New Year, New Life

Happy New Year! The starting of this year almost feels like a new life to me. I don't know about Marcus, but it's definitely different. Not very many things have stayed the same these last few months.

In December I started working in St. George rather than Mesquite. They closed the Mesquite branch of the credit union, but I was lucky enough to keep a job. I work in the call center. I generally answer stupid questions all day, but it's a job that keeps me busy, and I love it. There are 3 other ladies in the call center that are all over 50 (I think. I've worked there for 3 weeks, and that's the conclusion I've come to. I'm smart enough to not ask.) then me. It's interesting listening to them. Most of the time I have no idea what they are talking about. I sit in my little corner and will the clock to move faster. I'm the only active LDS member that I have figured out. They talk alot about old celebrities, singers, and things I didn't learn in my little, sheltered, LDS upbringing, but that's alright with me. I wouldn't have it any other way.

We moved in with my Mom and Dad at the beginning of December. I thought I was going to lose my job for 2 weeks, and that was the most logical decision money-wise, so we started moving, and decided we are going to stay and pay off at least one car while living here. Wish us luck! Car payments are the pits! We have a bedroom, and share the bathroom, but that's OK. As long as Marcus is here, I don't mind. It's weird now though, we do have to make sure we close the doors when we change and things, because just being the 2 of us with hardly any visitors, we didn't have to worry about that kind of thing. (Oops... TMI, sorry.)

Today was our first day as non-sunbeam teachers. We got to go to Sunday School for the first time since we were married, and attend Relief Society and Elder's Quorum. It was different. We couldn't pull out snacks to share when our tummys started growling, we couldn't talk while the conductor/teacher was talking, and it was quiet. It's going to take some getting used to and some discipline to get us (well, at least me) back into learning mode, rather than babysitting mode. We both already have calls. I guess that's the way it goes when you live with the bishop. Marcus gets to teach Elder's Quorum lessons on the 2nd and 3rd week. I am... I really don't know my official title, but here's what I THINK they called it... Relief Society Meeting Assistant Coordinator. I really couldn't tell you what I'm supposed to do... Something with our Tuesday night activities... I'm not really sure.

Marcus got 2 weeks of for Christmas Break, and he's had fun doing nothing. I wish working people got Christmas and Semester breaks. Sheesh!

My posts have been really boring as of late. My favorite part are the pictures, and since our 4th of July trip and insane hail/sleet/snow/rain storm, our camera has not worked. :( I thought I might get a new one for Christmas, but I didn't... Hopefully we will be proud new owners of one soon.

Biggest Loser starts Tuesday!

Lately I have been trying to turn off the noise in my life. I realized that most of my day consisted of working or sitting on the computer or Wii. It hasn't been as hard as I thought it would. I have realized that things I made a priority in my life... Facebook games, blogging, giveaways... we're really that important. I don't know what I do with all the time I don't spend doing those things, but it's been nice.

I'm Seriously Considering Boycotting!

if you haven't seen Biggest Loser this week, don't read this. It'll ruin it.



I am SO mad at the final 4 for Biggest Loser. HOW IN THE HECK DID RON MAKE IT THERE? He is still fat, he gives up on challenges right at the beginning or can't finish them without pity help, he's been under the yellow line something like 7 times, and he magically squeaks through. UGH! He bugs me!!

I feel bad for poor Kristen. He was "protecting" her as far as she knew, but behind her back, he was planning how he could send her home. Good heavens! That's just plain mean.

I'm so sick of Tara winning everything. She's getting pretty cocky. I started disliking her when she said "poor me, poor me, I'm a threat and everybody's out to get me... I'm going to throw the weigh in and send myself home." Take it as a compliment. Everyone was envying her and she was pouting about it.

Anyway, next season, I may boycott the Biggest Loser. It gets me all rialed up, and it's just a stupid show! I'm not guaranteeing anything, because I might chill out when it's not on... We'll have to see.

JULIE! The finale is in 2 weeks, May 12th!! Where's the PAR-TAY?

Is Blue Stupid?!?!

I haven't blogged about Biggest Loser much this season, but I've enjoyed it much more than last season. All the contestants want what's best for everybody else, and that screwed the blue team tonight. They got rid of Dane instead of Ron! Are you kidding me?! Ron isn't going to do anything for you in the challenges and Dane was one of the strongest players. He was ALWAYS on the top. Good heck people, get a brain. You're playing a game! Why didn't you think of it like that? I know Ron needs LOTS of help losing weight, yes, but at the same time, you just got rid of all chances of winning challenges and weigh ins. Smart move. Good thing all my favorites are on the black team now, although I wanted to see Bob win this year. Oh well... Maybe they'll twist it again, and the teams will all change. Who knows?

My Suspicions were True!

So, as I've been watching Biggest Loser this season, I've been skeptical about the blue team and black team being LDS. My Mom and I knew one guy on the blue team was LDS, because it showed a picture of his family in front of a temple, and the black team just had this presence about them I guess. We don't really know why we suspected them being members, but they are. My Mom called me today and told me to go to this webite, and it confirmed our suspicions. GO BLUE AND BLACK!

http://www.meridianmagazine.com/arts/090211loser.html

Biggest Loser

I missed the first week of Biggest Loser :( This week was really good though. I already don't like Joelle, but the again, I don't think anybody on the ranch likes her. She doesn't try her hardest, and doesn't seem like she wants to be there. The best part of this episode was Bob's temporary loss of temper. It was HILARIOUS! He definitely knows how to drop the "F" bomb. That part that was especially funny was Jillian's team busting up on the other side of the gym. Then he turns his back, does his calming yoga stuff and is back to the old Bob. I love how he said, "I was possessed by Jillian Michaels." That was pretty funny too.

I can't believe how big some of these contestants are. Poor Dan couldn't even get his kayak going because he couldn't hold himself up. They all seem like they get along and are willing to help each other... So far. That's what I thought of Heba and Vicki last season, but was wrong!

Week 2 weigh-in was much better than predicted. Some of them lost HUGE numbers, while only one or two lost 1 pound. I couldn't believe it. We were thinking that since the green girl had immunity, she drank some water or something, because everyone was losing big numbers except for her. Then we changed our mind because poor Jerry only lost 1 pound. :( I was so sad to see Jerry go home, but he looks awesome now! I think he's lost more weight than anybody I've seen on the "how do they look now" part of each episode that's gone home in week 2.

Good episode. I'm glad it's back on. Now I have a reason to turn the TV from channel 30 (ESPN... ugh).

And the winner is!....

MICHELLE!

Michelle won the Biggest Loser. She was the only one left on the black team, and she won the grand prize by 9 pounds!

The finale is always long and drawn out, but of course, we watched the whole thing. Marcus was flipping from Biggest Loser to a football game, and forgot to change the channel back after a couple minutes, and Heba was on the stage. I honestly didn't recognize her. I thought she might be like an entertainer or something, but it was Heba! She looked really good.

After much pleading from both Heba AND Ed to have Heba in the finale, it was of course a land slide, and.... ED was voted into the finale! LOL. Neither of them were very happy about that. I forgot to vote because you only had 24 hours, but I would have voted for Ed. I just don't think he worked as hard as Heba because they both thought she was in hands down. Heba lost A LOT of weight, and won the at home prize of 100K, so I was praying that Ed wasn't Biggest Loser, because I think they needed to spread the wealth, and that's exactly what happened! YAY MICHELLE! I'm a little disappointed that they didn't show the percentage of the totals for the Michelle and Heba. They won the prizes, and the celebrations started, so we didn't get to see their overall percentage lost. I'm sure Heba's was high. She did a fantastic job!

They announced that night, Biggest Loser: Couples (or Families, can't remember) is starting the first Tuesday in January, so only a couple more weeks!!

I'm a little behind on here, but...

First things first!.. Biggest Loser Ü

I saw last week that this week we would be able to vote who the final person was in the finale, and was SO excited. I knew if Vicky was in the bottom 2, she'd have a very slim chance of making it. I sat down to watch and my Mom called to remind me of Relief Society, but I opted to skip that and watch Biggest Loser... I would have been over a half hour late anyway. I felt bad leaving my Mom to go by herself, but I would have rather watched Biggest Loser honestly.
So, I stayed home with Marcus and watched!

It was the "carry all your weight" challenge they have every year. It's where you drop off weight at different stations, in this case, it was 11 (for 11 weeks) then you feel oh so good about yourself because you shed all that weight. Well, Ed smoked all the girls. Vicky was her usually self. She complained like a baby about it. My feet hurt, my back hurts.... Yeah. I don't think she finished the challenge either. I think they may have let her drop her weight and run, because everybody else lapped her. Anyway, Ed won $10,000 and Biggest Loser Meal Plan delivery up until the finale. Wouldn't it be nice to just be handed 10 grand for running around a track? I want some!

It was the usual final episode full of, look how far you've come! You've done amazing, with a picture of them their first day at the ranch and then they have to stand beside the picture so their trainer can compare. They all have done a good job and look great now.

Now for the weigh-in... This was the disappointing part for me. First Vicky weighed in. 6 pounds, which I thought was really good, but she was disappointed. She's so ungrateful! Then Heba weighed in and lost 7 pounds (I think) which wasn't good enough to beat Vicky, so she was a little worried. Then Michelle weighed in: 9 pounds! Go Michelle! Then finally it was Ed's turn... HE GAINED 2 POUNDS... ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME??? It's the last weigh-in, why would you sabotage yourself the last week?? Oh, of course,... for Heba. He wanted Heba to have a chance to be in the finals, so he drank lots of water or something so she would get in, but WRONG! Dear, sweet Heba was under with him! HA HA HA!!! And since America got to vote, they of course both pleaded for everybody to vote for Heba, which naturally made me want to vote for Ed. You only had 24 hours to vote. I would vote for Heba because she never went home, she was on the Ranch the full time, where as Ed got voted off, so I don't think he should be able to win. But I want to vote for Ed because he played the game, and probably thinks that since they both pleaded for Heba to be in the finale, she was going to be, and maybe he wouldn't try as hard at home.... I couldn't figure out which one to vote for... Anyway, I don't know if I missed anything, but I have to go back and teller now... Let me know what you thought.

I totally spaced it!

I was told yesterday at church that someone was waiting for me to blog about Biggest Loser. I honestly thought I did, but apparently I didn't. Sorry Julie! So, here it goes... or at least the parts I can remember.

The challenge was pretty funny to me. They had to hold themselves up in a glass box that didn't have a bottom. They were 15 feet above a pool of water. They held themselves by pushing themselves against the sides... If that makes any sense at all... So, at the beginning, Vicky,.. my favorite person in the game *heavy sarcasm* said she was going to fight for the prize and be the winner, but she was the first one out. ha ha ha! Although she was the first out, she was also the last to get in the water. She was crying like a baby over the water, scared to death to jump. She sat up there for probably an hour trying to convince herself to jump. I personally thought it was hilarious because I don't like her AT ALL! Anyway, Michelle won and got a 2 week trip for 2 to the faboulous St. George, Utah fitness something or other! Go Michelle!

At the weigh-in it was between Renae and Ed. I really thought Vicky would break her alliance and vote for Ed, but she stayed true blue unfortunately and voted Renae off. I was a little surprised she voted for Renae, because Vicky generally looks out for #1, but she stayed true to her alliance.

So, yeah, I don't remember much more than that. I DO remember reading an article on Yahoo! about Biggest Loser... Well, about Vicky. Can you believe it? Yahoo actually gave her her own article and it was featured on the website. I totally agree with the article, and if you haven't read it, here's the link. I think if you watch biggest loser, you'll agree with it too!

Birthday Surprises & Biggest Loser

On Friday, as you all know, my brother got married. Well, all day I was trying to get my brother-in-law, Ryan, away from his wife to talk to him about her birthday. It took all day, but I finally caught him alone during the reception. We concocted a plan to surprise her for her birthday by Marcus and I going up there to babysit so they could go out by themselves, which is a rare occasion.

So yesterday, I was chatting with her on the internet and she told me she wasn't going to make herself a cake, so I got my wonderful husband to make one for her. He actually likes baking. He made a pumpkin cheesecake out of the blue the other day. YUMMY! ANYWAY, he made her a cake while I was still at work, and when I got off, we headed straight up there.

I had NO idea how Ryan was going to keep it a secret that they were going out alone, but he did it! *Now this is how think the conversations went, but I'm not sure.* He called Ashlie from work and told her to get ready cause they were going out. He said he would get a babysitter. Luckily, she was in her room getting ready when we showed up. Ryan walked in the room and this is how the conversation went.

Ryan: "So, should we take the girls with us?"
Ashlie: "You didn't get a babysitter?"
Ryan: "No.
Ashlie: "SADIE! MCKADIE! Come here."

Sadie and McKadie were out in the living room with us, and I sent them into their Mom. As soon as Sadie walked in the room, she said, "Kenzie's here!"

So, it wasn't me or Ryan that blew it, it was Sadie, and who could blame her? She is so cute! And she only said that about 2 minutes early. I think Ryan did a great job keeping the secret, because I couldn't figure out how he was going to do it. So, we babysat the rest of that night, and half watched Biggest Loser. I decided to sleep on it before writing about it this time. Now is when you should stop reading Ashlie.

Amy C. made me a little angry last night saying that she was looking out for herself, but how could you be looking out for yourself when you save the lady that called you a backstabbing *bad word* every chance she got? Then I got to thinking about it. Coleen usually had pretty consistent numbers, until last night, and Vicky is a roller coaster, high, low, high, low. So, she made a wise choice. I honestly don't think that Vicky will win, maybe that's just wishing. She is such a piece of work.

I was talking to Kregg Clemens at church and we both agreed Vicky needed to be the next to go, and last night was the ultimate oppourtunity, but Amy C. Blew it. Maybe next week...

HALLE-FREAKING-LUJAH as Marcus put it

BIGGEST LOSER TONIGHT:

Amy C. totally did the right thing by voting Brady off. I was SO extremely mad tonight at the challenge. I wish Stacie would have been able to push a little harder and beat Ed out, but Brady going home is just as good. I cannot believe how these grown men and women were treating each other. They are so dumb! Grr.

So, Ed earned a chance to be on the biggest loser again. I'm not too happy about that. I liked him and Heba for the first few weeks, but now I dislike them only second to Vicky and Brady, who went home tonight! YAY!

I just saw the commercial for next week. I looks like Vicky might go psycho on Amy C. for voting her husband off... I can't wait to watch. Hopefully she'll be next!

Last Night's Biggest Loser

So, I still think Brady and Vicky are up to something. 13 pounds is a lot of weight to lose in 1 week! I like what Bob said about them. "Brady has good intentions, but that wife of his..." I feel the same way. She is very much a game player and is bound and determined to win all the cash at the end.

It was pretty lame when the black team was sitting down to dinner and the blue team barges in and starts yelling at them for playing the game. They are all there to play the game. Let them enjoy their dinner before you start ripping them up for some he said, she said crap.

That challenge seemed pretty intense. I can't believe Renae held onto the rope as long as she did all by herself. She had 900 pounds to hold up! I would have dropped it 1/2 a second after Coleyne did. Did anybody else notice that Vicky was more than willing to let go first? She really bugs me. I hope she doesn't make it to the finale.

I was really hoping that the blue team lost the weigh in. I'm officially a black team fan, although I do think they may have made a mistake by getting rid of their only guy. We'll have to see!

Biggest Loser Thoughts

So, this week on Biggest Loser, I realized I really don't like Vicky. She is EVIL! They have and alliance with Heba, but when it really comes down to it, I don't think they will be true to that promise. Does anybody else think that Vicky and Brady are playing a game? Brady only lost 3 pounds or some little number, and Vicky just stood there with that stupid smile on her face. No sadness for her husband. He seemed pretty shocked, maybe even too shocked. I can't wait until Vicky goes home. I decided Tuesday that she is my least favorite on this season. If a challenge is something that Vicky doesn't want to do, she won't do it and her team suffers. Like the slip and slide challenge, she had her husband fake an injury so she didn't have to embarrass herself by rolling down the hill. Then this week they were supposed to walk around a circular balance beam, and she basically walked off the beam, so she didn't have to do it. She said before and after, videos from her kids weren't worth the challenge. Somebody sure has their priorities straight. Poor blue team. Sorry you have Vicky to slow you down. What your opinions guys?!

Biggest Loser Season!

So, it's finally time again! My favorite reality TV show is back on.


I don't know why I'm so addicted to this show, possibly because it's a show that people go on because they want to change their lives, not win a million dollars. At the end of the season, it's amazing to see how much they have changed. We just watched the premiere of the new season. It's families this time. Two Dads are so unhealthy they are only allowed to work out 30 MINUTES a day. How sad. I'm so grateful I have good health. Maybe with the new season starting, I'll be more motivated to get up and walk the dog... in the early hours of the morning... maybe not... We may have to change that to the early hours of the evening Ü


Anyway, Tuesdays at 8/7 central time on NBC. Don't miss it. They give good tips to help viewers stay healthy too!