It's that time of year...

My mom is a Christmas lover to the utmost degree!  You really should see our house when she decorates.  I'll admit I've helped her when nearly forced, or guilted, into decorating in past years.  You see, decorating and being a perfectionist just don't go hand in hand. 

Last year I was alone for Christmas, my first ever Christmas alone....It pretty much sucked!!  Ok, my bro and his wife were living in the same house as me, but they were their own family - ya know, and did lots of stuff with her family.  I didn't feel like decorating, cause what was the point, it's true I'm sad to admit it, but I was such a Grinch.  I don’t even really remember listening to Christmas music...  However, have no fear, just like the movie it doesn't last. 

Granted, this year everyone but 23 will be "home" for Christmas, so that is something to celebrate, as my bro will have been off to basic training in Oklahoma for the last 2 months and my parents moved back to Hawaii (so sort of alone again) but you see, something happened… I really can’t tell you what or exactly when, but I’m happy just being me.  I was alone the week of Thanksgiving and totally embraced it!  I was alone, by choice, on Thanksgiving day and didn’t mind it one bit.  Part of embracing this aloneness I’ve discovered I actually sort of like cooking and making fresh / healthy stuff (those of you who know the complete hobby - smile now).  I don’t love it enough for an everyday thing, but when there is just one of you, you really don’t have to cook every day.  Food can last a really long time. 

It was a lovely Sunday morning, while I was alone, when this new hobby and attitude really evolved - the whole cooking, alone, Christmas loving thing.  I made the best fresh Guacamole EVER!  Thanks to the internet, and yes…Pinterest, it makes it really easy to find new recipes.  Which is what I’ve really enjoyed doing.  If you’ve never had the food before you can’t compare it, and so long as it tastes good then it’s usually pretty great.  =)  I can even just have a recipe up and kind of use it as a base without exact measurements (another thing that’s really hard for a perfectionist to do and why I probably didn’t like cooking before.)  While cooking I decided to turn on some Christmas music and oh the added joy and happiness that just came and before you know it, I was planning on decorating after church.

 

So I broke out the set of three tress, (decorating is a little easier and more fun when you have your mom’s accumulation at your disposal) that haven’t been set up for at least two years, brought out the snowmen army, turned on the tunes and turned into a happy, laughing, dancing, Christmas loving dork.  It just happens!  (Multiple times in one week means it’s serious.)  I’ve always thought music is a powerful thing, for good or bad.  It can definitely be a mood changer, or enhancer (ever had a bad day and turned on angry music to “help” your mood?).  It’s been a year or so since I’ve tried to cut out the distractions in my life so I can have quiet time to think, or just listen.  So I rarely, rarely, rarely listen to music of any kind anymore, anywhere.  So I was trying to figure out why I’ve enjoyed the Christmas music so much lately and why it makes me so happy and little kid giddy?  The answer I came up with is because of the reason for the songs, the reason for the message and the reason for the whole season, the joy of celebrating Christ’s birth.  Do I believe he was born at Christmas time, no, in fact I don’t.  But I find nothing wrong with celebrating it this time of year.  I believe in Christ and I’ll celebrate Him and His life always!!  I received a work email the other day from a vendor and in her signature block above her name it said “Merry Christmas” and below her name and info had 

And it just made me smile.  It’s true, He is the reason for the season and why most likely the happiness comes when I listen to songs celebrating his birth.  Or I just laugh at the funny songs… “your lips look soooo delicious”… seriously?!?  How can you not smile and laugh at that and maybe do a little twirl in the kitchen?

In the end, the trees aren’t decorated yet, but I turn the lights and music on every night when I get home from work.  I’m going to live with the strand of lights I can’t get to work for the life of me and just deal with it and decorate anyway (although it will bug me every time I look at the tree, but then I’ll also just smile cause apparently I’m getting over the “perfect” thing too).  I’m going to soak up this feeling and try to find ways to make it truly last all year.  And whether I’m alone or not, I’m going to be happy!....and maybe a little silly at times….and laugh at myself, to myself, at my snowmen placement.  I’ll continue to make yummy things like fresh guac, garlic lemon green beans and roasted sweet potatoes and maybe dance in the kitchen a little during the process, because you know what?  “..men are, that they might have JOY.”  Which I was told once stood for: Jesus, Others, Yourself.  If you’re happy with these three things then I think you’ll find that life is pretty good and the fickle stuff just doesn’t matter.

And with that I’ll say farewell, until I’m in the mood to write my feelings for the internet world to read once more. 

MERRY

CHRISTMAS!!

Marriage Venting

Recently a friend(s), once again, told me how “marriage is really hard…sometimes, but it’s still pretty great.”  I know she means well.  Here’s the deal.  I don’t think marriage has to be hard.  Have you ever heard basically this exact quote?  It always starts off as marriage is hard,….but it’s good too.  I think this is such a backwards way of looking at life.  Is the glass half empty or half full?  I think a lot of time we bring problems upon ourselves, be it in marriage or anything else in life.  I’m not perfect, but I’m trying to create the life I want for me.  Not the life someone else has decided for me or is trying to make me have.  If I say the glass is half full then it will be.  I will notice the good things in life instead of the things I might be missing out on or don’t have.  “Men are that they might have joy”!  Why do we freely and willingly submit ourselves to the opposite?

Now back to marriage.  I’m not married, but it’s one of the things I want more than anything else.  I’ve had a bit of time to think about it too, and no matter if I’m looking for it or not it’s something I always think about.  I’ll see something and file it away as “to do when married” or “not to do when married.”  My marriage will be GREAT, we might have some rough days…or maybe not.  I honestly don’t think they are a necessity.  I’m not perfect and Charm won’t be either, but if we focus on the good and positive things and are truly grateful to have each other, than for the most part I think marriage will be great.  No, I’m not naïve enough to think things will go perfectly all the time.  I’m still a girl (with hormones, unfortunately).  I’ve lived with 3 brothers my whole life so I don’t think I’ll die or go completely crazy living with a man.  Will it take adjusting, absolutely!  Will it take give and take and patience, you betchya!  But will it be worth it?  COMPLETELY!  I wish as I talked to married friends about marriage or just in passing as in times past the words that would came would be “Marriage is awesome/great/wonderful… yeah, sometimes we have to work on things, but oh man (!) so, so good!  Don’t you think that would strengthen people’s marriages?  We might just be a better world if we all started seeing the world half full instead of half empty. 

I haven’t written the promised post about the blog I totally love, www.ablogaboutlove.com  (this may or may not qualify as that post).  It will change your life…if you let it.  They believe in half full, or dare I say completely full.  The reason I love reading their blog so much is because they are happy people, and they practice what they preach.  Do you ever have those times when you think one way and you’re not sure if anyone else does?  That’s why I love this blog so much!  Their thinking is so inline with how I’ve been thinking lately and it’s so encouraging to be around other people who think and feel and share about the happiness in life.  “We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves happy.  The amount of work is the same.”  -Carlos Castaneda.  I may have found that quote on their blog, if not theirs it was someone else’s I’ve picked up reading.  I’m such a quote freak, always have been, and I totally love that one.  It’s just like it takes less muscles to smile than it does to frown, yet how many people have frown lines instead of smile lines when they are older?  Negativity will only breed itself and I think the same is true for positivity and happiness.  Choose to be happy and with some work (everything takes work) you will be.  See the good in yourself, others and life and you will be amazed at the person you are and can be, people you know, and those you don’t.  And if you don’t think you can be a happy person right off the bat, at least remove yourself from harmful situations/people and start surrounding yourself with happy and positive people (even if it’s by reading their words via books, blogs, etc.) before you know it, they just might start rubbing off on to you.

Well, until next time I have a venting urge, keep on, keepin on!....Maybe with a smile and half full this time.

Truth and Knowledge

I know how to kill 11 million people….Cause I recently read, How Do You Kill 11 Million People. =)  Quite an interesting read, one that I think more people probably should read, think about and apply to their lives / the time we live in.  Especially, if like me, you love the country that we are privileged to live in.  Truth, there is so much power in it.  Yet, I feel we all too often shy away from it.  “The truth shall make you free”!  John8:32  I hope we will all begin to question those in authority who continually lie to us, let us all stand up and be one in the cause of truth…and freedom, since truth makes us free.  Let us find out for ourselves what we want to know instead of relying on others, to do our part, to be truthful.  I have work to do, I don’t think I’m a big liar, but I know sometimes I will withhold information or not tell the whole story.  Why?  Cause it makes me (or others) look bad, or because I don’t want to tell you (whoever that may be) everything, or because I’ll get in “trouble,” or because someone might think less of me, or any other reason we might come up with.  Who cares!  No one is perfect.  We are all here to learn, to make mistakes, to grow and become better, often times by learning from our mistakes, or the mistakes of others (ie: if you see someone’s misery why would you have to make the same decision they made and see if you get a different outcome.  I’ve learned much from the mistakes of others!! And I am grateful for their mistakes and my learning without having to do).  How can we become better and learn if we lie to ourselves or others?  We can’t, lies in any form will only bring us down.  I’ve always thought what difference can I make, I’m just one person.  But this one person is going to try a lot harder at being true to myself and others.

With truth comes knowledge.  Which I think knowledge is power.  Just like the truth shall make you free.  If you have knowledge you are powerful.  Not in a power hungry crazed way, but in an awareness and enlightenment and appreciation of all the things around you, kind of way.  If you KNOW something, there is power in that.  Silly example, most of us should know the sky is blue and no one would be able to convince us (lie to us) otherwise.  This is power.  With the extra time I’ve had lately I’ve become “one of those” people who reads blogs… One of the reason I haven’t stopped reading them, is because of the knowledge that I’ve been gaining.  Some of it could be classified as “weird” or “crazy” – at least to most of my generation - but I’m loving it!!  And the internet, in addition to bloggers, has made obtaining the knowledge so incredibly easy!!  Go back to the learning from others statement earlier, people have tried the things they blog about and have done research to find answers, do I still need to do my own, of course.  Once again, this is made easy by a few clicks here and there.  It has been enlivening to learn new things, to have others confirm things that I’ve thought or wondered about, to keep my mental wheels turning instead of just sitting doing nothing, waiting for the next project to come up.  Am I going to turn into a semi health nut?...Probably!!  Am I going to annoy people with the newly acquired knowledge that I have?...Most likely I've already done that.  It makes me happy and I tend to think happiness is contagious and I just want to share the good things I find with those I love…like…or work with.  I’m loving learning new things, things that are applicable in many/all areas of my life.  Including learning new things that I love, like trail running (not found on a blog but from a friend), that I can run without it hurting my feet!!  And running downhill is invigorating and fun.  I love exercising outside, especially after being stuck inside all day.  Oh man!  So many good things in the world to enjoy and to learn and to fight for freedom and truth!!

Some of my recent reads: Apple cider vinegar with "the mother" (it'll cure you of errythang), cloth diapers (I have had plans to do this, now I just know there are cute ones), 12 reasons to quit smoking (cause this is applicable to me...from a womens health magazine and sent to 2 men...), green periods (interesting), choosing happiness (Awesome!), saying NO to vaccinations (I've always kind of had a problem with vaccinations, I think it stems from hating needles, but also hating being injected with diseases), baking soda shampoo, Tanzania, fermented fish oils (with a side of Brazil nuts - have to read the comments to get...hahahaha), news ...and conference (Uplifting!).  Just to name a few. 

To the Woman in my life

The one who gave me life, my dear sweet Mom.  I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, for all of you, but I have THE best mom in the world.  You can think that you might have the best, but I’m sorry, unless you share my mother, it’s just not true.  She is also the coolest mom around – I mean seriously, did your mom wakeboard on her 50^th birthday?  I didn’t think so!  She is truly my best friend.  She knows me so well and so often has the right things to say and at exactly the right time.  I’m pretty sure the umbilical cord was attached for nearly 28 years (until she moved away from me to Hawaii).  But what can I say?  I still needed the nutrients; knowledge, love, understanding, acceptance, friendship, patience, etc. etc., that she had to offer me.  The saying really is true, you never outgrow the need for your mother – and I haven’t even started my own family yet!  She might think I could make it on my own, cause she’s raised me that well, but I hope and pray that day never comes. 

Although she learned before I was even 2 that she couldn’t make me do anything I didn’t want to, she taught me how to make the correct decisions.  She taught me how to have faith, believe in and trust in my Heavenly Father.  She taught me that I am a daughter of God, that he knows who I am and loves me.  She taught me to believe in myself and always try (cause steers try) do my best.  She taught me unconditional love and acceptance by example.  She taught me service, by helping others (especially counseling – or just listening).  She taught me how to work.  She taught me how to cook.  She was my education teacher for many years.  She’s taught me how to be an excellent wife, mom and grandma and to spoil the people in my life (my dad, bless his heart, just can’t function as well without one or both of us).  She taught me to love the outdoors.  She is credited for the beginnings of my love of football…which led to all sports.  I could probably keep going on and on but guess this is good for now.

To all the women in my life I’ve learned little bits and pieces from you all, but my mom takes the cake and no one will ever compare.  I know I am VERY VERY blessed to have such a wonderful woman, example and friend in my mom.  I will never take it for granted because I know others aren’t as fortunate as me (in all seriousness this time), and that makes me more grateful every day.  Thanks for being you mom, for learning and growing right alongside of me a lot of the time.  Thanks for loving me and teaching me everything you have thus far, and being willing to continue to teach me – and iron my clothes.  You really are the best a girl could ever hope for as a mom!

To the men in my life

I mentioned before about the slowness at work and all the extra thinking time I’ve had lately and now that I’m a blogger (still used lightly) my thoughts are turning to journal entries/blog posts.  Here’s one that’s been brewing this week.

To my Heavenly Father – Thank you for LIFE!  For the amazing earthly family I belong to.  Thank you for my amazing health.  Thank you for the trials and experiences that have made me who I am.  Thank you for the truthfulness of the gospel, for the power of the priesthood, for my savior and for your plan.  Most of all, thank you for loving me…just the way I am.

To my earthly father – Thank you for being you.  You’re more than a girl could hope or wish for as a dad!  Thank you for being my friend and mentor too, for always believing in me and wanting the best for me.  Thank you for honoring your priesthood and willingly using it whenever I needed/wanted.  Thank you for loving me and supporting me, for teaching me the value of hard work and what integrity is, more by example than by words.  Thank you for loving mom.  Thank you for the inside jokes, smiles, laughs and tears (they happen more frequently these days, you big ‘ol teddy bear.)

To my brothers – Thanks for always looking out for me and for loving me.  Thanks for being some of my best friends and letting me be a part of your lives.  Thanks for loving your wives.  23, thank you for your happiness, for letting us tease you for being worthy and willing to serve the Lord.

To RD – Thank you for loving me in your own messed up way.  I give you partial credit for the point in my life where I truly became ME.  You helped me develop a deep and meaningful relationship with my Heavenly Father.  Sometimes I thought I wasted some good years on being your friend, but I think I might be a little like wine and get better with time.  When you called last year and asked why I wasn’t married yet and why I wouldn’t date you, you should’ve known I’d answer honestly and although I’m sure I broke your heart by telling you, you didn’t have what I need, it was true.  And telling you that, made me grow (and hurt a little for you) too.

Sugar – Thank you for loving me (in a STRICTLY friendship way).  Thank you for not being afraid of me and for getting me!  I still wonder how you did/do it.  Thanks for our shared silliness and black screens (even if mine works WAY better than yours).  Thank you for possessing the one quality that is so hard for me to find, the one I will not compromise on - you know I only have 5.  Thank you for the use of our nicknames, even after marriage.  Thank you for being you.

To my SG – Thank you for giving me hope in men again.  You know what I was used to dealing with in that department and you were such a breath of fresh air!  Thank you for your respect, for being polite (or worried of offending), for your love (you’ve never said it and I don’t think you will, but I feel it), for the realness I feel our friendship is, for our shared love of my shoes. =)  Thank you for putting up with me being sooo verbose and for the many times you’ve made me smile….I pray for you.

Charm – (enter vulnerability) Quite a few years ago I heard a saying, “stop looking for Mr. Right and start being Mrs. Right” since then I’ve really tried hard to do this.  I’m trying to be the woman you need.  Many people tell me I’m quite a catch (try not to let that go to your head), so you’d think I’d already arrived, but you’re not here, so clearly I still have work to do.  I’ll keep trying, I won’t give up (!) because I know you’ll be worth the wait!  But if you only knew the love that’s reserved for you and that I pray for you frequently… And this is why I post to you today, start at the “So if you’re single” paragraph.

I’m OBSESSED with a blog, www.ablogaboutlove.com there’s so much good stuff in it.  I’ve always liked happy people, have you noticed they are contagious?  These two are that and such deep thinkers and openly sharing their heart and souls.  Maybe that’s why I felt enough courage to write the above.  There could possibly be a whole post dedicated to this blog in the future… And now if you’re here, it’s not just SG who has to put up with all the words and things I seem to feel the need to say.  Maybe one day there will be a short post…

Lighthearted thoughts of late...cause seriousness is brewing...

Things I love:

A new love - Most recently I discovered Demi tops.  I love, love, love them!!  So much that I wish they came in many (ok, all) colors.  You could easily be way ahead of me on this one, I'm not that great with keeping up with the latest and greatest fashion items.  But, if you happen to not be a huge shopper, shop on a mission and/or are just slow to catch on to some things (I'm all of these) let me introduce you to one of my new favorite clothing items.  If you are a layer, by choice (with the help of religion), I think these are a wardrobe must have, especially as the weather is warming up.  I found mine at Shade online, yes I did buy every color in the cap and tank (and that was without having worn them yet.)  You're welcome Shade, for the free advertising.  Although I'm sure they can be found elsewhere, it was your free shipping and free returns that lured me to you.

A continued love - Old people.  I really just love them.  I love the light in their eyes.  I love their wrinkly and lose skin (I probably won't like it when I get there).  Their stories, oh their stories, and how they can go on and on and on and jump from one topic to the next, sometimes so fast that you can't keep up.  I love their experience and knowledge.  

A few reasons as to why they're on my mind recently.  An older gentleman in my family ward came by last Sunday to see his missionary (my little brother Curtis) and give him a little something to help ($). I've seen him around, he always comes and tills our garden in the springtime - usually without being asked, but I've never talked with him.  My whole family was in the living room and he sat down and the stories just started flowing.  It was entertaining!  Although I made faces at my brothers and had to keep from snickering a time or two I really enjoyed how he just rambled on. 

A friend recently posted one of my favorite sayings, by one of my favorite people, Sister Hinckley, on her blog.  Having never met this woman I love her sooo much!!  She was the cutest thing!

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived" 

Amen Sister!

Lastly, I went to the Utes Red and White football game on Saturday and while walking into the stadium I was behind three older men, holding hands, walking to the stadium.  It.Was. ADORABLE!!  I so badly wanted to take a picture but we were almost to the gates and they wouldn't all be able to get through holding hands, so I didn't even try to find the phone and get a picture.  It is a still shot in the memory for sure.  Why do I love this?  It's cute, seriously it was.  It was just genuine, friendship, love, support, no care for what others thought (you think you'd ever see three 30 something men walking holding hands) and a love of the game. 

A love-hate:  I painted my fingernails while watching the RSL soccer game on Saturday night.  Today, not even a full three days later, all but two of my nail's polish has been peeled off, the other two that lasted the day at work will be gone before bed.  Mostly peeled off today because there were so many chips gone that they were driving me crazy.  I don't know if it's because my nails are longer and so they bend when I ding them which makes them chip.  Or if I'm just really hard on my nails.  I wish I could figure out the problem because I really do prefer painted nails but alas maybe they're not for me.

Becoming a Blogger...

The past couple weeks it's been kind of slow at work so I've been trying to find useful things to keep me busy.  The slowness also means I have more thinking time, not always a good thing.  In the spare time sometimes I remember to look at others' blogs, some I've always enjoyed reading, but I've always wondered if I really had anything to say and if anyone would care to read it.  After talking to one blogger friend, earlier in the week, I've decided everything I have to say is important...or at least we'll pretend so, to pass the time.  While reading blogs yesterday one of my friends had this list on hers and said she was going to do one a day, she's behind like a week, but I thought using the list might help me have things to write about when I post.  Also, it might help me to open up a little instead of keeping everything in.  If you know me, this is kind of a problem sometimes.  So here it is, the beginning of something...maybe, we'll see how consistent I am.

20 random facts about me

1- I can be a really random person.  For instances, this is what I just wrote on a co-workers birthday card, My neighbor has a circular driveway. He can't get out. Have a good one!
2- I think I have a selective photographic memory.  One of the things I'm really good at remembering are birthdays.
3- I have a really bad habit of not shaving my legs, yet I could be addicted to laser hair removal and waxing.
4- I'm a sucker for facial hair on guys, if it's good facial hair, not the sporadic gross facial hair, to the extent that if I'm driving and see a guy anywhere around he gets a second look if there's facial hair.
5- Speaking about guys, one of the physical things I'm attracted to on a guy are his hands.  I used to not mention this to others because they thought I was weird (for this post we'll say random, ha ha).  However, I've found other girl who feel the same way.  Like you can tell a lot about someone from their eyes (which I also really like) I think you can tell a lot about someone by their hands.
6- I'm a VERY observant person.  To the point that it annoys me sometimes.
7- I love a good deal.  Especially when using coupons and shopping grocery ads!  One of my biggest achievements was buying Kellogg's fruit filled mini wheats (one of my favorite cereals normally around $4) for $0.98 a box.  I think I got 9 boxes.
8- I have very few favorites.  Sometimes I think having a favorite limits you.
9- I own a motorcycle trike, his name is Phil.  He's also for sale.  Why?  When I finally got licensed last year (I may or may not have been riding for 4 years without) I had a love affair with his 2 wheeled cousin.  So if you know anyone who might be interested in him, send them my way.  (If I sell him then you'd be able to meet some new "guy" soon after.)
10- One of my most meaningful and what I feel is a real friendship is with someone who I've spent VERY limited in person time with.
11- Supposedly my eyes change color when I'm really mad.
12- I have nearly a bazillion inside jokes with my family members.  No really, it's not that much of an exaggeration.  They are mostly one liners and almost every conversation, if it's very long, will contain one of them.
13- I was hit / run over by a car when I was almost 4.  My mom was 8 months pregnant and jumped a 3 or 4' fence to get to me.  Yep, I'm that special!
* It's not easy coming up with 20 random things about yourself.  Sheesh, and I thought I was kind of unique.
14- One of my favorite sayings, in the right context, is I need a beer!  Yet, I've never had one and never will.  But the P.I.C. and I went and got one last night-cause it's just been one of those weeks. (thank you Coldstone, you're actually cheaper than a beer anyway.)
15- I willingly admit that for 3 years I've brain washed my niece with Aunt Lettie is favorite.  I occasionally get her to say it (I think she believes it) but since we are really very stubbornly similar she likes to tease me and not say it. Stupid cuteness of smart children.  Little does she know they are the magic words and would get anything she wants if she just said it, but then again she usually gets whatever she wants from me anyway.  The joys of being an aunt.
16- I honestly thought I would be married with children by this age.  I've started and am planning on continuing, to enjoy the fact that I'm not.  (see next "random" thing.)
17- I currently have a spending habit!  One that I really don't feel very guilty about.  I used to be very stingy and tight with my money.  First out of choice, (and good parentals teaching me good habits) second out of need (was sort of unemployed / trying to find the next career for a few years) and now I enjoy very much not having to ask permission of anyone else of how to spend my money.  Needless to say, this year I've been on a cruise, to Hawaii, purchased soccer and football season tickets, am going to Washington DC in May, and maybe I'll fit in one other trip before the end of the year, including a few various shopping sprees-not just clothes.  Have I mentioned I'm really okay with where I'm currently at in life?
18- I'm a soccer fan!  I've always liked sports, soccer just wasn't one I watched or was that interested in until I went to a few RSL games last year.  There's just something about being in a rowdy stadium that I love.  I might not know all the ins and outs yet, I happen to sit by a few who can tell me whatever I don't understand yet, but it's fun, really quite technical - I'm amazed at the foot work and accuracy the players have, and have you seen soccer players...or even some fans for that matter?  Yes please!
19- Except for diet food, there are only about 5 things I salt before I eat.
*FINALLY* (for you and me)
20- For lack of anything better, being lunch time, thinking about a recently purchased groupon and wanting to be done with this.  I love, love, LOVE chips and salsa/dips and/or crackers and cheese.  I'm fairly certain you could live on these alone!

Whew!  So turns out blogging is harder than I thought.  Stay tuned...Maybe I'll get better at it.