Last Full Week of February

Man, it's been super busy this week.  I presented my prospectus on Friday for my master's thesis.  It went pretty well, and I was quite happy that it was over with.  Now I just need to get my prospectus slides onto paper :)

I Celebrated the presentation by packing up and going to St. George with Katie Jones on Friday night.  Grandma Rice just got called to serve in the Cleveland Ohio Mission so she was giving her sacrament meeting talk.  I've grown close to her in the last few years since visiting so I am like family now.

The ride down was quite eventful as we reverted back to our immature years and participated in some prank texting.  Saturday morning we were able to enjoy the wonder of southern Utah with a nice bike ride on BearClaw poppy -- our favorite mountain biking trail.  I went once with Katie and once with Trevor, her little brother.  By the end of the rides, I was quite sore, and promised myself that I would buy a new bike soon.  I'm currently emailing KSL sellers for one :)  Great weather and great memories.

On the top of Bearclaw Poppy

The rest of the evening was quite relaxing, a little too relaxing for an anxious OCD Hiatt kid, but I still had an awesome time visiting the whole family.  We had frozen custard, a family dinner, and then got to watch the BYU Gonzaga game!!!  OH MY GOSH, WHAT A WIN!!!  It was quite exciting.

Church was great, and I loved hearing Grandma Rice speak.  She is such an awesome lady who has helped so many people in her life.  She had 9 kids and was widowed at age 50 or so, but all her kids have turned out so great!!!  I love how they are so uplifting of each other and never tear each other down.  The way they observe the Sabbath is also very similar to how I like to, so I feel comfortable there.  Great afternoon and I got to chat with the parents for an hour in the sunshine -- I think I got a tan too!

Grandma Rice and Me

Relaxing on the swing after chruch

The whole family waiting for the setting apart

I wish that fun weekends didn't have to end, but they do.  Oh well, next weekend should be fun too.

A Week of Burns
12 February 2017

Busy week.  I begin every journal entry with, "Busy day today."  I'm turning into Grandma Smith.

I made Sam's popcorn treat for my lab.  It was very well received.  People loved it!

Tuesday night, I was supposed to go to Melanie Boren's wedding reception.  Well, to put it short, Maddy and I showed up to the location to find a dark and locked building.  We called Mom to figure out what was going on.  Her dyslexia struck again as she told us the wrong day.  She yelled in despair, "Who the heck has a reception on a Monday???"  I responded, "Who the heck has a reception on a Tuesday, Mom?"  The next day I was able to give the gardening tool and gift card to David and talk to him for 20 minutes.  He said that a 3-finger tool was a perfect Boren gift.

Melanie's gift.

Also on Tuesday, I had a mishap in the lab.  Upon removing my gloves, I got a nitric acid burn on my arm.  I was guilted into going to the health center (actually forced by my professor.)  Now this week, I need to do a presentation on how to properly remove gloves.  I guess the way to prevent accidents sheer humiliation

Fred was humiliated at the awful mess we made with neutralizing the acid

Fred, the cockiest of all grad students, continued to yell allowed, "I hate myself, I hate myself."  It was quite satisfying to hear those words come from him.  Since that moment, I've reminded him everyday of how he made that mistake.

 Friday night, I went on a date with a boy named Steven.  Steven is an engineer from the ward who I am not attracted to initially at all.  The date, however, was quite fun.  We went to the soap factory and made soap.  Mine was coconut and cocoa flavored, died yellow, and then painted it as shown below.  Steven's soap reflected his personality: mint soap, 1 dragonfly shape, dyed blue, painted blue.  He's a good kid though.  We also go ice cream at sub zero.

Cassie hosted a Pinterest party on Thursday, and we made the cutest banners!!! She is so good at hosting parties.  Now I'm ready for Valentines day and St. Patricks day.

The only festive part of my house... My shelf :)

I finished the St. Patrick's day Banner today.  So adorable!!!

That was my week.  Enjoy yours as well!  Watch out for those acid burns, and remember to remove your gloves with proper technique.

The first Weed of February
January 30th -- February 5th

Another normal and somewhat mundane week has past again.  #1 Gonzaga played #xxxxx BYU on Thursday night.  It was a really late game.  Danny, Katie, and I (Danny and Katie just started dating again so we'll see how it works out this time) got in line at 5:30pm for the 9pm tip off.  We were very near to the ASB building.  The line went up the cream-colored over pass and all the way around to the Marriott.  President Worthen's car was parked right in front of where we were sitting so he came and talked to us.  He told me that I looked very domestic (I was working on my crochet blanket at the time.)

The beginning of the game was awesome.  It reminded me of the San Diego State game during the Jimmer year -- energy was so high.  That lasted until we started playing.  I ended up leaving at half time, but the beginning was well worth standing in line.

Us in line

 I was able to spend time of Thursday making a double batch of granola to replace mine that I had eaten.  It turned out quite tasty.

I also made treats for my visiting teachers.  I used the recipe on Sam's Creative Compassionate Happy site and changed out the chocolate bar for valentine M&M's and added sprinkles.  So cute!

I also crochet'd ties and hot-glued hearts on the bottom of them just for cuteness factor

Saturday, I ate some of the best things I had eaten ever... Kolaches.  They are a soft and sweet dough filled with savory or sweet stuff.  I had half of a chicken cilantro and half of a pulled pork.  I also had a piece of a cream cheese preserve one.  They are absolutely delicious.  I found a recipe to post below in case anyone wants to attempt them.

Traditional Kolaches
Ingredients:

1 package of active dry yeast
1 cup of warm milk
1/2 cup sugar
4 cups of all-purpose flour (I always need 4 cups)
2 eggs for dough
1/2 cup melted butter
1 teaspoon of salt
1 egg for egg wash

This will make about 24 kolaches. I recommend doubling the recipe. They are always gone within a day or two.

1. In a large bowl, combine yeast, warm milk (105-110 degrees) sugar and one cup of flour. Cover and let it rise until doubled in size.

2. In a small bowl beat the 2 eggs, slowly add the 1/2 cup of melted butter and salt.
3. Add egg mixture to yeast mixture and mix.
4. Mix in the flour, 1/2 cup at a time. I usually have to knead the last cup in by hand. It is a really soft, slightly sticky dough.
5. Knead dough for about 10 minutes on a well floured surface. Place dough in a well greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in size - about an hour.

While the dough is rising, get your fillings ready. Some of our favorites are:
-Buffalo chicken and blue cheese
-ham and cheese
-cheese and hotdogs (cut in half)
-sausage and cheese
-milk chocolate
-pepperoni, pizza sauce and mozerella
-chopped chicken and alfredo or pesto
-taco
-chicken curry
-spinach and feta
The possibilities are endless! We haven't found anything we don't like in a kolache! 

After dough has risen, punch it down and pull off egg-sized pieces. In your hands, roll pieces into balls and then flatten to about 4 inches in diameter. Spoon about 1 to 1 1/2 Tbls of filling. 
Close dough around filling. Pinch it shut and place seam side down on greased cookie sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise 20 min. Preheat oven 375 degrees.

Beat the third egg. Before you bake the kolaches, brush with egg. If you are making a couple different flavors, you may want to mark them. We sprinkled Italian seasoning on top of the pizza flavored one, and paprika on the cheese and chorizo kolaches. 

To make the more traditional Kolaches, make flattened balls of dough. Let them rise. Right before you bake them gently make a little well in the center and fill with low sugar preserves.