Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

Maren's Chocolate 

Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

I missed blogging in the months of June and July due to my working at scout camp for the summer. (Not that I write anything regularly anyways....) 

But, I'm back!

While thinking about how I need to be doing homework and getting my internship portfolio done so that I can actually receive my diploma, I decided that I needed to create something of the chocolate variety. After putting some thought into it, I decided to make a recipe for chocolate peanut butter cheesecake. Three of my favorite things in one place!

Delicious!

Because of how delicious it was, I've decided to share the recipe with you.

Ingredient List:

2 - 8oz. blocks of cream cheese (I used fat-free for less calories, and it still tasted pretty great!)
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
3/4 cup peanut butter (you can add more or less depending on what you like)
16-18 Reese's peanut butter cups, smashed
9" chocolate graham cracker crust (I used store bought for the sake of time, but you can also make this at home. One recipe can be found here.)
1/4 cup milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°F
Mix cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla with beaters until well blended.
Add eggs and blend smooth.
Add the milk and peanut butter and beat until smooth.
Add 12 crushed peanut butter cups and mix in until they are evenly spread throughout mixture.
Pour mixture carefully into the crust.
Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes or until center is almost set.
Refrigerate 3+ hours.
Garnish with remaining crushed peanut butter cups.
Melt chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Drizzle over entire cheesecake.

Enjoy! 

End of May

End of May 

Michael Buble

It is nearly the end of May. This song title and lyrics seem to apply pretty well to life right now, so I thought I'd share.

USU Graduation

USU Graduation

Figure Skating

Figure Skating

This semester at Utah State University, I was enrolled in a beginning figure skating class. I wish I had a video of us on the first day to show you for comparison. The majority of my class could barely skate forward without holding onto the wall. By the end of the class, we could do all kinds of fun tricks.

Below, I'll address some of the benefits of figure skating. But first, I would like to share a video of us performing in the local club's spring show. The theme was "Celebrations." Each group represented some occasion that we celebrate throughout the year (Easter, Valentines, Christmas, Birthday, Wedding, etc.). As we were performing as a group, we had to have a relatively simple routine that only included moves that everybody in the class could do. Maybe I'll post some footage of just me some time in the future. I start in the back of the line on audience left. White sweater, black vest, red hat, scarf, and gloves.

 
Benefits I have seen from participating in figure skating:

1. Flexibility - The last time I was able to touch my head to my knee while stretching was almost 10 years ago. Just skating (with no extra stretching) for about 3 or 4 weeks got me to that point again.
2. Strength - It takes some amount of strength to skate forward/backward. Even more strength is needed for skating on one foot, spinning, and performing other tricks.
3. Balance - I notice a significant improvement in my balance. Even off the ice. It's something that I can feel, but it's hard to explain.
4. Confidence - There is no other activity I have ever participated in that has increased my confidence more than figure skating. Watching myself improve so much over such a little amount of time has been very rewarding.

Happy People

22 Things Happy People Do Differently

I originally saw this article on Pinterest. The picture led me here. I am not sure of who the author is, but I liked a lot of what they said. I will share part of the article below, but if you want to read more, you're going to have to click the link above and read it from where I got it. 

"There are two types of people in the world: those who choose to be happy, and those who choose to be unhappy. Contrary to popular belief, happiness doesn’t come from fame, fortune, other people, or material possessions. Rather, it comes from within. The richest person in the world could be miserable while a homeless person could be right outside, smiling and content with their life. Happy people are happy because they make themselves happy. They maintain a positive outlook on life and remain at peace with themselves.

The question is: how do they do that?
It’s quite simple. Happy people have good habits that enhance their lives. They do things differently. Ask any happy person, and they will tell you that they …

1. Don’t hold grudges.

2. Treat everyone with kindness.

3. See problems as challenges.

4. Express gratitude for what they already have.

6. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

7. Speak well of others.

8. Never make excuses.

9. Get absorbed into the present.

10. Wake up at the same time every morning.

11. Avoid social comparison.

12. Choose friends wisely.

13. Never seek approval from others.

14. Take the time to listen.

15. Nurture social relationships.

16. Meditate.

17. Eat well.

18. Exercise.

19. Live minimally.

20. Tell the truth.

21. Establish personal control.

22. Accept what cannot be changed."

Grandpa's Funeral

A Bittersweet Farewell

Yesterday morning we had the funeral for my grandpa. It was beautiful, and there was a really good turnout. The chapel was almost full. When we sung the opening and closing hymns, I felt like I'd never heard a congregation sing so loudly and nicely before. Following the service at the church, we drove to the cemetery where my grandpa will be buried next to his sweetheart, my grandma. I thought I would share a photo of the headstone and then share my grandma's obituary.

Herald Journal, The (Logan, UT) - May 17, 2002

Deceased Name: Jeanette Pulley Andersen PROVIDENCE, Utah Jeanette Pulley Andersen, 69, beloved mother, devoted wife and constant friend passed away May 15, 2002, following a courageous struggle with cancer.

She was born January 24, 1933, in Logan to Fonda Rigby and Orion Sylvester Pulley. She was the oldest of 10 children.

Jeanette was raised in Logan, attended Utah State University and graduated with a degree in elementary education. She served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the eastern states mission. Upon her return, she taught school in Farmington. She met her future husband, Derrell Milo Andersen, at a dance in Salt Lake City. They were married for time and all eternity in the Logan LDS Temple on June 14, 1963. They later moved to Grover, Wyo., where they spent 35 happy years raising five daughters.

Jeanette taught first grade in the Lincoln County School District for 18 years, proving many times over to be an outstanding teacher. She retired in 1998. In the spring of 1999, Jeanette and Derrell moved to the sunshine and blossoms of Providence, where many warm and friendly people welcomed and loved them, making this town truly home.

Jeanette served in every auxiliary of the church, holding various positions. At the onset of her illness, she was Primary president, a calling she loved dearly.

Jeanette will always be remembered for her ever present positive attitude and cheerful smile, her willingness to do whatever was asked of her and her life of selfless service. She possessed an extraordinary gift for writing which was recognized statewide. She made everything beautiful, from the music she played to the paintings she created; from her lovely flower gardens to her delicious home cooked meals; from the classrooms of school to those of life. She made a positive difference in the lives of all she came in contact with. This rare soul will be missed by those who know and love her.

She is survived by her husband, Derrell; daughters, Tonya Andersen, DeEtte Andersen, Janell (Lyle) Johnson, Beth Andersen and Deenna (Scott) Tolentino; seven grandchildren; her mother, Fonda; brothers and sisters, Arden (Carole), Melvin, Harvey (Dixie), Karl (Virginia), Steven (Cynthia), Adrynne (Walton) Muir and Camille (Mark) Crookston. She is preceded in death by her father and two infant brothers.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 18, 2002, at 10 a.m. in the Providence 4th Ward building at 100 N. 100 East in Providence, with Bishop Blaine Fuhriman conducting. A viewing will be held Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center, Logan and at the church on Saturday from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Interment will be in the Providence Cemetery under the direction of Allen-Hall Mortuary.

Herald Journal, The (Logan, UT) Date: May 17, 2002 Record Number: 779743 Copyright, 2002, Cache Valley Publishing LLC

Grandpa's Obituary

Derrell Milo Andersen (1926 - 2013)

PROVIDENCE -March 20, 2013, Derrell Milo Andersen, 86, returned to his Heavenly Father after saying goodbye for the last time to his loving family here on earth.

The youngest of four children, Derrell was born April 2, 1926, to Milo and Catherine Collings Andersen in Fairview, Wyo.

Derrell was a hard worker who also enjoyed nature by horseback in the mountains above the family's homestead in Grover, Wyo.

After graduating high school, Derrell served an LDS mission in Denmark. Several years after his return, he moved to SLC. It was during this time that he attended a church dance where, as he was about to quietly exit the building unnoticed, he met and fell in love with a beautiful red-head, Jeanette Pulley, who became his eternal companion on June 14, 1963, in the Logan LDS temple.

They returned to Grover where five daughters were blessed to join their union. It was often commented by others that the Andersen home was a place of refuge where anyone was welcome: the hungry, the lost, the outcast, and strangers alike. When they sold their home and moved to Providence, Utah, in 1999, the new owners in Grover said they would never sell that house because the walls seemed to ooze love.

Derrell was a jack of all trades: ranching, farming, logging, postal worker, tax consultant, engine repair and much more; he taught everything he could to his daughters. But the greatest thing he taught his family was to love their neighbor more than themselves. It didn't matter who the person was or what they believed, he reached out to them.

To the very end, Derrell immersed himself in serving the Lord to the best of his ability. Even with oxygen and a walker in tow, he could be found at the temple, family history center, or doing service projects within his limited ability. 

Derrell is survived by his daughters: Tonya (Victor) Fraga, Houston, Texas; DeEtte (Eric) Voellger, Bonney Lake, Wash.; Janell (Lyle) Johnson, Logan, Utah; Beth Andersen, Providence, Utah; Deenna (Scott) Tolentino, Garden City, Utah; and 13 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jeanette, two sisters (Baby Laura Andersen and Mae Hardy), brother (Merle), and his parents.

A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 24, 2013 at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E Center St, in Logan, UT. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday, March 25, 2013, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 420 W. 100 North in Providence, Utah. A viewing will precede the funeral from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at that church. Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.allenmortuaries.net.

Written by my mother, Janell.

Published in Logan Herald Journal from March 23 to March 25, 2013

Copied from the website here. 

My Grandpa

My Grandpa

For your enjoyment, here is my favorite photo of me with my grandpa. This was taken at my little sister's wedding that took place just over two years ago.

He is my mother's father. My grandmother passed away in the year 2002. Since then, he has lived in a house about 15 minutes away from my family's home. A few years ago, because of health problems, my aunt moved here from Indiana to live and take care of him.

His health slowly got worse as the years passed. In his final year, he was diagnosed with Colon Cancer.

Grandpa had a passion for family history and temple work. He spent countless hours giving service in the Logan temple until his health got worse and prevented him from leaving his home.

Despite his many health complications, including the fact that his hands were so painful he could only type with one or two fingers at a time, he continued to spend hours on his home computer indexing names for family history work. In the year preceding his death, he indexed over 51,000 names.

On Tuesday, March 22, 2013 I spent about 5 hours at the bedside of my dying grandfather. He passed away that night at about 12:55am, a couple of hours after I had left his home.

One part of me feels like it was a blessing he was released from his pain and suffering. I am grateful that he was able to pass on to the next life where he gets to live with my grandmother again. I know without a shadow of a doubt that he is in a much happier place.

But that doesn't stop me from missing him and hurting on the inside. I am so grateful for all of the lessons he taught, all the love he gave to me, his family, friends, and acquaintances, and for the positive differences he made in the lives of all those around him. He will be missed here on Earth.

Valentines 2013

Valentines 2013

Remember my post from last Valentines Day? I'd just like to start out this post by saying that I still believe everything that I wrote last year, and I still believe that Valentines Day is for everybody, whether or not they are in a relationship. There are so many different types of love out there that you can celebrate.

Besides being forced to dress up and be escorted by the boys to "Valentines Tea" in elementary school, I have always enjoyed Valentines. I always loved decorating the fun boxes for classmates to drop Valentines into. I always loved filling up my friends boxes with candy and cards. I usually give some kind of service and/or buy candy or small gifts for my family members. In the past, I have always had a fun time. But this year really sucks.

Back at the end of July or beginning of August, there was a boy who started talking about spending Valentines Day with me. It was something I hadn't even thought of yet (since it was over 6 months away). He talked about how he was already planning for it and was so excited because he had never had anybody special on Valentines before. He mentioned it multiple times after that as well. On Halloween, he brought it up, and even implied that he already had a gift for me. It was mentioned again when we exchanged presents around Christmas.

Because of all the things he has said to me, I have been really looking forward to it. Out of anticipation, I bought a really great gift for him about 2 months ago. But now that it's Valentines Day, he hasn't said anything about it to me. I suppose I'll still give him the gift next time I see him. 
Or possibly smash it on the freeway. 

So, today is going to be really hard for me. I have a hard time dealing with disappointment. And the fact that I've been looking forward to it so much for so long makes it so much harder for me to get over. The day is still young. I am hoping to be able to cheer up and enjoy the holiday despite the stinging disappointment and feelings of abandonment and rejection. Wish me luck!

I wish you all luck on your Valentines Day adventures!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

This I Believe - I Believe in the Scout Law

This I Believe

From the website: "This I Believe is an international organization engaging people in writing and sharing essays describing the core values that guide their daily lives. Some 100,000 of these essays, written by people from all walks of life, are archived here on our website, heard on public radio, chronicled through our books, and featured in weekly podcasts. The project is based on the popular 1950s radio series of the same name hosted by Edward R. Murrow"

For a class at school, we were assigned to write a belief statement on any topic of our choice. This is the first one that I've ever done, but thought I'd share.

I Believe in the Scout Law 

As a girl with no previous scouting experience, adjusting to living and working at a camp for the Boy Scouts of America as part of the staff was difficult at first. It's a culture that only those who have been a part of it can fully understand. There are many songs, skits, and traditions that seem silly and maybe even embarrassing at first. It's not for everyone. But eventually, if you stick with it, you can't imagine life without them and you find yourself using them on a regular basis, even on the off-season.

But there is one aspect of working at scout camp that I think is absolutely applicable to every person. The only real rule at camp is that you follow the scout law at all times. A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. When everyone in camp is striving to follow the scout law, everything runs smoothly. We are all friends and we are always helping each other out. All the work gets done, and the campers are happy.

I like to imagine a world where all people follow the principles laid out in the scout law. Can you imagine what it would be like if all leaders and politicians were trustworthy, all friends were loyal, and every person was helpful, friendly, courteous, and kind to one another? What if everyone was cheerful, clean, and reverent? Brave enough to stand up for themselves, others, and for what they believed in? This is what I think a perfect world would look like.

The world is not perfect. And neither are we. But each of us, as individuals, can make the choice to be the best people that we can possibly be. We have the agency to decide how we want to live. I, for one, choose to exemplify a lifestyle that follows the values taught in the scout law. I hope that it makes a difference in the lives of those around me. But even if it doesn't, I know it will make a positive difference in my own life. If more people chose to try to live the scout law, I think it would be contagious. The world would be a happier place. This I believe.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2013!

Just like every year before now, I am hoping that this is going to be the most awesome year ever. I'm going to do what I can to make that happen.

To do that, I'm going to set some goals, or New Years Resolutions.

I am probably not going to record them here on my blog, but I'm going to set them. And then I'm going to stick with them. 

A lot of the resolutions I've set in the past have been kind of big things. They are usually dropped and/or forgotten within about a week. So this year, I'm going to do things a little bit differently.

Here's what I'm going to do:

1. Set a few big main goals for the new year that are realistic.
2. Set smaller goals that support steps for accomplishing the big goals.
3. Reward myself for completing the smaller goals.
4. Check up on myself at least once a month. But weekly would be good too.

We'll see how it goes. Another thing that I have learned in the past is to not set goals that depend in any way on any other specific person. Make them goals that you can accomplish either on your own, or with any random person. 

Bad Example: I'm going to work out once a week with Sam.

Good Example: I'm going to work out once a week.

(That way, if Sam flakes out on me one week, it doesn't ruin my goal.)

What are some of your strategies for sticking to, 
and accomplishing your New Years resolutions?