Table for Eight

Bam, Papaya and Lu at Disneyland 2010. Like everyone, our lives are full of good and hard. Right now is one of those HARD times. As my BFF said last night when we got off the phone after an update, "Sometimes, don't you feel/think Survivor didn't end, it just changed locations?" And I had to laugh and think, "No question." Survivor has taught me that HARD is part of life. And just because there's HARD doesn't mean life isn't still GOOD. Really good. So, my point! As we face our family's HARD right now, please know, we send love and peace to you as you face yours. (And if it's not too much to ask, please keep us in your thoughts. I truly believe there's a power to collective thought.) XO to you and yours. PS: Since I'm not on Twitter, I'm posting my favorite quote of the week here today. I think it's just awesome:   "We make moment-by-moment decisions what kind of people to be -- whether

I'm not exactly sure what I did for Memorial Day weekend LAST year, but I'm pretty sure it was something like this:   (c) CBS, 2012. And thanks to SurvivorFever.net for the VC. Or this : (c) CBS, 2012. But not this year! Here's what we're planning THIS Me morial Day weekend ...   Did I mention--this is m y first one in the US in two years? (PS: So rry to beat a dead horse with the whole "My First Summer Sans Survivor ," but it's such a weird thi ng to be out of the country two summers in a row -- es pecially when you are a wife, mom of 6, who doesn't even go to Target with out at least 2 members of her famil y. ) Anyway, my poi nt! This is the first year I won't celebrat e Memorial Day with Cochran on a de serted island.  Ha! Gotc ha. My point !   I am so grateful to celebrate this Memorial Day weekend with my family here in Salt Lake C ity : -- We're going swimming. (In any bathing suit I wanna

Melon, Mint, Parm Penne! (c) CookingLight, June 2013, Randy Mayor. This is the first May in two years that I have been home with my family -- that fact still blows my mind . (We filmed Survivor South Pacific and Survivor Caramoan from May-July during 2011 and 2012.) But my point! I love May, June, and July in Utah. The skies are blue. The clouds are big and puffy. And the mountains are gorgeous. Truly, there's nothing like spring and summer in Utah after a cold COLD ( but beautiful) winter. So I thought I would share a spring recipe with you--one we loved and just learned to make this week. It's a chilled salad. I made it last night and everyone ate it (which is a pretty good sampling of palettes , s ix kiddos, ages 9-18, all different backgrounds). I think you'll love it, too.  Melon, Mint, and Parm Penne Box of penne pasta, cooked al dente, tossed with olive oil, then chilled ½ cup cubed fresh cantaloupe 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves 2 ounces

My thoughts are all Oklahoma today. I woke up wanting to do something to help, but wasn't sure what/how, so I visited The Pioneer Woman's blog this morning and she has a lot of suggestions. In case you are wondering also, here's the link to her blog: http://www.thepioneerwoman.com PS: I don't know Ree Drummond personally, but I'm guessing many of you have heard of her? She lives in Oklahoma and is a famous mom, blogger, rancher, and cookbook author. Her blog is phenomenal. (But just in case you're wondering, I don't have any connections to her, I just wanted to post the link to her site because it's All Things Oklahoma--and that helped me this morning.) It seems like today's a good day to remember to hug your babies/family/friends. Lu, Papaya, and Zu in 2010.

Our dog, Harriet, asleep Survivor Finale' weekend--IN MY PARENT'S BED! We had no idea. Apparently our kids set this up--and Harriet didn't object. Sorry, mom and dad! I hope you all had a great weekend.  We di d! It was our first weekend without Survivor-related things in t hree+ years. (For reals : I was originally cast fo r season 21 /22, so w e've had Survivor in our lives for a looooonnnngg time ! ) I heart Survivor and the blessing it's been in our lives so very much , but it just feels so good to come back t o life as we know it . I have never loved doing laundry or dishes more. And I really mean that . So, until Tuesday, have a G REAT DAY . Much love to you and your s .   *****   PS: For all my friends and family who've been "worried " about us/me, please know , for every criticism someone has shared related to Survivor, I ' ve received at least two supports/love in kind. (Take that, internet c yber-bulli

Aub and Jay--who may or may not be making fun of my facial expressions. Well, i t took me about 2 m inutes to realize that it will take me 200 minutes to up load all of my Survivor Caramoan Finale Weekend photos ... and I don't have 200 minutes  right now. Tee hee. So,  I thought I'd just post pics today of people who've helped me throughout th is Survivor experience this past year. All of them are people I genuinely heart to the moon and back. Stay -tuned for more photos of the finale weekend ASAP . (My goal is to get them all up before the end of the month, and then move onto new topics . ) Corinne Kaplan. She was my bestie during the Bikal days. I so adore her. It has meant a great deal to mend fences with her. Corinne is amazing and taught me a great deal about setting boundaries in my life. Whittney and Janae are my two real-life besties. They both supported me and my family during my two Survivor stints. They both helped take care of our k

Four of our kiddos AT the finale Sunday night. CBS put our whole group in the front row. (Very kind.) Matt, me, and Michael at Friday night Bday dinner for Andrea, Universal CityWalk. (PS: Cochran gave me my necklace a week after we got back from playing Survivor Caramoan. It's a Tiffany necklace--tee hee--with a keyhole. It's symbolic and special to me because we promised on Day 1 of the game to stay LOCKED to the end, to Day 39, and we DID! PPS: I asked him no fewer than 2 million times during the game, "are we still locked?") Me, Matt and his beautiful wife Tessa. We will be forever friends. I love Matt. Andrea's family. She had no fewer than 22 people at the finale. All from Wisconsin! Me and John at Andrea's bday dinner. Sherri and John at the Reunion Show rehearsal. (PS: Sherri is insanely beautiful in person.)   Reunion Show rehearsal: Malcolm (photo bomber), Reynold, and Andrea. Dre also has a necklac

Well, I made it home to Salt Lake City late last night, and I can honestly say, I have never appreciated my family and friends (and home!) more. I came home to such a warm welcome. ( Thank you Marthe and Janeil and everyone)! Today is a big international press day for Survivor, so I have to keep this post brief, but I wanted to tell my family, friends, Survivor friends, and neighbors thank you so much for your love and outpouring these last 10 months (particularly this week). Survivor Caramoan was one WONKY ride, but your love and support got me through it with a smile on my face (take that, you cranky writers/comment-people). Because at the end of the day, one of the best lessons Survivor has taught me is this: Just because something is hard doesn't mean good can't come from it. Boom! Much love. Until manana.    

(c) CBS, Monty Brinton, 2012. Getting our video messages from loved ones. For th e first time in the his t ory of Survivor, they have flown out TWO loved ones to visit each cast away for the "Loved Ones V isit." Is that incredible? (Yes!) I wish I could tell you more about it ( Do we get to see them all? Do we get to see one? etc.) But t he only thi ng I can share is this (because it's in the promos): my husband Dave and I get to run a challenge together.  And it's awesome (the d ay after our 22nd anniversary --woo hoo!) . It's going to be a n emotional (and dramatic) episode . And if you are wondering ... yes, I cry. (Like a baby !) Not only is this episode emotional due to the family visits, but w ith only 6 people left in the game, we've all gr own extremely close --and the game is nearing it's end , so each and every decision is HEAVY. But then again, I'm just praying it's just "NOT ME !" going home . Ha