Early Christmas

I love getting things in the mail (especially ones that end up practically free)...it's like an early Christmas present!

Becky Higgins Project Life Turquoise Edition.

Erin Condren 2012 Planner.

Thanksgiving 2011

We went down to my dad and Julie's this year for Thanksgiving. We LOVE their house (not to mention their beautiful trees and property)! It is so relaxing! The entire upstairs is a master suite and beyond comfortable!

Julie fixed us yummy treats at night while we lounged around and watched movies.

I was in charge of the rolls (as usual), but Julie didn't have a rolling pin...so we made do!

Dinner turned out awesome and the weather was so amazing that we decided to go outside and eat.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Breaking Dawn (Part 1)

Yes, I went to the midnight showing of Breaking Dawn. It's become sort of a tradition, although this was the first year I didn't throw the party beforehand. Me and my girlfriends figured out a trick last year and got stellar seats, so of course we did it again this year (I am so not telling)! Thanks Molly for almost getting into a fight with the crazies just to save our seats!

BD = Breaking Dawn

You better believe I screamed and chased this dude down the street so that I could get a picture of his hilarious shirt!

The movie was good, but in my opinion for an older audience. I can't believe we have to wait another year for the second part to come out!

Scrumptious Sundays

Hawaiian Chicken

4-6 boneless chicken breasts (mine were still frozen)

1 bottle Archer Farms Hawaiian Style Barbecue Sauce (from Target)

1 20 oz can Pineapple tidbits, drained

Spray the inside of your crock pot with cooking spray for an easy cleanup! Place frozen chicken breasts in the crock pot and cover with sauce. Empty can of drained pineapple tidbits on top. Cook on High for 2-3 hours or Low for 4-6 hours. Shred chicken with two forks while still in the crock pot so the chicken will be well coated with sauce. Serve over rice.

We also had petite whole green beans and Kings Hawaiian rolls with it!

Time Out For Women 2011

Choose To Become

As always, me and my mom had a blast at Time Out For Women! It is so fun to just get away and be spiritually fed! As you can see this years theme was Choose To Become. They had amazing speakers and music! I always jot down notes, and I just can't help but share them with you.

Laurel Christensen - The Faith Experiment

- Pray with faith

- Think with faith

- Live with faith

"You must do the thing you think you cannot do" Eleanor Roosevelt.

We put too much faith in the outcome, not enough faith in Him.

I have always been on his Plan A for me!

Don't be the person that stands in your way!

Brad Wilcox - Savior & Redeemer

We often forget that we need to see Jesus Christ as our Savior AND Redeemer, which are two different things.

Savior = saves us

Redeemer = makes us better

Sacrifice means to make sacred.

Choose Christ = Choose Change

He chose to be like us, so we can choose to be like Him.

The "big bang" cannot love us like a big brother can.

A God that require nothing of us, is making nothing of us!

Maicy Robison - (musical presenter)

Sometimes life takes twists and turns we aren't planning. She says that having a mother heart is what's important, not necessarily giving birth. For example, she got married to her "Rusty Armor" who asked for a divorce 7 years into their marriage and right after her mom died at 49. She remarried later on a man who had adult children and spent their first Christmas at her new husbands, ex-wifes house to be together with his children. She has finally had 2 children of her own at a later age, but not before she was a 'mother' to many students.

Mary Ellen Edmunds - You Are REAL!

A seed turns out exactly like it should, just like we do.

No one can steal your identity or the fact that you are a child of God.

What's his no face = Satan

Prayer isn't about time, it's about purpose!

Linda Eyre & Shawni Eyre Pothier - Parenting with Holiness

Find one part of your day that you can focus on making more holy. Her example was a friend who had 7 children, the last being twins which meant buckling 4 children into car seat! She decided she would change her attitude about it and make it more holy by placing each child in their seat, buckling them, then looking directly into their eyes and saying I love you. Shawni chose the after dinner routine. She turned on music (and video taped the change).

1 - Remember who your children really are.

- Between husband and wife go through a run down about once a month to see where each of your children are in each of the following areas: physically, mentally, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.

2 - Remember who you are.

- Get away, even if it's to sit in your car.

- Involve yourself with other women.

3 - Remember who the Savior is.

D. Kelly Ogden - Be of Good Cheer

We are told at least 12 times in the scriptures to "be of good cheer."

You have every reason in this world to be happy!

We can have a bad day but still have a good life.

Happiness is a decision.

1 - Spirit of God brings happiness

2 - Happiness comes through others

3 - Serving missions

4 - Scriptures

5 - Temple

6 - Turn hearts to fathers

We are His heirs!

Matt Baldwin - The Problem with Conformity

God wants me to be an individual!

God loves you, not God love you IF!

Kris Belcher - Look Up

Focusing on the darkness will not lead to light.

When prayers aren't answered commend yourself to the Lord like the Jaredites and ask Him to touch your stones to make the light.

Efforts = consecrate to the Lord.

Complain to Heavenly Father, it's okay!

Look up to the light, not down to the dark.

Search for happiness in light.

Kris was beyond hilarious and with the last name Belcher, how can you not be! Here is part of her introduction!

Hilary Weeks - (musical presenter)

Pray for what is the most important thing each day.

She did a neat experiment with a clicker. For an entire week she clicked for every negative thought she had, but then she found herself down. So the next week she clicked for all the positive things and her numbers were off the charts. She found reasons to click and found blessings.

She just topped the Christian Billboard Charts and she sang this awesome song!

Here are 2 quick (and I mean quick) clips of her skits that had us laughing.

And not that she performed this, but this is my favorite (hilarious) performance by her!

Scrumptious Sundays

Fish Tacos

16 - 20 fish sticks

2 tbls oil (I use extra virgin)

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp garlic powder

3 tbls mayo

1 tsp lime juice

1 1/2 cups coleslaw mix

flour or corn tortillas

salsa, or pico de gallo

Follow baking directions on the package for the fish sticks. Brush one side of fish sticks with oil, cumin, and garlic powder mixture and place in oven. Once the fish is halfway through baking, turn fish and coat other side with mixture.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together mayo and lime juice. Add coleslaw; toss to coat. To serve, spoon some of the coleslaw mixture into each taco shell, then add fish sticks. Top with salsa or pico de gallo.

We serve this with rice and/or beans as a side.

***We have recently changed this recipe slightly! Instead of salsa or pico de gallo, we use a can of Rotel (because we have it in our food storage and use it for everything). We add 1 tbls of the juice to the mayo and lime mixture for the coleslaw. Then we top the taco with the chunky stuff. It adds kick, which we love!

Weekend Birthday Celebration

Friday:

It began Friday with a handful of friends who joined me for a craft-a-thon from 10am-10pm. There was lots of chatting, and a little bit of crafting. We were lucky enough to use the church so we could each spread out on our own 8ft table. Ned's Krazy Sub was brought in for lunch and of course we had a bunch of treats to snack on throughout the day. For dinner we went to my beloved Gecko Grill who closed the next day after 12 years, sigh. Even though I planned a bunch of projects, I only completed a new church bag for myself, but catching up with girlfriends was the best! I love my girlies and they spoiled me with hoards of fabric and generous gift cards!

Saturday:

I forgot to mention that our friends from Utah drove down with their 3 kids (a 3 year old & 18 month old twins) to surprise me for my birthday! I feel so special! My mom made us all biscuits and gravy (my fave) and we "tried" to watch general conference. We didn't get up and moving till about 2 in the afternoon. We decided to get a pizza and go have a picnic on temple grounds. We rushed back so the boys could get to priesthood in time and they could see their friends (who live here too). Their friends joined us for my birthday dinner at Olive Garden along with my mom and Tim. I was spoiled with a shopping spree, pedicure, dinner, hotel stay, and Time Out For Women tickets from my mom to enjoy in November! And Phil scored major brownie points by getting me a Kindle along with 30 coupons that can be used 30 times (like back tickles, foot rubs, fabric and scrapbooking supplies). I was also informed that I have more in store next weekend! Wow!

Sunday:

Again we "tried" to watch conference, but I think we'll just have to watch it on DVR or read it when it comes out. We had another relaxing day and didn't get ready until about 3! We headed over to my grandmas house to have a nacho bar and celebrate with cake! Our friends 3 year old helped decorate it and blow out the candles. Too cute, right?! We chatted it up with family, then headed home to play some games since it was our friends last night. After a blessing over a sick and coughing little boy, we headed to bed in the wee hours.

All in all, turning 30 didn't kill me and I'm looking forward to doing everything on my 30 List! Thanks to everyone for making this birthday so memorable!

Scrumptious Sundays

Jambalaya

2 tbls butter

1 medium bell pepper, chopped

2 tbls sugar

1/8 tsp pepper

1 can Italian stewed tomatoes, blended

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp cajun seasoning

4 chicken breasts, boiled & cubed

3 1/2 cups chicken broth

1 small onion, chopped

1 lb sausage link, sliced

1 1/2 tsp minced garlic

1 chicken bouillon cube

1 tsp cilantro

2 cups rinsed rice

Melt butter and saute onion and bell pepper in a large frying pan. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until rice is tender.

The List...

Lose weight

Start our family

Graduate

Vacation out of the country

Get scrapbooks up to date

Visit all the temples in Arizona

Read the Book of Mormon

Plan a date to do random acts of kindness

Make and send 10 cards to old friends

Learn a piano piece

Try Thai Food

Be debt free

Clean and back up our computers

Organize my cookbook

Finish all my to-do projects

Make baby blankets to donate

Have Christmas shopping done by December 1st

Read and watch the Harry Potter series

Read The Work and The Glory series

Make birthday calendars for family members

Get family pictures taken

Fit into my wedding dress again to reminisce

Sing in the ward choir

Mail out Christmas cards by December 1st

Learn photography skills

Read in pajamas for an entire day

Have money in savings

Tip someone 100%

See Wicked the play

He's 34

I wasn't the best photographer on his birthday, but my hubby got spoiled! Lots of books, new mountain bike + accessories (after his other was stolen), a new cell phone, money from family, and art supplies (the only thing I did get pictures of him opening). He has begged me forever to buy a canvas and paint to just see what he could create, so I indulged him! I love this guy, even if he rocks bed head like nobodies business (in his defense he had just woken up)!

Now That's A Hamburger!

Scrumptious Sundays

Butterfinger Balls

1 lb candy corn

1 (16 oz) jar of peanut butter

1 bag of Hershey's milk chocolate chips

Melt candy corn in the microwave stirring every 20-30 seconds. Add peanut butter and mix thoroughly. Let cool in the fridge for about 15 minutes. Line a cooking sheet with parchment paper and place a cooling rack on top. Form balls from the candy corn and peanut butter mixture. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave in 15 second increments. Dip balls in chocolate and let set on the cooling rack allowing the excess chocolate to drip through onto the paper. Place in the fridge until hardened. Store in the fridge until ready to serve.

1 Year Ago

1 year ago today...

Miss Shelby gave us a dozen beautiful puppies!

Which means 1 year ago today, Liberty joined our family!

Happy Birthday Liberty!

We can't imagine life without your spunk!

We love you!

St. George

We ran away to St. George last weekend for roughly 36 hours! It was short and sweet, but the weather was oh so worth it! It was overcast and about 80 degrees the entire time (sure beats 110). We were able to see my cousin and his family, go to a little swap meet where my hubby bought me 2 cute necklaces and earrings, see Grease at Tuacahn, and spend time with Phil's parents and one of his brothers and his family swimming, playing games, and relaxing. We had a great time!

We Remember...

Friday Favorites

Gel Booties

by Earth Therapeutics®

I am a flop flop lovin' gal and cracks are just inevitable...until I was introduced to these booties! I can't believe the difference one night makes! I lather my feet with lotion, slip these booties on (not gonna lie, it feels weird), and the next morning my feet are practically doing a happy dance! Soft and no cracks!

Price:

$20

Where Can You Buy It:

Bed Bath & Beyond

Camping = Success

We found a little hidden treasure this past weekend!

My Thoughts on 30

Once upon a time I had this ambitious idea. I knew I was struggling with the thought of turning 30. It not only sounds old to say I am out of my 20's, but some days I feel like I have nothing to show for it {i.e. no kids, no home, no career}. I figured if I thought of 30 things that I wanted to do and accomplish before I turned 30, then I'd be all right with my inevitable birthday. So I started with an enthusiastic banner for myself! 30 before 30 was my catchphrase!

Then the obvious happened. I was super excited, but the list became more of a chore than something I wanted to accomplish. Then I felt guilty, then I wanted to give up. I laid awake one night {annoyed at myself} when all of a sudden I had an "ah ha" moment! Why in the world do I have to do it before my 30th birthday?! I am going about this list like I am about to die. Instead I decided to CELEBRATE my 30th year by doing 30 things while I am 30 to prove to myself that 30 can be great. So I jumped out of bed at 2:27 am and fixed my inspirational banner to reflect my new catchphrase. 30 while 30!

I am happy to report that this does make me look forward to being 30! I know all you nosey people want to know what's on my list...but I won't be sharing it until my birthday because in an odd way, it is a gift to myself! So stay tuned because October 1st the list will be up! I will use my blog to journal items as they happen so you can see them get crossed off {plus it makes me accountable}!