The Origin of My Motivation

 

  If you should ever take the opportunity to go back to school, I highly recommend taking a CLSS 1000 class. It is a Learning Strategies class, and I absolutely love it! It was one of those classes that I had to take to get the English class I needed, to fit into my schedule. To be honest I totally thought I would end up dropping it. I kept looking for other options. Then I actually started the class. The whole thing is based on teaching you to understand the sort of learning strategies that would work best for you. It is centered around learning based on reflection....taking the lessons and reflecting on how they apply to you. This is the most effective way of learning, and helps you become much more self aware. Our assignments are awesome. They are super free. We can write, or create projects...anything we want to get the most out of the experience.

     I have absolutely loved this class so much! In fact, my professor is the head of the UV Mentor program and has talked to me about becoming a part of it.  I would get to mentor classes at school and become a part of a program that leads to getting a Leadership & Service title on my diploma....along with a full ride scholarship! Yeah, I think that sounds pretty darn good to me! :) Next fall I will take the follow up to this class and then in the Spring I will apply to be in the program!  My professor has also asked me to consider being a presenter at a large conference for the school this Summer. Oh my! Totally intimidating, but seriously awesome!

    Anyway, I just wanted to share one of the projects I created for the class. It is a short slideshow representing the sources of my motivation. It was fun to create and reminds me to stick with my goals and plans...and why I keep going when sometimes it gets a little overwhelming and I wonder what in the world I am doing with so much on my plate! :) The music is an original song by my insanely talented brother in law, Brian Cook. Man alive, I love everything he does on the piano!

Enjoy!

   

A Shout Out From My Home Away From Home

Welp, I am officially past midterm of my first semester in college! It has taken me a while to get into a serious groove, with kids and home, work (more on that later), full time school for both Ryan and I, church callings and a million other responsibilities, unfortunately blogging had to take a serious back seat. However, over this last few weeks I have been seriously missing it. It seems that when a few months go by and you haven't made a single post, you teeter on the edge of permanence. Will I be back, or will I leave this part of my life in the past. The latter made my heart hurt every time I thought about it, so I decided to give myself the time I needed to adjust, so I could make time for blogging a priority again. I will say, Pinterest has kept this little blogging world of mine crackin! Holy smokes! I return to find that OurLifeUncommon has far surpassed the 1 million views mark...and that is just over the last year! That is crazy! YourLifeUncommon is inching up on the same. I have had to put on hold many offers for giveaways, guest posting, etc, but I look forward to looking into some of them to see if they are a good fit for all of us. 

Anyway, I just wanted to peek out from under my pile of craziness for a moment. Just to let you all know that I am still here and have intentions to return. Thanks to those of you that have sent such sweet emails over the past few months! They absolutely inspire me and remind me why I love blogging so darn much! 

I absolutely LOVE being back in school and I could shock the britches right off my high school teachers AND my parents with the grades I am getting right now! :) Who knew all I needed was a little focus and a lot of passion for learning to get A's?! Probably everyone but me! :) I absolutely GEEK OUT on my Psychology class...which is probably a good thing, since Psychology is my major! I promise, I will work the function of the brain and how it affects human behavior into any conversation, and probably drive everyone crazy! I can't help it! I LOVE IT! I seriously giggle through class because I just can't get enough of it! We will see how I am feeling about it as the classes get even harder, I guess! :) 

Alright my friends, thanks for hanging in with me! Now I have to get back to 2 chapters of Math, a Psychology and English paper, all before I race to beat the kids home from school in a few hours. 

A little Housekeeping: If you have noticed that the YourLifeUncommon.com direct address isn't working, you are not alone. It is annoying, but apparently we have overloaded our host. Ry and I are in search of a new one. For now yourlifeuncommon.blogspot.com and thewondertwins.blogspot.com are working just fine! Good ole Blogger! :) 

Days For Girls

Ok, guys! Here is a great opportunity to make a huge difference with way small effort!

 A friend of a friend started an organization called Days for Girls. If you have read anything from my friend Mitch Weight's organization, called Sahbu, then you have heard about some of the things these little girls do to try to earn money for school (prostitution, etc), their only hope of escaping. There are little girls that feel this is their only option! But we can totally help give them hope through organizations like this! There is a contest going on and "Days for Girls" is so close to winning, they are a little behind and they totally need help! If you can donate even just $10, it could mean that this organization will become sponsored by NIKE! That is huge! The PR and the difference that can be made is huge! So PLEASE click on the link and give! Just $10 and it will make a huge difference! Remember Mitch has learned that it only costs $120 to send a child to school for a year and these little girls are selling their bodies for pennies to get to that amount! Surely we can do our best to save these sweet girls! 

CLICK HERE TO DONATE! 

"He Will Die On His Feet Before He Will Live On His Knees"

This last Wednesday we helped the youth put on a super fun Grandparents Dinner, for all of the people over 55 years old in our ward. A member of our bishopric shared a video similar to this one, same narration, some different pictures. I have never watched anything that stirred my heart with so much patriotism.

Today is Veterans Day. I am afraid this is a day that goes by largely unnoticed in a lot of our lives. I hope this video inspires us all to really consider the sacrifices our military, each member individually, have made to make this country what it is! We are a blessed people, and it hasn't come without a price!

I love this great country! I hope this video inspires us all to remember just how blessed we are to have the freedoms we have! Next time we have the opportunity to place our hands over our heart and pledge allegiance to our flag, or sing our national anthem, I hope we remember the people in Fort Henry, their sacrifice and the sacrifice of every single person who has or does serve us in the military, with more gratitude in our hearts!

Chicken Divine....Prepare to taste Heaven!

The other day someone posted a comment on a post I did like YEARS ago on my family blog! It reminded me how simply divine this recipe is! Oh. Have. Mercy! No really though, this is a splurge...for one of those days when calories, and all of that lame kind of stuff, doesn't matter, but having something that tastes so good you can feel your toes tingle...that TOTALLY matters! Wanna knock the socks off of the folks at your next get together? Choose this! I promise it is going to please! I mean, how could it not when it looks like this.....

OH MERCY! Now, let's flashback to the post wherein this meal was prepared so you can get working on your grocery list, shall we? (OH, and keep an eye out for one of my VERY FAVORITE people of all time! Love you Carrie!)

I am coming at you from Ms. Carrie Norris's house in HENDERSON, NV. Right next to the flashing lights of VEGAS! 

Since we completely disagree with the "What Happens In Vegas Stays In Vegas" mantra...we are about to dish it all! 

Last night we made dinner for Dan's brother and sister-in-law and her parents. While trying to figure out what to make I remembered a meal that Ryan's aunt had prepared for us one night. She had recently sent me the recipe and it was TO DIE FOR...and from, if you ate it every night...I mean the butter...the cream....OH MY! It is divine! Which is why we thought to change it's formal name of "Butterfly Chicken" to "Chicken Divine" however, I think last night we had a moment where we called it "Dimpled Thighs Chicken" cause, well, lets just get to the recipe! You will see for yourself! For now, call it what you want!

We used Chicken Tenderloins, which worked marvelously! Otherwise, tenderize your chicken breast by beating the heck out of it with a hammer or the bottom of a pan while it is in a ziploc bag...or ask your local butcher to send in through the tenderizing machine once. Yeah, I think that sounds better! 

Dredge chicken in a mixture of flour, pepper and salt. The salt and pepper amounts are up to you, but don't be afraid! Add a good amount. 

Now, melt A CUBE OF BUTTER (I Know, Right?!) in a pan and brown the chicken. Don't cook it through, we are just browning here. While it is browning squeeze a lemon over the top of it. When the flour mixture gets a bit of brown tinge to it move the chicken into a 9x13 pan. 

Now, using your best "Suzie Homemaker" face, saute 1 1/2 lb sliced Baby Bella mushrooms in 2 T butter. NO ONE masters the "Suzie Homemaker" like Carrie! NICE! 

I love her A LOT by the way, have I mentioned that?! Well, I do! 

When the mushrooms are done spoon them all over the top of the chicken. A note on the mushrooms: You COULD use regular mushrooms, but I promise the flavor of the Portabella is PERFECT in this! AND they are so pretty with their brown outside! 

Now, you take a full pint of HEAVY cream and pour it all over the top. Really, make sure it is the HEAVY stuff. There is a BIG difference in the final result. Just make sure that when you do it, you bust out your "Suzie Homemaker"!

Pour it all over! Then use a fork to life the chicken and make sure that the cream gets all around it. 

Now grate some parmesan (DO NOT use the store pre-shredded type! By a brick and grate it yourself! You will be glad you did, and REALLY sad if you don't! I promise!) and sprinkle about 1 1/2 c. over the top! Don't even try the powder stuff! You need the REAL stuff for this one! 

Now bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 min or until the chicken is cooked through. 

Serve over noodles or rice or next to a baked potato. Honestly, this stuff was a HIT! It is SO yummy! I mean, how could it not be?! The cream? The Butter? The Cheese?! Yep, "Dimpled Thigh Chicken" it is!

No worries, we also served it with this beautiful salad! Spring Green Mix with onions, bacon crumbles, feta and craisins! DELISH!  Carrie also whipped up a fabulous dressing for the salad. It went a little like this:
Yummy salad dressing recipe:

1/2 c. white vinegar
1/2 c. white sugar
1/2 t. minced onion
1/2 t. dry mustard
1/2 c. olive oil
1 t. poppy seeds
1 t. salt

FOR THE CHICKEN DIVINE:

Ingredients: 

Chicken, tenerloins or tenderized breasts (about 15-20)

Flour (Enough to coat each tenderloin)

Salt (to taste)
Pepper (to taste, don't be stingy)

1 Lemon

1 cube + 2 Tbs. Butter

1 1/2 lb. Baby Bella mushrooms, sliced

1 pint Heavy whipping cream

1 1/2 c. freshly shredded Parmesan Cheese

ENJOY! 

The Good, The Bad & The Perspective

Ok, we have all heard the saying, "The grass is greener on the other side", right?! But we all know that is the way it appears, but not necessarily the way it is. Sometimes it seems that someone else's lot would be easier than our own, other people look better, have more, have it more together, can do more, accomplish more,  or ARE better, than us. Sometimes it seems like the only way we know to judge our own accomplishments or experiences in life, is to compare it to someone else's accomplishments and experiences.

It seems that in the world of social media everyone's life takes on a rosy hue. They are always patient. Always serving. Always vacationing. Always the best mom EVER. Always totally put together. And you know what...I don't mind the positive posts! It is like the whole idea behind BillionClicks. When she focused on the number of negative thoughts she had in a day, it seemed she felt more and more negative. However, when she started to count the positive things about her life, she started to realize the influence of positive thinking in her life. Post the positive! I like it! If it's real and you feel it, AWESOME! Being positive does not mean that you are "Fake". Holy smokes, do I ever hate when people say that! The thing is that the responsibility of seeing the reality in things is the readers responsibility! Celebrate happy moments with friends! Just because someone has a happy moment, or 20, are we left to believe that nothing hard ever comes their way?! No! Heavens no! 

You know, I had a bit of a realization not to long ago. I have PCOS and Hashimoto Thyroiditis, not a good combo when you intend to be on the lower end of the scale. I workout A LOT and I eat mostly good. I work at it, and yet in the last couple of years I have only lost about 40 lbs, as of right now. It is frustrating to say the least! I would love to have my body reflect how I feel on the inside. I would love to not have to pull up so much weight, while doing pull-ups at CrossFit. :) I would love to not stress about injuring my joints when I run. I would love to wear all the cute outfits I have pinned on Pinterest! :) However, it just hasn't come, and who knows if it will. I just have to keep on going...for sanity reasons! :) 

So, the realization came the other day when I was out with my hubby. There was a lady in front of us in line. It was very easy to see that she was a very pretty lady. She was thin and looked great. I caught myself being a bit envious for a moment. Then I noticed something else. I could see it in her face and in the way she was acting. That girl, for as thin and pretty as I thought she was, may as well have been the most overweight person in the whole room. She was insanely uncomfortable in her skin. You could feel it from her. It made me sad for her...then for me. I realized that in a moment of self-pity, I had forgotten all of the good things that I had in my life. I forgot that I had a hubby that thinks I am the shizzle and kids that say I am the "bomb.com", and most importantly, I forgot that I like me! I looked at her lot and thought my life would be so much better if I could just look like that. In all of my shallow forgetfulness, I didn't stop to think of all that I HAD been blessed with and all that this body of mine IS able to do. How quickly I wanted to think that her life is easier than mine because of her appearance. I am a silly silly shallow person sometimes! Oh brother! 

We all have weaknesses and struggles! When someone looks like they have it all, or all together, remember that they are going through something too. They may not advertise it, but it is there! And then, in all our understanding, we should be more kind to ourselves! We are doing better than we think we are! 

Mayor Bruce Call, my favorite Sunday School teacher, said this a couple of weeks ago in his lesson. I LOVED IT! A little something to remember next time we want to beat ourselves up, as we elevate everyone around us! :)

Dreaming of Gethsemane

When I was in seminary I remember a teacher reading a quote to us. It was about a dream that Orson F. Whitney had about the Savior. I remember it had a huge impact on me. From time to time that dream will cross my mind. It did today. I had to share it with you. As I read it I can almost feel the same desperate desire to be with the Lord. Sometimes a thought, story or quote can be just enough to remind us of our goals and aspirations in this life. They can be just what we need for the little course corrections we need from time to time. This one certainly serves that purpose! Especially when we remember that it all truly is up to us!

                                                                     Painting by: Del Parson

"One night I dreamed that I was in the Garden of Gethsemane, a witness of the Savior's agony. I stood behind a tree in the foreground, Jesus, with Peter, James and John, came through a little wicket gate at my right. Leaving the three apostles there, after telling them to kneel and pray, He passed over to the other side, where He also knelt and prayed. 'Oh my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.'

As He prayed tears streamed down His face, which was turned toward me. I was so moved at the sight that I wept also, out of pure sympathy with His great sorrow. My whole heart went out to Him. I loved Him with all my soul and longed to be with Him as I longed for nothing else. 

Presently He arose and walked to where those apostles were kneeling -- fast asleep! He shook them gently, awoke them, and in a tone of tender reproach, and untinctured by the least show of anger or scolding, asked them if they could not watch with Him one hour. 

Returning to His place, He prayed and then went back and found them again sleeping. Again He awoke them, admonished them, and returned and prayed as before. Three times this happened, until I was perfectly familiar with His appearance -- face, form and movements. He was of noble stature and majestic mien, the very God that He was and is, yet as meek and lowly as a little child. 

All at once circumstances began to change. Instead of before, it was after the Crucifixion, and the Savior, with those three apostles, now stood together in a group at my left. They were about to depart and ascend into Heaven. I could endure it no longer. I ran from behind the tree, fell at His feet, clasped Him around the knees, and begged Him to take me with Him. 

I shall never forget the kind and gentle manner in which He stooped and raised me up and embraced me. It was so vivid, so real that I felt the very warmth of His bosom against which I rested. Then He said, 'No, my son; these have finished their work, and they may go with me; but you must stay and finish yours.' Still I clung to Him. Gazing up into His face--for He was taller than I--I besought Him most earnestly. 'Well, promise me that I will come to You at the last.'  He smiled sweetly and tenderly and replied, 'That will depend entirely upon yourself.'" I awoke with a sob in my throat, and it was morning."

Before you go, have a listen to this! This sweet song is the perfect way to sum this up!