Table for Eight

Happy Monday! This is a big week: 1. I'm planning to relaunch the blog on Wednesday--with some fun changes/updates. 2. We're giving away the heart-shaped waffle maker Wednesday morning. So, if you've entered the contest already, you're set. And if you haven't entered, you've got until Tuesday, Jan. 31 @ 11:59pm (MST) to do so. Click here for more details on the giveaway: http://thedeserethousewife.blogspot.com/p/giveaways.html PS:   I wanted to share this picture (above)--to show you just how incredible the whole "Survivor" experience continues to be.  If you've read the blog before, you might remember me mentioning a college student, Jake, who met me at the SLC International Airport over the Christmas break?  Well, I'd mentioned on the blog that I wanted to send him some bread.  And I finally did. So Jake--and his friends--sent this photo Saturday when the bread arriv...

When I was in third grade, I was Marta in our local high school's production of The Sound of Music . I know--first Scat Cat, then high school musicals? Tell me I wasn't born for reality TV? (See 1/18/2012 post for Scat Cat reference.) Anyway, ever since that musical debut, I've heard Julie Andrews singing, "My Favorite Things," in my head at least 3-4 times a week. And I'm so-not joking. So, a few years ago, I started rewriting the song to include MY favorite things. (Because, I  don't even know what schnitzel with noodles looks like. And I sure as heck would never include "doorbells" on my list of faves.) So, my point. I started rewriting the song to include My Favorite Things.  But the list got too long; I have a lot more favorites than Maria apparently. So, from time-to-time I just sit down and list those favorites here. And with that unnecessarily long introduction, here are som...

Love is in the air. Well, at least the love of waffles. You see, this weekend I learned that  you can cook a brownie on your waffle iron. Uh-huh. For reals.  Doesn't that just blow your mind?  Think of the possibilities: --hot fudge sundaes in brownie waffle bowls --hot fudge sundaes in brownie waffle bowls --oh, and hot fudge sundaes in brownie waffle bowls! Anyway, you get the point. It's dang revolutionary, I tell ya.  And so, I thought it seemed like a good time to do a Blog Giveway.  And what are we givin' away? You guessed it: a heart-shaped waffle iron.  Like this one ... unless it's out of stock when I ship. In that case, a similar one.  New In Box. Straight from Amazon to your home/office. So, if you've entered before, you know the rules. If you've never entered before, lemme review: Dawn's Blog Giveaway Rules 1. Anyone may enter.  Family, friends, in-laws, o...

Flying over Los Angeles, on the way back to Utah from the Survivor finale'. (Photo taken by our oldest son, Jay.) I've been thinking a lot lately--about how different our perspectives can be on topics.  And when I say "our perspective," I mean humanity's perspective. For example, I can think of 100 reasons why every person on the planet should have a big family.  And yet, someone else can think of 100 reasons why every person shouldn't have children at all. And, I can think of 100 reasons why every person on the planet should watch Survivor. Yet someone else can think of 100 why reasons we shouldn't even own a TV--let alone watch Survivor. And the different perspectives go on, and on, and on. Well, the world is a pretty big place, so it would only make sense that we'd have different perspectives on things. Right? But often these different perspectives arise from people who are very similar to ourselves--people we work with, atte...

(c) SugarBabyAprons.com, 2012. I decided to cut back on sweets in 2012, so ... I'm making 6 of these today. For reals. So why on earth am I making SIX of these bundts? Because I'm teaching a breadmaking class for kiddos today (ages 7-12)--and this is one of the "sweet breads" we're teaching them to make: Pink Lemonade Cake Is that too CUTE? (Yes.) I'll be sure to post photos after the class today. In the meantime, if you'd like to make this cake yourself, here's the recipe. I actually found it on Pinterest.com, but later found the original at SugarBabyAprons.com. (PS: I don't have any sponsors on my site, so I don't know SugarBabyAprons or have any affiliation with them. I just want to give credit for the cake recipe where credit for the cake recipe is due.) Have a beautiful Friday. And remember, Pink Lemonade Pound Cake 1 (18.25 ounce) package lemon cake mix 1 (3 ounce) package instant lemon pudding mix 4 eggs ...

You know how professors have Office Hours? --That time/place when you can go and visit your teachers in their offices and ask questions about class? Well, I do those office hours every week. But, I never get to talk about Survivor at those office hours. And I love to talk about Survivor. So, I'm having Open Office Hours next Monday on campus. And guess what we're going to talk about? Yup. Survivor. I can't wait. (If you have local students/friends who'd like to stop by, please send 'em by. They can email me for details: dawn_meehan@byu.edu )

(C) Hasbro, 1979 What was life "like" before Survivor, you ask? Well, you know, I've always had my hand in the entertainment industry. Yup. Before Survivor, I was pretty well known in the gaming industry (circa 1970s). LOL. See ... t hat's ME playing "Scat Cat" with my Made For TV family. Isn't that hilarious? (Or, hilariously embarrassing.) ( Yes .) **** PS: Exciting S24 news: The cast of Survivor 24 was announced today! And there's another Utah player on this cast. Jonas--a sushi chef. Woo hoo. His pre-game interview is here: http://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/video/2187914840/survivor-one-world-meet-jonas BTW: I love the concept for this season: --both tribes living on one beach --men vs. women --no Redemption Island I'm so excited. Can't wait to see the new season and relive the experience.

I've been thinking a lot today about what keeps us motivated. What keeps us striving for worthwhile goals? Like, HOW did I keep my Survivor dream alive for nearly 10 years? Well, here's the conclusion I've come to: You have to SHOWER yourself with "the positive." --Positive people. --Positive work. --Positive play. --Positive experiences. --Positive music. --Positive books. --Positive images. --And positive thoughts. So, my question today for you is--what people, work, music, books, etc., help you to stay positive and optimistic? This is one time, I think the addition of the word "hell" really adds value. Don't you agree? Ha ha ha.

Me, in July of 2011 at Ponderosa. This was such an exciting week: Jay (our son) was able to find a place that would develop my Ponderosa disposable camera. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee. I've waited 5+ months to see these pictures. You see, even though players are technically "out of the game" once we get to Ponde rosa, we still don't have any contact with the outside world . No phones, no cellphones, no computers, no newspapers, no letters to home, no cameras, etc. But fortunately, the crew gave us each a disposable camera--so we could record some of our memories.  And then ... they collected those cameras until the finale in December--so we wouldn't be leaking photos of the cast, etc. during the season. 8( So, as you can probably imagine, getting these photos was SO EXCITING. BTW: When was the last time you waited 5+ months to see a picture you took?  Uh, 1986? Seriously, right?  Digital cameras and smart phones have SO changed the way we record an...

My best "Cowboy Rick" impersonation. On the heels of yesterday's somewhat whine-y post about our experience at the library, I wanted to post today about all of the AWESOME people there are on Planet E. Because if there's one thing being on national television has taught me, it's that 99.9% of the world's population is KIND, GENEROUS, FUN, THOUGHTFUL, and LOVING. Prove it, you say? I can. Using 6 of my most recent Twitter exchanges-- with people I've never met in person -- I can prove my theory: My Theory = Planet E is overflowing with kind, generous, fun, thoughtful, loving people. Examples #1 and #2 Stephen Fishbach and Courtney Yates are both Survivors (Tocantins, China, Heroes v. Villains) They both corresponded with me via Twitter once Survivor South Pacific started airing.  Though we've never officially met,  we have had so many kind, funny exchanges on twitter. They are downright good peop...

At the library, making a movie selection. (I know, ironic.) (C) Jay Meehan, 2012. So, my question today is "how do YOU handle frustrating situations and people?" And when I say handle , I mean, "how do you respond when people are less than kind to you?" Maybe an example will help. Our family goes to the library about once a week. We love the library. Love the building. Love our library cards. Love the books. Love the DVDs. Love the CDs. Love. Everything. But ... last week when we went to the library, I wasn't feelin' the love. You see, we had some fines to pay. We'd checked out books before the Survivor Reunion in Hollywood and neglected to return them before we left. And between 6 kids and 2 parents, we'd racked up some fines. Nothing major, but a few dollars. Now, some of our kids (usually Zu and Lu) like to pay their own fines--because it makes them feel like a grown-up. And usually, I let them pay them--because I lik...