"Let Me Google That For You"

Today I was chatting with a friend. He asked me, as he always does, some inane question that he could've easily answered himself if he had taken the time to use the popular internet search engine "Google." So I, being the smart pants that I am, sent him a link to a website I recently discovered: http://www.lmgtfy.com/ (Let Me Google That For You). Go to that website, type in the same question that was posed to you, then copy the link and send it to your lazy inquisitor. The person clicks on the link and receives a very simple and sarcastic tutorial on how to use google while being sent to the link with the search results. Real fun.

Big News

Most of you probably already know this, but for those few of you who do not, we're moving!  That's right, the Steeners are moving to Pennsylvania.  Many of our readers will be surprised to learn that Pennsylvania is, in fact, outside of the state of Utah and that anyone would actually want to move away from the Beehive state.  Moving to Pennsylvania will probably present a better work opportunity for me in the long run.  Here in Utah I'm lowest on the totem pole, while in Pennsylvania, if a regional office flourishes as is predicted, I'll be in a better position.  We'll leave the second week of April, around the 7th or 8th.  

Now a word to Robyn's friends who are afraid that this move will signal the end to your lifelong friendship with my wife.  Let me assure you that your fears are well founded.  As Robyn becomes more enamored with the east coast, we eventually become encumbered with children, and we make new friends, I predict Robyn's new cosmopolitan lifestyle will make visits to the west almost completely untenable.  The good news is you can remain connected with Robyn the one or two times a year she posts on the blog.  

Stranded in San Antonio

I'm not really stranded, but I am here on a Friday night when I thought I'd be home by now. But it's definitely a good thing. You see, as I was in the San Antonio airport today waiting for the second leg in my three flight odyssey back to Utah, Southwest announced they needed someone to give up their seat to Denver because they over booked it. They offered me $200 in travel vouchers plus the value of my ticket overall in travel vouchers. The total came to $593 in free travel. Using my superior negotiating skills, I got them to throw in a hotel room for free, too! I passed it by Robyn first because I've been away all week. She was all for it considering what she stood to gain from it. So there. There's your stupid blog update.

A Romantic Weekend in Boise

                                                           
We went up to my sister, Holly's house in Boise for the weekend. We absolutely love our nieces and nephew! Friday we arrived just in time for dinner. Holly is an amazing cook. I always look forward to eating at her house. She had made some sort of chicken salad type thing, but the chicken was shredded and marinated in a special sauce. After sending the kids to bed, we stayed up with Holly, Steve, Gary, and Marlene and watched Vantage Point (well, Matt and I actually fell asleep, so I will be renting that one again). Gary and I made caramel popcorn for the movie. Saturday, we played Rock Band with the girls. Most of them can play on the expert level, putting Matt and I to shame. Steve happened to be on call all weekend, so we only saw him at night. We took all of the girls to go bowling and then out to ice cream at a place called Goody's. They make their own ice cream there and had a really great set up complete with a candy bar and chocolate. I had truffles and cream ice cream which was good, but when I tried Sienna's chocolate almond - the chocolate was to die for! We had Valentine's dinner that night which is a huge deal at the Casos house. They spoiled us with chocolate and presents and a fantastic lasagna dinner. We left Sunday after church. I always hate leaving and wish we lived closer!

My team's bowling score - Holly was the big bowler of the day - beating out Matt by 10 points.

Candy heaven!  Matt found an old childhood favorite - Zotz - the girls loved them too.

We took home a variety of chocolates.  The mint truffle was by far the favorite.  Eating these chocolates next to the Hershey Pot of Gold chocolates - we realized just how mediocre store bought chocolate is.

Hearts hanging from the ceiling and Holly enjoying her "Romeo and Juliet" ice cream cone.

Danielle, Capri, and Kristina enjoying their ice cream and ice water.  

Capri sitting at the girls' table - excited to open her Valentine.  I'm not sure how she got into every picture!

The adult table complete with candies, presents, balloons (courtesy of Danielle), and candles.  

Matt and I sitting down for dinner.

Yummy lasagna and delicious artisan bread made by Gary.  

Steve bought chocolates for everyone and a big 1 lb. Sugar Daddy for his plate.

We always knew Steve had a big mouth - but I was still impressed he could fit that thing in!

I gave Matt a mini fridge for his office stocked with some of his favorite things.  I think he was very surprised.  

Matt surprised me with tulips sent to Holly's house Saturday morning.  They are beautiful!

P90X!

You've probably seen the infomercials on TV. It's the latest workout craze that promises extraordinary results in just 90 days. P90X is sweeping the nation, convincing out of shape human pears that they, too can look like the Adonises taunting them from their tv screen. Last weekend while we were vacationing in Las Vegas with Robyn's family, I got to see an impressive demonstration of P90X up close. Below is a brief sampling.







For those of you unable to make out the persons in the video, that's Jon Shipley struggling to complete a pull up, while Jess half heartedly tugs at a couple of rubber bands. The droning in the background is Matt "Bleeding Gums" Shipley belting out a tune on Rockband, while Jess's children scream in vain for attention. I'll withhold judgmenton P90X until the entire 90 days are up, but it's not looking good so far.

Unemployed

On January 31st, we opened our doors for the last time at Ann Taylor. I found out last October that we would be closing. It wasn't a huge shock. I knew that our 10 year contract was expiring the end of January, so I assumed it would happen. We were one of the lowest volume stores in the company, so it didn't make sense to me to resign. We have fiercely loyal clients, so even though it was expected, it was really hard. We just needed about 3 times the clients we had to keep us going, but there were many that thought by their spending habits alone, they were keeping us in business. Unfortunately, not so. I thought that we would be moving to Pennsylvania for Matt's job and it would be perfect timing, but then we found out we would not move. So, I am currently unemployed. It has actually been really nice. I have been able to workout whenever I want to. I have filled my time by volunteering for various things such as the bishop's storehouse and recording my voice for BYU International TV to voice-over a spanish TV program. I've gone to Vegas for a weekend and Boise, spending time with family. Today is the first day that I have felt REALLY bored. I'm sure you've all noticed that we have not posted on the blog for more than 3 weeks (f.y.i. I started this post on the 31st like a good girl, but today is actually the 16th of February). Well, I have no excuse anymore, so I am getting it done! Here are some pictures of some memories from Ann Taylor and the girls I have made friends with over the last 3 1/2 years. I will miss Ann Taylor - the clothes, the people that worked and shopped there.

Me, Lauren, Leslie, Shauna, & Pam at Ottavio's for Leslie's bridal shower

Me, Tammy, Kelly, Alisa (my friend who actually worked at AT before I did and told me they were hiring a manager), Pam, Leslie Jones, and Shauna at Leslie Friel's wedding

Pam, Leslie, Kristen, Tammy, LaHella, Me, Rachelle, and Shauna at my bridal shower

Bethany, Pam, and Megan at a Bethany's house for a birthday part for Kristen

Sitting at the cashwrap during down time (crazy bangs - never again - this picture will be my reminder of why I should never cut bangs - knowing I will be tempted in another few years!)

Megan, Kristen, Kelly, Me, Catherine, Brianne, Pam, Susan Garris, Danielle, and Leslie at Thanksgiving Point for an AT reunion dinner

Nicola (the manager at Gateway) and I after our 5k Race for the Cure

Tamara dressed up and working on Halloween

Leisa, Lauren, and I eating ice cream sandwiches one night - we stayed open until 10 p.m. one night for an outreach event for NuSkin and no one showed up - so we ate ice cream instead!

April trying on clothes and being silly!  I think this is her version of dancing!

Chelsea and Wendy - love my girls!

Me behind our beauty set-up.  Our store was #1 to our goal in the entire company for a 3-month contest during the summer!  Go team!

We won a $500 store fund and went out for pedicures and the the Cheesecake Factory for dinner and dessert!

Holly and Susan G. getting pedicures

Pam, Me, Shauna, Catherine, and Kelly at Bombay House 

Susan W., Juliet, Me, and Julie (my management team and district manager) posing like mannequins - after the movers took everything away and we were left with an empty store :(

Me, Susan, and Juliet trying to pose like Charlie's Angels!

Thanks for all the good times girls!  I noticed I don't have any pictures of Christie Mason (my store manager when I started at AT).  This would be because she made me delete every picture I ever took of her even though she is gorgeous!  Love you Christie!  This was my favorite job because I got to work at my favorite store - getting a great discount, and I was able to make great friends.  Previous to working at Ann Taylor, I had a hard time making good girlfriends.  I had best friends that were girls, but I often opted to interact with guys.  My biggest hesitation at working here was the fact that I had to work with all women - I am just not a drama queen and I knew that girls = drama. I definitely had my fill of drama - believe me.  I also made many lifelong friends.  

Hope in a Can

I don't know if it's a new marketing ploy or sheer coincidence, but the new Pepsi logo looks eerily familiar. Here it is:


Here's a very similar logo:




The second logo is that of our soon-to-be annointed President and A-list god incarnate, Barack HUSSEIN Obama. The two logos are sufficiently different, of course, but they're both pretty darn similar. If Pepsi utilizes a marketing plan similar to Obama's campaign strategy, they will craft catchy one line slogans to captivate masses of mental light weights who don't care about the product they're buying nearly as much as the promises it makes. BURN!