The Incredible, Edible EGG!

I know not everyone likes them, but I LOVE eggs! I have always been devoted to this food. They were my favorite "breakfast for dinner" item. Here are some wonderful reasons to partake of these natural wonders:

1. Eggs are great for the eyes. According to one study, an egg a day may prevent macular degeneration due to the carotenoid content, specifically lutein and zeaxanthin. Both nutrients are more readily available to our bodies from eggs than from other sources.

2. In another study, researchers found that people who eat eggs every day lower their risk of developing cataracts, also because of the lutein and zeaxanthin in eggs.

3. One egg contains 6 grams of high-quality protein and all 9 essential amino acids.

4. According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, there is no significant link between egg consumption and heart disease. In fact, according to one study, regular consumption of eggs may help prevent blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks.

5. They are a good source of choline. One egg yolk has about 300 micrograms of choline. Choline is an important nutrient that helps regulate the brain, nervous system, and cardiovascular system.

6. They contain the right kind of fat. One egg contains just 5 grams of fat and only 1.5 grams of that is saturated fat.

7. New research shows that, contrary to previous belief, moderate consumption of eggs does not have a negative impact on cholesterol. In fact, recent studies have shown that regular consumption of two eggs per day does not affect a person's lipid profile and may, in fact, improve it. Research suggests that it is saturated fat that raises cholesterol rather than dietary cholesterol.

8. Eggs are one of the only foods that contain naturally occurring vitamin D.

9. Eggs may prevent breast cancer. In one study, women who consumed at least 6 eggs per week lowered their risk of breast cancer by 44%.

10. Eggs promote healthy hair and nails because of their high sulphur content and wide array of vitamins and minerals. Many people find their hair growing faster after adding eggs to their diet, especially if they were previously deficient in foods containing sulphur or B12.

And did I mention that they are like a dollar for a huge jumbo carton?! (and that's at Smiths!)

Oh and my favorite: An egg has 98 Calories. An egg white has 17 Calories. So... 1 whole egg scrambled with two eggs whites: plenty of yumminess, soooo many less calories!

I Hate Pepsi But...

This commercial makes me laugh so hard I could pee.

SO Many Reasons.

I love this dress. I just love this photograph. Her hair, the coloring, her neck, the eyes, but mostly, that DRESS! (the ball actually kind of creeps me out.)

Black.

Lace.

POCKETS.

Ladylike.

Comfortable.

Low Cut (yet modest- you can barely see it, but there is material there).

Tiny waist.

Full Skirt.

I love it.

Try Try Again...

For a while there, I was doing an acceptable job at composing my Sunday Posts of Gratitude. Things got busy and eventually all of the days seemed to mesh into one. I suppose that I could use the post as I originally intended (as a way to recognize each day), but instead... I am going to take the slacker's route and just mention some things that I realized I am grateful for recently...not with such structure, apparently that was far too stressful.

So just a few things this week:

I really love that TUMS not only calm your tummy, but they provide 80% of your daily calcium needs! Hasta la vida Osteoporosis! Please... Like I really need to become another statistic. No no, I will have strong bones and teeth until that 96th birthday.

I have been a member of Gold's Gym for several years now. I love that place. I am a regular there and so the employees are always very friendly to me. Though, through all of these years, I have only taken 2 classes. Pilates and spinning. But recently, my friends Blaire, Hannah, Amanda and I have been trying out some new classes. I am HORRIBLE at Zumba. Absolutly disgraceful. But somehow I still manage to have fun. This Saturday we went to Power Pump. Believe me... during this class, you look nothing like the girl in the picture on the left. It's more like this:

Yet, I highly recommend that you try it. Nothing has ever kicked my butt like that, but I was able to do it with a smile on face and I was so happy!

ok, bye.

OnLy 1 Month Left.

What are the chances of this happening this year? 0. But it is still an adorable picture. I hate being cold all the time and the driving conditions, but there sure is something magical about this time of year!

In My Old Age...

I have officially hit quarter life. I don't feel the need to live to be 100 years old, so I am shooting for 96. I like that number. This was probably one of the best birthdays that I have had in quite some time, maybe because I was feeling selfish and it was more like a birthweek of celebration with friends and family.

On Wednesday I went to a concert with Josh. The concert was a bit more hard core than I am used to and I experienced real live mosh pits for the first time. You should see the looks on their faces, they brace themselves and can't wait to experience and inflict excruciating pain. The bands were actually really talented. I am pretty sure that I saw the most ferocious female on the face of this planet and wow, she can really sing.

For my actual birthday, I spent it at the temple with Hillary and then we had a little Cafe Rio. As if that wasn't perfect enough already, When I got home, I had a Jake Ryan moment (one of the ONLY romantical fantasies I have ever had) and I then went to the Jazz game with Scott. We sat 6th row. It was amazing. during the 4th quarter when the fairweather fans began to leave, we went and sat in the row right behind the courtside seats. I could hear, see and smell everything. This was one of the best moments of my life!

Had a little Birthday Dinner with some friends. We went to Pantruca's. It is this little hole in the wall joint owned by the sweetest Chilean couple. The food was amazing and it was great to see my random friends and celebrate my birthday with them. Thank you Matty and Court for the perfect present! haha

The weekend was spent on a random road trip and a wonderful stake conference. It was an insanely busy week but I had the time of my life. I have been blessed with such wonderful friends and family. My niece and nephew sang to me, Hillary gave me the PERFECT gift (candy jar and The Hobbit), mama and dad gave me a beautiful scarf from their travels, Em made some more jewelry for me and my whole office signed a card and gave me a princess puzzle. But it really has so little to do with the presents. Just spending time with the people I love and knowing that they love and appreciate me, just for one day, felt really nice.

Oh PS: another thing that we did that weekend.... Rachael is an extremely talented chef. She has been kind/patient enough to attempt to guide me in the field. I LOVE pie... so on Sunday we attempted homemade apple pie, all from SCRATCH!! Take a guess which was her's and which was mine.

Now prior to that week of being engrossed in festivities, it was Rachael's birthday, her engagement (ahhh!), the RSL game, and Halloween! Things will be very different when school starts for me in the spring... my playtime will be drastically reduced and sorely missed. So I am just getting an overdose now!

Happy Birthday, Rachael!!

Cutest little bugs ever? I kinda think so. I totally support men in their love of duct tape after

making these costumes!

She was BamBam for Halloween. So cute! She stole her Cousin's bone... wait for it...

And she's off! Good girl.

A little free birthday dessert with Martin before the big win at the RSL game!

I can't really say that anything of vital importance or of any real significance happened in this last year. But upon reflection I have learned something very valuable. At this stage in life, my social circles are a bit elusive, they are ever changing (new jobs, schools, towns, marriages, wards, etc). I have always considered myself a good friend. I tend to fall off the face of the earth and disappear into BeckieLand every now and again, but for the most part, I've always tried to be a loyal and considerate friend. There have been many times when I have been taken advantage of because of my willingness to help and support others. But I made it an Executive Decision to not allow those instances to deter me. And the end result has been made very manifest in my life. I have wonderful friends. I may not see them all the time, may not talk to them all the time, may even ignore a text here and there... but when it comes down to it, the girls that I hang out with are like sisters to me, my guy friends are more than brothers and have been taking me on dates for 3 or more years! I am happy to say that working hard to be a good friend and sister pays off. The blessings I receive come tenfold. I love and appreciate the people in my life.

I am now 24 years old (37 in UT years), no where near marriage, just beginning a new major at a new university, still asking my parents for money, still playing until I pass out, still driving ol Sally, but I have never been happier.

Oh and another new hobby...maybe this happens as the years add up- (we were so proud, I had to share...)

Victory.

I would just like to share a moment with you. Sometimes I feel the need to relish in my small, but happy, victorious moments. Earlier this week I did 3 loads of laundry. One of which was a HUGE load of whites. This load consisted of 22 pairs of socks. When all was said and done and I was folding my fresh, warm, snuggly items... I had 22 MATCHING pairs of socks. Take that Sock Monster. I may be too old to believe in monsters, but I know that you lurk down there in that dark space between the washer and dryer...

This Week:

Beckie: 1

Sock Monster: 0!!!!!!

Lifetime:

Beckie: 1

Sock Monster: a bagillion $$ worth of socks.

It's all about the little things.

Sometimes Life is Like This:

I am behind in blogging...sorry. I will catch up this week!