Summer of 2014 = Non-Stop Working Summer of 2014

In May we decided to buy a new convenience store. This translated into a great opportunity and a boatload of work. It was a busy three weeks preparing to take over the new store. The day of the switch was crazy and of course, when it rains it pours. That same morning one of our transport drivers was hit by a car while unloading fuel so yes one more mess. 

July is consistently the busiest month of the year for Berry Oil and Berry Trucking. This July was a whole new kind of busy! We had some unexpected, yet very needed personnel changes at the beginning of July. Translation: I had the privilege of working in Tetonia the rest of the summer. Thanks to great people in our Tetonia office, we made it through, we hire new help, we revamped several processes, we all learned a lot, and we were all a little tired come fall. Below is how I made it through. :) Sometimes you have to go through hell to appreciate the calm moments. Even though it was a VERY long summer of work it still felt like Christmas in July. The perks of working in the Tetonia office include a two block commute to the office, sushi and Thai food runs (frequently), lime freezes at least weekly, hot tubing almost daily, and of course, the dirt roads. (Okay that last one was a bit on the sarcastic side). 

NACS Show 2012

This week Dadio, Mama Berry, and I attended the NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores) Show in Vegas. It was exhausting (my legs may never recover from all the walking), fun, educational, and we came home with lots of ideas implement (which equates to lots of work ahead). 

so many people...

I got to play Plinko! A real dream come true. Jack Berry would have loved it! 

 I'm considering getting these for my bar stools in my new house. 

 And this beauty would look great in my entryway! 

 Double-fisting chocolate and vanilla gelato bars...amazing!!

And my favorite new product introduced at the NACS show...I stocked up!!! 

September...A Blur

I kept thinking I'll be more consist in updating my blog but I suspect that until my house is finished life will continue to be stressful and crazy. This month has been a busy blur. Full of running house errands, work mtgs and travel, and then as per usual dealing with my less than perfect physical body. On the 24th I had my quarterly botox injections...my doctor was amazed she could get the needle in the concrete muscles. That day I did fairly well, given we had to drive to and from SLC, UT for the injections. The next day wasn't so hot. I ended up with a migraine that lasted through the night. (My daily chronic headaches have been giving me a run for my money). Thursday I had an occipital nerve block done for my headaches. This consisted of eight burning shots in my head...I must be tougher than nails or just crazy. Needless to say I have been a human pin cushion this week...literally. Thankfully, I've had no more headaches since Thursday!  

It is weeks like these that I'm reminded just how much help I need at times and how grateful I am for all who selflessly help take care of me. Particularly one, Mama Berry, who sacrificed a lot of time this week nursing me back to health. Not feeling well consistently is frustrating and at times very despairing, but also very humbling knowing that the Lord always is placing willing helpers in my path. 

Below is the random recap from the last few weeks...

 I considered buying one of these HOT purses but opted for orange Born flats instead...

 My Saturday morning helper

 I love and miss DP...as of a couple weeks ago I've got to be caffeine free per doctor's orders. But on special occasions I'll still enjoy a warm, flat DP! 

 The twins "hard" at work while golfing in a tournament with my folks...

 After botox injections we got to stop by and meet Miss Mia for the first time! I'm so excited that my PA family has moved closer!!! Isn't she a doll!

 For almost a full glorious month I had a bowl of these amazing peaches every day...at least once a day. Awesome perk being back in Idaho!

And just this afternoon was welcomed by this muddy mess after my nap. 

Wonderful Easter Weekend!

This is truly a blessed time of year. This particular weekend was especially wonderful. 

Let's review:

Celebrated Good Friday with the Perrys and Shoes. Burritos (yum!)

The Masters all weekend! (After Saturday I was sure my fellow lefty, Phil, was going to take his 4th green jacket but alas he couldn't sink the right putts and had a bad triple bogey that he never recovered from.) At least another lefty won. 

Some refreshing DP for my Masters viewing.

Opening Day of Baseball!  After a rough start over the weekend the Yanks are coming back. Let us remember: slow and steady wins the race. 

Beautiful Easter sacrament meeting, filled with music from angels! 

Easter dinner consisting of the following: Sloppy Dans, homemade rolls, salad, green beans, coconut cake, no-bakes, and Easter candy to cleanse the pallet. Dinner was so delicious and entertaining! From MB peppering DF(N) with 10,000 questions, to CBL's strong opinions on table cloths (totally agree with her), to cloth diapers (you must understand when all your guests are married and one pregnant this is normal), to JN explaining the novelty of Velcro this evening was never boring to say the least. We sure missed Jepsons and Richards though. 

Easter reunion 2013 in Idaho? 

Livin' On Love...

from my old friend, DP. DP: 10, 2, and 4 may not be enough today.  I've missed this old friend, especially a little on the warm side.  

(Mostly for JBH...I've only had three DPs since June so I'm not considered an addict)!  


(And loving the Almond Joys thanks to HN)

Utah...Worth A Visit Every Now and Then

Wedding season is bringing me to Utah multiple times in July. I'll be the first to admit that I pride myself for being one of the few people that has only spent 5 days in Utah at any one time throughout my life. Every now and then though it deserves a visit. SEC lives there, that is reason enough. I miss living with SEC (Church Educational System backwards). I learned so much from her in the four years we lived together and I still learn from her whenever I get the privilege of seeing her. Her motto for life is summed up as this: Don't worry, be happy, trust God. Simple as it may sound, it is one thing to say it and another thing (impressive thing at that) to live it. Love you SEC!

So I've had this discussion multiple times with a friend whether his "Utah" mountains can compete with the Grand Tetons. I would send him photos of the picturesque peaks, taken by myself or family and he'd send me Wikipedia shots of the Utah mountains (what I'd call rocky hills). I must admit though publicly, in the right lighting Utah mountains can be picturesque in their own way.

Friday night SEC and I went with our old friend, RA (I've missed this guy!), to dinner at Panda (oh yes!), after we grabbed a Frosty for this Wendy's deprived girl, followed by the Art Center at BYU. This was my best find... Homage to Jackie Robinson. How sweet!

Oh yes, it had a DP label quilted at the bottom too!

RA and SEC in front of the coolest piece of modern I've witnessed in the last decade, book stacks in the shape of a crooked square. I was so tempted to try and pull out one of the books...

For those dear friends that I missed seeing this trip please forgive me (BW, JA)...it was a whirlwind trip...and I'll be back in three weeks to celebrate another blissful wedding so maybe then I'll get to see you.

Enjoy Life More...

Warm or ice cold (I personally am a warm lover)!

Items To Always Include In One's Budget

***I've been re-budgeting this week and there a few items that I realized ARE staples to a budget (as long as your name is Jess)

1. Golfing (yes I do allot a certain percentage just for golf, it is too amazing to just group with "entertainment")

2. Massages

3. Dr. Pepper

Sweet Nectar From Heaven

In a Fast and testimony meeting on Sunday, an early-twenty-something guy said he was bearing testimony on two recent things, the first being how much he learned/got out of the scriptures one day recently after drinking two Dr Peppers that morning...maybe because DP really is 'sweet nectar from heaven'.

Amen Brother! Amen!

Waking Up Smiling To This!

JXA tagged J.Monson and I on this beautiful masterpiece on Facebook today. Amazing DP art! Those happen to be limited edition throwback original recipe DP 24 pks too, for those of you that follow DP! I wonder if I could write out "MLB" (the superior professional sport) with all the 12 and 24 pks I have stockpiled under my bed? (Yes that is where I keep them!)

Thanks JXA!

Thanksgiving Essentials

Mama Berry's rolls all raised and ready to hit the oven. Please note the DP: the best way to bake and cook is with a DP handy.

Delicious golden rolls and me in my bright birthday arpon from Mama Berry. As promised Mama, smile and all. I wonder who's batch turned out better this year? Mine or her's?

I was very tempted to put the chocolate creme pie in KW's face but I practiced self control, partly because BT would have put that pumpkin pie in my face had I attempted to "help" KW eat some pie. Love these too.

Enough dessert for everyone to have their own...crazy!

Kristin and her gravy, I was impressed as would her Mama be!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

***Note to readers: I realized last night that Thanksgiving may very well be my favorite holiday next to the Berry National Holiday (Sept 10th) of course.

17 GRATEFUL GOURD SLIPS

(In no particular order and only a sampling of the gratitude in my heart)

1. The Plan of Salvation (click to read and learn more)

2. My Family

3. My Palo Alto Family

4. My Bosch mixer; bringing a little bit of Tetonia to Palo Alto every batch of Mama Berry's rolls made in it.

5. The Yankees winning their 27TH WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP!

6. Seeing tender mercies daily through the service of others

7. Temples (click to read and learn more)

8. Original recipe Dr. Pepper

9. Biofreeze and Sombra (magic in a bottle)

10. Minnie Berry

11. Botox (how else did you think I look so young?) ;)

12. New Family Search (genealogy for dummies)

13. The Purple H&M dress + MPR's makeup additions

14. Sleeping through the night

15. Ab Ripper X

16. Jesus Christ and His Atonement (click to read and learn more)

17. Afflictions and heartaches that humble and soften the heart

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Enjoy the day and BE GRATEFUL each day of the year!

I'm a Pepper!

WAKE UP WITH JESS DAY 100

What is WAKE UP WITH JESS?

Brooke Trout (BT) works in the city and leaves her little cottage every morning around 4:30 AM. 100 working days ago BT and I decided what better way to wake up than to find an email from Jess (that's me folks) in her inbox. Every Monday through Friday BT receives her very own WAKE UP WITH JESS email. Today is Day 100! In honor of our celebration that will commence WAKE UP WITH JESS DAY 100 will have its very own blog post.

What makes up the content of a WAKE UP WITH JESS email?

Random consistency!

I am a lover, slightly obsessed fan of the number 7 and BT is a math nerd so most emails start off something like this:

Day 72: 7 + 2 = 9 - 2 = 7 = AMAZING DAY

(Basic math that always gets to 7...weird yes but we embrace it)

Common topics of emails:

The Yankees and Red Soxs. I try to remind BT that it isn't worth going to Hell and she should give up being a dirty sox. One day she'll repent and see the light. I also consistently update her on the standings of the East. See here that the Yanks still lead!

Boys. No names will be named publicly for privacy purposes. Just feel safe in assuming that if you've ever made BT's radar or my radar that you've made one or more WAKE UP WITH JESS emails. If you're curiosity might just kill you, feel free to ask if you've made the cut. Whether you'll get an answer has about a 60 percent probability.

At least one random topic. i.e. (naming children, farming, golf, the boy from high school that drove me crazy, Jenn Peterson).

The worries and joys of our hearts. There is no sugarcoating in a WAKE UP WITH JESS.

ALWAYS signed "Your Yank".

Sample of WAKE UP WITH JESS Day 100:

Day 100: 100 - 23 (our ages for a few more weeks) = 77 = GREAT DAY TIMES 2! Happy early birthday to us both!

The Yanks won tonight! Praise Heaven! We lead the East STILL! Watching the Yankees win so much warms my little black heart like a hot DP in the summer heat.

Tonight I whipped some young men (WH, CT, and JT in particular) into shape by beating them at Acquire. AW said tonight that I was "lucky" he wasn't there to play. Hahaha, after being the Monopoly reigning champ this is really just a walk in the park...with or without him present. Competitiveness is definitely my strength and sometimes (at least I am told) my weakness.

Excited for our slumber party tonight! We'll eat ice cream, watch Baseball Tonight, talk about X, Y, and Z, and try to hit the sack before you have to catch your Tuesday morning train. ;)

Happy Day 100 BT! So grateful that we're friends, even if you are a dirty Red Sox (we can't both be perfect)! I love you BT!

Your bright smilin' Yank!

The Fourth of July Came Early This Year

The madness on the Oakland A's field post-game before the fireworks. Now maybe it is because I grew up in Idaho and our fireworks display on the 4th of July would only last a total of ten minutes, without any clear indication of the finale, but the fireworks post A's game were sweet! I was very impressed and really have never seen a fireworks show that good before.

Brianna, Keena, me, Jefferson awaiting the fireworks.

Who else loves this face? Per Keena, this is a very Jess face to pull. She might just be right.

One of the joy of sporting events: very interesting characters at every event. Dude, I love his hair!

With our amazing host, Rach! It is always great and relaxing to watch ball. I really needed to just sit and enjoy a game this week, much appreciated Rach! A special thanks for the Dr. Pepper on ice too. It definitely hit the spot! We heart RH!

Hearting The Weekend

• Golfing with KT!!! Best combo since warm DP and a chick-o-stick! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick-O-Stick for all you that live underneath rocks).
  
• The Dish Saturday morning with R & W.
  
• Short lines at the grocery store.
  
• Cobbler (dessert first always is the way to go...thank Jack Berry and Ron Berry for that habit) followed by lunch (Roast Beef + DP) in the park with Brooke. A communion comparable to 9 holes of golf.
  
• Bringing Up Baby followed by Lemon tart (thank you JXA) and Chocolate Mousse.
  

Hot Dr. Pepper...In Honor of The DP Birthday Boy!

Others seem to agree J.Monson...try a Hot one on me for your birthday! ;)

My DP taste buds are NOT average...I taste all 23 flavors!

"Today I drank a Dr. Pepper. I didn't taste 23 flavors, I only tasted one. It was Dr. Pepper flavored. MLIA (My Life Is Average)"

My Life is Average

Original Dr. Pepper Toast!

First, thanks Robscott for sharing the bliss of the Original DP recipe. That's right, the ORIGINAL recipe (cane sugar...oh so sweet)!! After holding out for a night when J. Monson could make it (yes I hide them under my bed otherwise they would never lasted) we held a Dr. Pepper toast! We do all heart The DP.

J.Monson, you look like you could be one of The Price Is Right's showcase models for DP. Bob, tell us what they've won! Classic!

VOTE: Best Dr. Pepper Advertisement

Leave a comment to place your vote for the best Ad! There is a correct choice here!