Don't Eat These

This is a simple post, but in case people don't check Yahoo!'s homepage as much as I do, then it's worth sharing.

Though we know we should avoid these foods, this will give some perspective on what we are actually consuming when we do choose these items off the menu.
25 Diet-Busting Foods You Should Never Eat | Yahoo! Health

Oh Fam Vaca, Seabrook in WA

Soon, I will figure out how to edit Matt into the photo.

Call it a family vacation, call it a family reunion, the Oh's did it Oh style this weekend descending on Seabrook, a beach town in Pacific Beach off the Washington coast.

Looking back, I realize I should have taken more photos as the weekend turned out to be super fun, relaxing and perfect for all of us. Yes, as opposed to other vacations which in some cases, have turned out to be uneventful and usually ending in my mom saying, "Next time we not come here." This time, no such sentiment was expressed and from all accounts, everyone loved it!

From www.seabrookcottagerentals.com

Seabrook
Seabrook is new and up and coming. It's a VERY small beach town and more like a planned community for the vacationer. Though very small and still establishing itself, it was perfect for my family in so many ways. First of all, the house we rented was beautiful. All of the homes in Seabrook look to be part of a planned development with strict guidelines to maintain a certain style and feel for a beach community mimicking a Cape Cod-esque setting. We stayed in GG's Grotto and it was brand new, amazing and comfortable in every way. It was the perfect size for us and had every amenity we needed for our short stay.

Second, the setting is small and quaint. Everything we would need in a vacation destination was provided and within a mile walk. Volleyball courts, swimming pool, hot tub, parks, bocci ball, horse shoes, basketball, pickleball, fire pits, a small market, one small restaurant, bike rentals and of course, the beach, were all within a 1-10 minute walk. When we arrived we walked to the beach to take in the sunset, then headed back home for some Korean eats, kalbi, rice and kimchi. (Word to the wise, the market is VERY small. Barely acceptable even as a "quick stop". Buy everything you need before you leave Aberdeen.)

Matt at sunset.

Third, I just mentioned all of the activities accessible in a small radius, and for a family like mine that NEEDS to be entertained, we definitely didn't have a shortage of options to keep us busy. The kids swam in the pool, played at the beach, we made s'mores one night at one of the many fire pits (wood provided), half of us rented bikes and we only had enough time to talk about playing bocci ball, horseshoes and pickle ball. We just didn't make our trip long enough to really enjoy all of the possibilities, but it'll definitely be a good setting for another year.

Family Time

All in all, mission accomplished. We wanted to get the family together now that my parents have returned from Korea, and just enjoy time with everyone. Of course, getting together with my parents is never lacking of memorable moments.

When my parents stayed with Matt and I in Utah while my dad was recovering earlier this year, my dad took on one of Matt's morning rituals: cereal. My mom, who is accommodating in every way, of course made sure that both Matt and my dad, had many options.

 

Salsa Contest

We played at the beach on Saturday, BBQ'd hot dogs at the house, and of course, had a mini salsa making contest! The teams were Matt and my brother, Rachel and my mom and Denise and me. We bought basic salsa ingredients to start: tomatoes, onions, cilantro (yuck!), jalapenos, limes, lemons, garlic, salt and pepper. Then we had a drawing for special ingredients: mango, peach, pineapple. Each team had 10 minutes to make their salsa and of course, my dad was the judge.

 

While I don't trust my dad's taste buds, he was the judge and not knowing who made what, he chose Rachel and mom's. It was a fun little activity that everyone could be a part of!

The Beach

While Washington beaches are not like California beaches, they are beaches. Matt brought two kites, one that he bought in China for $0.50 and another kite, a delta kite. The Chinese kite took flight the moment he pulled it out of the package.

 

 

 

 

The we played around with the wind and another kite that Matt had brought. 

Erik and the kids played in the freezing water without hardly flinching. They dunked themselves multiple times while I could hardly stand to have my feet in the water!

Vacation Success

All in all, everyone really liked it. There was a lot to do in a very cute and welcoming town. While there wasn't much shopping to be had, no ice cream shop, no homemade fudge, no candy store, no trinket store, there definitely were a lot of other great activities and fun things to do to keep us occupied. Who really buys anything anyway?

Pacific Beach on Dwellable

Little Boden and his big brother.

Daddy and Matt having a little fun with Kimball.

The first fruits

A couple of months ago Matt and I had to make a decision: landscape the front door area or plant a garden. Seeing as it would probably cost more money and require more of our own energy to landscape, and we can't really eat the flowers and shrubs we plant, we decided to go with the garden. Now, a month and a half later, it is confirmed that we made the right decision. Who uses the front door anyway? We always go through the garage and we rarely have visitors.

So I present to you, the first fruits, er, veggies, of our labors! 

We planted this arugula early in May and it grew literally, like a weed. So much that it looked like a weed and my amateur gardener self was so tempted to just yank it all. Turns out, you have to thin it out from the bottom and leave the heavier center leaves to continue to grow.

For being total novices, we weren't sure what to expect with our first garden, so we have just been winging it from the get-go. Thankfully, you can be totally, well, "green," and still find garden success!

For not knowing much, we educated ourselves by reading through Mel Bartholomew's book, "All New Square Foot Gardening". Everything about his book made gardening seem so easy, it really felt like it would be a no-fail for us. So far, everything looks great!

Matt built the boxes in 30-minutes with wood that had been sitting in the corner of the garage. It cost about $100 to make the soil mix and the seeds were pennies. Matt added a simple irrigation system to deal with the arid Utah heat and we'll water occasionally. For the most part, the garden has been a fairly simple undertaking.

So far, we have planted:
 tomatoes                parsnips
 radishes                 carrots
 cucumbers             green onions
 squash                   turnips
 sweet potatoes       butter lettuce
 peas                        arugula
 corn                         broccoli
 cauliflower               gourds

Who knew that so much could fit in such a little space?! It wasn't my intention to try growing such a variety, but it just seemed so easy and if we fail on some items, we'll have plenty more to fall back on.

I never thought I would ever grow a garden, but the thought of growing our own vegetables and the freshness and enhanced taste of homegrown produce was what really interested us. It's going to be a great summer!

Daddy Oh Update

Rachel, dad and I, just a few weeks before the unexpected surgery.

My dad is getting better and better. He is literally taking baby steps and making a slow, but promising full recovery.

It's funny to sit and talk with him as he generally seems stunned as to how it is that he is in the condition that he is in. It's hard to imagine what it would feel like after having brain surgery and my dad is no exception to the bewilderment. Sometimes his eyes will indicate that he is deeply lost in thought and then he'll calmly say, "I just cannot understand how all of this happened." He knows what happened, but he doesn't recall any memory of the actual fall and he is simply in disbelief that the recovery has become this intense and would take so long. I think he feels like he is back at square one compared to where he was three months after the initial accident.

Thankfully, he is not. His recovery this time is not as extensive as it was right after the accident. He still has no appetite, but he is more coherent and lucid than ever. Walking is more of a challenge this time, but he is able to clothe himself, brush his teeth, read the newspaper and speak clearly, enough to have a decent conversation.

My parents hope and pray to be able to stay in Korea through February 2013 to finish their mission at the temple. They both like it there and feel very loved and needed. Neither of them have lived in Korea since they first left to go to school in the United States, my dad in 1965 and my mom in 1969. Korea is truly their home, though it is a much changed landscape. Visiting them I wondered how they would feel having to adjust to a lifestyle and surroundings of a country they only really know from so many years ago and so different than what they know in the US, but they seem as content as can be. Probably the only really difficult things to adjust to are the rapid pace of Seoul city life and not having a car, which I'm sure they are grateful to do without in such a congested place.

They are troopers and we are pray for all to be well with them. It's just a matter of time, and more time.

Introducing...

My new hair dryer! It may not seem all that exciting, but it is for me!

It's the BaByliss Pro TT, Tourmaline Titanium, ceramic ionic hair dryer.

I have been ogling this hair dryer for years! Back then, I bought one for my sister, then one for my sister-in-law but because I already had one that worked decently, I never felt that I could justify spending so much on a new one. Thankfully, now enough time has passed where my hair dryer has fizzled out, runs hot but hardly blows any air, is now inefficient, and just isn't getting the job done. Yay! So I finally got the one I've long wanted.

This thing is amazing for so many reasons:

• Dries my hair in 2-3 minutes, instead of the usual 6-7.
• Makes my hair super soft.
• Doesn't leave my hair frizzy and tangled.
• Makes my hair easier to style.

I love this thing and it is finally mine!

Case for the extra cost
BaByliss is a professional grade brand and pricier than your general Conair or Revlon model that you might find at any Target or Walmart. I haven't tried an ionic hair dryer from one of those brands, but I believe that the BaByliss brand and other pro brands are the best for personal hair care products. When I bought my hair straightener six years ago, a Solia product, I loved it from the beginning and I have been a big believer in the pro products since. I think they are made better, hold up better, perform better, are gentler on your hair, and overall, are a better value for what you get. Folica.com is my go-to resource for reviews and for finding the best prices on products. It is where I bought the hair dryers and straighteners that I bought for my family and for myself.

So why am I raving about a hair dryer? Well, it's just all about the performance. Yeah, it's pricy for pro products, but for all of the above-mentioned benefits, it is so worth it to me.

The Good News

The good news is: my dad is really well. He has much improved and is alert, though weak. Today we walked, er, shuffled down the hall about 100-meters and my dad is in good spirits. I guess the tell-tale sign of his marked improvement is his draw to food. He is eating like a champ! Smacking away through his rice, loudly crunching his kimchi and happily slurping his seaweed soup, taking huge bites along the way, he is becoming more and more independent.

He is also talkative and engaging, thanking everyone who comes by, from the nurses who regularly check his dressings to the housekeeping staff that empty his garbage cans. All are good signs and signs of "normal" Daddy Oh. Doc agrees that he is doing well and the tubes coming out of his head and other limbs of his body were removed later in the day today. It looks like he could leave the hospital as soon as this weekend, but it is likely he will stay until Monday. Thankfully, this time around, it doesn’t look like he needs rehab. He is sitting up, eating on his own and though weak, joking around on occasion.

His current condition is such a relief. I think we were all expecting the very worst, but he is doing so well. He is truly a tank.

In the meantime, I'm loving Korea, although I miss Matt terribly. It's the longest we've been apart since we've been married and even beyond that, since October when I moved to Utah. There is so much here that I wish we could do together. Hopefully, we will be able to come back and explore this amazing country together later this year. Despite my father's challenges, my parents are still hoping to finish out the mission through February 2013 and in light of their determination and confident resolve, I see them making that happen.

I feel blessed and I feel my family is being watched over. I thank my Heavenly Father for all that I have.

Why I am in Korea at the last minute

I’ve always wondered how my family would manage at the moment of major crisis. Up to this point, I feel like we have been generally protected and sheltered from significant grief. We have all experienced our share of life’s trials and tribulations, but from my perspective, we have not yet undergone a significant and major crisis that has really tested us as a family unit. In general, I have always felt that we have been so blessed. We have had our share of financial turmoil, but nothing that has ever really stopped us from pursuing our every desire. We have been bogged down by work responsibilities and have suffered the stress of providing for ourselves and our families, but I see aspect of life as just a part of life. And health-wise, illnesses and disease have let us alone for the most part. Of course, we each struggle with the challenges of age and the general injuries, and bumps and bruises that come with life’s adventure’s, but the great ailments of the human experience have spared us. We even have amazing hair, healthy teeth and great nails! So, I’ve long worried at what point this smooth ride would take a turn. I feel that now, the time has come.

As I posted not too long ago, my dad had an accident following my wedding in January. Since then, he has been recovering to what we believe, has been quite a miraculous comeback. Although, it seems that we all may have been too anxious to see him back to himself.

After staying with Matt and myself in Riverton for 3 months, my dad got the green light to return to his missionary duties in Korea. At the beginning of April my parents returned to Seattle to stay with Erik and Denise and the kids and then on April 21, they flew back to Korea. Although not perfect, my dad seemed healthy and able to take on any responsibilities given to him. All along though, my dad has had complaints of lower left leg pains, at times his mind would seem to wander so much that his eyes would kind of lose focus, and he just seemed slower than usual.

The next day upon arriving in Korea, the aches and pains in his leg got worse. And as each day passed, it became more and more difficult for him to walk, the aches eventually spread to his right leg and soon, he was unable to even stand on his own. He could never really express the way his legs felt or why he couldn’t walk only that he was very tired and had no balance upon standing.

Not truly understanding his pains, we first assumed it was his shoes that was causing the discomfort, or maybe an ear issue which would contribute to his imbalance. I considered the possibility that it could all be related to his brain injury, but it just seemed too easy of a go-to. He was cleared medically to get on a 12-hour international flight, he seemed healthy and stable, 3-months post injury, it just didn’t seem like the accident would still be a major factor. Looking back now, I think we just didn’t want it to be.

On Monday, my parents went to see a general family doctor in Korea. The doctor, unsure of the causes of his ailment, insisted that he undergo neurological testing to rule out any lingering injuries from the accident. That day, my dad spent 5-hours being tested and eventually, was admitted. He was non-coherent and generally unresponsive as the doctors concluded that he had a massive amount of blood in his brain. It was determined that his brain had been slowly bleeding over a long period of time, possibly since the accident although that has not been confirmed. He needed surgery immediately.

My mom called us all late Monday evening to tell us of the situation. We all wanted a second opinion, again not believing that this could all be as a result of the initial brain injury, and insisted on seeing the CT scan.

My dad was scheduled for surgery for Wednesday, but due to the severity of the situation, he underwent the procedure on Tuesday. The surgery was supposed to take 3-4 hours, but went on much longer as the amount of blood in his brain was much great than expected. His condition was not good and amidst all of this, my mom was barely keeping it together. Gratefully she had an enormous amount of support from church members and family, but after hearing the latest, my family decided that it would be best if I went to Korea to be with my mom and dad.

Tuesday night I flew out to San Francisco, then the next day, caught a flight to Korea and today, here I am.

Flying here I hope that my mom is overreacting. I hope that she is misinformed. I hope that it’s not as bad as it seems. I hope that someone heard wrong. If none are the case, I hope that it’s my dad’s turn for a small miracle to ensure that he will be fine.

3 days, 5 waffles, Liège me.

Actually, it probably would have only taken two days had I timed things better, but that's not important. The important thing is, that I succeeded at making the Liège waffle!

I was first turned on to this scrumptious indulgence after a visit to Bruges Waffles & Frites in downtown Salt Lake City. I had never seen nor heard of the liege waffle before but after hearing so much about this place, I couldn't wait to try it! I mean, a waffle is a waffle, right? Just throw some pancake batter onto a waffle iron and there you go, a waffle! Or is it just a pancake shaped like a waffle? If I threw ground beef onto a waffle iron would it be called a waffle as well, even though in reality, it's ground beef shaped like a waffle? You get my point right?

I went with my sister to try out this much-acclaimed culinary destination and while I begged and whined to have my waffle with strawberries and whoop cream (or Crème fraîche as the Europeans call it), Rachel insisted the waffle stands alone on its own. I took her word for it and toppings or not, she was totally right.

So, where's the syrup? And don't I need a knife and fork? Well, you could use utensils especially if you did get any toppings, but alone, the waffle comes in a simple, no mess, no fuss, wax paper sack or small paper tray. Feeling totally out of sorts with my waffle inhand, and the thing practically burning the prints off my fingers, I gingerly tore off a square of the waffle. Immediately, steam rose from its innards as the unique texture of the dough revealed itself. It wasn't like bread, it wasn't like a cookie, but it was kind of something in between, more leaning towards the texture of bread. I put it in my mouth and wow, it was like nothing I had ever tasted before, at least nothing like in the bakery-type items category. It was so sweet with bursts of sugar crystals and a sweetness not as overpowering as a cookie. The texture was my favorite part, crispy on the outside and soft and sticky on the inside. I was immediately in love.

Any time any of my friends come into town, I encourage them to try a Liège waffle at Bruges. They are just taste bud heaven!

So, of course after having eaten so many waffles, I thought I would try to make them on my own. Just looking at the construction of the waffle itself, I could tell that it was probably no easy task. I could only assume that some of the ingredients would be hard to obtain, the waffle iron probably plays a big role in how the waffle is cooked through, and of course, I ain't no chef so what would I know about Belgiumese cooking? Well, good thing I know how to follow a recipe!


Reality hit when all of the pieces of the possibility of actually making the waffle fell into place. I had heard that IKEA sold the unique pearl sugar that is essential in cooking the waffle and while visiting Matt's parent's vacation home in St. George, UT, low and behold on their counter, was a professional-grade waffle iron. The waffle gods were summoning me...

Rachel turned me on to this blog post with a recipe for the Liège waffle after my first tasting and just this week, and with all tools in hand, I decided to finally give it a shot.

I started making the dough Wednesday evening and finally was able to cook and serve the waffles this morning. Thanks to my trusty Mandarin Orange KitchenAid, the WaringPro WMK300 waffle iron and the pearl sugar, my waffles turned out perfectly! They had the texture and sweetness of the Bruges waffles and although Bruges' are definitely better, mine were a very close second, if at all discernible.


So, after having completed the process, here are my tidbits of glory to remember for next time:

1. Unfortunately, the grueling recipe only yields five waffles. Hopefully doubling, tripling and quadrupling won't adversely affect the outcome.

2. Temperature control is key to a well-cooked waffle. On the WaringPro WMK300, setting #4 for 2-minutes seemed to work well.

3. If you use the recipe in the link I included, start the dough at least 6-7 hours before bedtime to maximize prep time.

4. Web search indicates that any IKEA will carry the pearl sugar. Not the case in Utah, and maybe not as well in other places. Check around. We were able to find it at Pirate O's Gourmet Foods in another part of Draper. (Worth a visit in itself whether you're looking for pearl sugar or not.)

5. Waffle makers are hard to clean, especially with hardened sugar. Try to wipe down the sugar crystals while the griddle is still warm.


The process was long and tedious but that might be because I am inexperienced and not super intuitive, but I was so pleasantly surprised when they turned out just right! So happy with a happy stomach!

What's that I hear?

Ever since I was little, my mom has obsessed over popping the little bubbles in bubble wrap. I swear that a big reason she would buy 1-lb. boxes of See's Candies was just so that she could have the enjoyment of popping the small sheet of bubble wrap that lies over the chocolates.

The other day, I received a package in the mail with a large amount of bubble wrap used to cushion the items. Matt looked at me with surprise as I gathered it up and walked to my mom's bedroom and left it there. I told him how much she loved the stuff and he just assumed accept the fact.

On Sunday, while we were all waiting around for church to start, Matt and I were in the kitchen making breakfast when our ears clued into a distant "clicking" sound that never seemed to stop. We just looked at each other and started laughing. I then, of course, had to grab my camera (make sure your volume is up so that you too, can hear the faint sounds):



She's watching her coveted Korean dramas online and popping bubble wrap of course.

The Tank

For anyone wondering why my parents are still in town a month and a half after the wedding, I thought it would be appropriate to make an update.

As many of you know, my parents are currently serving as temple missionaries for the LDS Church in Seoul, South Korea. They will serve for a total for 18 months and they started just back in August of last year.

Photo: My dad and Johnny Ahn tearing it up. (Photo by Rachel Thurston)

They came out to Utah January 11 for and intended to stay in the US for only two weeks to attend the wedding and to spend some time with family. But what has been a bittersweet experience for all of us, the day after the wedding, my father had an accident in our home that has kept him here in Utah for the past month and a half and possibly another month.

Matt and I were married Friday, January 13. We left for our honeymoon to St. John, US Virgin Islands at midnight the following day. Just four hours after we left, my dad fell down the stairs in Matt's house (now mine as well). Our guess is that he got up to get a drink a water and walked to the kitchen. On his way back to the bedroom, being in a unfamiliar place, instead of walking down the hallway to his room, he accidentally took the path down the steep flight of stairs and tumbled down into the basement. His fall woke up everyone in the house and he was tended to immediately. He was taken to the hospital in Salt Lake City and observed for five days. He sustained two broken ribs and bleeding in the brain. Because of the brain injury he spent two weeks in a rehabilitation center and is now home continuing his recovery.

Matt and I woke up in St. John to a message from Matt's downstair's tenant after which we called Rachel to find out what happened. My family didn't intend to call us to tell us what happened as it was determined that my dad would be okay, despite a projected long recovery. We contemplated whether we should return home, but decided that all would be taken care of and that we should enjoy the time together until we get back.

Since our return, my father has made great progress and yesterday the doctor cleared him to make the 11-hour flight back to Korea when he felt ready to do so. Physically he is as good as can be. Maybe a little bit slower, but he is fully functional on his own and is exercising daily. I think the neighbors get a kick out of seeing him jamming through the neighborhood in his black puffy down vest. He still has some mental recovery to sustain and is undergoing speech therapy to regain full verbal capabilities again. Overall, he is doing very well and although it is possible that he may never be back to the person he was before the accident, he still has improvement to make which will come with time.

It is crazy to think that just the night before the accident he was active and ripping it up on the dance floor, set to return to Korea to complete a temple mission. The accident has surely slowed him down, but he is determined to regain full functioning ability to perform the duties required of a temple missionary. He is diligently reading and studying to prepare for his return and has really made the necessary effort to get better. He is a tank and although this last month and a half was pretty serious and definitely scary, we are so happy and we feel so blessed that it wasn't worse and that he has recovered so well.

Keep on truckin' Daddy Oh!

Fig Pizza

I am ashamed at the post I am about to make. Not at the actual content, but at the lack of imagery. I didn't take one picture of the preparation process or the finished product. I'm so ashamed.

My sister was visiting this past weekend and we made this recipe for Fig-Prosciutto Pizza with Arugula from the Pioneer Woman Blog. Can I just say, it was probably the best pizza I have ever had! Even at the most renowned pizza joints and from the most professional kitchens (of the so many that I've been to...) this pizza put those others to shame.

In the KitchenAid, which by the way is my newest and bestest friend, the dough was so easy to make. I had yeast dough in a matter of minutes. All of the toppings were healthy and as fresh as Costco-ly possible, and the combination of everything together just totally hit both the sweet and savory spots. Holy cow, what a delectable treat!

I will say though, the kicker was actually the fig spread. It's what made the pizza delicious and memorable. But you must have the "spread". To find it, don't assume look near the jams and jellies. Rather, venture to the gourmet cheeses in your local market (Harmon's and Sunflower Market in Salt Lake City worked for us) and you will find the spread in small jars.

Try it, it's an amazing pizza!

Painter Cookie Throwdown

While I had always dreamed of owning a KitchenAid myself, little did I know that Matt also, had mixer visions of his own.

As we were deciding what to do for Super Bowl Sunday, we decided to crank the heat in the house (temperature is something I prefer keep to a minimum and make up for with a cozy sweater or hoodie) and have a chocolate chip cookie throwdown. This decision expedited the need for the mixer as apparently, for Matt's chosen recipe, the KitchenAid was an essential component to total cookie success!

We both love the mandarin orange color and having both used it to make our cookies, we both were very excited and pleased with the results.

The recipe I chose was the ever-famous Neiman Marcus cookie recipe, urban legend still in tact. I used to make this recipe while at BYU all the time. It was a no-fail!

Matt chose a friend's recipe that he has raved about and has long declared to be the best chocolate chip cookies EVER.

In the picture above, my cookie is on the left, Matt's is on the right.

We had a bake off and based on our own taste test and the judgement of others in the Painter family, the following was determined (based on my conclusions):

1. Appearance - Winner: Miriam
2. Texture - Winner: Miriam
3. Chocolatiness: Winner: Miriam, close Second: Matt
4. Taste fresh out of the oven and for the first day: Matt
5. Taste the second day: Miriam

Overall winner: Miriam, with Matt at a close Second

The taste the first day, was a split tie really. I actually preferred Matt's cookie over mine. Mine lacked salt and overall flavor. I will say that the milk chocolate chips that Matt used made a difference in the sweetness of the cookie, which mine and its semi-sweet chocolate chips lacked in general. I did run into some issues in the preparation of my cookies as I forgot to add the eggs and the vanilla in the "wet" ingredients stage of the mixing process and I think that that may have affected the end product. I think next time Matt will add more flour to his mixture for a more substantial cookie.

In general, it was a fun little contest! It was Matt's first time EVER baking chocolate chip cookies and it was our first time ever using the orange KitchenAid which exceeding every dream and expectation!

Domestic Decoration

As I more and more feel the lure of domestication, I find myself with a nagging need to purchase highly functional, visually appealing and ridiculously expensive kitchen appliances that will likely just sit on my kitchen counter to give the impression that I am one bad-ass cook. And I'm okay with that.

In my time as a functioning adult, I have purchased toasters for $10, hand mixers for $6 and blenders for $20, all brand new and all still working to this day. I got great deals, but these were nothing for display.

Now, for whatever reason, entering marriage, I am looking at kitchen gear that reeks havoc on my bank account (Well, Matt and I's bank account. Er, more like Matt's...that I have added my name to) but, have tremendous appeal!

The first of these purchases, is the ever coveted and ever practical, KitchenAid Mixer. All of my friends have one and I've always wanted one. And they look so cool! With 23 beautiful colors to choose from, who wouldn't want one of these just to have as a decorative piece in the kitchen? I'm sure I'll use it at some point, maybe to demonstrate to guests that I know how to turn it on and tilt the head back and then speak fondly of everything I intend to make some day, at which point, it will be worth the ridiculous amount of money I just paid for it.

(Silver lining: I had a 20% off coupon and I'm getting a $30 rebate!)

Next on the list, a Cuisinart Food Processor. Another spendy purchase and not the visual appeal of the Mixer, but for the street cred, it's going to be worth it.

Marriage. Check.

A lot of time has passed and a lot has happened in that time period. The biggest event being that I got married! Yesterday to be exact.

It was a beautiful ceremony in the Salt Lake temple followed by the reception of my dreams (at least for what we could afford) at the Salt Lake Hardware Building. All of our family were in attendance as well as the close friends and family that were able to attend. It was super fun and full of surprises and memories! More to come once we get back from the honeymoon.

In the meantime, to get you caught up, here are some of the engagement photos shot by Rachel Thurston here.

And also, check out some of the awesome photo booth pics we collected throughout the night on our website at www.MattandMiriam.com. So fun and I must say, we have some of the best-looking, if not funniest-looking, friends and family!

No Tip For You

Last night I left a $1.65 tip on a $35 check and I felt great doing it! And why not? The service was the worst I had ever experienced in all of my dining experiences, so why the heck would I even leave a tip of any sort? Isn't the idea behind tipping in a restaurant to regard servers for great service? Yes, I understand that often times 100% of a server's income comes from the tips they receive, but then shouldn't they, too, follow the etiquette behind tipping by providing great service in the way that I follow the same etiquette in leaving a 15-20% tip? I believe yes!

I feel that I have always been a generous tipper, mostly because I feel bad for anyone that has to serve me my food. And for the most part, like many of us, I probably tip more than I should despite the level of service. Call it habit, call it charity, call it laziness because I'd rather do the math on 15% than 20%, but I feel I usually give more than is necessary. As such, I feel that I have generously tipped at restaurants despite terrible service mostly because I feel bad or embarrassed for being a bad tipper, or I fear appearing a jerk for being stingy. But why? When I am rewarding someone for crap well done? So, last night, for the first time, I mustered up the gumption and "I stiffed the waiter" and I felt totally justified. And yes, the service was that bad.

So, to everyone who feels they have truly received terrible service and after assessing the situation appropriately, I see it fitting to send a message to your server in the form of an appropriate tip amount and maybe a note to explain why. Whether it be nothing or less than 15-20%, remember that tipping is not mandatory, but rather, customary and appropriate, in American culture and should reflect the true level of service received.

On the other hand, if you are a crappy tipper and tip poorly regularly, stop it. Don't be a tool.

Mommy and Daddy Oh Mission Call: Brazil?! No, Korea.

Mommy and Daddy Oh stories truly never disappoint. If only they knew how funny they are and how much everyone loves them!

To end the week, I’ve saved the best for last. This isn’t a stop on the trip down mommy and daddy Oh memory lane, but it is new material and definitely a highlight story. I have sat on this video for quite a while thinking I would do something extraordinary with it, but I have found that just by posting it (albeit a different version) on YouTube just a couple of months ago and sharing it with just 2 or 3 friends, it has gotten a lot of traffic and a great response! It has proved that it speaks for itself.

So, I have edited it into something better viewable and I hope you will enjoy it as much as you have enjoyed my other posts about my parents.

Just for a quick background rundown on the video, by the time my mom and dad received their mission call in late July, they were about to burst with anticipation. The application process dragged on and on. What my mom thought would take a week to complete and submit, took about 5 months with all of the doctor’s approvals and other requirements that they needed. Then once they submitted their papers locally, it was another month or two before they had the green light to submit to Salt Lake. My mom said it was a true test of her testimony because she was losing patience! She thought she would be on a plane to Korea by April of this year. They just left today.

While waiting for their mission call to arrive, I would joke with my mom about them receiving a call to South Africa or Brazil. Boy did she not like that! In her words, “Don’t make mommy mad.”

So, when their call actually came, I happened to be the first to pull it from the mailbox. They were working in the temple that day so I had a whole day to sit on it. I called my sister-in-law, Denise, to tell her it finally came and she suggested playing a little joke on them. At first I thought it was a mean prank and also, I didn’t think I had the time to pull it together. But then I imagined things playing out and me catching it on video and I knew this wasn’t something I could be lazy about.

Here’s what happened:

Best of Mommy and Daddy Oh: Mommy Oh and Cars

My mom has always had an interesting way of looking at things. And to be honest, it's hard to argue with her interpretations...

Click: Mommy Oh and Cars
Original posting date: September 13, 2008

Best of Mommy and Daddy Oh: In space...I mean, Spain.

Today's "Best of" is from a conversation I had with my mom. A totally classic Mommy Oh misunderstanding, yet acceptable line of reasoning on her part.

Click: In space...I mean, Spain.
From February 26, 2008

Best of Mommy and Daddy Oh

My parents are in the Missionary Training Center (MTC) getting ready to start an 18-month mission for the Church at the Seoul Korea Temple. They leave the MTC this Friday and I most likely won't see or talk with them for the entire time they are gone.

In the past, they have supplied me with some of the best material for my blog, back when I blogged on a regular basis. Now that they are leaving, I will have little material to share and to entertain, so I thought it only appropriate to reminisce and bring back some of the classic blog posts in which they have starred. Please enjoy!

This first one came about while I was in my second year of grad school. Might I add that my dad has always seemed to want to think that he was Cliff Huxtable from "The Cosby Show" and that his kids only wanted money and to do their laundry when they visited. Such was never really the case, but my dad liked to play the part for whatever reason. It always made me laugh.

There is a follow-up so be sure to click on the link as well. It's a goody.

Click: "What?! Cereal?!"
From April 17, 2009

Crab Boil

I have been craving this meal for over 10 years!

Ten years ago, I was sitting in a cold, poorly lit room in a church in Chung-Ju, South Korea talking to a fellow missionary. We were reminiscing about home (only briefly, of course...) and we were talking about family traditions. One tradition he talked about that I fell in love with and have never forgotten, was something he did with his family every summer in Idaho. They would get all of the family together and boil shrimp, crab, potatoes, corn and whatever else, in a big pot, then toss it all on a newspaper-covered picnic table and go to town. I can still see him talking about it and licking his fingers. Ever since then, I have wanted to do this but never have thinking it was overly complicated or required some kind of special skill! Yet, little did I know it was so simple!

A couple of weekends ago when Matt and I were visiting Lopez Island in the San Juan Islands for his birthday, we had planned to do a clam boil with the clams that we were going to catch. Unfortunately, the tides were uncooperative (or we misread the tide table...) and we missed our window to dig for any clams. Although, I will say that I am now legally licensed to fish for a year and we now have a handy folding shovel to dig for the clams that we never would have owned had we not prepared to dig for clams! Oh the silver lining...As the sad saying goes, I was all dressed up with nowhere to go...

Nonetheless, we were still determined to do the boil, clams or not. Ironically, on an island where one would think seafood would be readily available, we could find none! We scoured the island looking for a roadside stand selling fresh crab or shellfish, Google'd for local vendors, even contemplated roaming the docks for lone fisherman willing to part with their catch, but to no avail. Sadly, we just ended up at the local supermarket buying a cellophane-wrapped fresh salmon filet. Disappointing? Truly.

We barbequed instead and left the desire to Boil, to continue to fester.

But finally, today, we boiled! Matt was back in Seattle for a visit and we made it a point to finish what we started. It was my first go, but after talking to a friend about a Louisiana Boil she hosted earlier this week, I felt pretty confident.

I looked to the internet for ideas, but having not planned all too well, I just followed the general guidelines of the recipe I found here. I pretty much did what this recipe recommend. Although next time, I will be sure to buy a seasoning packet meant for this sort of food preparation.

And it was so easy! All I really did was boil stuff! I got a big pot, filled it with water, then threw in some cayenne pepper, garlic, and salt to make up for my lack of seasonings, and brought it to a boil. Then I threw stuff in it based on needed boiling time and let it cook! It was the easiest, and one of the tastiest meals I have ever had. We had hoped to make a field trip of the meal to Pike Place Market for some fresh seafood, but with time as a constraint, we settled for a lovely trip to Costco instead to purchase our crab. At $5.99 a pound for a 1.5-lb crab, it wasn't a bad deal at all. We even bought our shrimp there.

I would think this would be great for a camp out or just a backyard gathering. It was simple and the clean-up was minimal! Plus, it's always fun to eat with your hands!

The meal was delicious and the only missing component was an outdoor picnic table covered in newspaper to toss our bounty on before we grubbed. We used no utensils and went through a good amount of napkins before we wiped our mouths clean. It was delicious, fun and totally satisfying!

Until the next boil!