Bazinga

Project 2 of my sewing class is done!! WOOHOO!!! For this project, I chose to do a black pencil skirt that has a lace drape going down the left leg. I'll post pics once I get it back from my TA. Anyway, because of my busy schedule with work and . . . well . . . doing nothing, I wasn't able to hem my skirt until last night. Lucky for me: I'm a night person.

Anyway, I don't know how many of you out there sew, but hand hemming is a beast! It takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R. And when you're doing black thread on black fabric, it really hurts your eyes. So, I grabbed lamp and my laptop and spent the rest of the night on my bed, watching Big Bang Theory and hemming my fingers off.

If you haven't seen Big Bang Theory, add this show to your list because it is HI larious. When I first started watching it, I didn't think it was that funny, but like the office, I grew to love it too. Now I giggle hysterically like Troy (for those of you who know my family) all episode long.

Seriously, start watching.

Movie Night!

I looooove that walmart has a $5 bin for movies. Just the other day, I was chilling with my mom in the Park City Walmart and we decided to hit up the media center. We spent a good half hour plunging through the bin. At least the Walmart in Orem has them on a rack. But, despite the fact that it was a pain in the butt, I was able to find 4 awesome movies to make up for it.
1. Rush Hour/Rush Hour 2. Can't beat a Jackie Chan movie.
2. What Happens In Vegas. I collect chick flicks like there's not tomorrow.
3. Robots. Not a lot of people have seen it, but it's super cuuute! Plus it's got Ewan Mcgreggor's voice as the main character. Yummy!
4. Anastasia. LOVE this movie and have since I was a little girl. At The Beginning by Richard Marx and Donna Lewis will forever be a favorite love song of mine...

media that feeds the belly

I have to say, one of my favorite forms of media is my recipe book. Several years back when my grandma Swenson was still alive, my sister had the brilliant idea to compile a book of the favorite family recipes. We had this huge day where all of the girls in the family came to my grandma's house and put the book together. From what I remember, there were several rooms where the girls sat, putting all of the pages in pocket protectors to create one very large recipe book. Every woman in the family got one and I cherish mine so much.

The only problem is: I rarely cook anything. It's not that I'm a terrible cook, I just never have time. When I do have time, I'm usually too tired and end up making Ramen, a sandwich, or just not eating. Healthy, I know. But, the other night I was feeling adventurous, so I decided to make chicken enchiladas for the first time in my life. Soooo good! And, I'm still eating the leftovers. So, for all of you out there who are just like me and want an easy, fabulous tasting dinner, here's my family recipe:

What you need:
2 lbs of chicken or ground beef
16 oz can of sour cream
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
1 small can of chopped green chilli peppers
1 package of large flour tortillas
1 package of shredded mozzarella cheese
1 package of shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat to 350. Brown meat and mix together the sour cream, chicken soup, and green chillies (chilli juice included).
Spoon out mixture onto taco shell, add a spoonful of meat, then top with mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Roll up and place in pan, (I ended up with about 6 enchiladas). Spoon the rest of the mixture on top of the shells and sprinkle off with cheese, (the more cheese, the better!). Cook for either 20-30 minutes. I'll have to get back to ya'll on the time :)

S.A.D.

Happy belated Single Awareness Day to everyone! Man I just loath this time of year. I mean, I guess it's great if you have someone to spend the holiday with, but as for me and my single self, I will support the stereotypical bitter girl who hates on the commercialism of love that is expressed every February 14th. I do hope to one day be able to enjoy it as it is meant to be enjoyed, though.

This year, as it was to mark the 1 year anniversary of my ex-fiance coming home from his mission, I knew that I could not spend V-day night at home, alone, with nothing to do. If I did that, I would just wallow, and wallowing Shalese is an ugly Shalese. So instead, I spent the majority of the day at work and then spent the night with my awesome sister up in north Ogden. She invited me to come and hang out with her friends and go watch the Vow. I was all for that plan, especially since I've harbored a long-lasting obsession with Channing Tatum ever since Step Up.

My impression of the movie? It was pretty good I guess, but if you are going to watch it for a nice romantic pick-me-up, it won't ring your bell. The expression of love in this movie was profound (especially coming from Channing's character. I hope to have a husband as devoted as he was) but I did not walk out of that theater feeling lighter than air like a good Hugh Grant movie might have done. But, I did like it.

My love/hate relationship with social networks

So, I've decided that I really do not like facebook. I've been wanting to delete my account for some time, but I have several things stopping me. First: I have a new computer, so all of the photos from my old one only exist on FB. Second: I never ever get to see my cousins, so FB is the only way I ever connect with them. Third: I have a lot of old friends who I like to keep up with. Fourth: Facebook is my connection to the outside world and all of its news. If I deleted my account, I'd probably drop off the face of the Earth never to return again. But, I want to delete my account sooo bad!!!

Besides that, I've found other sites to use my time for procrastination. First: this blog. Plus I like to blog stalk other peoples' blogs. Second: Pinterest. Oh my gosh I am so addicted. And, one of these days I'm going to do every single craft and recipe I have pinned on there. It's on my bucket list now. Third: Goodreads. I just discovered that today. Bad, bad news for Shalese Mary Peterson. I am a book addict. Like, seriously, I forgo food, sleep, and shower to read. This site it not going to help my productivity in the outside world at all.

It really is ridiculous the amount of time I spend on the internet. Sometimes I love it and other times I just wish I wasn't that good at procrastination. If it were a major here, I'd be offered a full ride scholarship and graduate with honors.

Condition of Desperation

So, there is a new song I'm obsessed with. It's called Condition of Desperation by Randy Porter. It's featured in the Mormon version of Pride and Prejudice and it is awesome. In my sewing lab we are allowed to play music and one girl has this soundtrack on her ipod and this song has been on my mind ever since. The only think that bugs me about it is the scene during which this song plays. It's at the very end when Elizabeth kisses Darcy in the street and he's got blood all over his face. Seriously, I mean, it was a romantic moment and all, but I would NOT want to kiss a man with blood all over his face. Especially on his lips. Sorry, but I'm not a vampire. Ick!

Anyway. Listen to it, cuz it's a beautiful song. :)

For last week

I got to spend the entire day Saturday at the Utah State Drill team competition. Okay, maybe not the whole day, but I spent a good 6 or 7 hours sitting on my rear end and listening to music blasted at the highest level.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE drill team and dance and I just have to go to State every year because I miss it soooo much, but holy crap they can get boring! I think this was the first year I ever really felt sorry for my family and friends that came to support me at every single stinking competition for 4 years. By the end of the day, every song sounds the same and every dance looks the same. When I drove home, I had to put the music on near silent because I just couldn't take it. I was on music overload.

I get that way every once and a while. I just get to the point where I'm not interested in any of the songs that I own and I can't stand any songs on the radio. It's like I'm constantly listening to music, every second of every day. My alarm clock is music, I listen to music walking to and from and in between classes, I listen to music while I drive, we have to blast music at work, and when I'm home with nothing to do I have to sing or play my guitar. AH!

Music is amazing, but sometimes silence can be a good thing too.

Moulin Rouge!

I l.o.v.e. Moulin Rouge! It's definitely one of my favorite movies out there. I mean, take away the fact that it's about a prostitute, and you've got yourself a fantastic movie!!!

Okay, Ewan Mcgregor and his adorable good-looks aside, the music is FANTASTIC!! I mean, seriously! If you don't want to watch the movie, that's totally cool, but you've gotta listen to the music. It's really what makes the movie. They are just so powerful, (even though they are songs redone, how they are reworked and rewritten is just awesome).

Funny tidbit: During my last few years at Girl's Camp, me and my friend would sing Elephant Love Medley all. the. time. On the hike, during meals, whilst making s'mores, etc. None of the other girls had seen the movie, but by the end of the week, all of the girls could sing along with us. Probably not the best song we could have been singing for a spiritual retreat, but, as I said before: the music is fantastic.

P.S. I was really upset about the Lady Marmalade song when I found out what they were really saying. The song is so dang catchy, but so naughty when translated to English. Boo.