Let's Discuss How I Waste My Spare Time: DWTS, American Idol, etc.

DWTS: Holly and Steve gone? !!!STEVE IS GONE!!! I'm not mad at America anymore. Kinda sad Holly is gone, I got somewhat attached to her because I used to watch The Girls Next Door when I lived at Belmont and I liked her on that show. Stereotypical that I watched trashy TV while living at Belmont?? Yes.

American Idol: Megan gone? Ok. She had a unique voice, but that girl could not hold a note on key if it killed her. Whiny voice too. But normal speaking voice...?? I don't get it. Weird. And, I like Anoop, but that could just be because he reminds me of the guy that stars in Slumdog Millionaire, plus I like anything Bollywood: SYTYCD? Bollywood night, Belly Dancing, Yoga, etc.


It's no secret:I fancy crime shows. I savor Law and Order, any one, but SVU is my favorite, followed closely by Criminal Intent. And I relish Criminal Minds and Monk and Psych and now: Castle, which has an interesting twist on the usual crime show mold (Detective works with best-selling crime fiction author with sexual tension between the two while they work on cases together). I know that really, they are all the same, but let me indulge in some good, profligate television in peace! (And really, I'll watch anything on USA: reruns of House, Law and Order, Monk, Psych, Burn Notice...)


And last, but not least, I would like to comment on the fact that I did nothing last Friday except watch the entire first season of Samantha Who? online, and I. LOVE. IT. Christina Applegate has been a fav. of mine since Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.


Sheesh...and I wonder why I have !!9!! papers to write this weekend...

Cheers and Jeers: Week in Review (New Feature!!... I'm so creative)

Okay people, here is my list of top ten things you should CHEER/JEER about last week (Yes, I semi-stole this from TV Guide.)

1. Jeers to Jon and Kate + 8. IT WAS A TOTAL SCAM. They aren't having marriage troubles... Jon is having identity issues. Get over it, Jon... you just bought a 1.4 million dollar house. I DON'T feel sorry for you.

2. Jeers to President Obama for scheduling a news conference during American Idol. I didn't learn anything new from the O, and I missed out on my Reality-TV Fix (see #7).

3. Cheers to facebook for starting a new "Pick your 5" application. The movies section includes ALL the old Disney Channel Original Movies. Love it.

4. Cheers to me and Brittany for eating (almost) an entire pan of homemade chocolate brownies. YUM YUM YUM.

5. Cheers to LILY ALLEN who is coming to Salt Lake City next month! AND I'M GOING TO THE CONCERT!! You don't understand, you guys... Alright, Still was the album that got me through my "tough times" last year. It's BRILLIANT. She's BRILLIANT. AND she coined my theme for the year: "I'm not a saint, and I'm not a sinner, and everything's cool as long as I'm getting thinner." AND I get to hear her in person. Double Cheers for me.

6. JEERS to America for voting off Denise Richards from DWTS. It HURTS MY EYES to watch Steve Woz dance. HURTS my eyes. I don't think he deserved a 10 or to stay on the show. I have a theory he has some sort of advanced phone-calling system set up so he can win based off of votes alone...

7. CHEERS TO ME, who finally admitted that I am a (classy) Reality TV Junkie. I have to get my fix every week. But only with classy shows like American Idol and Dancing with the Stars and American's Next Top Model. NOT TRASHY SHOWS like Rock of Love, The Hills, The City, The Real World, Celebrity Rehab, etc.

8. CHEERS TO ME... my room has been completely clean this ENTIRE week. First time in my life! (I had to show E that I can be domestic... not to be confused with animal domestication)

9. JEERS to UCLA who lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament... they TOTALLY screwed up my bracket.

10. JEERS to Utah for NOT having spring like weather during the week we officially made it into spring. IT SNOWED last night. Yucky.

Stay tuned for next week's edition of CHEERS & JEERS... (now a Thursday feature, since I get out of school EARLY, and thus start my weekend EARLY)

What the Jon and Kate + 8?????

YOU GUYS. I am SO MAD. CAN YOU TELL? WHEN I AM ANGRY I WRITE IN ALL CAPS.

So one of my fav shows is Jon and Kate + 8. I feel like a member of the family because I get to experience everything with them. And I can't even stand to watch it anymore.

Apparently, they are having marital troubles (I, of course, understand that and my heart goes out to them!!!!!!). But DIVORCE RUMORS?? THEY HAVE EIGHT KIDS!! They need to cancel the show and cancel their speaking assignments and whatever else (Kate is ALWAYS gone these days) and move out of their 1.3 million dollar mansion and move into a modest but nice house and go to therapy and try and work it out for the sake of their kids. At least TRY. And Jon, you can stop going to the bars with the college girls. Grow up. You have eight kids. STOP GOING TO BARS!!

I mean, seriously, what are they going to do? Split the kids 50-50? I feel bad for the KIDS.

SO MAD. STILL MAD. But def. going to watch the season finale Monday night. Can't help it. (And if I change the channel during commercials, then I can say that I don't support the show financially, and screw the advertisers, right?? Right.)

Oh, THAT's how you do it.

Instruction manuals are for wussies.

According to the Book of Tracie on Life, anyway. I don't have time to sit around and actually READ how to do something. I'm pretty sure I'm smart enough to figure it out for myself. (But you should, *DUH*, read the Book of Tracie on Life).

Example A: Brita Pitcher:

Sooooo there's this thing called a filter that goes inside the Brita pitcher. I TRIED and I TRIED and I TRIED and I couldn't get the darn thing to fit inside. I guess I just wasn't strong enough (this WAS before my new found gym addiction where I am now lifting... 12 lbs!!!! On each arm!!!!).
I was SO MAD. I didn't WANT to drink Provo Water anymore... I wanted it filtered! *Starts the "I'm a 3 year old" temper-tantrum and stomps around kitchen*
Well, Fiance E came over and saw the predicament I was in.... took the filter and pitcher from my hand... turned the filter clock-wise so the right grooves in the filter lined up with the right grooves in the pictcher (WHAT?? Are you SERIOUS??), and there I stood, World's Biggest Idiot. Who could now, of course, drink filtered water. (YUM!)

That said, sometimes my own "smarts" take me months to figure something out on a gadget as opposed to reading it in 5 minutes when I first buy the product to save myself years of frustration and gray hairs.

My Camera: Fuji s800:

It's pretty, right?? Well imagine my frustration when I try to use my AWESOME camera for close up shots of my new bling bling on my left hand... and it turns. out. blurry. SO MAD. >:( *frowny face*

I mean, the ring LOOKS pretty and big, but why doesn't it can't one see the fine detail of this gorgeous ring?

Well, leave it to me to NOT open the instruction manual for my camera to see how I can make my picture better. Yes, I am proud to admit, after owning this camera for seven months, I, Tracie L. K*****, figured out ALL BY MYSELF, how to take a nice close up picture with my Fuji s800.

SUCH a difference, right? See the fine detail? Yes, yes, I'm just so smart, I know.

And also, I have an awesome food blender/processor and I've never read the instruction manual for that, and I can (mostly) work it, too.

Some Things I Think About on a Friday Night When my Fiance is Snowboarding and I'm Watching Camp Rock on the Disney Channel

1. Saying "BTW" is longer than actually saying "By The Way". Don't do it.



2. Me and my best friend Brittany are both engaged and so we're slightly wedding obsessed and I love it.



3. My little cousin Nora to the lady at church who commented on her pretty dress: "Yeah, my cousin Tracie has a lot of weddings so I get lots of pretty dresses". (Thanks, Nora. And she's only seven! Where does she come up with this stuff??? Out of the Mouths of Babes, I guess.)



4. I'm not hating "Camp Rock" as much as I thought I would; it actually reminds me of Friday nights in elementary school and junior high when I would watch the Disney Channel Orignal Movies with Sarah, like "Wish Upon a Star" (MY FAV) and "Not Quite Human" (oldie but goodie) and "Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century". I KNOW you watched them too.

5. I'm eagerly awaiting homemade brownies with homemade frosting that Brittany and Fiance Dave are making in the kitchen. My aunt's recipe... and Brittany's making me proud. She used to be incompetent enough to screw up box brownies. She's come so far.

Speaking of the most awesome brownies ever, here's the recipe:

MOST AWESOME BROWNIES EVER:
1 c. butter
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2/3 cocoa powder
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder

Melt butter, add sugar, eggs, vanilla. Add cocoa, flour, salt, baking powder. MIX. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Must go to gym after consuming.

FROSTING:
6 tbsp. butter
6 tbsp. cocoa powder
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tbsp. honey
2 cups powdered sugar

Mix together. Wait until brownies have completely cooled before you spread on top. YOU BETTER MAKE THE FROSTING TOO!! Otherwise the brownies just won't be the same.

Now eat, enjoy, then do 2 hours of cardio, 1 hour of weights!! Go, Go!

Buy Some Happiness

Whoever said money can't buy happiness

isn't spending it right.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, may I present Exhibit A:

Here I can find HAPPINESS:

the perfect jacket/shoe/shirt/pair of jeans/makeup item/dress.

No longer will Wish Lists calm my troubled mind and put to sleep the urge I fight every day to find more happiness.

It's that feeling of elation, pure ecstasy when you glance down at your shopping bags, knowing each purchase has added an extra piece of happiness into your life. There is a solid conviction that this is the "IT" item that will complete your wardrobe, never again having to fight the crowds, the young moms with seemingly limitless credit cards... (and limitless children... University Mall, anyone??)

Unfortunately, the moment of bliss is fleeting, fleeing away after the "IT" item has been worn only once.

And so, on to the mall, I must go back, and brave the crowds, searching high and low, to complete my destiny (AKA wardrobe), and to ne'er let down Stacy or Clinton, who I hold in the highest esteem in regards of what to wear... or What Not to Wear. (Laugh now, please).

So, next time they say, "Money can't buy you happiness"...

DON'T LISTEN TO THEM.

Because they obviously have never heard of Nordstrom. Or the Internet, because Nordstrom is online.

Some May Say, Only Fools Rush In.

Soooooooo...

I had the BEST Valentine's Day Ever.

I mean, it really, really, really beat out every other V-Day (especially last year).

Annnnnnnddddddd... something pretty special happened that night with my special someone.

Without further ado...

Yes, that is the World's Prettiest Diamond Ring, and yes, that is my LEFT HAND.

AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

I'm engaged (!)

(Warning: further reading could cause your head to spin and stomach to hurt with amount of chessiness/mushiness/loveiness.)

I'm engaged, I'm engaged, to the most wonderful guy I have EVER EVER EVER met! I mean, come on, even my 16 year old brother Brad likes him. And that's saying something.

"Why, Tracie, why, are you engaged so soon?" you may ask.

Some reasons are too personal to throw around on a blog like croutons in a salad (That's for you James).

Some reasons I can shout out right here:

He's nice, generous, loving, caring, compassionate, HONEST, hard-working, ambitious, friendly, respectful, awesome, amazing, wonderful... and my best friend.

(Awww... I know).

AND I've known him for three years.

Unless you've lived my life, DON'T JUDGE ME. Because you never have, and never will, know every single detail about me.

So, world, judge me if you want, but I. DON'T. CARE.

I'm the happiest I've ever been in my ENTIRE LIFE.

So be happy for me :)

The End.


I can't help falling in love...

CONTEST: Gold's Gym vs 24 Hour Fitness

Gold's Gym: Waived everything except $2o processing fee.
24 Hour: Wouldn't waive any fee, cost over $150 to sign up.
Gold's Gym: Bigger with more cardio equipment.
24 Hour: 2 stories, everything not crowded into one room.
Gold's Gym: Separate room for women to work out in.
24 Hour: Costs more per month.
Gold's Gym: Costs less per month.
24 Hour: Many places across US to transfer to.
Gold's Gym: Not as many places to transfer to.
24 Hour: See old flames there.
Gold's Gym (on 9th): See WAYYY too many old flames there.
Gold's Gym (Orem): See family members of EX there.
24 Hour: Only ONE place in Utah Valley.
Gold's Gym: 8 places in Utah Valley (off memory)
Gold's Gym: Allowed me and the BF to get on the same contract.
24 Hour: Allowed Britt and her fiance to get on the same contract.
Gold's Gym: Nicer people (totally not objective and has no real basis for evidential support)
Gold's Gym: HD TVs on almost all equipment, and shows LA Lakers games.
24 Hour: I guess they show Lakers games.

WINNER: GOLD'S GYM IN OREM.

See me there nightly at 7 PM. (ish). I'm addicted. I can't stop. I love it. I LOVE IT. I. LOVE. IT.

Top 11 Favorite Saturday-Morning Cartoons (Early 90s)

1. Animaniacs
2. Pinky and the Brain
3. The Angry Beavers
4. Tiny Toons (We're tiny, we're toony, we're all a little looney)
5. Doug
6. Muppet Babies
7. Tailspin
8. Rescue Rangers
9. Duck Tales (Ooo-ooo!)
10. Gummi Bears (Bouncing here and there and everywhere)
11. Superman (The one on the WB 12 years ago)

Am I forgetting anything? (I did NOT like Transformers or He-Man and the Masters of the Universe or GI Joe or Thundercats... those were boy-ish cartoons that my brother James watched and I HATED.)

Let Him Sleep Before He Makes Important Decisions About Our Country!!

He had to attend over 9 balls last night, and by 12 AM Eastern time, they still had 8 left to go.

Do you REALLY think that Pres. O got any sleep last night?

And first on his agenda today is to meet with top military officials, call Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian, and Jordanian leaders, make decisions about the future of our country.

Sleep-depravity is proven to be worse than being drunk.

So we have a sleep-deprived president, on his first day of the job, calling the leaders across the world, making decisions on how to run this country.

You gotta feel bad for the guy!! He must be ready to drop. I bet he's a little bit grouchy. (I would be if I didn't get any sleep, too!)

Dear Mr President,

Please get a little shut-eye before you talk to the leaders of the most war-torn countries on the planet and make important decisions affecting the future of our country.

Thank you,

Tracie