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=144895673168740743' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/144895673168740743'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/144895673168740743'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/11/everyone-needs-heather.html' title='everyone needs a heather..'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SRvb3NjRiBI/AAAAAAAAAME/Xxyt6Ge4ytI/s72-c/DSCN0318.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-7506237147027295691</id><published>2008-11-07T23:17:00.004-07:00</published><updated>2008-11-07T23:39:55.193-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Lily, Cohen and Sean's birthdays!</title><content type='html'>So I'm pretty sure I have the cutest nieces and nephews ever.  Lily was born on November 2nd, 2008, so she still not even a week old. She is adorable and it kills me that I can't be out there to be with Lori and see her! I can't wait to go meet her when she is blessed. &lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SRUyGyugGOI/AAAAAAAAALk/IXpoxeODBVg/s1600-h/Lily.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SRUyGyugGOI/AAAAAAAAALk/IXpoxeODBVg/s200/Lily.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266170431557081314" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Sean and Cohen were born on the same day, November 6th.  Its crazy how fast they are growing up! I don't feel old, but when I think about how old they are, it makes me feel old. Sean turned 8 and he will be baptized next month and Cohen turned 2.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SRUzrrnUvZI/AAAAAAAAALs/IhH2mNQnpyU/s1600-h/DSCN0317.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SRUzrrnUvZI/AAAAAAAAALs/IhH2mNQnpyU/s200/DSCN0317.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266172164814716306" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SRUzr9-d-TI/AAAAAAAAAL0/1CZNecn1VT0/s1600-h/sean.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SRUzr9-d-TI/AAAAAAAAAL0/1CZNecn1VT0/s200/sean.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266172169743628594" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yep they are adorable. I love them!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-7506237147027295691?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/7506237147027295691/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=7506237147027295691' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/7506237147027295691'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/7506237147027295691'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/11/lily-cohen-and-seans-birthdays.html' title='Lily, Cohen and Sean&apos;s birthdays!'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SRUyGyugGOI/AAAAAAAAALk/IXpoxeODBVg/s72-c/Lily.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-5851879895813643100</id><published>2008-11-05T20:17:00.003-07:00</published><updated>2008-11-05T22:47:23.622-07:00</updated><title type='text'>It's good to be back</title><content type='html'>Living with a personal trainer the past few years has really made an impact on me.  I think I am lucky to have began living with her when I did because it has made me much more aware of my body and how I treat it.  Anyone who knows me would tell you I am a junk food addict.  I seriously love it.  Most days I don't go without having at least one little piece of chocolate or a treat of some sort.  Growing up I did a lot of the grocery shopping and it had the following staples: chips'a'hoy cookies (at my dad's request), grapes the only fruit, chips (a few different kinds), ElFudge cookies, fruit snacks, anything snacky, top romen, frozen pizzas, anything but vegetables...you get the idea.  It was litterally a kids dream.  But one thing I didn't learn to like was anything healthy.  I have since aquired a taste for tomatoes and love them, and tried most fruits I think now, and I have been much better at trying something before I tell whoever is making me that I hate it.  I have been pleasently surprised how good healthy things really are too! So I have been trying to be better and eat healthier and Megan always shows me little things to make treats better for you which is something that I really needed help with along with many other things to switch out to make things healty. I still have a long way to go and I really struggle with cooking so most times I still eat out...I just try and go to healthier places - its a start right??&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SRKBN-yIjQI/AAAAAAAAALc/Ih7aoZiAx0E/s1600-h/bag.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SRKBN-yIjQI/AAAAAAAAALc/Ih7aoZiAx0E/s200/bag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265412991541087490" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Another personal trainer roommate inspired activity..going to the gym. I have really tried to make going to the gym part of a daily habit - at least for most days of the week.  When I go it's mainly for a release of everything that is going on in my head. I think it helps me think so much more clear and lets me let go of the problems that I have had that day because when I get home really don't even think about what happened earlier. I hadn't been to the gym for two weeks until today.  I seriously was so excited to go. I was driving home from running errands and decided I couldn't &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;not&lt;/span&gt; go to kickboxing.  So I went home and got my gym clothes on and off I went.  I know this probably sounds so weird, but not being able to go for so long made me really miss it! I don't know if it was being away for the 2 weeks or still trying to recover from my surgery that killed me..but something did.  I figured now that I gotten the nose surgery and I could close my mouth and still breathe, that I would be able to exercise and breathe with it closed too. I was wrong.  I hope that it's just because it was too soon and I am still healing and that in a few more weeks I won't look like I'm so I don't know blank faced? bored? I don't even know how to describe it to be honest.... but its unattractive. Needless to say, it felt so good to be back!  I'm going back again tomorrow with Megan - best personal trainer ever and I can't wait.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-5851879895813643100?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/5851879895813643100/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=5851879895813643100' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/5851879895813643100'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/5851879895813643100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/11/its-good-to-be-back.html' title='It&apos;s good to be back'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SRKBN-yIjQI/AAAAAAAAALc/Ih7aoZiAx0E/s72-c/bag.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-7639085955395615301</id><published>2008-10-30T20:14:00.003-06:00</published><updated>2008-10-30T22:53:01.918-06:00</updated><title type='text'>On the way to recovery!!</title><content type='html'>So today is day 8 post surgery and things have been going so well. Everyone I talked to said it would be the most painful thing I would go through so the whole time I have been waiting and waiting for it to get worse.  The worst days were supposed to be days 3-5, but to be honest they really didn't feel any differently then the rest of the days.  Don't get me wrong, it has has it moments, but for the most part I think I have been very lucky to not be in so much pain. I think My surgeon was Dr. Beus for anyone who is looking for a good one, I highly recommend him.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Heather has taken such good care of me and making sure I had all my medicines and food and ice and water by my side at all times.  I have never been with her and the kids for a week straight without being on vacation so I got to see exactly what it took to be a mom and WOW it is work!  Heather is an amazing mom and so patient, I don't think Cohen ever stops! But once you hear his cute little voice and see his big smile you can't help but love him. The kids are so cute and tried to be so helpful to me.  Livvy continued to feed me ice any time I asked. She would come into my room (her room that she so nicely shared with me) and would ask, how much better are you feeling today B? I would show her with my fingers and say a little bit and she would say okay, but I think the main reason she was asking was because when I am feeling a lot better then Curtis, her puppy could come back. I felt so bad, they sent him to Blanding with Jeremy's mom so that I would be able to stay with them since I am allergic to him which was so so nice of them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Nicole Oldroyd and Hilary Peterson came to visit me today with their cute little babies Kade and Camry.  It was so so good to see them. I love hanging out with those girls. It's always so fun when we get together!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-7639085955395615301?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/7639085955395615301/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=7639085955395615301' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/7639085955395615301'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/7639085955395615301'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/10/on-way-to-recovery.html' title='On the way to recovery!!'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-9006831933144672368</id><published>2008-10-29T19:41:00.006-06:00</published><updated>2008-10-30T00:01:33.254-06:00</updated><title type='text'>ohhh megan....</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQlLofBU_cI/AAAAAAAAAKM/iaMJM2fZGM4/s1600-h/megandme.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQlLofBU_cI/AAAAAAAAAKM/iaMJM2fZGM4/s400/megandme.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262820798453054914" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Okay so it was Megan's birthday on October 21st, not to be confused with the 23rd which I seem to often do with anyone's birthday who is in the beginning of those 20's.  I just thought it was a good spotlight to a blog about her and let everyone know why she is one of the most amazing best friends a girl can have!&lt;br /&gt;***She is the best consultant when going shopping&lt;br /&gt;***She is a music addict which is so great for me cause she shares all the good music she finds and uploads it to my ipod.&lt;br /&gt;***She always write nice little notes and leaves my favorite treats on my bed and makes my day.&lt;br /&gt;***She will meet me at any of our three favorite restaurants at the drop of a hat - Bajios, Pizza Factory or Hello Yogurt.&lt;br /&gt;***She got me addicted to diet dr pepper. - Doug does not like that one - still thinks it causes zits, weight gain, migraines...etc.&lt;br /&gt;***She is an amazing personal trainer and is so nice to share all her skills with me&lt;br /&gt;***She pushes me to my limits - even when I think I need to give up and can't go any farther, she tells me otherwise.&lt;br /&gt;***She is a great running partner and always stays with me - see above.&lt;br /&gt;***She is a great cooking teacher and is so patient with me when I ask her even the stupidest questions while cooking&lt;br /&gt;***She is always up for a good road trip no matter where it is to&lt;br /&gt;***She has great fashion advice&lt;br /&gt;***She is beautiful&lt;br /&gt;***She has such a strong testimony and is such a good example to me&lt;br /&gt;***We can stay home on any given night and talk and laugh our heads off for hours thinking we are so funny&lt;br /&gt;***She loves the same movies as me&lt;br /&gt;***She is always up for a good big bowl of popcorn with her doing the spray butter and me salting it...&lt;br /&gt;***She always has the cutest shoes&lt;br /&gt;***If she wants some thing and she can't find it anywhere she will just make it herself! so crafty!&lt;br /&gt;***She is so determined&lt;br /&gt;***She is so self motivated&lt;br /&gt;***She has a dan in real life family :)&lt;br /&gt;I could go on and on about this girl, but as you can see she is quite an amazing girl.  This is the first time in 4 years where we haven't shared a wall as roommates and we are three flights away, but at least we are still under the same roof. I think that there are people put into our lives at different times for many different reasons, and I know that I am so lucky to have Megan as a part of mine because she has influenced it in so many ways for the better :)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-9006831933144672368?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/9006831933144672368/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=9006831933144672368' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/9006831933144672368'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/9006831933144672368'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/10/ohhh-megan.html' title='ohhh megan....'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQlLofBU_cI/AAAAAAAAAKM/iaMJM2fZGM4/s72-c/megandme.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-2610882704584759650</id><published>2008-10-23T21:23:00.005-06:00</published><updated>2008-10-24T21:06:07.040-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='i'/><title type='text'>Surgery...</title><content type='html'>About 3 weeks ago I got another sinus infection. I get that, bronchitis, or some other relating sickness multiple times a year. I constantly lose my voice for weeks at a time and it was starting to get old.  So I went into the Dr and he said my tonsils were huge, which he always says and that it would be best if I saw a speciailist to get them out. So off I went and a couple days later with my dad and saw the surgeon to see what he thought.  As I explained my history he asked me to breathe for him, so I did and he knew something wasn't right. He asked to take a ct scan to see inside of my nose/sinus.  Ten minutes later the results came back and they weren't good.  He said I had air bubbles in my maxillaries and up all these cavities which there should be no air.  He told me that I had chronic sinisitis and all these other words I didn't know.  He said my tonsils should come out, but if I didn't want to go through with that, I definately had to go through with the other surgery.  We decided the best option would be to do both at one time.  Each surgery separately would take me out for about 2 weeks, but it was necessary and needed to be done as soon as possible.  I can't tell you how good it felt to hear those words.  The fact that knew things weren't normal in my nose, but there wasn't anything I could really do about it because you don't find out things like that until you are looking for something else.  All growing up my mouth seemed to stay open while doing physical activities.  I remember watching dance videos and seeing my mouth open, but litterally I couldn't breath if it was shut.  I went to Cabo with my friends in August 2006 and they were trying to teach me to swim with my head under water breathing from my nose but it was completely impossible for me, and no one not even me, could understand why. I just start to panic.  So in that sense, I am happy to find out that I needed this surgery and that my breathing would improve.  So yesterday, October 23rd I went in for surgery.  I was in such a panic because I was supposed to be to the surgical center at 7am and I didn't wake up until Megan came down stairs to take me at 6:50am.  So just going in I was all flustered and wasn't sure I had everything.  I hate that feeling. I got into the surgical center and after doing a few things necessary all the sudden I was being wheeled into the OR. I was so scared and I felt like it was so fast.  If you don't know me, you have to know that I have to mentally prepare myself for things.  I don't like things being surprising or sprung on me.  So I didn't get to say goodbye to Megan and thank you for all her help and my dad was on his way and he wanted to see me before I went in, but he didn't make it in time either.  So here I am texting on my way into the OR and the dr's are laughing but they don't know how annoyed I am that I don't have any time to say good bye! And then the anistheisologist is talking and thinking he is so funny saying that I only have about 20 seconds before I won't have a clue whats going on.  He was right.  I woke up serveral hours later to my dad feeding me jello and ice and tears streaming from my face.  I could hear talking, but I didn't understand anything going on.  So the surgery went well. The surgeon told my dad it was such a good thing that I had it done.  Apparently it was pretty diseased up there, who knows how that even happens, sick. Tmi? But I'm so glad its over.   My dad drove me over to my sister Heather's house to stay for the remainder of my recovery.  Cohen kept running around trying to figure out what was wrong with my mouth.  B's Mouss! B's Mouss! yep... kind of a disaster... Olivia was so sweet and fed me ice cubes my dad got me from Sonic.  She kept calling me Ariel from the Little Mermaid and tapping her throat. She thinks I need to find a boy to make it better.  One of the best things...Heather told me that when she would wake me up all last night to give me medicine that I WASN'T snoring!!! yay!!! That enough is reason for the surgery :) I should give it more time, test out my no-snoring on more people, but for now, one opinion is good enough!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-2610882704584759650?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/2610882704584759650/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=2610882704584759650' title='6 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/2610882704584759650'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/2610882704584759650'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/10/surgery.html' title='Surgery...'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><thr:total>6</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-3594384703502664681</id><published>2008-10-15T21:35:00.011-06:00</published><updated>2008-10-23T21:00:07.776-06:00</updated><title type='text'>The Wedding Planner</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEwlzPfA-I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/kO0yIzdytLs/s1600-h/CIMG1237.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEwlzPfA-I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/kO0yIzdytLs/s320/CIMG1237.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260539265713898466" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEvvw81API/AAAAAAAAAJ0/MvlqqMlUPnw/s1600-h/DSCN0547.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEvvw81API/AAAAAAAAAJ0/MvlqqMlUPnw/s320/DSCN0547.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260538337385840882" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So another one of my best friends just got married. Megan and I flew out to Seattle with Jenna's sister Shay on Thursday just in time to have the bachelorette party. Jenna's &lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEsTqMVyXI/AAAAAAAAAJE/GSQC1ZfHQUA/s1600-h/DSCN0519.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEsTqMVyXI/AAAAAAAAAJE/GSQC1ZfHQUA/s320/DSCN0519.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260534556000635250" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;mom picked us up from the airport and within 20&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEvX4P-PjI/AAAAAAAAAJc/_R6qNBv6kHg/s1600-h/DSCN0526.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEvX4P-PjI/AAAAAAAAAJc/_R6qNBv6kHg/s320/DSCN0526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260537927028325938" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; minutes being in Seattle we stopped for a little shopping.  That night we went to "The Pink Door" and had dinner with all the bridesmaids.  Then we went to some place Jenna somehow found downtown Seattle and sang karaoke.  It was so much fun to be with all the girls.  We then went to check into our hotel in Belvue at Embassy Suites. The hotel was so wierd I felt like I was roommates with all these people I didn't know. All the doors faced inside and it was sort of this big square and there were huge windows into everyone's rooms. A very personal hotel.  Now that I am typing this out it seems normal, but trust me, if you were there you would have felt the roommateness. So Friday we woke up and went and had lunch with the weddi&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEsTOwuZsI/AAAAAAAAAI8/csUokydR_uc/s1600-h/DSCN0509.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEsTOwuZsI/AAAAAAAAAI8/csUokydR_uc/s320/DSCN0509.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260534548637050562" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;ng party.  The thing I loved about this whole wedding - among many other things, was that everyone that was there came just for the wedding. They all took off &lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEvYmb-8AI/AAAAAAAAAJs/maGCn3uCVG0/s1600-h/DSCN0538.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEvYmb-8AI/AAAAAAAAAJs/maGCn3uCVG0/s320/DSCN0538.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260537939426734082" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;a couple of days and they were there to have a good time and be with Jenna and Swavek (the groom).  After lunch we all went sailing around the harbor by Pike's Place.  The rest of the day was spent shopping and going to dinner. By the time we got back to the hotel we were spent and knew we had a long day ahead of us so we basically turned in for the night.  Saturday was the wedding day. Jen&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEvXbjVsII/AAAAAAAAAJM/ak4Id3lsuaQ/s1600-h/DSCN0521.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEvXbjVsII/AAAAAAAAAJM/ak4Id3lsuaQ/s320/DSCN0521.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260537919324926082" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;na looked so so beautiful. She was glowing all day long. She and Swavek looked adorable and so happy all day long. All the bridesmads wore different black cocktail dresses and they were all so cute. The crafty Megan &lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEvYAcjsRI/AAAAAAAAAJk/J3fQlS5-daI/s1600-h/DSCN0532.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEvYAcjsRI/AAAAAAAAAJk/J3fQlS5-daI/s320/DSCN0532.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260537929228595474" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;and her mom made her dress. It was adorble. Jenna's wedding turnd out so beautiful and there was no doubt in my mind that it wouldn't.&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEqHkLJgsI/AAAAAAAAAIE/eYmUps4FlhE/s1600-h/CIMG1246.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEqHkLJgsI/AAAAAAAAAIE/eYmUps4FlhE/s200/CIMG1246.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260532149203337922" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEvXpovqGI/AAAAAAAAAJU/y9zRsm-fsi0/s1600-h/DSCN0522.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEvXpovqGI/AAAAAAAAAJU/y9zRsm-fsi0/s320/DSCN0522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260537923105695842" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEsSYk5kLI/AAAAAAAAAI0/EbDGDrxr56w/s1600-h/CIMG1310.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEsSYk5kLI/AAAAAAAAAI0/EbDGDrxr56w/s320/CIMG1310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260534534091935922" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEqH54VZlI/AAAAAAAAAIM/0HzYiYFUKa8/s1600-h/CIMG1258.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEqH54VZlI/AAAAAAAAAIM/0HzYiYFUKa8/s200/CIMG1258.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260532155030005330" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-3594384703502664681?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/3594384703502664681/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=3594384703502664681' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/3594384703502664681'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/3594384703502664681'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/10/wedding-planner.html' title='The Wedding Planner'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SQEwlzPfA-I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/kO0yIzdytLs/s72-c/CIMG1237.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-4740905140588811152</id><published>2008-10-07T12:34:00.001-06:00</published><updated>2008-10-07T12:35:55.486-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Halloween is going to suck this year...</title><content type='html'>&lt;div dir="ltr" align="left" lang="en-us"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:180%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:85%;color:purple;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; color: purple;"&gt; My sister sent this to me this morning and I thought it was so funny. So I had to share with all of you :)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;           &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 12pt;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&amp;amp;ik=458a09bcc2&amp;amp;view=att&amp;amp;th=11cd8964309bcbdc&amp;amp;attid=0.1&amp;amp;disp=emb&amp;amp;realattid=0.1" border="0" height="399" width="591" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-4740905140588811152?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/4740905140588811152/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=4740905140588811152' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/4740905140588811152'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/4740905140588811152'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/10/halloween-is-going-to-suck-this-year.html' title='Halloween is going to suck this year...'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-4227187749152546525</id><published>2008-10-04T23:34:00.004-06:00</published><updated>2008-10-05T00:04:55.946-06:00</updated><title type='text'>sniff sniff</title><content type='html'>I'm sick. I get sick about 5 times a year like this. Its miserable. Except I don't remember it ever really being this bad. I don't like to lay down cause all the pressure goes to my head, but I'm so tired its all I want to do, but when I actually lay down to go to bed, I can't sleep! and you want to know the worst part? I can't taste anything. I ate my favorite candy..kitkat...and I could have been eating asparagus for all I knew. I couldn't even taste the chocolate goodness. I hate it. I was going to go to cafe rio for dinner, but then I decided not to because I wouldn't be able to taste the amazing pork anyway, so I settled for 2 tacos at del taco cause it would fill me and it was much cheaper, and I wouldn't have known the difference anyway. My dad has always been so insistent on me going to the Dr, which in this case I really really am grateful for (not that I'm not every other time). I'm going to Washington next Thursday for one of my best friends weddings and it would be so awful if I felt the way I do now. So it turns out that its a sinus infection aka...worst thing ever.  I sound ridiculous, like I just woke up all day long, can't breathe unless my mouth is open, and my nose is stuffed up.  My back has been hurting pretty bad for a long long time so I brought that up to the dr too. He said that a rib is out of place and I need to see a chiropractor, but he also told me not to let them tell me to come back a thousand times, it should be a pretty fast adjustment. so i went in today cause with my sinus infection its already hard enough to breathe, but when I take a deep breath it hurts even worse. He wants to take me in a few more times, which is frustrating because I thought it would be a one time visit and apparently its not. I'm pretty sure I'm making this sound worse than it is, but its not fun.  Also I probably have to get my tonsils out.  According to everything I read online and everyone that I talk to that has had it done, its basically the worst thing ever.  My dad is coming to the specialist with me on Tuesday to figure out if its really necessary, but according to my Dr he thinks I should. I am not looking forward to that. Sorry for being debbie downer...the next post I do will be a happy one. I promise :)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-4227187749152546525?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/4227187749152546525/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=4227187749152546525' title='8 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/4227187749152546525'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/4227187749152546525'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/10/sniff-sniff.html' title='sniff sniff'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><thr:total>8</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-5056014009403475609</id><published>2008-10-04T22:43:00.004-06:00</published><updated>2008-10-04T23:22:53.391-06:00</updated><title type='text'>1 Year Older and Wiser too....</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SOhOZT8riLI/AAAAAAAAAHg/tS0NBb3qCkw/s1600-h/jo+and+cory.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SOhOZT8riLI/AAAAAAAAAHg/tS0NBb3qCkw/s200/jo+and+cory.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253535162086164658" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Jolynne's birthday was on Thursday October 2nd.  I have been so sick for the past 4 days that I couldn't even go to her birthday party :( I was so sad. I hate when my family all gets together and I can't be there!  Here are some things I LOVE about Jolynne...&lt;br /&gt;1- she is so generous. she will always try to give you everything or do anything she can to make things easier for someone else.&lt;br /&gt;2- She has always protected me. one time we were driving to Reno and I got a ticket and I was so scared and didn't want to tell my dad and I didn't have the money to pay for it. She said that my dad would never have to know, and that she would pay for 1/2 of it.  I mean who does that??? My foot was on the pedal, but she just didn't want me to be so upset.&lt;br /&gt;3- she always  is up for shopping. no matter what if i want to go shopping, i know i can call her and she will be right there. she used to always buy me clothes when i didn't have money too.. i wouldn't let her, but she wasn't even kidding she just loves doing nice things.&lt;br /&gt;4- She is always so good at listening to me.  She will call and listen to everything that is going on in my life and she is always so supportive.&lt;br /&gt;5- she lets me borrow her headbands.&lt;br /&gt;6- she has always trusted me - She started out by letting me always drive her car while my dad was gone - starting at age 14...i'm pretty sure this isn't the first time dad has heard of this... i hope. She knew i would be just fine driving up to the gas station to get a drink with some friends.&lt;br /&gt;7- she has great music before most people - her and megan come in close together. but i remember she used to always listen to dashboard confessionals in high school and i thought it was so annoying and i would get so mad when she put it in. now i am obsessed. i love them. and i am not happy that tickets to their concert are $80. but i wish i would listen to her more often and faster...&lt;br /&gt;8- she calls just to say hi. i need to be better about that. even if she doesn't have much to say, she just says hi and it makes my day.&lt;br /&gt;9- she is very creative. if anyone has ever been to her house you would see how adorable it is. I know she gets mad at me for this one because I don't make it out there as often as i should, but i am working on it...&lt;br /&gt;10- she is one of the best sisters in the whole world. I am so blessed to have a sister like her and a person like her in my life. LOVE YOU JO!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ps...livvy asked if i was even invited to your birthday party. It made me sad. I told her I was too sick to come. How does a 3 year old know what that even means??&lt;br /&gt;also... we have GOT to take more pictures together. this is ridiculous that i couldn't find any, it actually makes me sad...&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-5056014009403475609?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/5056014009403475609/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=5056014009403475609' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/5056014009403475609'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/5056014009403475609'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/10/1-year-older-and-wiser-too.html' title='1 Year Older and Wiser too....'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SOhOZT8riLI/AAAAAAAAAHg/tS0NBb3qCkw/s72-c/jo+and+cory.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-3847441970050183904</id><published>2008-10-04T21:49:00.002-06:00</published><updated>2008-10-04T22:35:50.812-06:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>Megan tagged me about oh a week or more ago... Sorry so late..but here it is :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The rules are: List 6 quirks about yourself and then tag six people. Leave them a message on their blog letting them know they have been tagged.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1-Well this is one that I learned about today and finally admitted to. I think I am, well I thought I was, good at cooking.  I'm not. I don't know how much of something to add, my friends convinced myself that "soda" is club soda to add to my cookies, and that baking soda is just out because the recipe already called baking power, and you wouldn't have both in one recipe. I can't make 5 minute rice without it being completely soggy... I could actually go on and on that is just what happened in the past week. So quirk number 1 - most people can follow a simple recipe...I can't.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2- I like things to be the same, especially when it comes to food. I will have the same thing for weeks straight until I get sick of it. A few weeks ago it was all Subway for lunch, which I never actually ever get sick of, but the kid at the counter said "you come here...like...everyday." So I stopped. I was really annoyed I just looked at him and said... yep... The next couple of weeks were PB and J's straight everyday.  The next few weeks were easy mac. I just do things until I run out of the ingredients or can think of another great idea.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3- I eat popcorn most days of the week.  I love it. And it turns out that its actually healthy. My personal trainer, Megan said it was, and whatever she says is healthy I don't question.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4- I pop my knuckles every twenty minutes. I don't think that will be a surprise to any of you. I am sorry its so annoying, and I apologize ahead of time if you happen to be sitting by me in church (that is when it seems to be most annoying). I went to the chiropractor today though and he said it was and old wives tale that I will get arthritis. I am going to go with him on this one. I knew the whole time it was just air passing through my bones. I'm not saying that I'm not thinking about ways to quit, but seriously its addicting. I have been doing it since I was about 7 years old I am guessing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5- I am also addicted to kick boxing. I love it and I would do it every day if I could, and some weeks I do.  I have been doing it since high school and I never get sick of it.  I am getting certified to teach it in a few weeks and I am so so excited.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;6- I love watching the news. I love all the politics that are going on right now. I could sit and watch the news all day. I even love local news, but we all know how boring Utah news is so I have to look elsewhere. Bill O'Reilly is my favorite, oh and so is Nancy Grace, I know she is a little annoying but for some reason I love her! &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So here are some new things for you all to learn about me :)  I tag: Kellie, Teresa, Tia, Ruthanne, Jolynne and Holly.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-3847441970050183904?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/3847441970050183904/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=3847441970050183904' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/3847441970050183904'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/3847441970050183904'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/10/megan-tagged-me-about-oh-week-or-more.html' title=''/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-8983413632605779102</id><published>2008-09-11T21:59:00.003-06:00</published><updated>2008-09-11T22:46:29.720-06:00</updated><title type='text'>And I'm Proud to be an American...</title><content type='html'>Today, every time I got in my car there was a tribute to September 11th on the radio on the local country station, kbull 93. I heard their tribute about three times, and each time by the end tears were streaming down my face.  I was thinking about where I was when this day happened seven years ago.  I was in gym class my sophmore year and we were playing volley ball.  Over the intercom we could hear someone speaking but since it was in thy gym, it was all muffled and we couldn't understand a word they were saying.  When I got to my next American goverment class, it was on tv and no one said a word through the whole class. This went on all day long, we watched it on the news in all of my classes.  I was in shock, I couldn't believe something like this could ever happen.  I am so grateful for all the Soldiers who are out there serving our country or have served. I really think about how lucky I am to living in this amazing country with all the freedoms that I have.  I wish I could find the same cut of the tribute for you to see, but I can't find it anywhere. So here is another really good one. &lt;br /&gt;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctVI5baftFo    copy and paste..&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-8983413632605779102?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/8983413632605779102/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=8983413632605779102' title='7 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/8983413632605779102'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/8983413632605779102'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/09/and-im-proud-to-be-american.html' title='And I&apos;m Proud to be an American...'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><thr:total>7</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-6331138816930029547</id><published>2008-09-07T23:29:00.003-06:00</published><updated>2008-09-08T00:08:42.889-06:00</updated><title type='text'>You learn something new every day</title><content type='html'>okay so this is almost embarrassing for how long its taken me to write on here, but in my defense I moved apartments in the middle of August and didn't have the internet until about a week ago... but these are a few things i have learned over the past month or so...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1- when going to walmart or target, or anywhere else for that matter- always, ALWAYS get a cart.  you will wind up with much more than you came for, and your arms will just get too full and tired of carrying everything.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2- after many years of living in the top floor, three stories up, its finally nice to live on the bottom level and not have to carry up many many boxes of things to my bedroom.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3- when your car shakes because you are driving on the freeway over 65 miles an hour your tires are off balance, and you need to start taking your car in regularly for tire rotations..every 6000 miles to be exact... oops...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4- sarah palin was a great choice for mccain and after some research i actually like her a lot.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5- after all these seasons/years of putting off grey's anatomy i have come to terms with it and am now obsessed!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;6- ever since last thursday when i actually gave sushi a try, i have cravings for it daily.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;7- as long as i don't go to the mall at all, even if i am bored, i don't have to have a new shirt. i actually can find something in my closet just fine. just keep me away from the mall...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;8- i need a road trip. bad.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are many more things that i am too tired to list. but i promise i will be better about writing and being more up to date.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-6331138816930029547?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/6331138816930029547/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=6331138816930029547' title='13 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/6331138816930029547'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/6331138816930029547'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/09/you-learn-something-new-every-day.html' title='You learn something new every day'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><thr:total>13</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-2200297229677936831</id><published>2008-08-03T13:14:00.007-06:00</published><updated>2008-08-03T14:22:47.285-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Hike Timpanogos...check...</title><content type='html'>So for the past 5 years my goal every summer has been to hike Mt Timpanogos. The best time of the year to do it, I have heard, is in August, and every August has come and gone faster than any other month and made it impossible for me to accomplish my goal. My friend Phil mentioned that he was hiking Timp earlier in the week and by my maybe a little over reactive excitement he had no choice but to invite me. So he picked me up at 6:30 AM Saturday morning ready to go. I really didn't know what was in store, I hadn't heard much and definately didn't do my research. So we start out and the hike is going great. The mountains were so beautiful, there are basically no words to describe. I love being outdoors and really being able to appreiciate what we are so lucky to have here in Utah so close to us. I went with a couple of Phil's friends who were&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SJYI1GjB3kI/AAAAAAAAAGY/gz1A4Kz2m4g/s1600-h/DSCN0460.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SJYI1GjB3kI/AAAAAAAAAGY/gz1A4Kz2m4g/s200/DSCN0460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230377725621034562" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; each 6'10 a&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SJYH1Fb7dHI/AAAAAAAAAF4/Ch1Fdf5f-8M/s1600-h/DSCN0459.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SJYH1Fb7dHI/AAAAAAAAAF4/Ch1Fdf5f-8M/s200/DSCN0459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230376625811190898" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;nd 6'9 so you can imagine how long their legs were..about the l&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SJYH1ntXZjI/AAAAAAAAAGA/4V9I4oP25Is/s1600-h/DSCN0458.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SJYH1ntXZjI/AAAAAAAAAGA/4V9I4oP25Is/s200/DSCN0458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230376635011130930" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;enght of my body.. So for every 1 step they took, I was taking &lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SJYTIziVUOI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/LPTnuQ3kFbk/s1600-h/DSCN0454.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SJYTIziVUOI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/LPTnuQ3kFbk/s200/DSCN0454.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230389059231502562" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;about 4. I kept up for a bit before I would fall too far behind and refused to run up Timponogos Mountain. Phil was so nice though and stayed with me the whole time. I hate being that girl who holds everyone back, but under the circumstances I really couldn't do anything about it! On the way up I saw Stephanie at Emerald Lake. I was so jealous that she was on the way down...and I still had 7 hours left.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So I'm pretty sure you can't see from this picture, but this is from Emerald Lake and the very top where there is a little white shack is where we were going. I litterally thought it was going to be impossible. That other picture was the crew at the top of the mountain. It felt sooo good to be finally at the top!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SJYNYqem6rI/AAAAAAAAAHI/ICyB8UFXd1I/s1600-h/DSCN0467.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SJYNYqem6rI/AAAAAAAAAHI/ICyB8UFXd1I/s200/DSCN0467.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230382734608100018" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SJYNYIaHiEI/AAAAAAAAAHA/amlp4ct6TjE/s1600-h/DSCN0468.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SJYNYIaHiEI/AAAAAAAAAHA/amlp4ct6TjE/s200/DSCN0468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230382725462460482" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SJYNXvv1A0I/AAAAAAAAAG4/xe-GpGPN_MU/s1600-h/DSCN04629.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SJYNXvv1A0I/AAAAAAAAAG4/xe-GpGPN_MU/s200/DSCN04629.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230382718842635074" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The picture above on the left is how we both felt aout going down the glacier. I thought it was the worst thing in the world when I was looking at it.  There was a steep slope of rocks that I thought would be a much better option.  I couldn't have been more wrong.  The rocks were all completely loose and I basically slid all the way down them dragging my hands trying to stop myself.  I came to a stop and just started crying! It's funny to think about how dumb I was being now, but in my head I was like I don't even know how I got here, and why I am doing this, and my hands are getting all cut up! I slowly moved my way over to the snow of which I was afraid was just ice and I would break a bone, or hit my head or some other disaster would happen. But once I got in the little trail of the snow where people slid down, I finally realized there was nothing other to do than slide down on my butt and get completely wet.  Once I got over that fact, I was just fine and actually enjoyed myself...a little.  Phil was so patient though I felt so bad cause I know that boys are so different and that for him it was just going to be so fun sliding down so fast, but he wouldn't go unless I was down first.  Once again, I hate being that annoying 'girl'. The picture of the glacier is turned sideways, but I couldn't figure out how to fix it...sorry. And the picture to the right is Phil and me at the top. I was so so excited.  I had no idea how windy or cold it would be up there! Once again, I was unprepared.  Overall it was sooo much fun and I am so glad I did it. It's not something that I want to turn around and do tomorrow, but maybe some other day in my life.  Did I mention that it is probably the best butt work out of my entire life? Seriously I thought I was going to die! I still am so so sore, but it was well worth it!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-2200297229677936831?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/2200297229677936831/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=2200297229677936831' title='14 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/2200297229677936831'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/2200297229677936831'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/08/hike-timpanogoscheck.html' title='Hike Timpanogos...check...'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://bp1.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SJYI1GjB3kI/AAAAAAAAAGY/gz1A4Kz2m4g/s72-c/DSCN0460.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>14</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-748420828367978525</id><published>2008-07-27T18:23:00.006-06:00</published><updated>2008-07-27T18:57:55.171-06:00</updated><title type='text'>utah symphony in the rain...</title><content type='html'>So last night I went on a blind date with this boy named Darryl and Megan and her date Johnny, to the Deer Valley Resort outdoor amphitheater and I don't know how it happened but it went down 20+ degrees up there at least, and it was POURING rain.  I'm pretty sure that the entire valley was under a big black cloud and Darryl just kept saying, "it will pass, its just a little cloud.." and all I could think was are you serious?? are we looking at the same sky?? its SOO black and i don't even see anything other than that. We went to see the Utah Symphony to Beatle Mania or something like that, to be honest the weather was so bad that I only heard half of the songs anyway. So in case you were wondering, yes we stayed... The people that we went with had just gone camping or something and he had a tarp in his car.  He layed it out when there was a break in the rain for 5 mintues and when it started again we folded it in half and were under it like a tent.. I was a little closer than I would have liked to have been to my date the entire time.&lt;br /&gt;e are some photos.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SI0Yy0WC8II/AAAAAAAAAFo/9R1awC5M9H0/s1600-h/DSCN0424.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SI0Yy0WC8II/AAAAAAAAAFo/9R1awC5M9H0/s200/DSCN0424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227862003770650754" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is when Darryl said it was just a little black rain cloud... we were still smiling...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SI0VnEAvdcI/AAAAAAAAAFg/9KPNFaRjHGU/s1600-h/DSCN0436.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SI0VnEAvdcI/AAAAAAAAAFg/9KPNFaRjHGU/s200/DSCN0436.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227858503282947522" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;                                        This is when the rain was getting old and I was wondering why we weren't going home because my entire left side was completely wet from holding up the tarp and if I let my arm fall at all there would be a flood coming down my arm or right into my shoe, or down my back.&lt;br /&gt;                                    &lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SI0U5VnoGKI/AAAAAAAAAFI/o63QrC0N8Mw/s1600-h/DSCN0447.JPG"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SI0U5VnoGKI/AAAAAAAAAFI/o63QrC0N8Mw/s200/DSCN0447.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227857717735463074" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;                 &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is our make shift tent. I don't know what we would have done with out it. I would like to say go home, but I am not sure if that would have been the case.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When we finally got back into the car, we could laugh at the situation and say we had a good time, but during it all I could think was why are we still here?? haha. I'll be honest I don't usually document my first date, let alone with a guy I have never even met before, but this was just too good to not have pictures of.  All in all it was a pretty fun date minus the part where they picked us up at 5pm and didn't take us to dinner. I really don't understand that, I mean they had to be starving too right? Or was it just me and Megan who had a piece of bread and a jamba juice for lunch and that was about it for the day.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-748420828367978525?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/748420828367978525/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=748420828367978525' title='6 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/748420828367978525'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/748420828367978525'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/07/utah-symphony-in-rain.html' title='utah symphony in the rain...'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://bp0.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SI0Yy0WC8II/AAAAAAAAAFo/9R1awC5M9H0/s72-c/DSCN0424.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>6</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-3781344978271542551</id><published>2008-07-27T18:03:00.002-06:00</published><updated>2008-07-27T18:23:31.539-06:00</updated><title type='text'>i have been tagged...</title><content type='html'>So my sister Jolynne tagged me in one of her posts to answer the following questions...so here they go...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3 Joys:  going on roadtrips and any trip in general, being with my family, making treats.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3 Fears: spiders, having someone break into my house, not going on a trip by the end of year.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3 Goals: be better at cooking and planning my meals at home, learning how to cook, learning how to frost cupcakes - can you tell i am really into cooking lately?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3 Obsessions: going to kickboxing, eating popcorn every night, shopping.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3 Random: I want to be laying out in the sun right now in somewhere far away (don't worry Jolynne, I would lather the sunscreen on..), I am moving into the cutest condo ever in about 3 weeks and I couldn't be more excited and I wish that when I had taken Piano lessons for 4-5 years I had actually learned something.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3 Tags: Megan, Hilary, Teresa&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-3781344978271542551?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/3781344978271542551/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=3781344978271542551' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/3781344978271542551'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/3781344978271542551'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/07/i-have-been-tagged.html' title='i have been tagged...'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-906184021510962026</id><published>2008-07-09T23:03:00.007-06:00</published><updated>2008-07-09T23:48:44.841-06:00</updated><title type='text'>4th of july = favorite holiday</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWgiXAPTyI/AAAAAAAAAEg/AeJZSaGIVNs/s1600-h/trio+river.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221255855156973346" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWgiXAPTyI/AAAAAAAAAEg/AeJZSaGIVNs/s200/trio+river.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWgiX1YLyI/AAAAAAAAAEo/I4VtAsSp9iI/s1600-h/me+and+jen.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221255855379853090" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWgiX1YLyI/AAAAAAAAAEo/I4VtAsSp9iI/s200/me+and+jen.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;So I have come to the conclusion that the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. i love christmas and thanksgiving, and of course my birthday, but the 4th of July just brings a different kind of favorit&lt;a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWgrOyX17I/AAAAAAAAAFA/p8UViYbQlJA/s1600-h/megan.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221256007570151346" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWgrOyX17I/AAAAAAAAAFA/p8UViYbQlJA/s200/megan.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;e. Its a time to celebrate the independence of our country and to thank all of those who fight for our country. I am so honored to be an American and I feel so fortunate to live here and to have the freedoms that I have. I love that its a time to be with your family and friends and do things all day in the sun. Ever since I was little it has been tradition to go down to Provo and stay the night on the street to save the spot for the parade in the morning, but for the past few years I have been boycotting the parade and just staying up all nigh&lt;a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWgigfjiZI/AAAAAAAAAE4/kKtE1qfyMOE/s1600-h/the+river+me.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221255857704241554" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWgigfjiZI/AAAAAAAAAE4/kKtE1qfyMOE/s200/the+river+me.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;t. I think parades would be a good time if I had some of my niece and nephews around me, but they all seem to do their own thing now so this year I didn't go. I went and floated down the freezing overcasted Provo River. It was seriously so so cold, which I competely expected the water to be, but I thought the sun would shine just a little bit to keep me warm...I was wrong. My tube had a hole that was covered in duck tape and the entire way down the river I could hear a whistle coming through the tape and it was slowly deflating but luckily I made it to the end without it popping. But my advice would be - if you leave to go down the river and its cloudy...don't think its going to warm up when you get in the water... This 4th I didn't get to have a bbq which I was a li&lt;a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWgilTkRbI/AAAAAAAAAEw/ap76AsLuz-Q/s1600-h/jenna.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221255858996135346" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWgilTkRbI/AAAAAAAAAEw/ap76AsLuz-Q/s200/jenna.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;ttle sad about, but me my dad, holly, heather, jeremy, olivia and cohen all went to Brick Oven which was still very good, at least i got to be with my family :) after Brick Oven I took Olivia and Cohen and watched the fireworks on the provo temple grounds so that Heather, Jeremy my dad and Holly could all go see the Stadium of Fire. I was so surprised at how well they did Cohen was so good and didn't complain one bit staying up so late. The fireworks were amazing and Olivia and Cohen loved them. Cohen kept saying "horray" So cute. Overall I would say the 4th of July was a success.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-906184021510962026?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/906184021510962026/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=906184021510962026' title='6 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/906184021510962026'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/906184021510962026'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/07/4th-of-july-favorite-holiday.html' title='4th of july = favorite holiday'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://bp3.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWgiXAPTyI/AAAAAAAAAEg/AeJZSaGIVNs/s72-c/trio+river.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>6</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-1372929151378001051</id><published>2008-07-09T21:53:00.006-06:00</published><updated>2008-07-09T23:13:39.751-06:00</updated><title type='text'>mr and mrs davis...</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWaG_sEV7I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/Dyys0EcCQUc/s1600-h/the+bride+and+her+maids.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221248787972118450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWaG_sEV7I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/Dyys0EcCQUc/s200/the+bride+and+her+maids.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWUrr6kDZI/AAAAAAAAADw/eUseewNObiY/s1600-h/besties.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221242821249600914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWUrr6kDZI/AAAAAAAAADw/eUseewNObiY/s320/besties.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWUry-puQI/AAAAAAAAAD4/bi7uB2q0H7E/s1600-h/heather+and+josh.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221242823145797890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWUry-puQI/AAAAAAAAAD4/bi7uB2q0H7E/s320/heather+and+josh.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;one of my bestest friends heather got married on July 1st and we got to go to see them come out of the temple and go to her luncheon. and then me, megan, jenna, rob, and brad drove up to Boise together to be at her reception. it was so fun to see how happy she was. Heather and Josh are so perfect for each other they were so in love and i just love them both!! Heather looked so so beautiful! &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221243456415123010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWVQqF0xkI/AAAAAAAAAEA/sgeX8w2QOQg/s320/bridesmaids.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221248788657071474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWaHCPX5XI/AAAAAAAAAEY/Kytle9vcZYw/s200/me+and+meg.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221248786921661378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWaG7xno8I/AAAAAAAAAEI/_5Yr2XLXe4k/s200/me+and+heath.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-1372929151378001051?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/1372929151378001051/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=1372929151378001051' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/1372929151378001051'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/1372929151378001051'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/07/mr-and-mrs-davis.html' title='mr and mrs davis...'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://bp2.blogger.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SHWaG_sEV7I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/Dyys0EcCQUc/s72-c/the+bride+and+her+maids.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-642703457347652162</id><published>2008-06-27T10:31:00.003-06:00</published><updated>2008-06-27T16:54:31.823-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Kayla is growing up....</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SGVugOR3tqI/AAAAAAAAADo/Jx2ofxYskAk/s1600-h/me+and+kayla.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SGVugOR3tqI/AAAAAAAAADo/Jx2ofxYskAk/s320/me+and+kayla.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216697243246507682" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;So this is so crazy to write about, but my little tiny baby first neice Kayla is 12!!! what?? I was 10 when she was born so it has always been like she was my baby sister more than i was her aunt.  It's weird for me to even say i am an aunt, it makes me feel old... haha. Kayla and I share a special bond that we can always joke around and play and have a good time.  It seems like just yesterday she was a baby and i was carrying her on my hip which was stuck out of it's socket just about, thinking i needed the support.  I just barely went with her to her 12 year old birthday party which i must say was about 10 steps above my scavenger hunt for a party. The big pink limo picked all her friends and Lisa and I up at her house and took us to Sweet and Sassys.  Its a cute little salon that you can get facials, finger nails painted, get your hair done, have a fashion show and on and on.  It was crazy to see her be just like i was at her age except much more girly. I was still into the nike t-shirts and not washing my hair.. :) Kayla loves horseback riding and gets to start competing soon! I am so excited to see her! She used to dance and I loved going to see her. She is so cute. I love her!! She is growing up so fast - i sound like i am 50 but its true!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-642703457347652162?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/642703457347652162/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=642703457347652162' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/642703457347652162'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/642703457347652162'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/06/kayla-is-growing-up.html' title='Kayla is growing up....'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SGVugOR3tqI/AAAAAAAAADo/Jx2ofxYskAk/s72-c/me+and+kayla.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-7153461202792245906</id><published>2008-06-26T23:28:00.006-06:00</published><updated>2008-06-27T00:19:32.753-06:00</updated><title type='text'>strawberry days...</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;Stephanie, Bethany, Amber and I all ran in the 5K race for Strawberry days. I have ran twice since i ran in the half marathon in April, and decided that i kinda like not running... when you start training for a long run like that it seems to consume your life and its all you think about after work is how you are going to fit in the long runs. It's crazy how much stamina you lose when you quit running so often. It was only three miles but i thought i was going to die! Stephanie and Bethany were great partners though. I guess i should still kinda keep running so I can enjoy these little fun runs a little more... here is a little post race picture.&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216437127875080722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SGSB7hAnMhI/AAAAAAAAADY/36YdZCfQslw/s320/steph+beth+and+me.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;So after the race it was of course on to the usual Saturday pool side at the Avenues. I have been trying so hard to wear sunscreen cause its way to painful and i have learned my lesson too many times not to. So i lost my sunscreen and used some old bottle with nothing in it and i was so paranoid about getting burnt before going to lake powell that i for the first time that i can remember placed a towell over my body to protect myself and then quickly called it a day. poor megs didn't get all the sun she wanted but i figured it would be better to go in then for her to hear me complain for the next week. right?? We then hit up the local DI and picked up our outfits for the Strawberry Day's Rodeo. I really don't know how i walked out the door in my outfit but i did.. it was so much fun though. trevor picked up the best outfit - a real genuine cowboy shirt, he fit right in. Stephanie looked so cute as always, Cami had a classic rodeo princess which was amazing, and megs and I went with the shorts and fannell shirt with boots. megan looked really cute, i just looked like a disaster here is the proof...&lt;/p&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216439199768784274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SGSD0HakLZI/AAAAAAAAADg/-gQOM6Kb-X0/s320/n896485721_3304419_5190.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;at the rodeo there was a guy who i asked to take a picture for us. he couldn't have been more upset. i promise i didn't know that the guys with the cows and the ropes were coming out, there was no need to yell at me. he ended up taking the picture later, awkward, but he was really happy to see we were too bored to sit through the entire rodeo when we left early. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-7153461202792245906?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/7153461202792245906/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=7153461202792245906' title='10 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/7153461202792245906'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/7153461202792245906'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/06/strawberry-days.html' title='strawberry days...'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SGSB7hAnMhI/AAAAAAAAADY/36YdZCfQslw/s72-c/steph+beth+and+me.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>10</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-2696759827642839204</id><published>2008-06-09T22:28:00.005-06:00</published><updated>2008-06-09T23:27:48.993-06:00</updated><title type='text'>monday monday</title><content type='html'>is it just me or has this year gone by so fast?? i mean really its June? what?? and oh yeah its still basically winter...i went to vegas with my sister heather - it was a surprise for her but i had known for weeks. we went and saw phantom and shopped all day. it was so fun, a good little break from the everyday provo life. but mostly i have been just working everyday and doing random things at night.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210106345297108242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SE4EHeFxXRI/AAAAAAAAADA/JqWG_T1LySE/s320/DSCN0318.JPG" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;So about a week ago my dad and i were chatting over msn and somehow he just started sending me pictures that he wanted me to post on my blog...hahaha...here's what they were...&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210118950735587698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SE4PlNAgKXI/AAAAAAAAADQ/hVlhrerP6cM/s320/scan0014.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;i'm pretty sure this was my 6th grade birthday party. i hope you all of you who are in this enjoy this as much as i did. stephanie...i'm pretty sure that is you with the hair half up with the braid and your back to the camera. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210118362595173762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SE4PC-A5pYI/AAAAAAAAADI/3XL2_hb3HKk/s320/benita.jpg" border="0" /&gt;awful... this is what i thought "do your hair curly for your chrismast dance recital" meant... someone should have given me a picture as an example.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-2696759827642839204?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/2696759827642839204/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=2696759827642839204' title='18 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/2696759827642839204'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/2696759827642839204'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/06/monday-monday.html' title='monday monday'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SE4EHeFxXRI/AAAAAAAAADA/JqWG_T1LySE/s72-c/DSCN0318.JPG' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>18</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-664636115367359412</id><published>2008-05-21T22:36:00.003-06:00</published><updated>2008-05-21T22:57:16.187-06:00</updated><title type='text'>5th one's the charm...</title><content type='html'>So i thought i was done at the 3 migraines in 4 days... i was wrong. 2 more came - it was seriously the worst week ever. BUT my dad got the name of a chiropractor who focuses his practice a lot on migraines and making sure your "balance point" is in line. I don't really know all the technical terms and to be honest i have been very skeptical but i figured that anything was worth a try. so i went on monday and tuesday for a couple hours each day where he took x-rays and looked at my C-1...whatever that is.. and found it was off balance. So he did some wierd tweaking thing that i could hardly even feel and apparently i am supposed to be cured. I have been one day migraine free...which for me as of late is a record. But hopefully it stays that way...for any of you fellow migrainers i'll keep you posted on how long i go with out one because i'm sure i'm not the only one in need of finding the cure to these things!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203060403540176674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SDT73rnpryI/AAAAAAAAACM/AWlk85D74qk/s320/Cali+2006+078.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I thought i would use this picture as a visual. Megan is posing as me one time when i had a really bad migraine in California and we didn't want to lose our only day shopping...so i had to wear my sunglasses in the mall all day long....she is a good friend.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SDT73rnpryI/AAAAAAAAACM/AWlk85D74qk/s1600-h/Cali+2006+078.jpg"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-664636115367359412?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/664636115367359412/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=664636115367359412' title='13 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/664636115367359412'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/664636115367359412'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/05/5th-one.html' title='5th one&apos;s the charm...'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SDT73rnpryI/AAAAAAAAACM/AWlk85D74qk/s72-c/Cali+2006+078.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>13</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-2071728188143286515</id><published>2008-05-17T18:53:00.003-06:00</published><updated>2008-05-17T19:32:25.391-06:00</updated><title type='text'>3 migraines in one week??</title><content type='html'>so this week has been a little rough...i have had three migraines that have ruined about 4 days total. I was doing so well had hadn't had one in about 6 months!! then three in one week?? awful.. anyway I have been done with school for about 2 weeks and now I'm just working full time.  Saturdays are my favorite day of the week because I get to spend the day at the pool :) And anyone who has ever been at the pool with Megan knows they can't ever compare themselves to her amazing tan...but I still do - everyone also knows how white I am and that I only turn bright lobster red before I peel and then turn white again...but I went today and decided that everytime I wear sunscreen I don't get anything and I have been out enough times this season that I thought I could handle the sun... probably not the greatest idea i've ever had..my body is on fire.  I deserve it. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Other sad things that are happening this week and next are my shows are coming to an end... Ever since I moved to my new condo in August we got a DVR box... greatest/worst thing that ever happened. Greatest because I always know what people are talking about when they talk about shows (I don't know if that is good or bad) and also because the are so good! I mean who doesn't want to know who American's Next Top Model is?? Bad because I sometimes find myself wanting to be home rather than going out with people because I need to know what happened to Serena on Gossip Girl... So maybe this end of the season for shows isn't sad after all...I think I need to start reading books....&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-2071728188143286515?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/2071728188143286515/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=2071728188143286515' title='11 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/2071728188143286515'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/2071728188143286515'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/05/3-migraines-in-one-week.html' title='3 migraines in one week??'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><thr:total>11</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-5595943093224157037</id><published>2008-05-02T19:31:00.014-06:00</published><updated>2008-05-02T20:51:43.722-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Soaring to New Heights...</title><content type='html'>So a few weeks ago some friends and I went down to St. George to get away before I took finals and to get away from this dang 7 month long winter! We went down to stay in my friend Rob's condo and it was so so fun.  The first day we just got there and basically went to bed.  Then on Saturday after Megan and I went on our long Saturday run we all went to the Bear Paw - the best place that we have to eat at every time we go to St. George and then headed of course straight to the pool. That was the main reason for the trip - lay in the sun and attempt to get a tan...you all know how that goes for me... Later that day we went to "The Crack" in St. George - I don't know if any of you have been there but it was a fun/scary little adventure.  I couldn't think about it for too long cause I kept picturing some sort of earth quake happening or something and I wouldn't be able to get out!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvIcGov2VI/AAAAAAAAABE/yfVadHMcMZY/s1600-h/st.+george+082.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvIcGov2VI/AAAAAAAAABE/yfVadHMcMZY/s320/st.+george+082.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195966980245412178" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvI7Gov2WI/AAAAAAAAABM/Od5nH7p34tg/s1600-h/st.+george+091.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvI7Gov2WI/AAAAAAAAABM/Od5nH7p34tg/s320/st.+george+091.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195967512821356898" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvH22ov2UI/AAAAAAAAAA8/nZp0gd4nkRM/s1600-h/st.+george+079.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvH22ov2UI/AAAAAAAAAA8/nZp0gd4nkRM/s320/st.+george+079.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195966340295285058" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvHTmov2SI/AAAAAAAAAAs/O45N68gtvcU/s1600-h/st.+george+075.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvHTmov2SI/AAAAAAAAAAs/O45N68gtvcU/s320/st.+george+075.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195965734704896290" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;So the next day I thought we were going on a nice Sunday hike at Zions and I couldn't have been more wrong... Brad suggested that we go either to Overlook (or something like that) or Angels Landing and I'm not sure how it happened, but we decided on Angels Landing.   Megan and I are very protective about our running shoes and make sure to only wear them for running... so the night before the hike we had to go get some new shoes so we headed to the local Payless and picked up these amazing shoes..&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvKh2ov2XI/AAAAAAAAABU/GcYSX49ejOw/s1600-h/st.+george+146.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvKh2ov2XI/AAAAAAAAABU/GcYSX49ejOw/s320/st.+george+146.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195969278052915570" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;These were probably the worst shoes we could have bought and they had zero traction, but they worked.  Anyway the hike took about two hours to get to the top and it was sooo beautiful.  There was a 360 degree view of the whole canyon.  Here are some of the pictures that we took - I don't think they really do it justice, but for those of you who have done - you know what I mean...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvRDWov2ZI/AAAAAAAAABk/ly8XMji-59Y/s1600-h/st.+george+020.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvRDWov2ZI/AAAAAAAAABk/ly8XMji-59Y/s320/st.+george+020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195976450648299922" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Don't worry there were chains to make sure we could stabilize ourselves against the 2 ft wide mountain...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvRD2ov2aI/AAAAAAAAABs/7FV2l_fWDGc/s1600-h/st.+george+135.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvRD2ov2aI/AAAAAAAAABs/7FV2l_fWDGc/s320/st.+george+135.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195976459238234530" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvREGov2bI/AAAAAAAAAB0/UONJDwfRUcA/s1600-h/st.+george+152.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvREGov2bI/AAAAAAAAAB0/UONJDwfRUcA/s320/st.+george+152.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195976463533201842" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvREmov2cI/AAAAAAAAAB8/gPxhFDmHeA4/s1600-h/st.+george+151.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvREmov2cI/AAAAAAAAAB8/gPxhFDmHeA4/s320/st.+george+151.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195976472123136450" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvRE2ov2dI/AAAAAAAAACE/Q6V4eUY2jLs/s1600-h/st.+george+004.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvRE2ov2dI/AAAAAAAAACE/Q6V4eUY2jLs/s320/st.+george+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195976476418103762" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;on either side of us it is basically a straight down drop...&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-5595943093224157037?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/5595943093224157037/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=5595943093224157037' title='11 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/5595943093224157037'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/5595943093224157037'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/05/soaring-to-new-heights.html' title='Soaring to New Heights...'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBvIcGov2VI/AAAAAAAAABE/yfVadHMcMZY/s72-c/st.+george+082.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>11</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-3757376809725820942</id><published>2008-04-25T10:59:00.006-06:00</published><updated>2008-04-25T12:53:23.792-06:00</updated><title type='text'>its the end of an era...</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBIl_Wov2QI/AAAAAAAAAAc/do6fLQKb1MQ/s1600-h/royal2.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193255090650077442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBIl_Wov2QI/AAAAAAAAAAc/do6fLQKb1MQ/s320/royal2.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBIl42ov2PI/AAAAAAAAAAU/gYw-TMEgLFA/s1600-h/royal.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193254978980927730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBIl42ov2PI/AAAAAAAAAAU/gYw-TMEgLFA/s320/royal.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBIlw2ov2OI/AAAAAAAAAAM/RwkZChdylWk/s1600-h/thecrew.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193254841541974242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBIlw2ov2OI/AAAAAAAAAAM/RwkZChdylWk/s320/thecrew.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;For just about the past 4 years of college, I have been so lucky to live with some of the most amazing girls I have ever met, and for the first time since, I won't live with two of them starting today :( Heather is moving back to Boise and Jenna is going to Texas and Washington. These girls will always be two of my best friends!!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;5 Reasons why I love Heather&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;1 - she is always up for a road trip even if we leave for cali on a friday, go to disney land on saturday and come home sunday...&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;2 - she would always make my bed if i hadn't made it that day&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;3 - she knows friends quotes better than anyone i know and let me borrow the dvd's for the past 3 years to watch every night before i went to bed.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;4 - she is one of the best listeners i know and will always sit and talk to me about anything&lt;br /&gt;5 - she is always so interested and supportive of everthing i do and i know i could always count on her for anything.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;5 Reasons why I love Jenna&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;1 - she loves popcorn just as much if not more than i do&lt;br /&gt;2 - she can do dance dance revolution better than anyone i know&lt;br /&gt;3 - she says things exactly they way they are even if you don't want to hear it and she always gives very practical advice&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;4 - she always finds the best cafes and cute little places to eat and then makes us drive to them and doesn't know where they are... or if they're open... but when we get there they are always amazing&lt;br /&gt;5 - she loves to photoshop pictures and make everyone look much better in all her pictures! &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;I love these girls so much! and will miss them so much!! They have been the greatest roommates and friends I could have ever asked for!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-3757376809725820942?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/3757376809725820942/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=3757376809725820942' title='15 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/3757376809725820942'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/3757376809725820942'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/04/its-end-of-era.html' title='its the end of an era...'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/SBIl_Wov2QI/AAAAAAAAAAc/do6fLQKb1MQ/s72-c/royal2.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>15</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8182656489331841768.post-4374338101495706194</id><published>2008-04-23T22:36:00.002-06:00</published><updated>2008-04-23T22:53:55.669-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Here I am....</title><content type='html'>I have for so long avoided the idea of making a blog for mostly the reason that I am not married...I thought that was one of the requirements of having one. But...it seems that these days anyone who is anyone has a blog so I figured I couldn't hold off any longer.  I also think it will make me a better friend because evidently many of my friends have them and they all read each others and know little things about each other's lives and I'm constantly wondering why I'm not getting the memos! So I hope this solves that problem...&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8182656489331841768-4374338101495706194?l=benitopia.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/feeds/4374338101495706194/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8182656489331841768&amp;postID=4374338101495706194' title='7 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/4374338101495706194'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8182656489331841768/posts/default/4374338101495706194'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://benitopia.blogspot.com/2008/04/here-i-am.html' title='Here I am....'/><author><name>Benita</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='17' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2KIeQZZrNZ8/TUpY8CRHMQI/AAAAAAAAAPg/GHCjsi13dKw/s220/benitab.jpg'/></author><thr:total>7</thr:total></entry></feed>
