Fast Food Tippers

Thanks to everyone who voted on my poll about tipping when ordering food to-go. The votes were 1-6. 1 Said to tip, and 6 said no.

This is something that commonly bothers me, because I'm always at a crossroads as to what to do. Usually I'm ordering to-go food from a fairly nice place, and they always add that little line on the receipt for a tip amount, but those places, I'm sure, are paying those people (not waiters and waitresses, but cashiers) on an hourly (not tip based) basis. And a lot of times they ask you to sign and add up the total before they give you your food, then I get really worried thinking "If I don't put a tip, what will they do to my food?" You know they're going to look at the receipt before they give you your food.

When I worked at a Mexican resturant as a cashier/to-go girl I never expected a tip, but when I did get one on occasion it was very nice; still I never expected it 'cause well, how hard was it to ring them up and hand over the food? Not hard at all, seriously it was hardly work. But then on the other hand, when I worked at Olive Garden there was a girl that would specifically work the to-go's, and she said she made bank in tips. That she even had repeat customers that would fork over $30 in tips each time (of course those were much larger orders). But for most places, to-go is hardly any work, so I don't really feel like it's worth tipping.

So, it always bothered me...what is the kosher thing to do? What does everyone usually do? Well, that's why I put up the poll. I decided that whatever the majority came out to be, is what I am going to do from now on. So, unless I get really good service from my next to-go person (which I always feel deserves a little something extra), I'll be doing the common thing from now on. No more tipping when I pick up my to-go food. I've joined the NTTGFF (Non-Tipping To-Go Food Force), and I'm feeling pretty good. :)

~Crystal

"You're just like a Love Story"

So, the other night Ben and I had a funny experience while we were at the pool (trying to get my feet to go down in swelling). There were a few people there that were drinking and being quite loud, so we decided to go over to the hot tub and kind of go away from them. (And no, I was not in the hot tub...I'm at least smart enough to know that you don't do that when pregnant...;) Ben got in, and I just put my feet in to keep warm.

Anyway, two of the ladies (one older and one younger), and one of their daughters (like 12 yrs old) came over to the hot tub with their drinks (and no, the 12 year old didn't have a drink). They noticed that I was pregnant and asked the usual "How much longer?", "Is it a boy or a girl?" all that good stuff. This was the following conversation that ensued:

Her (to me): "Is it your first?"

Me: "Yep :)"

Her (turning to Ben): "Is it your first?"

Ben looks at me and says: "Well, yes. We're married."

Her (Out of no where she asks): "So, do you two go to church?"

Me: "Yes, we do."

Her: "What church?"

Ben: "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints"

Her: "Oh, Mormons, right?"

Us: "Yep :)"

Her: "So, is it true that you guys don't drink or smoke, or any of that?"

Ben: "Well, yeah."

Other older lady: "Wow, that's great. I smoke and some days I wake up and wish that I could quit, but it's just too hard, 'cause it's so addicting. I know my kids won't smoke though 'cause they really hate that I smoke. I'd like to think that they won't drink either (as she takes another sip of vodka; 12 year old doesn't say anything)."

Younger lady: "So, you really don't drink coffee?"

Ben: "No, we don't."

Younger lady: "Then what do you drink??? Like tea or something?"

Ben smiles (I hold back a giggle) "Well, we don't drink green tea or black tea."

Me: "Herbal tea sometimes."

Ben: "Mainly just water and juice."

Older lady: "Wow."

Younger lady smiles and says: "I hope everything goes really well for you guys, I really do. Wow, (turning to me) you're so cute pregnant, (turning to older lady) look at her she's just glowing!" (Older lady smiles and they giggle together. Ben and I smile at each other)

Older lady: "You know you're just like a love story from a movie. My daughter (points to 12 year old, who looks down kinda embarrassed to be mentioned) loves those kinds of movies and stories. I like 'em too!"

Us (smiling): "Well, thanks. We're very happy."

Then we wished them well and went home to bed. They were nice people.

It's true what they said though. We are living a love story, the best one ever written. Ben and I are so in love, and of course every marriage has it's days, but I always feel like those days are made up for 100 times by all the great days that we have together and the intense love that we share. No matter where we go, or what we're doing, we always have fun together and really enjoy each other's company! He's just so perfect for me, and we're such a match. Ben I love you so much! I'm really looking forward to continuing our love story and happy ending...I mean happy forever!!! I love you!

~Crystal

P.S.- Thank you again Jessica May for the amazing bridals (see picture at the top), if you need pictures or an amazing custom wedding gown (like mine :) check her out here.

P.P.S- I love your latest gown (Courtney), amazing!

Kicks, punches, and shin splints

First off, I have to tell you that we decided (mostly) on a name for baby girl!

Rowan Schultz

Cute, huh? And please don't steal it if you're due before me ;)

We're still working on a middle name, but that's the name we like and we're stick'n with it...unless we change our minds later, but I don't think we will.

So, lately baby Rowan has been going CRAZY inside me! Nearly all day I feel her kicking and shoving. My belly looks like I have an alien inside trying to get out. I guess I kinda do though, jk. But it's fun to feel her moving about. I do have the shin splint thing going on now and then, which is weird 'cause I've never had them before in my life, but you know the PS (pregnancy syndrome) causes the strangest things.

So, I need some advice: my very, very good friend (who is the kindest person alive) just had a birthday. She's super sweet and is always thinking of me and getting me little things, but now I have no idea what to get her!!! The things that she likes, she usually buys herself, so I can't get her one of those things. I wanna give her something unique or special, but I'm not sure what. Any ideas??

Neat ideas for later

So, I've been completely addicted to Thrifty Decor Chick's blog lately, and I'm getting some great ideas. The only problem is that I have to wait until we move and unpack everything before I get get around to decorating. Actually, it's not just her blog I've been reading, but when she had her Goodwill Party (everyone recreating thrifty items to awesome decor stuff), she has like 100 links to others that joined in and recreated amazing stuff! Like I said, awesome ideas!!!

Anyway, that's what I've been up to lately. You should check her out, if you haven't already.

I'll be posting about our awesome trip to Denver and Utah pretty soon here, but I've gotta get some pictures first. :)

~Crystal

P.S. - I'm huge now. And baby girl loves to kick all over and make my tummy look like it's dancing by itself. :)

WANTED

MISSING:

Two adorable feet and ankles.

FOUND:

Two imposter fat feet slippers, posing as feet. 

If anyone wants them please take them away.

WANTED:

My dainty feet and ankles back.

As you wish....

Get ready for a long post -

Last Friday Ben and I decided that we were tired of just sitting in the house every evening, and to start off the holiday weekend right we were going to do something fun, a date night if you will. We decided to go to "As You Wish" it's a fun pottery painting place where you pick what you want to paint (plate, jewlry box, mug, princess statues, etc...) and you put on an undercoating with whatever design you like then they glaze it and fire it for you. It's awesome, made me feel like I was in early morning art class again from back in the elementary school days ;)

Anyway, Ben had been there before on a date several years ago and made a mug that he uses to drink from for every meal. While we were there I decided that I wanted a mug too (not the same 'cause I want it to make tea and hot cocoa in, so a little smaller than his). Anyway....while we were there learning about the process we found out that the mug that Ben has loved for so many years had a poisonous paint on it that was extremely high in lead content!!! So, sad to say his beloved mug has been trying to poison him all these years. So, it came time that Ben had to make a new mug. Here it is:




For my mug I wanted to do a Jackson Pollock tribute, so I thought of one of my favorite paintings of his and duplicated it in my own way. Here is his painting, it's called "Lavender Mist":



And here is my mug:





Of course it's not really the same, but I wanted to get the key concept in there. Oohhh, I just love my mug!!! I finished mine relatively quickly, and Ben said he still had a ways to go, so I decided to do another small item. It's a ring holder, 'cause I always take off my wedding ring when I wash my hands, so I thought this would be perfect!



This bottom part is all spedeckled with a crazy fun coat called "patriot". That made Ben like it :)




Okay.....and here's for all of you who have been asking for those belly pictures....
I know I don't look super happy in them, but that's 'cause whenever we take pictures of me I always look like I have a chubby face, or just look different from real life...yuck...I hate 'em. So, Ben tried his best, but yeah....
Here's what we got:





That's it for now. I'll update after I get to Utah! Yeah for Utah, I've been missing it a lot lately. Well, mostly just my family and friends...okay and the mountains too. Sorry but Arizona's just too flat for me. ;)

~Crystal

Pregnancy peculiarities...is that a word?

I've stopped counting weeks. I had to get one of those countdown widgets for my blog just to figure out how many weeks I am now. I guess it's come to the point where I just get through each day one at a time...but I do still care about my clothes and makeup, so I guess I'm not too far gone yet ;)
The weird thing lately has been that when I lay down I get this shooting pain in the right side of my butt, like a deep pain way in there, and it shoots down my leg. Sometimes when I get up it's like I can hardly walk on that leg, or it'll just give out. It doesn't last long, but terribly inconvenient. I told the doctor and he said it was normal, and of course there was nothing they could do about it. Well, I figured that. That's why i don't usually bring up many things at my doc's appointments, the pain doesn't bother me much, just that it's inconvenient, and they usually want to put me on something or tell me there's nothing to be done about it, so I think, if I can bear it then I just won't mention it.
Two things about my legs: 1. my calves are way bigger than before, they're muscle-y, but they're just much bigger, and 2. my dainty ankles are gone, not quite kankles yet, but they're definitely not so pretty as they used to be.

As for baby girl, she's moving around quite a lot these days. Sometimes she moves so much, or just that she's so strong that my belly will start moving when she gives a good kick, or does a big spin, or whatever gymnastic moves she's trying out that day.

Tonight we had some friends over for dinner (2 other couples). It's so fun getting together with them. I love having people over, maybe it's the Mexican side of me, or the Taylor side. I guess I get it from both sides. We just love hosting people and having get togethers :)
Ben made Kahlua Pork for dinner, and I made rice, then we had macaroni salad for a side, and Bethany brought a salad, then Laura had the most delicious ice cream/cake/treat dessert. So delicious! Then we chatted and played a game, it was great! One of the best parts was that in preparation for the great dinner, yesterday we cleaned tons of the apartment (which was really needed), and I feel great about it now. There's still lots of stuff to go through before the move (end of June), but at least we got a great start. :)

Tomorrow I'm off to buy a maternity swimsuit. I've been researching this item and have gone to look at several different stores, and many online stores, but I think I have come to the conclusion that I'm just going to have to buy a XL tankini to make it work. Well, see tomorrow how it goes, but so far I've had no luck. Why do they think that once we become pregnant we loose all style? Anyway, wish me luck, and let me know if you know of any good places to shop for a good suit.

This weekend I fly to Denver for my cousin Niquito's wedding to Missy. I'm soooo excited for them, congrats guys! Marriage is fantastic, I recommend it to everyone! I'm also excited 'cause my cousin Mica just got back from his mission and we're all going to be there for his homecoming talk too on the same weekend. After that I'll drive to Utah with my family from Denver and we'll of course have the time of our lives ;) Then that following weekend we'll have an Alvarez Reunion, first ever. I'm really thrilled about the great bonding time that we'll have out there camping together. And I'm especially excited to see the Brent, Michelle, Morgan, Savannah, Harley, and KC 'cause I haven't seen them in almost a year and a half!!! Pictures don't cut it, I need to see my babes! But it'll be awesome to see everyone there :)

Well, that's my update for now. I'll post something soon about Ben and I making "Wishful creations". Ta ta for now............

~Crystal