Across the USA!

Hi All! So its been 2 weeks since my last post. Whats new?? I've got a few friends I've been spending a lot of time with... Greg, Joel and my roommate Ashley. On St. Patrick's day we went to a dueling piano bar which was a lot of fun. Saturday night we watched movie at a blood bank haha Greg works there so we watched The Bucket List in the huge comfy seat (3/4s of us actually feel asleep they're so comfy) and ate all the snacks meant for the patients! So I'm usually with them if I'm not at work or with Whitney and Jon. Tomorrow is our other roommates birthday so we're taking her to dinner. I'm getting lunch with my friend Kenzie tomorrow. Drum role.... we're going to Cafe Rio. People FREAK OUT here when they hear I've never eaten there... so tomorrow is the day. I guess I'll write about it if its worth while.

So its funny, nothing too exciting has been happening here... but I'm writing because I've booked two trips I'm really excited for! I'm coming home for a visit April 15th-21st and going to visit Nick Evans in Palo Alta, CA mid-May!! One of the trips was free because I used my frequent flier miles (you can imagine I had a lot haha) I'm just so excited for both of the trips! I miss you guys so much... see you in April!! I'll write when more exciting things happen...

New Car

Hi!! So good news... I believe any day now my loan for my car will come from the bank and then I will be driving my new baby!!! Its a 2008 Mazda 3... Dark dark charcoal gray (aka black) with lots of perks! Low miles, I-pod hook up, volume control in the steering wheel, plus things I haven't even explored yet! I've already named him, yes its my first male car. His is The Prince, Prince for short. Roxanne and Hildegarde shall never be forgotten... but I'm pretty excited. Here are some pictures!


I also have a second interview for a job here, so I'll keep everyone posted once I know how that goes.

Lets see what I've been up to these past few days. Car and work stuff of course, last night Whitney and Jon had me and a guy over for dinner and games. It was pretty hilarious... I just don't recommend 4-person Catch Phrase unless you're ready for a heated game haha. Update on my cheesecake: it was a 'Mexican Cheesecake' and I attempted to make it Dulce de Leche style also... HOWEVER I used store bought carmel since I couldn't find any dulce de leche. It smelled like syrup lol (maple syrup) but I'm still please I baked it right. Tonight I had a great night at work... and tomorrow Amanda (my cousin) and I are heading to South Jordan to visit our cousin Michelle and her adorable family. I should probably go to sleep so I can wake up in time! Have a great night everyone. Love you!!

Cheesecake and Miss yous

Hey! So tonight after work I came home and made Dulce de Leche cheesecake for tomorrow's dinner. I'm taking a gentleman friend to meet Whitney and Jon. She's making us dinner (enchiladas) so I'm providing dessert. First time making cheesecake... and it looks pretty good, hope it taste good too!

So I had an interview today at a treatment center to work as a mentor. I felt really good going in, but there were so many other applicants that I guess I'll have to wait and see.

I really miss my friends from home. Its different than how I missed you guys when I was in Sweden... this time I miss you because I just know how amazing you all are... and I hate being so far away from everything going on. I know what I'm doing out here, but sometimes I just wonder "what am i doing out here" so I'm just feelin a tiny (only a tiny) bit down, thinking of the people not here with me, or... in other words that I'm not there with. Miss and love you guys.

XOXO Al

Long overdue.

hey blog readers. its been a little while. so ive been really busy and really happy. Two weeks ago i went though training at Macaroni Grill and I've been working on my own this past week. I like the people I work with a lot. Most of the girls are around my age, but all married... I figure they can set me up with their husbands' hot single friends. just kidding...

So what have I been so busy with you ask? I've made some great new friends that I spend a lot of my evenings with; Kara and Victoria who both live in an apartment right above mine. There are a lot of activities through the congregation I'm in at my church, and they're pretty fun! The girls are there too... so we always go together. We play a lot of games out here in Utah... but I like games so I'm not complaining. The only games I don't like are the kind with guys... they arent even 'games' but everyone are telling me about these stupid Utah rules... like not being able to date someone more than two times if you're not really interested, or you have to say yes to a first date... if you had fun on the date you text him thank you... and the list goes on and on. Its like, I'm not from here so why do I have to act like I am? Anyway I've gone on a lot of dates since getting out here... and I love it. Its hard though because of course I just wanna date one person... I'm a commitment type of person, so being single is hard for me...

Hey, just so ya'll know... I miss my Deephers so so much. I think about you girls all the time. Sorry to not write in a while... i just can't exactly put into words everything thats happening here. You guys can thank Allison for putting my butt in gear to get a post up. LOVE U ALL!

Friends and Family

So that birthday party was fun... too many yummy desserts! But I did meet a ton of people. The other girls that live in my stairwell are pretty awesome. They came over to watch Teen Mom with me (um, I don't even watch that show) and last night we went to this fresh-made-in-front-of-you Mexican place for dinner. Today my cousin Amanda and I got together for lunch. We had a pretty good time catching up and we're hanging out this weekend with her bf and his friend... so should be a good time! Tonight I went shopping with Whitney and some future co-workers, and then had a Grays night with homemade Blondies... whoa, yum.

So lets be honest... if I keep blogging like this, I'm gunna lose all my readers. So I have an idea of a topic to blog about... but I'll wait and see if anyone is even checking this still... til then... XOXO

New Beginnings

Hey all! So I'm going to try my best to update you on my past few days here. So to begin, I've been really happy here so far. Each day it seems that I've done something fun. I've met up with old friends and began making new. Travis (a friend from forever ago) had Whitney, Jon and me over for dinner on Sunday night. So that was fun... yesterday I got to see my friend Rhys and we drove to Park City where the Sundance Film Festival is going on! I see Whitney basically every day, and even when I don't we talk constantly. I went for my first free manicure today (as provided by the apartments). The girl Jamie who runs the Spa was super sweet. She even invited me to a birthday party at her place tonight for her roommate. So I'm excited to get to know her and meet some other people. Thursday I'm getting lunch with my cousin Amanda (we went to China together if you want a visual). She actually lives in the apartments across the street from mine. What are the odds!

So I really did like my apartment... now I'm not so sure haha. My one roommate Lizette and I hit it off right away. We talk every morning/night, super comfortable even though I've only been here since Friday. Anyway, shes moving out tomorrow! Way bummed about it. So the girl thats moving in seems fun and sweet... but I'm still bummed. And my apartment may be possessed, not sure yet. Something freaky happened last night... and then some really freaky talk was going around... but I sure hope that's not the case! But irregardless I don't like being alone here anymore, which is often during the day. I'll write more, if it becomes more evident that there is a problem...

Sooo I'm excited about tonight and I'll write about any fun encounters I have. Take care! And remember I have my phone so call/text me whenever!

New Adventures

So its been almost a month since my last post. I came home for Whitney's wedding the first weekend of January and spent 3 weeks visiting friends and family. I was thrown an amazing coming home party, went to the 20th anniversary party and watched the Bachelor, Idol and Biggest Loser during many girl nights. During my visit home I decided not to return to Sweden because I wasn't happy and myself there. I made the decision to move to the other place I had talked about going to, Utah.

So yesterday I flew out here. Flying over the mountains during this time of year was breathtaking. It felt like I was in another world... the snow covering the mountains, frozen lakes and land... I'd never seen anything like it before. I've really learned to appreciate the beauty in our own country since learning about the differences and similarities between the U.S and Europe... So anyway Whitney picked me up and has been a saint helping me get settled. The apartment complex I'm moving into is awesome... there is free tanning, fitness center, hair cuts, manicures, pedicures and facials. I found out today that you only get one of the free spa service per month... which makes more sense. So there were problems with the room I was originally supposed to move into (basically one of my potential room mates had moved into my room...) luckily the leasing office isn't going to keep me in that apartment, because I would have been the roommate that got the girl kicked from the big bedroom to the smaller one. Then they sent me over to another room in another apartment. As Whitney and I walked up the stairs, we noticed a weird baby-like blanket hanging in the window. Uh oh... my new roommates were going to be freaks. We walk in and there are dirty dishes everywhere... gross. Luckily those girls were also breaking the rooms and had moved people in that weren't supposed to be there. The girl that told me the rooms were all full was this big girl in her full out PJs at 5pm, it was bizarre. So I decided to wait until today and I will move into a completely different room. Hopefully #3 is the lucky charm!

So last night Whitney and I went to Target to buy bedding for me (I only spent $25 on a full cute bed set... score)! Whitney has been amazing giving me extra blankets and pots/pans etc for my new place. But the best gift of all... the hot pink snuggie! I think she's crazy for giving it up but I'm not complaining! We headed to Macaroni Grille for dinner to see Jon and to check out my future employment. I'm pretty excited to get back into serving. All the people seemed way cool... and less of your usual stereotypical servers. I must say, Whitney and Jon's place is gorgeous. I had seen it over Skype but it just didn't do it justice. Whitney has the place decorated extremely well... it all coordinates beautifully. I'm really happy for them! So back to the evening... during Grays Anatomy we made Monster Cookies... I had never had them before and they are delicious! Here is the recipe (below)!

So to wrap up, I hope I am moving in today. Whitney is letting me borrow her car since she will be at work. I am going to explore the area and hopefully find cheap cups/plates/etc. I'm pretty excited for this new adventure, but I still get really sad thinking about not being in Sweden and not seeing Jonas every day. I know everything will work out how its supposed to... but it still gets me down sometimes. So I plan on writing about my experience out here... because as my aunt said, Utah is just as much of a culture shock as Sweden was... so I will write about it and hopefully keep entertaining many of you like before!

Monster Cookies:

Yield:3 dozen
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook10 min
Total:23 min

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 12-ounce jar creamy peanut butter
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1/2 cup multi-colored chocolate candies
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup raisins, optional
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 4 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal (not instant)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats.

In a very large mixing bowl, combine the eggs and sugars. Mix well. Add the salt, vanilla, peanut butter, and butter. Mix well. Stir in the chocolate candies, chocolate chips, raisins, if using, baking soda, and oatmeal. Drop by tablespoons 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Do not overbake. Let stand for about 3 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool. When cool, store in large resealable plastic bags.