So Very Thankful...

Hmmmm...

2012-01-27T06:37:00.000-07:00

Texas Woman Stranded for Days in Burley Wastewater Pond.....

My friend Mary posted this news story on her facebook the other day and it made me laugh. I quote her:

"Really? If you have a minute, you should read this article. Gary's opinion of Texans has gone down dramatically....."

That is no offense to my Texan friend (DIANA!!) :)

But seriously, I can't believe this lady.

Again in Mary's words:

"To sum it up...a lady drove into a poop pond at the back of a huge dairy....stayed in her car for 5 days and then decided she wasn't going to be rescued and got out. Then walked to the nearest house (which was 1/4 mile away). "

She didn't want to get out of her car to get help because she had always been told to stay put when she was stranded. She survived on M&M's and water.

You can read it here.

The Vow...

2012-01-26T07:41:00.000-07:00

So...a few months ago I posted about how I am excited to see The Vow. I feel like I have been waiting forever and I can't wait to see it when it comes out the weekend before Valentine's Day. Is it pathetic that last night I saw a 45 second trailer on tv and it made me cry?

But I have been known to cry during commercials for Biggest Loser, too.

Anyway, I can't wait to see it in a couple of weeks. I saw a funny thing on Pinterest the other day, too. It said, "If I woke up and Channing Tatum said he was my husband, I wouldn't question it."

It made me laugh.

Book Review: The Lucky One

2012-01-24T06:05:00.001-07:00

I saw a movie preview for this book recently and since Nicholas Sparks books are generally sappy love stories, I knew I'd probably like it. It is definitely Nicholas Sparks style...fairly predictable. Although, I never know if the hero is going to live or die at the end. It is about a marine who finds a picture of a woman in the dirt while in Afghanistan and keeps it in his pocket. He decided she keeps him safe and when he returns home, he seeks her out (a little stalkerish??). He WALKS across the country from Colorado to North Carolina where he finds. her. Anyway, it was a fast and easy read. I read it all in one day and I still fit the gym in, went grocery shopping and cleaned the bathroom. I'd give it a 3 out of 5 stars. I liked it, but it was not my favorite of his books. I will be interested to see what the movie is rated and if it looks any good.

Spiritual Enlightenment

2012-01-22T06:36:00.000-07:00

"If we will hold fast to the Church's proclamation on the family, we will see that we hold the jewels, as it were, that can enrich so many other things. Let the world go its own way on the family. It appears to be determined to do that. But we do not have that option. Our doctrines and teachings on the family are very, very powerful, and they are full of implications for all the people on this planet."
Neal A. Maxwell, "Insights from My Life"

Hmmm...

2012-01-19T06:52:00.000-07:00

The other day Brian and I were driving somewhere and we stopped at a red light right behind this car with these stickers on the back window. First of all, I am not a fan of stickers like these anyway. Second, how tacky is it to put a big red "X" through your wife? We laughed at it, but I can't believe it...and I know the guy had his kids in his car with him. Some people make me wonder...

Infinity...

2012-01-18T06:42:00.002-07:00

I don't know if many of you use Pinterest, but awhile back I pinned this ring onto "Products I Love". Imagine my surprise on Christmas morning when I pulled a small box out of my Christmas stocking and found this in there. Brian had seen it, went to the store and tried to describe it to them and sat through ring after ring until he found the one that he remembered seeing on Pinterest. I LOVE it. I was so surprised. I had no idea that he was going to get me anything like this.

One of the things I love about it is that it's called an Infinity band and I love what it represents. I never used to think that I would like jewelry, but it takes on a whole different meaning when it comes as a surprise and something that is picked out by someone who loves me.

He got the ring at Zales and I went in one day right after Christmas to get it sized and they wanted to charge me $40. I was pretty surprised since we purchased the ring there and honestly I have never heard of a place that charges extra to size a ring when you already spend money at their store to buy it. The man who was helping me was pretty rude and if you watch Storage Wars, he looked just like Barry. I said to him, "I have the receipt, my husband bought it here. You still charge $40?" He said yes. I said, "If I would have been here when he bought it and we had it sized right away, would you still charge for it?" He said, "Just return it right now and I'll take it back." I wasn't even asking rudely. I was truly surprised that I would be charged for it and I was just trying to understand if it was because it was a separate transaction. He said it in such a rude and condescending way that I left, quite offended, with my ring in tow. I couldn't believe that he was so rude. I called and talked to the manager and told her how rude he was and that instead of explaining their policy to me he just told me to return it and that I'd rather pay $40 to someone who is nice to me than someone who isn't. Long story short: they resized it for free and neither of us will ever buy something from Zales again. It's hard to convey his tone of voice and his mannerisms with writing, but it was very offensive to me.

Brian and I actually discussed, for quite awhile, whether or not we should return it and just go find something else at a different store, but I just couldn't let go of it because of the effort he put into surprising me. That is what means the most...that it's from him and that he did it all by himself.

I finally get it back tomorrow...they've had it for a couple of weeks and I can't wait to finally wear it. :)

Book Review: Unbroken

2012-01-17T06:39:00.000-07:00

This book, Unbroken, came highly recommended to me by my sister-in-law, Jolynn. More often than not, I am found reading novels, but I am a sucker for World War II material. I have been fascinated by all things World War II-related since a very young age.

This book is excellent. It is a biography of a man named Louie Zamperini who was an Olympic runner, and was picked to be the first man to run a four-minute mile. He went into war and eventually was lost at sea when his plane crashed. After surviving 47 days at sea he was taken as a POW by the Japanese. He was resilient, optimistic and strong in the face of horrific challenges. Partway through the book, Louie comes in contact with a man who is bent on "breaking" him.

It is an amazing story of trials, hardships and suffering, overcoming hate and bitterness and learning to forgive. I loved this book and have spent a lot of time in recent days talking to different people about it and encouraging them to read it.

I am grateful for the men and women who serve our country and suffer unspeakable horrors to protect our freedoms. It is good to read and remember their stories to help us be grateful for all that we have.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it. If any of you have read it, I'd love to hear what you think.

Spiritual Enlightenment

2012-01-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

“Sometimes in our repentance, in our daily efforts to become more Christlike, we find ourselves repeatedly struggling with the same difficulties. As if we were climbing a tree-covered mountain, at times we don’t see our progress until we get closer to the top and look back from the high ridges. Don’t be discouraged. If you are striving and working to repent, you are in the process of repenting.”
Neil L. Andersen, “Repent . . . That I May Heal You”

One Year Ago...

2012-01-13T06:23:00.005-07:00

One year ago today the man of my dreams showed up at my apartment in Rexburg, unannounced, with a beautiful ring and asked me to be his wife. I can't believe that it has been a year. It has gone so fast and has been so fun. I love to think back on that day because it was the best surprise and made me so happy. It still makes me smile and chuckle when I think about it.

It's fun to also know some of the smaller details that I didn't know at the time. For example, he proposed on a Thursday and it was the Sunday before when we were sitting together in a family ward at church (the first time we had been to a family ward together) that he realized that he could really see himself with me and could imagine us as a family and that is when he decided to propose. Looking back, I remember getting texts that were a little more serious from him in those few days between church and when he proposed. He would say things like, "I think you would be the best wife." I remember thinking he was acting different, but nothing that caused me to suspect he would propose.

I have loved hearing about his preparations and the hunting he did for the costume and the stick horse, and the call to my parents to ask for permission. I also love that he bought the ring on Monday and it was burning a hole in his pocket until Thursday and I had no idea. :)

Last night we sat on the couch watching Rocky II and when Rocky proposed to Adrian, I made him push pause and we reminisced.

I love my husband SO much.

Snuggie...

2012-01-11T07:56:00.002-07:00

I never thought I'd be the owner of a snuggie...but I am! I got a snuggie for Christmas from my hubby. It was a surprise and I actually like it. My hands are always cold and I like to read...so I really like the sleeves around my arms. Would I have got one that said Philadelphia Eagles?? Probably not...but I love it. This isn't one of those gifts that is secretly for him either...you know the type...me saying "Oh honey, I got you a sewing machine. I knew you'd love it!" He won't wear it. He doesn't think it's manly. I can tell, however, that it makes him happy every time I use it.

Movie Review: 17 Miracles

2012-01-10T06:28:00.002-07:00

My parents gave everyone in my family this movie for Christmas. Brian and I watched it the other night, and I have to say that I was impressed. It's about the handcart companies who came across the plains in 1856. It documents (out of order) 17 different miracles that happened to them during the trek. They were amazing stories and some of them I had never heard. This was a very touching movie and one thing that struck me to the core was when one of them said, in the midst of terrible suffering, "It will all be worth it if our posterity keep the faith." It definitely puts things in perspective.

Also, my great-great grandfather, Thomas E. Ricks, was one of the rescuers of the Martin Handcart Company. In the movie, it showed a girl who saw him in a dream before she ever met him and recognized him immediately when he arrived with the rescue party. He eventually married her...on the same day that he married his fourth wife. Yes, I am a product of polygamy. Thomas E. Ricks went on to found Rexburg, Idaho and Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) is named after him.

This was a great movie...I would recommend it. Brian really enjoyed it as well...even though he was hesitant at first to "watch a church movie on a Thursday." :)

Enjoy the trailer:

Monday's Recipe: Homemade Stuffing

2012-01-09T06:05:00.004-07:00

One of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving is my mom's homemade stuffing. It is SO good. I made it for the first time for our Christmas dinner. I feel like it beats stove stop stuffing a million times over.

1 loaf of bread (I used wheat bread)

1 pkg. sausage, cooked until no longer pink

1 medium onion, diced

4-5 stalks of celery, diced

2 c. chicken broth (2 c. chicken bouillion to 2 c. water)

1 1/2 T. sage

1 - Slice bread into cubes and lightly toast in the oven (or leave them out overnight to harden).

2 - Cook sausage, onion and celery.

3 - Add meat mixture to the bread. Mix in sage.

4 - Add chicken broth until moist (use as much as you desire, it might not be the full 2 cups).

5 - Heat thoroughly before serving.

Spiritual Enlightenment

2012-01-08T06:12:00.000-07:00

"Each of us already knows we should tell the people we love that we love them. But what we know is not always reflected in what we do. We may feel unsure, awkward, or even perhaps a bit embarrassed. As disciples of the Savior, we are not merely striving to know more; rather, we need to consistently do more of what we know is right and become better. We should remember that saying ‘I love you’ is only a beginning. We need to say it, we need to mean it, and most importantly we need consistently to show it. We need to both express and demonstrate love.”

David A. Bednar, “More Diligent and Concerned at Home”

Friday Films...

2012-01-06T06:54:00.000-07:00

My favorite primary song, ever since I was little, is I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus. Now that I work in the Primary I always try to get the little girls in my class to pick that one when they get to choose a song to sing.

I love this version of David Archuleta singing it. Enjoy and happy weekend!

Slippers...

2012-01-04T06:13:00.000-07:00

My last slippers wore out. The bottoms started falling off and I totally wore holes through them. I love slippers and wear them all the time. I've been hunting for some new ones for a couple of months and I found some at JCPenny...for $6.99. Can't beat that! I actually got them in a burgundy color. They are comfy, warm and soft. I recommend these slippers!

Movie Review: The Tourist

2012-01-03T05:26:00.002-07:00

I watched this movie for the first time New Years Eve with some of my family. My sister owns it and loves it. To tell you the truth, I am really not a Johnny Depp fan OR an Angelina Jolie fan. I think they're both nutjobs. Even though I think they're crazy, the movie was pretty good. It had some humor in it and some action. It had a little bit of bad language including the "f" word once. It had some interesting twists...some that you don't see coming.

I would recommend this movie, but I don't think that I would actually own it myself.

Enjoy the trailer:

Monday's Recipe: Reindeer Cookies

2012-01-02T06:03:00.000-07:00

I saw these cookies on Pinterest and made them for a Christmas Eve get-together with Brian's family. They were a hit! They were fun and easy to make.

I used this Peanut Butter Cookie recipe. I used my cookie scoop the spoon them onto the pan and then used my hand to kind of flatten them and then I pinched the ends with my fingers to give them the look of a reindeer's face.

I used red M&M's for the nose, mini chocolate chips for the eyes and chocolate covered pretzels for the antlers. I put those in after the cookies were done baking, but while they were still warm.

They were definitely fun to make and I will make them again sometime.

I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year! Mine was spent with family...just how it should be.

Spiritual Enlightenment

2012-01-01T06:24:00.001-07:00

"Having a special interest in Martin Harris, I have been saddened at how he is remembered by most Church members. He deserves better than to be remembered solely as the man who unrighteously obtained and then lost the initial manuscript pages of the Book of Mormon.

When the Book of Mormon was published, Martin Harris was nearly 47 years of age, more than 20 years older than Joseph Smith and the other two witnesses. He was a prosperous and respected citizen of Palmyra, New York. He owned a farm of over 240 acres, large for the time and place. He was an honored veteran of two battles in the War of 1812. His fellow citizens entrusted him with many elective offices and responsibilities in the community. He was universally respected for his industry and integrity. Assessments by contemporaries described him as 'an industrious, hard-working farmer, shrewd in his business calculations, frugal in his habits,' and 'strictly upright in his business dealings' (quoted in Richard Lloyd Anderson, Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses [1981], 96–97, 98).

This prosperous and upright older man befriended the young and penniless Joseph Smith, giving him the $50 that permitted him to pay his debts in Palmyra and locate in northeastern Pennsylvania about 150 miles away. There, in April 1828, Joseph Smith began his first persistent translation of the Book of Mormon."

Dallin H. Oaks, "The Witness: Martin Harris"

Christmas Candy...

2011-12-30T06:44:00.001-07:00

I'm posting this on the wrong day, but just in case you need some recipes to make for New Years.

I made chocolates the other day with Brian's mom: peanut butter cups, almond joys and cup o' gold. They were so good. I haven't taken any pictures, but I will share the recipes later.

Here are two links to a couple of my favorite Christmas candy recipes:

Old English Toffee and Bon Bons.

Happy New Year!!

King Size Bed...

2011-12-29T07:31:00.004-07:00

When Brian and I were single we both had full-size beds. When we got married, we just kept them. We knew we wanted a bigger bed, but I guess it wasn't a priority at first. However, we just could NOT adapt to sharing a bed that size and pretty much every night one of us ends up sleeping on the couch. It is definitely not a good size bed for two people who are used to having the whole thing to themselves.

For Christmas Brian's parents gave us the very generous gift of a king size bed. I am SO excited. I just ordered the bedding set in the picture above from jcpenney. I love it and can't wait to see what it looks like in real life. I have a feeling my nights are about to become a lot more restful. We debated awhile about whether to go with a king or a queen, but did you know that a queen size bed is only 6 inches bigger than a full size? I hear 6 inches can make a big difference but it doesn't look like much of a difference when you hold a measuring tape next to your bed.

The truth is, I have NEVER heard anyone who has a king say they wish they had a queen and that it was too much space. King size it is.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T05:40:00.001-07:00

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Christmas Stockings...

2011-12-24T06:34:00.000-07:00

Last year for Christmas, when Brian and I were only dating, I made him a Christmas stocking. It was fun to do and fun to stuff a stocking for him. This isn't the stocking we'll use forever, it was a one-time thing. I haven't decided exactly what I'll do yet, but I kinda want to make us matching stockings.

And for some unknown reason that doesn't make any sense to me, Brian thinks that I don't love Lucy. So to try to prove my love, last year I made a Christmas stocking for her, too. It was complete with a fabric picture of a bulldog that looks almost exactly like her.

Lucy got this picture in a little frame in her stocking. And for those of you who know me, you'll know that this picture was not an easy one for me to take. Dogs are not my favorite creatures on the planet.

A Christmas Carol

2011-12-23T05:28:00.000-07:00

Last week Brian and I had the opportunity to go to Hale Theater in West Valley to watch a live production of A Christmas Carol. I had been looking forward to it for a few weeks and it was the perfect thing to put me in the Christmas spirit (not that I needed any help with that...I have had Christmas fever for just as many weeks, if not longer).

They did such a great job! It made me think of my mom, because her favorite Christmas movie is the George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol, and I just kept thinking how much she would enjoy seeing this play.

I want to make it a yearly tradition to go see it. It was so much fun. I highly recommend it and it's a great date idea for you and your significant other. :)

We bought tickets a few months ago to go see The Sound of Music playing there next summer. I am also excited for that.

Merry Christmas!!! I love Christmas Eve and Christmas and I hope you all have a most wonderful holiday and that it is filled with lots of love.

The Roof...

2011-12-22T06:35:00.001-07:00

For our wedding we got the very generous gift of a $100 gift card to The Roof in Salt Lake City. It's located at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial building with a breathtaking view of the Salt Lake Temple. The food is SO good. It's gourmet buffet...shrimp, prime rib, pastas...everything you can imagine. It's very classy and has great service. There's a glass piano in there with someone playing music the whole time you eat.

We had a table right by the window with an amazing view of the temple. We saved our gift card to go during the holiday season when all of the Christmas lights would be on.

Here is the view from our table:

My sweet husband:

I tried to get some of the lights in there...

And the best part? I got up at one point to go get something on my plate and when I came back this rose was at my seat. Brian had called ahead to have a rose there for me. So thoughtful. You can't see it very well, but there's a little sprig of pine in there that made it very Christmas-y.

We had a great time and really took our time there with the view. It was fun to get dressed up to go and the food was fabulous.

We also had a busy rest of the weekend. The next day (Friday) we went back to Salt Lake for Brian's friend's wedding at the Salt Lake Temple. It so nice to sit in the temple by my husband's side. It was a nice ceremony and they had their luncheon at Lion House...yum.

I took the day off work so we just spent the rest of the day together hanging out, etc.

On Saturday we went to the BYU/Utah basketball game. It was not very exciting, since neither team did very well. BYU did win, though. It was fun to get out and it's been a long time since I've been to a college baseketball game. I miss those Aggies games!

Then on Sunday a very dear friend of mine, Melissa, had a mission farewell. I'm so happy for her, but I felt so bad because I cried through her whole talk and when I was saying goodbye to her. She wasn't crying...she was taking it like a man, but I just couldn't stand it. I will miss her a lot but I know she's about to have some amazing times. She also made our wedding video and gave it to us before she left and I LOVE it. I was pretty disappointed with our wedding pictures, so it was nice to have something turn out great. It made both of us a little teary to watch it and she really did a great job.

It was just a busy weekend, but oh so fun!! We have done a lot of our Christmas shopping together and we are done! I can't wait for this weekend...

Rachelle's Wedding...

2011-12-21T06:32:00.001-07:00

My beautiful little sister, Rachelle, got married on December 4th. It was such a great day! My other sister and her husband, Kelsi and Don, live in Seattle and they weren't going to be able to make it for the wedding. My brother, Greg, donated his airline miles and flew them here with their little baby, and we kept it a secret from Rachelle. She had no idea they were going to be coming until she saw them at our family Christmas party the night before. (I'll post about that later). It was such a fun surprise and I wish I could have got a picture of her face when she saw them. My sister-in-law, Leslie, took all of their pictures and did a great job.

It was so great to have our whole family together for the wedding. They were married in the Bountiful Temple and even though it was COLD, it was a beautiful, sunny morning. The ceremony was nice and it was just a great day. Rachelle looked so beautiful in her dress.

We are excited to have Scott in our family! They actually met playing ultimate frisbee...

Rachelle, Scott and my parents

The Sisters!!

All of my siblings...

The beautiful couple...

Welcome to married life, Rachelle!! It's the best! :)

Michael Buble: Christmas

2011-12-20T06:28:00.003-07:00

Two years ago I did a post about my favorite Christmas CD's and I recently bought this CD and would like to add it to the list. It is so great! I am a fan of Michael Buble's style and think he did a great job on this CD. I would recommend it. By the way, it's a lot cheaper to buy it on Amazon or half.com instead of iTunes.

Enjoy a little clip about one of my favorites on the CD: Jingle Bells

Monday's Recipe: Chili

2011-12-19T06:25:00.000-07:00

I posted this recipe a couple of years ago and made it again the other day. It was delicious. I actually added a can of garbonzo beans (this picture is from the last time I made it so it doesn't show), but I really liked the extra beans. It added some nice color, too.

1 pound ground beef
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes (liquid included)
1 (15 oz.) can red kidney beans (drained)
1 (15 oz.) can pinto beans (drained)
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 (4 oz) can diced green chilies (liquid included)
3-4 celery stalks

2 T. chili powder
1/2 T. cumin (or as I recently learned: that means 1 1/2 teaspoons)
1 t. salt
1/2 t. ground black pepper
1/4 t. garlic powder
1 c. water
2 T. brown sugar and a few squirts of ketchup. (I made up that last part and it tasted better with ketchup...I'm just not sure exactly how much I used.)
Cook ground beef and onion. Add remaining ingredients. Over medium heat, bring to a simmer. Reduce to low and simmer for 50-60 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Brian loved this recipe because it was a little spicy. He gave it a 9 out of 10. I always make him rate everything I make and he is generous and always gives everything at least a 7. I've learned now that a 7 isn't his favorite, but anything higher than that is pretty good. :)

I also made this cornbread to go with it.

Spiritual Enlightenment

2011-12-18T06:22:00.000-07:00

"Miracles are everywhere to be found when priesthood callings are magnified. When faith replaces doubt, when selfless service eliminates selfish striving, the power of God brings to pass His purposes. Whom God calls, God qualifies."

Thomas S. Monson, "Our Sacred Priesthood Trust"

Friday Feature: Margee

2011-12-16T06:06:00.001-07:00

Meet: Margee

Margee has been a good friend of mine for four years. We met at Sunshine Terrace where I used to work. Margee is such a great person! She has been such a great friend to me. She's fun to talk to, gives excellent advice, is funny, and is so fun to be around. I really miss working with her. She always gave me the best advice and was the best listener and would always help me through my boy drama (thank goodness THAT is over). :) She is such a fun person to be around and is always positive. She has a beautiful daughter, Maya, and it's been fun to see her grow up into a little girl. We've had a lot of fun together and I consider her to be a great friend.

So, everyone, meet Margee!

Hometown: Evanston, WY

What is your job title and description? Assistant Director of Nursing @ Sunshine Terrace Rehab Center. I schedule about 40 nurses to cover nursing shifts on 6 different units. I also oversee staff development and training of employees in conjunction with Human Resources. I occasionally get to use my nursing skills as a Registered Nurse on the floor with some fabulous clients. I love the old kids.

If you could change anything in the world what would it be and why? That somehow it would be impossible for little children to suffer. It is just so hard to hear about children who are mistreated. So many problems would be solved if every child had a healthy and loving upbringing.

If you could meet anyone (living or dead) who would it be and why? I would like to meet President Monson, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is such a great example of goodness and service. I would love to meet him.

What is your happiest childhood memory?

My favorite childhood memories revolve around visiting my grandparents' farm in Eastern Idaho and playing with my siblings and cousins there. We spent so much time swimming (translation: skinny-dipping) in the irrigation canal, playing in the barn, swinging on the big tire swing and playing with the toys in Grandma's hall.

What are the three material possessions you value most? 1. My wedding ring, for what it symbolizes and for who gave it to me. 2. My iPhone, I would be lost without it and it keeps me organized and serves as my "memory" very often. 3. My automobile (Buick Enclave). Love my car. So grateful to have a nice, comfortable, reliable vehicle to take us everywhere!

It’s 8:00 p.m., what are you doing? Getting my little girl ready for bed. Potty, brush teeth, drink water, prayers, hugs and kisses, and sing songs. We've got this routine down.

What is your favorite comfort food? Pizza.

If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and why? Ireland and Scotland. When I travel I like to see beautiful places and I know that Ireland and Scotland are very beautiful and I would love to see them!

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given? Who gave it to you? "When in doubt, do the most loving thing." My sister Rebecca gave it to me.

What is one beauty product you can’t live without? I cannot live without eye liner and mascara. I think this is because I look so tired without it.

Describe yourself in one word. Organized.

What scares you? Having a family member die.

What is your favorite restaurant? I would have to say that I love P.F. Changs!

What is your favorite time of day and why? I like mid-morning. Once the craziness of the morning is past and it is time to get down to business and conquer the day! I also like after dinner time when we are together as a family and can relax.

What is your biggest pet peeve? I don’t think I have one. You would know it if you had one, right?

What is your favorite movie and why? I love “While You Were Sleeping.” It is a cute love story movie and everything works out how it should in the end and it is funny.

What is your favorite memory we have shared? I don’t have a specific memory of you that I love the most, but I have loved hearing all your funny dating stories over the years, and getting craft ideas and cooking tips from you. I really loved making aprons with you.

Top Favorite Christmas Piano Music...

2011-12-15T06:45:00.001-07:00

I love playing the piano now that we own one. I love playing Christmas music so I thought I'd do a listing of my favorite Christmas piano music.

1. Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson. My mom had this piano music when I was growing up. It's a challenging piece and SO fun to play.

2. O Holy Night by Rob Roy Peery. This is another great song that my mom had since she was a teenager. I found it online and love playing it.

3. The Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky: very challenging. I haven't mastered it yet. (I know this picture says "four hands", but I have just the regular music).

4. The Merry Christmas songbook: This is the greatest collection of Christmas Music. It has almost every classic Christmas song imaginable. It's the perfect songbook for singing Christmas songs around the piano. It even has Suzy Snowflake which reminds me of elementary school singing time.
5. Jon Schmidt's Christmas:Jon Schmidt's music is always fun to play. There is some fun music in this book. However, there are a few songs that I hadn't ever heard of before I owned this book.

6. Jim Brickman's Christmas Themes: Fun and pretty arrangements.
7. Dan Coates, It's Christmas!: This is a really fun and challenging piano book. It's fun to play, but takes a lot of practice.
8: The Charlie Brown Christmas book: so fun! it reminds me of my childhood. It's challenging and hard to play, but so fun. I especially love playing Linus and Lucy.

Holiday Sparkle...

2011-12-14T06:38:00.001-07:00

This is my favorite holiday smell. It's by Colonial (which is one of my favorite candle brands because you can actually smell them) and it's called Holiday Sparkle. It smells a little like christmas trees and a little like berries. It's SO good. Colonial candles are really expensive but I always keep my eyes open when I'm at Ross and I get them for more than half off the regular price.

Disney Ornament...

2011-12-13T06:35:00.000-07:00

When Brian and I were on our honeymoon we wanted to buy this ornament to celebrate our first year together and remind us of our honeymoon. We meant to grab it before we left Disneyland for the day and before we left so we didn't have to carry it around with us, and we forgot. I was sad and have regretted it since. I found it online recently and secretly ordered it and let Brian open it the other day as a surprise. He was excited, but he said I ruined one of his Christmas surprises. He was going to order it for me as a surprise. I guess I beat him to it. I'm not normally a fan of Disney-type decorations, but I love the memory of this one.

Monday's Recipe: Spaghetti with Artichoke Hearts and Tomatoes

2011-12-12T07:29:00.003-07:00

I posted this recipe a couple of years ago for the first time. I don't have a new recipe for this week, but this is one that I made the other day. Enjoy and happy Monday!!

If you haven't ever heard of the Pioneer Woman, then you are missing out. She is a wonderful cook and takes beautiful pictures of all her creations. I love trying her recipes and I'm proud to be the owner of her cookbook: The Pioneer Woman Cooks. This recipe is from her website and it's delicious! It's worth making.

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 medium onion, finely diced
1 (14.5 oz) can artichoke hearts (quartered or whole), drained
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup chicken broth, more as needed
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
salt & pepper to taste
1 pound thin spaghetti
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped chives or other herbs
Cook spaghetti until al dente. Drain and set aside.Melt olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add artichoke hearts and tomatoes. Stir and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Stir in cream and chicken broth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook over low heat until heated through, then turn off heat.Place drained pasta in a large bowl. Sprinkle with 1 cup Parmesan. Pour sauce over the top. Add chopped chives. Toss lightly to combine and coat; add a tiny bit of reserved pasta water if sauce seems too thick.

Spiritual Enlightenment

2011-12-11T06:31:00.000-07:00

“Each of us has made mistakes, large or small, which if unresolved will keep us from the presence of God. For this reason, the atonement of Jesus Christ is the single most significant event that ever has or ever will occur. This selfless act of infinite consequence, performed by a single glorified personage, has eternal impact in the life of every son and daughter of our Father in Heaven—without exception.”
Richard G. Scott, “Finding Forgiveness”

Crocheted Baby Blanket...

2011-12-08T06:22:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite crochet patterns. It's really easy and I love how delicate and "lacy" it is. I made this for my little sister, Kelsi, who is expecting a baby boy in February. I've made several of these and the pattern actually calls for three white stripes on each end, but I left it off this time. Let me know if you want the pattern. It's very versatile, so it can be done in any color.

Willow Tree Nativity...

2011-12-07T06:58:00.002-07:00

A few years ago I started looking for a Nativity set. It was really hard for me to find one that I really liked that I felt was classy. There are a lot of tacky Nativity sets out there. This was the one I liked the most. It's really expensive to buy from Deseret Book or other stores. The full set is over $300. I bought mine on ebay for $190, which is still expensive. But I knew I should get it before I ever got married and had a husband who would not understand the cost of a cute Nativity set. :) I was able to get the whole set, just like the picture below for that price. It was brand new, too. I am an ebay fan...and you should be, too! By the way, Brian asked me if I got a discount because they're missing their faces.

Wind...

2011-12-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

Many of you have probably heard that parts of Utah had a major windstorm last week with winds that reached 102 mph (the same as a category 2 hurricane). We were mostly unaffected where we live, but there was extensive damage caused in other parts of Utah.

Call me heartless, but I couldn't help but laugh out loud when I read the first statement below in a KSL.com news article. The second statement was a little better, but still made me laugh. For some reason the image in my head of students getting "blown over" just makes me laugh and I have a hard time taking it seriously.

"At Weber State University, high winds injured three students on campus, university spokesman John Kowalewski said. Two of the students were blown over in a parking lot on the east side of the campus and sustained minor injuries. "

"The storm also inflicted damage to people caught in its midst or the aftermath. Three Weber State University students in Ogden were injured Thursday by the blowing wind itself as it slammed them into the ground or into doors."

Maybe I am a mean, bad person. When I read it outloud to Brian he said, "I am so proud to be a Weber State Alum."

Monday's Recipe: Chicken Noodle Soup

2011-12-05T06:17:00.002-07:00

First and foremost, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here! I have Christmas fever so bad. Every morning I turn on the Christmas tree lights at 6 a.m. and sit in front of it to eat my bowl of cereal before leaving for work. We made a rule that we are not allowed to touch the presents once they are under the tree. We made the rule mostly for me...because I get tempted to touch them all and shake them.

On to the recipe for the week...I loved this recipe!

One of my favorite foods is homemade chicken noodle soup. It is a favorite of the foods my mom makes. However, she doesn't have a real recipe. She just throws things in and it's always amazing. I'm not that kind of cook...I have to have a recipe to follow. I love this recipe because it's basic and simple. I bought the noodles at the store, but they taste like homemade noodles. They are egg noodles and come in a little sack tied with a bag tie. Delicious! This recipe is from Betty Crocker. My husband loved it, too. By the way, I made some slight modifications.

Enjoy!

Chicken and Broth
1 cut-up whole chicken (3 to 3 1/2 lb) (I just used several chicken thighs)
4 1/2 c. cold water
1 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1 medium celery stalk (with leaves), cut-up
1 carrot, cut up
1 small onion, cut up
Soup
2 medium carrots, sliced (1 cup)
2 medium celery stalks, sliced (1 cup)
1 small onion, chopped (1/4 cup)
1 T. chicken bouillon granules
1 cup uncooked medium egg noodles (2 oz)

Instructions:

1. Remove excess fat from chicken. In Dutch oven or stock pot, place chicken, giblets (except liver) and neck. Add remaining chicken and broth ingredients; heat to boiling. Skim foam from broth; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer about 45 minutes or until juice of chicken is no longer pink when centers of thickest pieces are cut.

2. Remove chicken from broth. Cool chicken about 10 minutes or just until cool enough to handle. Strain broth through cheesecloth-lined strainer; discard vegetables. Remove skin and bones from chicken. Cut chicken into 1/2-inch pieces.

3. Add enough water to broth to measure 5 cups. In Dutch oven, heat broth, sliced carrots, sliced celery, chopped onion and bouillon granules to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer about 15 minutes or until carrots are tender.

4. Stir in noodles and chicken. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; simmer uncovered 7 to 10 minutes or until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with parsley.

Spiritual Enlightenment

2011-12-04T06:14:00.000-07:00

"A patriarchal blessing is a revelation to the recipient, even a white line down the middle of the road, to protect, inspire, and motivate activity and righteousness. A patriarchal blessing literally contains chapters from your book of eternal possibilities. I say eternal, for just as life is eternal, so is a patriarchal blessing. What may not come to fulfillment in this life may occur in the next. We do not govern God's timetable. 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.' . . . Your patriarchal blessing is yours and yours alone. It may be brief or lengthy, simple or profound. Length and language do not a patriarchal blessing make. It is the Spirit that conveys the true meaning. Your blessing is not to be folded neatly and tucked away. It is not to be framed or published. Rather, it is to be read. It is to be loved. It is to be followed. Your patriarchal blessing will see you through the darkest night. It will guide you through life's dangers. . . . Your patriarchal blessing is to you a personal Liahona to chart your course and guide your way."

Thomas S. Monson, "Your Patriarchal Blessing: A Liahona of Light"

Neil...

2011-12-02T06:12:00.000-07:00

I got a call from Brian at work yesterday and he said, "I hope you don't mind, but I scheduled something for us to do next summer." Neil Diamond is coming to SLC in concert in July! I had an opportunity to go a few years ago and didn't and I have regretted it since. We are both Neil Diamond fans and I am so excited. We went to the Grammy Museum on our honeymoon and they had some of Neil's old costumes, etc. He was SO skinny. It will be fun!

Favorite Christmas Movies...

2011-12-01T06:38:00.000-07:00

To start off the first day of December, I thought I'd do a post about some of my favorite Christmas movies. I have Christmas fever SO bad. I bought an advent calendar recently and have had fun putting in an activity for us to do every day. Every day is what I dream of, but I doubt it will really happen because life is so busy. Brian would like to add to this list, "A Muppet Christmas Carol" (what????), but I can't add it because I haven't seen it yet. In no particiular order, here are my favorite Christmas movies:

Chili's...

2011-11-30T09:39:00.002-07:00

Before I met Brian, I used to hate Chili's. I had never had anything that I really liked there. Brian and his parents love to go to Chili's. It's usually their number one pick and since I usually tag along, I decided I better find something there that I really like. Now, I always get the soup and salad. They have the best baked potato soup. You can get it bottomless and take some for the road for a lunch the next day. It's delicious. If you get the bottomless soup and salad, you also get bottomless chips and salsa. I've been craving it for a few days now. This summer when we went to several Bee's baseball games we won $50 to chili's and we still have $10 left so I think we'll go tonight. :) By the way, we also won a free overnight stay at a resort by Park City and a few ice cream cones. We definitely won more than we spent on the games.

Monday's Recipe: Marshmallow Brownies

2011-11-28T06:54:00.001-07:00

I should have waited to take this picture until the frosting had a bit of time to harden, but these were delicious. I made them for my little sister's bridal shower a couple of weeks ago and they were a big hit. Even my nieces and nephews who ate them complimented me and they're little kids...so you know something is good if a child tells you so. :)

They are rich, so it's hard to eat a lot of it and I guess that is probably a good thing.

Enjoy!

Marshmallow Brownies

1/4 c. cocoa

1 1/2 c. sugar

3/4 c. butter, softened

3 eggs

1 c. plus 2 T. flour

1 1/2 t. vanilla

1 1/4 c. chopped nuts, optional (I never put nuts in anything)

1 (10 oz.) pkg mini marshmallows

Chocolate Frosting (Recipe listed below)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In mixing bowl, cream cocoa, sugar, butter and eggs.

3. Add flour, vanilla and nuts. Spread in greased 9x13 pan and bake for 25 minutes.

4. Remove from oven and scatter marshmallows over the the top of the brownies.

5. Return to oven and bake exactly 3 minutes. Cool one hour.

6. Frost with Chocolate Frosting when cooled.

Chocolate Frosting

1/2 c. butter, softened

1 1/4 c. powdered sugar (I think I added a couple tablespoons more to make it a little thicker)

1/4 c. cocoa

1/4 c. evaporated milk

Combine and beat until smooth.

Spiritual Enlightenment

2011-11-27T06:28:00.000-07:00

“The invitation to repent is rarely a voice of chastisement but rather a loving appeal to turn around and to ‘re-turn’ toward God. It is the beckoning of a loving Father and His Only Begotten Son to be more than we are, to reach up to a higher way of life, to change, and to feel the happiness of keeping the commandments.”

Neil L. Andersen, “Repent . . . That I May Heal You”

Friday Feature: Megan

2011-11-25T06:08:00.000-07:00

It's been far too long since I have done a Friday Feature. I figured it's high time to bring it back. I won't do it every week, but I will do it now and then.

Enjoy!

Meet: Megan

Megan and I grew up together. I don't really remember what grade we met, but in where we grew up, most of us knew each other from kindergarten to 12th grade. Megan and I were friends throughout the school years and then mostly lost touch after we graduated. When I moved back to Rexburg last year, we got back into touch and spent quite a few nights having a girl's night with our other friend, Kristin. (She will be a Friday feature another day). Megan is such a fun girl. She has such a contagious laugh that can't help but make me smile when I hear it. I always had such a fun time listening to her talk about her family and her kids and tell all the funny stories that come along with motherhood. (Those are the things that I don't know yet...and I'm not really ready to know...haha.) Megan is a great person...and one that everyone should know! Also, below, Megan mentions some pancakes with cheese in them that my mom makes. For the record, everyone thinks they sound weird, but then everyone ends up loving them.

Hometown: Ririe, Idaho

What is your job title and description? Mother/Homemaker- You all know...it's the job where you do EVERYTHING with no monetary pay. But I love it! I'm grateful for a husband that provides for our needs. Great man!

If you could change anything in the world what would it be and why? -I'd change the entertainment industry; too many inapproriate things sneaking in that are so harmful to families.

If you could meet anyone (living or dead) who would it be and why? -I don't know; anyone from the scriptures or church history... someone famous...I really haven't thought about that much I guess.

What is your favorite thing about yourself? -My sense of humor...or lack thereof. Either way, I like to laugh and try to make others happy or feel at ease. :-)

Describe yourself in one word. -Caring

What is your happiest childhood memory? -There are many...but I loved working out in the garden, yard, or farm with my dad/mom and siblings. Always lots of talking and laughs!

What are the three material possessions you value most? -Hmm...probably my scriptures, journals, and patriarchal blessing (things that guide me, and help me remember what's important).

It’s 8:00 p.m., what are you doing? -Getting the kids ready for bed (baths, teeth brushing, songs, etc.)

What scares you? - I think I'm not that easy to scare, but I think I'd be terrified if anything were to happen to my kids (sickness, getting lost in stores, getting hurt, etc).

What is your favorite comfort food? -Warm apple crisp and ice cream

If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and why? -This is random, but, I'd go to France. When I went to Europe with my husband, we met a man and he said I looked like a french woman...so, I'm just curious about that...(and yes, I do shave...haha). Also, I think it would just be a beautiful place to see!

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given? Who gave it to you? -My parents always taught me to love family, be respectful, be honest, be yourself, and work hard. It has helped me in so many aspects of my life! Even during those times when I wasn't following the advice...it was still there.

If you could have any wish granted, what would it be? -For our house to sell soon (like, this week!)....so, when it's time to move, it won't be a stress to get it sold.

What is one beauty product you can’t live without? -Just one!? Ok, it would probably be soap. Cleanliness is next to godliness right? It would have to be a really nice one to use on my face too, so my face wouldn't dry out...

What is your favorite restaurant? -Cafe Rio or Costa Vida...delicious!

What is your favorite time of day and why? -Evening. Get to tuck my babies into bed, then have some quiet time to think, read, or talk with my husband.

What is your biggest pet peeve? -People that treat others with rudeness and disrespect.

What is your favorite movie and why? - Somewhere in Time...it is one of the first "romantic-y" movies I watched with my husband. And, he used the music from that movie to make me a jewelry box. He gave that to me when he asked me to marry him.

What is your favorite memory we have shared? -I remember talking a lot at school...passing notes... or coming over "to play". I remember your mom made whole wheat pancakes once and put shredded cheddar cheese in it. I thought it was so weird, but it was amazingly yummy! You were always so nice to me. Thank you!

So Very Thankful...

2011-11-24T06:09:00.004-07:00

I have so many things to be grateful for. I feel bad that I only take one day a year to write about everything I am thankful for. I hope you all take time to think about that you are grateful for...and to thank God for all that you have been given.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so very thankful for...

My loving and wonderful husband

Good books to read

The opportunity to teach primary

DVR's

Reasons to celebrate

Creativity

Reliable vehicles

Cell phones

Internet

My Savior, Jesus Christ

Blogs: I love to get ideas for recipes, crafts, etc.

Heaters

Blankets

Family gatherings

The Temple

My sewing machine

Hot chocolate and popcorn

Our jobs

Ross Dress for Less

My scriptures

The holiday season

Our Piano

Cuddling on the couch

Bubble baths

Never going hungry

Wonderful friends and family

Plate Holder...

2011-11-23T06:45:00.001-07:00

Just thought I'd share this fun idea of a way to use a plate holder. It's hanging in my bathroom with the extra towels. I got the idea from a lady at one of my favorite home decor stores, Real Deals. Find the nearest one to you and go visit. It's worth it! All Real Deals stores are only open 2 days a week.

Movie Review: The Help

2011-11-22T06:34:00.000-07:00

I finally went to see this movie a couple of weeks ago. I have been wanting to see it since it came out, but just never got around to it. We went on a weeknight to an 8:00 showing to this ghetto movie theater in West Valley. I didn't see a single soul in the entire theater besides workers. I'm talking about walking around, in the restrooms, etc. No one else was even there. I loved being the only people in the actual showing as well. I liked the movie a lot, although I wouldn't buy it for my own collection. I loved the book even more. I have decided that I really need to write a book so I can get rich.

Anyway. It's worth seeing and follows the book pretty well. Most of the important details were there...but you know how it is...the book is always better.

Enjoy the trailer again:

Monday's Recipe: BBQ Pulled Pork

2011-11-21T06:56:00.002-07:00

This recipe came from my sister, Kelsi. I love crock pot recipes and this was delicious and my husband loved it. It was also easy. Brian has started making me plug the crock pot in the garage because he doesn't like his clothes to smell like food. A little inconvenient, but I guess it works. :)

1 T. butter

2 pounds boneless pork roast

1 T. Cajun seasoning

1 medium onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic crushed

4 cups water

1 T. liquid smoke flavoring (found by the Worcestershire sauce)

Season pork generously with the Cajun seasoning. Melt butter in large skillet over medium high heat. Add pork, and brown all sides. Remove from the skillet and transfer to slow cooker. Add onion and garlic to the skillet and cook for a few minutes until tender. Stir in some water scraping the bottom to include all the browned pork bits from the bottom of the pan, then pour the whole mixture into the slow cooker with the pork. Stir in liquid smoke flavoring. Cover and cook on low for as many hours as you'd like, or until meat is falling apart when pierced with a fork. I cooked mine for 14 hours. Remove pieces of pork from the slow cooker and shred. Discard all liquid than add as much barbeque sauce as you like.

Serve on buns.

Spiritual Enlightenment

2011-11-20T06:09:00.000-07:00

"Love is what inspired our Heavenly Father to create our spirits; it is what led our Savior to the Garden of Gethsemane to make Himself a ransom for our sins. Love is the grand motive of the plan of salvation; it is the source of happiness, the ever-renewing spring of healing, the precious fountain of hope. As we extend our hands and hearts toward others in Christlike love, something wonderful happens to us. Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger. We become happier, more peaceful, and more receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "You Are My Hands"

Cocoa Latte Machine

2011-11-18T21:47:00.003-07:00

I originally posted about this product a little over two and a half years ago here. I decided it's high time that I post about it again becuase it is one of our favorite products. It is so convenient and such a time saver for hot chocolate. It really does get it to the perfect temperature. Also, sometimes I'll pour water in it at night with the cocoa and then in the morning if I want to have any for Brian when he comes home from work, I can just turn it on and it's ready when he gets home and I can get back in bed and not do any of the work. :)

This is an excellent gift since it is the holiday season. It has been given many times in my family. I'm pretty sure everyone owns one now.

Get it! And have fun!

I Love Moustaches...

2011-11-17T06:27:00.000-07:00

Just kidding. I don't. The only people who should have moustaches are firemen and people over 40. However, I do love this picture of Brian. He was so proud of it when he came out of the bathroom to surprise me when he was shaving off his goatee. I tried to get him to wear it to work, but he wouldn't.

Bracelet holder...

2011-11-16T06:10:00.001-07:00

I have a good sized jewelry box, but if I try to put my bracelets and watches in it, there's no room for everything else. I found this watch/jewelry holder on ebay. I really like it. It displays my bracelets so I don't forget what I have and puts them in a place where they are really easy to get to. I also think it looks kinda cute on my dresser with all the different colors.

Movie Review: Love's Christmas Journey

2011-11-15T06:02:00.000-07:00

I have this secret addiction at Christmas time...I love love love watching all of the Hallmark Christmas movies. They are so cheesy, but they're always the cutest love stories. I get so excited...and they've already started. I record all of them and watch them when I get time. For me, it's a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon while my husband is sleeping before work. Besides that, I don't think he'd watch them with me anyway. I'm pretty sure that he wouldn't, actually.

I loved this latest installment of the Love Comes Softly saga. They're such cute "westerns". I have watched all of them.

If you're bored, and you want something to get you excited for Christmas, go visit Hallmark! :)

Monday's Recipe: Pumpkin Pancakes

2011-11-14T06:04:00.002-07:00

I have posted this recipe before, but I figured that I should repost some once in awhile for the days when I don't have a new recipe ready to show. Plus, I made TWO new recipes in the last two weeks that I did not like, so I can't post them. That is sad. Anyway, enjoy this recipe!

2 c. flour
3 T. brown sugar
2 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1 t. allspice
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
1 1/2 c. milk
1 c. pumpkin
1 egg
2 T. oil
2 T. vinegar
I added chocolate chips. It was yummy!

Spiritual Enlightenment

2011-11-13T06:19:00.000-07:00

"As we pass through the trials of life, let us keep an eternal perspective, let us not complain, let us become even more prayerful, let us serve others, and let us forgive one another. As we do this, 'all things will work together for good to us that love God' (Romans 8:28)."

James B. Martino, "All Things Work Together for Good"

Friday Flashback...

2011-11-11T06:42:00.001-07:00

This was my first day of kindergarten. Funny thing is, purple is still one of my favorite colors. Gotta love the velcro shoes.

This is what I remember about kindergarten:

--I got in trouble and missed recess for walking on the tables.

--I used to wear an undershirt with little straps and a boy in my class said, "I can see your bra." I was so embarrassed that I punched him. And I had to miss recess.

--There was another boy in my class who never wore underwear and I sat by him on the floor once for story time and I couldn't help but notice that he had a hole in the crotch of his pants. Yikes.

--Searching for a leprechaun's pot of gold in the scary basement/furnace area of that building.

--My dad used to bring our little baby goats into class for show and tell. He also used to come for an art day once in awhile and I was always so proud.

-- I got chicken pox.

--Certain people who ate their glue and crayons.

Beautiful Hair...

2011-11-10T06:25:00.000-07:00

I saw this beautiful hairdo at a BYU game recently. And yes, that is a man. So pretty.

Crocheted Potholder...

2011-11-09T06:10:00.002-07:00

I got the idea to make this trivet, or potholder, from my sister-in-law, Leslie. I actually copied her colors exactly. It was fun to make, and pretty easy. I made in in just a couple of hours. I thought it turned out super cute and I think I'll make another one. It's about 7 inches in diameter.
You can find the pattern here. Her colors are really ugly, but don't let that discourage you. I used Peaches and Cream "yarn" from Walmart. One ball of each color would probably be enough to make two potholders (it might be a little close on the white). Have fun!

Book Review: The Kommandant's Girl

2011-11-08T06:09:00.001-07:00

I had heard about this book and thought it sounded interestesting so I borrowed it from the library. I read it in one day...not because it was a book that I couldn't put down, but because it was a very easy read. It was listed as a romance, but I would classify it more in the YA category and really there wasn't anything very inappropriate it in. It's about a Jewish girl who marries a non-Jew who fights in the resistance against the Nazi's. He has to go into hiding just a few weeks after they are married and she also goes into hiding and gets a job working in the "kommandant's" (the second highest ranking Nazi official in Poland) office. She steals information and shares it with the resistance. She also develops feelings for him and tries to justify her actions by saying it's necessary for the resistance.

It's really not that great of a book. I would give it a 2 out of 5.

Monday's Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Soup

2011-11-07T06:37:00.001-07:00

This recipe is from www.thepioneerwoman.com

It was really delicious! The only thing I didn't like about this recipe is that it felt pretty time consuming to me to go through the whole process. But it was good!

2 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 T. Olive Oil
1-1/2 t. Cumin
1 t. Chili Powder
1/2 t. Garlic Powder
1/2 t. Salt

(I always leave the salt out of the Pioneer Woman's recipes, because I feel like a lot of her recipes are too salty. Then I add some if I feel like it needs it.)
1 T. Olive Oil
1. Diced Onion
1/4 c. Diced Green Bell Pepper
1/4 c. Red Bell Pepper
3 cloves Garlic, Minced
1 can (10 Oz. Can) Rotel Tomatoes And Green Chilies
32 ounces, fluid Low Sodium Chicken Stock
3 T.Tomato Paste
4 c. Hot Water
2 cans (15 Oz. Can) Black Beans, Drained
3 Tablespoons Cornmeal Or Masa
5 whole Corn Tortillas, Cut Into Uniform Strips Around 2 To 3 Inches
_____
FOR THE GARNISHES:
Sour Cream
Diced Avocado
Diced Red Onion
Salsa Or Pico De Gallo
Grated Monterey Jack Cheese (I used Cheddar)
Cilantro

Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix cumin, chili pepper, garlic powder, and salt. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil on chicken breasts, then sprinkle a small amount of spice mix on both sides. Set aside the rest of the spice mix.
Place chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until chicken is done. Use two forks to shred chicken. Set aside.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a pot over medium high heat. Add onions, red pepper, green pepper, and minced garlic. Stir and begin cooking, then add the rest of the spice mix. Stir to combine, then add shredded chicken and stir.
Pour in Rotel, chicken stock, tomato paste, water, and black beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 45 minutes, uncovered.
Mix cornmeal with a small amount of water. Pour into the soup, then simmer for an additional 30 minutes. Check seasonings, adding more if needed---add more chili powder if it needs more spice, and be sure not to undersalt. Turn off heat and allow to sit for 15 to 20 minutes before serving. Five minutes before serving, gently stir in tortilla strips.
Serve in bowls, then top with sour cream, diced red onion, diced avocado, pico de gallo, and grated cheese, if you have it.

The garnishes really make the soup extra good.

Spiritual Enlightenment

2011-11-06T06:51:00.000-07:00

"When we seek to serve others, we are motivated not by selfishness but by charity. This is the way Jesus Christ lived His life and the way a holder of the priesthood must live his. The Savior did not care for the honors of men; Satan offered Him all the kingdoms and glory of the world, and Jesus rejected the offer immediately and completely (see Matthew 4:8–10). Throughout His life, the Savior must have often felt tired and pressed upon, with scarcely a moment to Himself; yet He always made time for the sick, the sorrowful, and the overlooked."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Lift Where You Stand"

Hot Chocolate and Snow...

2011-11-05T09:13:00.006-06:00

I woke up this morning to the first snowfall of the year. I love that it happened on a Saturday when I can stay at home, watch it from my windows and enjoy a heater, blankets, books, movies, a bubble bath, etc.

Brian came home from work this morning and I could hear him out and about in the house, although he was being extra quiet. My body wakes itself up at 6 a.m. every morning, no matter what, and on Saturdays I like to just lay in bed for awhile under the blankets and think and doze in and out of dreamland.

Brian came in a few minutes later with a mug of hot chocolate...complete with sprinkles. I don't think there is a better way to celebrate the first snowfall than with hot chocolate, cuddling in bed with the man of my dreams. It was the perfect, cozy morning. It was such a nice, thoughtful thing for him to do, especially after he had just finished a graveyard shift, and it was something that totally made my day. I love my life.

Just Because...

2011-11-04T06:22:00.000-06:00

I got a call at work the other day from the front desk in my building telling me there was a "package" for me. I said, "Is it a bomb?" You never know when it comes to disgruntled people who didn't get a job, etc. They said no, so I made my way to the front to see these beautiful roses. The lady told me she grilled Brian as to why he dropped them off and he said, "Just because." It made my day. I love having them at work since that is where it feels like I spend all my time. I am so lucky.

Small Gun...

2011-11-03T06:18:00.000-06:00

A few months ago I wanted to buy a pretend pistol for part of a costume and for part of a joke. I bought one on ebay for $5.

I got it in the mail and was NOT pleased (except in a weird way, I was pleased, because it made me laugh really hard) when I saw how little it was.

First of all, whoever sold this dumb gun got a really good deal.

Second, I did go back to the original posting to see if I had been tricked, but they really did post that it was mini and I somehow missed it.

Third, I threw it away because it wasn't worth sending it back and I did not know what in the world to do with it.

Wedding Shoes...

2011-11-02T06:42:00.000-06:00

I used to buy a lot of shoes...but I really haven't bought any for a long time. I did, however, buy some for my wedding. These are the shoes I got and I LOVE them. I got so many compliments on them. I never would have bought heels if I was having a reception or anything because heels are not comfortable. But, since all we did was the wedding and luncheon I decided to get the shoes I loved. I bought them here.

Man Cold...

2011-11-01T06:38:00.000-06:00

I think this little clip is so funny...and so true. (I'm not saying that I know from experience...)

Monday's Recipe: Crockpot Chicken

2011-10-31T06:05:00.000-06:00

This recipe is from my friend, Leanne. It's really easy to put together, and perfect to stick in the crockpot before church. I didn't follow the recipe exactly because I didn't have some of the ingredients, but it still turned out great and Brian really liked it.

8 chicken breasts

8 oz. Russian dressing

1 c. apricot preserves

1 pkg. onion soup mix

Cook on high for four hours. During the last 30 minutes add a chopped red and green pepper and some cashews. Serve over rice.

I omitted the peppers and cashews, but I think that would be a great addition, especially for textures and color. Either way, it is yummy and easy.

Spiritual Enlightenment

2011-10-30T06:55:00.000-06:00

"We can't predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones just around the next corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come."

L. Tom Perry, "Let Him Do It with Simplicity"

More Halloween Decor...

2011-10-28T06:59:00.000-06:00

I went with Brian's mom to a super saturday for her Relief Society. We made these BOO letters. It was fun and easy (actually, painting those spirals on the o's was surprisingly difficult). I think they turned out really cute. The letters are all glittered. The one thing I wish I could change is the color of glitter on the purple "o". I wish it were darker.

These wood letters came from The Wood Connection in Murray.

Mean...

2011-10-27T06:24:00.003-06:00

Brian and I really like to scare each other. We hide in closets, under beds, behind furniture, on stairs, etc. in order to get the perfect scare. The other night I showered and was taking my time getting dressed and before I got out of the bathroom and I had called my sister and we were talking on the phone. I opened up the bathroom door totally distracted and Michael Meyers ran at me suddenly. I screamed SO loud...it hurt my throat. I gasped at the same time and I totally retreated. It was by far the best scare yet. My poor sister got to hear it. He got the mask just to scare me because we recently watched Halloween (edited on tv) which was horrifying and I don't recommend watching it. It's not even that it was that SCARY...it was just disgustingly gory. I am not a horror movie fan. To me, a suspense movie is the type of scary that I like.

Anyways...he wins. I don't know if I can beat it. And when I do scare him, he doesn't even scream. He only jumps. I'd like to see him scream sometime. He laughed about it for at least half an hour. :)

Then, a few days later, I was taking a shower at night. There is a window in the shower (weird, I know) that is covered by curtains. While I was showering, I heard something at the window. It's high enough that it wouldn't be someone just out there knocking. I wasn't really scared though, because I figured it was Brian. I opened the window and lo and behold, there's Brian on a ladder with the mask on to try to scare me while I was showering. He was pretty disappointed that it didn't get me as good as the time in the bathroom.

I will get him back. Any ideas?

J'taime...

2011-10-26T06:32:00.001-06:00

For our wedding we got a couple of Willow Tree figurines. I love the Willow Tree collection and have collected a few over the years so I already had one of them. I took it back and traded it for this new figurine called J'taime (which is probably the only thing I remember from taking four years of French in high school. It means "I love you." Once I learned Portuguese on my mission I forgot everything I had ever learned about French.) I think it's so cute and I love the carvings on the body. I also love the way the hair is braided in the back.

By the way, last night I made this delicious soup with these breadsticks. It was so good and my husband approved.

Movie Review: Limitless

2011-10-25T06:23:00.000-06:00

I've heard from a lot of people that this was a good movie and Brian and I rented it from Redbox the other night. It was kinda different...and I know I made the comment to him that it was "bizarre" but it totally grew on both of us and we ended up being captivated. It's about a man (Bradley Cooper) who takes a drug that lets him access all of his brain, instead of the 20% like most people access and use and how his intelligence and what he could accomplish was "limitless." It was pretty good. I wouldn't buy it for my own (but that's because I mostly only like to own chick flicks) but I really enjoyed it. I'd give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. And for only a dollar? Can't beat that. I used to like going to movies...but I really don't like to go that much anymore because it's so expensive. I'd rather wait until it's cheaper. I'd rather spend my money on something else that lasts a bit longer. Don't get me wrong, I still love going to movies...just not in the same ways that I used to.

Enjoy the trailer:

Monday's Recipe: Easy Chicken and Dumplings

2011-10-24T06:18:00.000-06:00

1 1/2 c. milk

Frozen peas (as many as desired)

carrots (as many as desired)

Onion (as much as desired)

potatoes (as many as desired)

1 can cream of mushroom or chicken soup

1 c. bisquick mix

1/3 c. milk

paprika if desired

Heat 1 1/2 c. milk and vegetables to boiling in a 3-quart saucepan, stirring frequently.

Stir bisquick mix and 1/3 c. milk until soft dough forms. Drop dough by 8 spoonfuls onto chicken mixture (do not drop directly into liquid). Reduce heat to medium. Sprinkle with paprika. Cook uncovered until vegetables are tender (about 10 minutes). Cover and cook 10 minutes longer.

Spiritual Enlightenment

2011-10-23T06:58:00.000-06:00

“Christ knows how to minister to others perfectly. When the Savior stretches out His hands, those He touches are uplifted and become greater, stronger, and better people as a result. If we are His hands, should we not do the same?”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “You Are My Hands”

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Buttercream Frosting

2011-10-21T18:03:00.005-06:00

I posted this recipe a couple of years ago and made these cupcakes tonight for Brian's cousins who came over for dinner. (Their mom just had open heart surgery so they came for a little break). These cupcakes are SO good. The maple frosting is a perfect complement to the cupcake. I just really think you should all try these at home. I promise...they are perfect. :)

Cupcakes:

(makes about 18)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1 1/2 c. flour
1 t. cinnamon
3/4 t. baking powder
3/4 t. baking soda
1/2 t. allspice
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. salt
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 c. canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
2 T. cream sherry (I used cooking sherry found by the vinegar in the grocery store)
1. In a large bowl mix sugar, oil and eggs until smooth. Add pumpkin and sherry, beating well. Add dry ingredients, beating until smooth.
2. Scoop batter into muffin tin lined with paper liners. Bake in preheated oven for 22-27 minutes or until tops of cupcakes spring back when lightly touched. Cool completely before frosting.

Maple Buttercream Frosting:
3/4 c. butter (real butter is best), softened to room temperature
2 T. maple syrup
1/2 t. maple flavored extract
2 c. powdered sugar
In a bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together all ingredients until smooth.

Pot Shaped Candy??

2011-10-20T06:08:00.002-06:00

(Picture from ksl.com)

Wow. Pot shaped candy...with a picture on the bottom of the bag with a guy who looks high. There's nothing like encouraging our children NOT to do drugs.

You can ready the story here.

Halloween Decor...

2011-10-19T05:44:00.001-06:00

The other day I called my sister-in-law, Leslie, and told her I have the itch to make something and asked her if she had any ideas. She told me about a store near my home called, The Wood Connection. They sell wood kits for tons of different projects so I picked up a couple and made them on a Saturday afternoon. For some reason, I love decorating for Halloween and Fall the most out of all the holidays.

I love these wood letters that spell WITCH. The kit was $13.95. It took a bit of time to do all of the painting and then to cut the paper out for the letters. It's hard to tell from the picture, but the "T" is all glitter. I thought it turned out really cute and was fun to do.

Then, I made this cat. You have to purchase any additional supplies such as paper, paint, ribbon, etc. separately. The cat was $5.95.

Book Review: The Lovely Bones

2011-10-18T06:13:00.000-06:00

I read this book over conference weekend. I stayed up really late on Sunday night on accident(and I wake up at 5:45 a.m. to be at work by 7:00 a.m.). But I just couldn't put it down! The thing is, I would probably only give it 3 out of 5 stars, but I still couldn't put it down because I kept waiting for something to happen that never did. The story is about a young girl who is murdered and goes to heaven and watches her family and friends while they struggle to cope with what happened. It's a beautiful story...with a couple of weird things.

And I have to say, the book was a lot better than this movie preview looks. Yikes. The movie looks weird...I'm certain I will never watch it.

Enjoy the trailer:

Monday's Recipe: No Bake Cookies

2011-10-17T06:23:00.001-06:00

This recipe reminds me of my childhood and Sunday afternoons. Sundays used to be the day that we would usually make treats. I love this recipe...mostly because of the peanut butter. It's a delicious and easy recipe and my husband approved. :)

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. milk

1/2 c. butter

2 T. cocoa (more or less depending on your taste)

1/4 c. salt

1/2 c. peanut butter

3 c. quick-cooking oats

1 t. vanilla

Combine sugar and cocoa first and mix well. Add milk and butter. Bring to a full boil for one minute, timing accurately. (If you let it boil longer than one minute the cookie will be very dry and crumbly.) Add salt and vanilla. Blend in peanut butter and oats. Mix well. Spoon on to wax paper and allow to harden.

Spiritual Enlightenment

2011-10-16T06:51:00.000-06:00

"From Church history we read:

'Certain residents of Hiram, Ohio, vented their personal feelings with mob action directed against the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon. Stimulated by whiskey and hidden behind blackened faces, a gang of more than two dozen men dragged Joseph from his bed during the night of March 24, 1832. Choking him into submission, they stripped him naked, scratched his skin with their fingernails, tore his hair, then smeared his body with tar and feathers. A vial of nitric acid forced against his teeth splashed on his face; a front tooth was broken. Meanwhile other members of the mob dragged Rigdon by the heels from his home, bumping his head on the frozen ground, which left him delirious for days. The Prophet's friends spent the night removing the tar to help him keep a Sunday morning preaching appointment. He addressed a congregation that included Simonds Ryder, organizer of the mob'

Ryder was a convert who turned away because the Prophet Joseph had misspelled his name, apparently concluding that a prophet was one who had to be a perfect speller.

Later, the Saints in Missouri found out in a tragic manner how the armies of the enemy may
assemble.. . .

In the midst of all these trials, Joseph said: 'Hell may pour forth its rage like the burning lava of Mount Vesuvius, or of Etna, or of the most terrible of the burning mountains; and yet shall "Mormonism" stand. Water, fire, truth and God are all realities. Truth is "Mormonism." God is the author of it. He is our shield' "

M. Russell Ballard, "Anchored by Faith and Commitment"

Friday Flashback...

2011-10-14T06:34:00.001-06:00

Circa 1986.

My mom was pregnant with the twins, Randall and Rachelle,in this picture.

Back row: Sharee, Wade, Greg, James and Justin. Russ is in the front.

My mom made the outfit I am wearing in this picture. She also made one just like it for my doll. I loved to wear it and wore it all the time. One day James (the one in the red shirt) and I went out to play in a pond that is behind my parents' house. We did that often in the summers and spent hours out there building little dams out of rocks and pretending we lived in the wild. We loved it. I happened to wear this shirt over the top of my swimming suit and when we got in the water I took it off. There were some cows nearby and I expressed concern to my brother that if I left it there the cows would eat it. He told me cows don't eat shirts and so I left it on the ground near where we were playing and forgot about it. Imagine, however, my horror when I turned around suddenly and saw my favorite shirt in the cow's mouth being chomped on. I'm sure I screamed and if I remember right James ran to the cow to try to get it out of its mouth. The shirt was never the same again because there were holes all over it and I was sad.

Moral of the story: Cows do eat clothes. So watch out.

Lost Earrings...

2011-10-13T06:34:00.002-06:00

Awhile ago I lost some earrings I love. They weren't anything fancy...in fact they came from Walmart and I'm pretty sure I only paid $3 for them. However, I could not find anything similar to replace them. I liked them because they were lightweight (heavy earrings really bother me) and they were solid white. I have looked for the last six months for plain white earrings that I like and couldn't find any. I searched in every pocket of every purse to no avail. I finally gave up.

Today I found them in the strangest place. Even now that I found them, I can't figure out how they ended up there. They were in a bag of raffia that was in a box of craft stuff. I literally gasped when I saw them.

I really don't know how they got there. But I am happy I finally found them! Yay!

Scentsy Bars...

2011-10-12T06:54:00.002-06:00

I just bought a few more scensty bars on ebay. I have always loved black raspberry vanilla (seen below) and use that one often. I tried Pumpkin Roll for the first time. It smells SO good and is perfect for this time of year. Food smells are my favorite. I gravitate towards them naturally and am usually not a fan of the flowery smells.

Try Black Raspberry Vanilla if you haven't already! It smells so good. I have even bought the scentsy car fresheners and they work great and smell delicious.
I tried this next one, Autumn Sunset, at the urging of my sister, Kelsi. It is also a great fall smell. Very delicious!
And I wanted to post this warmer because I think it is SO cute. I would love to have it. However, we already have three scentsy warmers in our home. One is my normal one and Brian has one that looks like a football (big surprise there) and one that is a BYU warmer (another big surprise). It's just not practical to have a lot of these, but I do love this one pictured.

If you have any other favorite scents you think I should try, let me know! I love making my house smell yummy.

Movie Review: Moneyball

2011-10-11T06:25:00.000-06:00

When we were on our trip to Philadelphia there was one day that it down poured the entire day. We went to the King of Prussia mall which is the largest mall on the East Coast. It has over 400 stores and restaurants and is very upscale. We spent some of the day there and then we went to see this movie. It's a baseball movie and is about The Oakland A's who started using stats to determine which players would be the best for their team and would most likely have them win games. It stars Brad Pitt. You know, I've never been one of those Brad Pitt lovers...you know the ones. "Ohhhh.....Brad Pitt is SOO hot!" I've just never been that impressed with him.

It is rated PG-13 and had 2 "F" words. I still wonder when they started allowing that in PG-13 movies. You will probably only like it if you are interested in sports because it is all about baseball. I enjoyed it but it would never fall in my top fifteen list.

Enjoy the trailer:

Monday's Recipe: Mom's Wheat Bread

2011-10-10T06:13:00.007-06:00

Growing up in a family of 11 (with 6 boys plus my dad) we went through TONS of bread. My mom made bread on a daily basis before she started making it every other day. It was a staple in our home and there was always a plate of freshly sliced bread to accompany every meal at night.

It's delicious.

I finally got up the courage to try it on my own, now that I am a proud owner of a Bosch (which I use for everything, by the way). I don't know why I was so intimidated, it really is not very hard tomake bread. This recipe makes four large loaves, or five normal size loaves. I cut it in half and got three loaves.

Here is the recipe:

Combine and allow to activate:

7 cups quite warm water

3 T. yeast

Add yeast mixture to a large mixing bowl with 7 cups wheat flour and 3 cups white flour. Mix well.

Add:

2 T. salt

3/4 c. sugar

3/4 c. oil

1 c. wheat flour

Mix well. Alternately add wheat and white flour until dough is a good consistency but still a little sticky (approx. 5-6 cups).

Place in an airtight bowl and let it raise until double. Mold into four (or five) loaves and place in well-greased bread pans. Allow to raise again until double. Bake at 400 for 10 minutes and then turn oven temperature down to 350 for another 15-17 minutes, depending on how crusty you like it. Butter the tops of the loaves right when you take them from the oven. Since we don't go through a lot of bread, I cut the loaves and half and put them in the freezer. Then I take it out as I need it.

ENJOY!

Spiritual Enlightenment

2011-10-09T06:59:00.000-06:00

"We sometimes confuse sin with sinner, and we condemn too quickly and with too little compassion. We know from modern revelation that ‘the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.’ We cannot gauge the worth of another soul any more than we can measure the span of the universe.”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “You Are My Hands,”

Hy-top Cooking Spray...

2011-10-06T06:27:00.001-06:00

I like to save money as much as the next person. I will often try the store brands for different items and I generally cannot tell a difference. However, I detest the Hy-top (generally sold at WINCO) brand butter flavored cooking spray. First of all, it literally stinks. I cannot stand the smell of it. And secondly, it drips everywhere and doesn't spray evenly. It also makes my pans SO sticky, they're really hard to clean after that. I am sorry I wasted my money on it and from now on , I am a PAM girl. I threw my hy-top in the garbage.

Philadelphia...

2011-10-04T06:16:00.003-06:00

Brian and I recently got back from a week-long trip to Philadelphia. (You didn't even know I was missing because I preschedule all my blog posts.) :) He served his mission there and LOVES to go back to visit often and I loved tagging along. I've been to the East Coast, but never to Pennsylvania. I won't cover everything we did, but just some of the highlights. We had a great time and attended a lot of sporting events (Brian's part of the planning) and did some other sight-seeing things (my part of the planning). I never thought I'd love sports, but I have been pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy going.

We arrived in Philly late on Tuesday night (the 20th). We went right to bed. The next morning we got up bright and early and spent the day doing some touristy things. I didn't take many pictures and I feel bad about that. We saw Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, etc. That night we attended a Phillies baseball game. It was fun to be on their home turf instead of at an away game. The atmosphere was mostly fun...except for a dumb Yankees fan who ruined some of it with his foul mouth and loud rantings. The Phillies lost and we were disappointed.

But we had fun anyway! These smiles on our faces were after they lost...so it's proof we had a good time. :)

We actually went to a Phillies game the next night, too. Elvis is obviously a Phillies fan...This picture was really awkward because he took my hands and started dancing with me singing Suspicious Minds. Actually, he started singing "Love Me Tender" while trying to dance with me and I requested Suspicious Minds. Brian laughed really hard.
On Saturday (the 24th) we drove out to Lancaster, PA. We wanted to see Amish country. First of all, the area was so beautiful. There were huge farms, everything was green and lush. It was such a pretty area...I would love to live out there. We ran across an Amish farmer's market. They brought all their homegrown and homemade foods in their buggies. They were really nice and pleasant. I bought six ears of Indian corn to use in my fall decorations for $1. Can't beat that. Brian loved the idea of all the homemade jams and stuff and wanted to take it all home but I kept saying, "I make that, too! It's not that neat!" And he would say, "But these were made by the AMISH!" Same things with their homemade quilts. He'd say, "Wow...I just can't believe they made these." And I'd remind him, "I make quilts, too!" And he would just say again, "Yeah...but these were made by the Amish." Whatever. Apparently mine aren't as cool. Maybe I should have been Amish.
It was crazy to see all their little buggies just driving in the road, pretending they are cars.
Traffic jam in Lancaster, PA!

We saw a little shop selling homemade root beer. I laughed because they were selling all sorts of random stuff. And one of them was a regular pair of grass clippers...but they were all rusty so they looked old. But they weren't old. It made me laugh. They were $4.
And for the record, the root beer was no bueno. Yuck. I took one sip and told Brian it was all his. My dad's side of the family often makes homemade root beer for family reunions and I think it's delicious. This just tasted like watered down something...not even root beerish.
On Sunday we got to go to the Eagles game! It was really fun. It was their home opener so the crowd was really excited. Everyone tailgates there and loves their Eagles team. But again, they lost. It was sad because by then we had lost every game we'd been to.

This time we had to force our smiles a little more. Just kidding. The lady who sat next to us started collecting everyone's soda cups to take home after the game. Weird.

After the game we walked down South Street where there are lots of little shops. This little art wall was very interesting. We also saw the Italian Market where Rocky runs through in the movie. (I don't know which movie).

We saw Love Park. We looked around for awhile to try to find someone who didn't look like they would run away with our camera. It was so hot and humid that day. Yuck. A shower never felt better.

We went to the Eastern State Penitentiary . It was such an interesting tour. It opened as a jail in 1771 and the prisoners lived in complete isolation. It was the first great architectural building in the United States. The tour took us through all the years of history of the building. We got to see Al Capone's cell. He was spoiled and got fancy bedding and paintings, etc.

At night right now they turn it into a haunted house. We really wanted to go but we ran out of time. It's rated the number one haunted house in the United States.

On our last night we went to a NHL game and saw the Flyers play. That was probably one of my favorite sporting events. They played the New York Rangers...who they hate. There were several fist fights and I can't believe how much I cheered them on while they were fighting. Maybe that's why people used to enjoy going to hangings. Weird.

I LOVE Brian's beautiful green eyes. :)

They threw shirts into the crowd and I caught one! I had a death grip on it, too, because there was a guy right behind me trying to rip it out of my hands. I was so proud that I caught it. No worries that it's an extra large bright orange shirt. Brian really wants it. So maybe I'll give it to him for Christmas. :)

We had such a great trip! We loved it. There's a lot to see and do in Philly and we can't wait to go back.

Monday's Recipe: Guiltless Alfredo Sauce

2011-10-03T06:32:00.001-06:00

I've posted a recipe for Fettuccine Alfredo before, but this recipe is my new favorite. The problem I typically have with Alfredo Sauce recipes is how buttery they are. I hate how when you reheat them it turns into all butter and is no longer creamy.

This recipe came from the Our Best Bites cookbook and was delicious. It was creamy, tasted just like regular Alfredo sauce and reheated beautifully. And it really is "guiltless". It's a great recipe and from now on it will be my go-to recipe for Fettuccine Alfredo.

Enjoy!

2 c. low-fat milk

1/3 c. (3 oz). low-fat cream cheese

2 T. flour

1 t. kosher salt

1 T. butter (compare THAT to those recipes that call for a whole cube of butter!)

3 garlic cloves, minced

1c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1. In a blender, blend the milk, cream cheese, flour, and salt until smooth and set aside.

2. In a large, nonstick saucepan, melt butter on medium-high heat and add the garlic. Saute the garlic for about 30 seconds, stirring constatnly to prevent the garlic from sticking and burning.

3. Add the milk mixture to the pan. Stir constantly for 3-4 minutes or until it just comes to a simmer. Keep stirring and let it cook for afew minutes more or until sauce thickens, about 6-7 mintues.

4. Once the sauce has started to thicken, remove from heat. Whisk the cheese into the sauce and immediately cover the pan.

5. Allow the sauce to stand for at least 10 minutes before using. It will continue to thicken upon standing.

I served mine with zuchinni and chicken.

Spiritual Enlightenment

2011-10-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

“The Lord does not expect that we do what we cannot achieve. The command to become perfect, as He is, encourages us to achieve the best of ourselves, to discover and develop the talents and attributes with which we are blessed by a loving Eternal Father, who invites us to realize our potential as children of God. He knows us; He knows of our capacities and our limitations. The invitation and challenge to become perfect, to achieve eternal life is for all mankind.”

Jorge F. Zeballos, “Attempting the Impossible”

Quote of the Day...

2011-10-01T21:05:00.002-06:00

I have seen this quote a lot on facebook lately and I really like it so I thought I'd share:

Giant Cosmos...

2011-09-30T07:06:00.000-06:00

I planted some cosmos along our house. My mom always had them...they are a wildflower-type flower and honestly I have only seen them grow to be about two feet high. These flowers were overtaking everything! I couldn't believe they were taller than my husband. They looked so awful we finally ripped them all up. Some of the roots were an inch thick.

These flowers, on the other hand, turned out beautiful. I planted them from seeds and have watched them grow all summer. They have only been blooming a couple of weeks and are a fall flower. They're called Asters and I think they're great!

Creamies...

2011-09-29T06:14:00.000-06:00

I love Creamies. These take me back to school lunches...I have always loved them. I used to love chocolate the most but this summer I discovered strawberry.

One of my favorite things about the Creamies (besides the delicious taste) is the fact that they are only 120 calories per bar. Not bad for a treat when I have a sweet tooth craving. Typically they are around $2.25-$2.50 per box, but I only buy them when they're on sale for 3 for $5. Not a bad price for a box of six.

The Brick Oven

2011-09-28T06:13:00.002-06:00

This is such a great restaurant. I've only eaten there a couple of times, but I've loved it both times. The closest ones to us are either in Provo or Layton (about a 40 minute drive each way), but I heard the happy news that there is one opening in South Jordan in October.

Their pizza is delicious, they have a pasta and salad bar and you can get so much food that you could probably eat it for three meals.

We are big fans! If you ever get a chance to go and you are in the area...go try it out! You can check out their menu here.

Top Fifteen Favorite Movies...

2011-09-27T06:20:00.002-06:00

I've been wanting to do this post for awhile, but it's hard to think of my top ten favorites...so it ended up being my top 15. Also, please excuse the formatting. I have a really hard time sometimes with blogger and it changes my formatting constantly. Keep in mind that these are in no particular order:

1. Sound of Music

2. While You Were Sleeping

3. North and South

4. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

5. Australia

6. Persuasion

7. Pride and Prejudice (either one, but mostly the A&E version)

8. You've Got Mail

9. Fun With Dick and Jane

10. Phantom of the Opera

11. Iron Will

12. The Inheritance

13. Swing Kids

14. Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken

15. Princess Diaries 2 (I can't explain this one...I just love it.)

Monday's Recipe: Stuffed Green Peppers

2011-09-26T06:37:00.001-06:00

This recipe was a great way to use many of the peppers out of our garden and I thought they turned out delicious!

6 large bell peppers

1 pound lean ground beef

2 T. chopped onion

2 c. cooked rice

1 t. salt

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce

3/4 c. mozzarella cheese

1. Cut thin slice from stem end of each bell pepper to remove top of pepper. Remove seeds and membranes; rinse peppers.

2. Cook beef and onion in skillet over medium heat. Stir in cooked rice, salt, garlic and 1 cup of the tomato sauce. Cook until hot

3. Heat oven to 350 degrees.

4. Stuff peppers with beef mixture. Stand peppers in ungreased square baking dish (I used a regular pan and lined it with tinfoil). Pour remaining tomato sauce over peppers.

5. Cover and bake 45 minutes. Uncover and bake about 15 minutes longer or until peppers are tender. Sprinkle with cheese.

Spiritual Enlightenment

2011-09-25T06:03:00.000-06:00

"When we teach those we love that we are spirit children temporarily away from a loving Heavenly Father, we open the door of prayer to them.

"We lived in His presence before we came here to be tested. We knew His face, and He knew ours. Just as my earthly father watched me go away from him, our Father in Heaven watched us go into mortality."

Henry B. Eyring, "Write upon My Heart"

Canning...

2011-09-23T06:56:00.000-06:00

I didn't take any pictures, but I have been learning to can. I'll be honest...I can't decide if it's worth it or not. I felt most grumpy after I spent four hours doing pickled beets after I had already worked all day. And I got about 16 pints. I do love pickled beets and all of them came from our garden. :)

I bottled tomatoes and salsa, too. Then someone told me about blanching tomatoes and freezing them. I am amazed at how 25ish tomatoes condensed into one tiny freezer bag. It's a nice and easy way to keep caught up on them. Oh and I picked about 15 green peppers from our garden and cut them up and froze them.

I have 10 zucchinis on my counter and I have been grating those and freezing them for later. It's been so fun. It's so satisfying to eat fresh vegetables that you've worked hard to grow. I love having a garden. It's a lot of work, but totally worth it. (I hear that's how it is with children, too.)

My husband...

2011-09-22T07:17:00.001-06:00

Sorry...no pictures for this one, but I wanted to share two little stories. A few days ago I came home from work grumbling about this and that and then I burst out angrily, "I hate Utah drivers!!!"

Brian left to go do some things and awhile later he came home with a bouquet of roses for me and said, "I just kept thinking, 'That doesn't sound like my wife!' and I wanted to cheer you up."

It worked...it always works. :)

Second, Brian went to work the other night and when I got into bed there was a cute little bag of chocolate covered cinnamon bears under the blankets and on my pillow with a note telling me he loves me.

Where did I find this guy? He's so good at surprises and making me feel loved! I am so lucky.