Five years ago tonight!

It was 5 years ago today that Adam found me at IHOP!Copyright Creating Keepsakes Magazine | February 2010 Issue.

I will never forget the feeling I felt when my sister-in-law's father Sterling walked up and asked to buy our dinner. It was one day that replays in my mind over and over again!

So tonight, I planned the date night! Dinner at IHOP followed by a movie. What was more appropriate than My thoughts? GREAT NIGHT! So fun to spend time with my husband and reminisce about how we met. The Movie? HILARIOUS until about the last ummmm 20 minutes. Everything got a little, lets just say, I wouldn't recommend the last 20 minutes. It got a little bit dirty. Last thoughts, I love my husband SO much and tonight was so much fun! I am so lucky to have him as my husband!

Cruisin!

So I failed to announce before I left, that Adam and I finally took a break! We decided to go on a Cruise! Here is how it happened.

About 5 years ago, Adam and I took a honeymoon cruise for 4 days. It just so happened that we met this cute couple that was on their honeymoon too! We were both married the same day, and seemed to click really well. We kept running into them on excursions and decided to have the same dinner table!

Well we gave each other our information and promised to share pictures when we got home. But life took over, and the information was lost, and so was that cute honeymoon friendship!

A few months back, this cute girl by the name of Kirsten Krason, (check out her amazing blog here) happened to find my blog. And it just so happened, that she was that same girl from 5 years ago, on that honeymoon cruise that we took! We decided it was time to get together to see what had happened in our lives these past 5 years. So we had them for dinner. We found out they were planning a vacation in celebration on Kirsten graduating from Interior Design School, and it was about the same time that Adam and I wanted to plan a vacation. One week later, we booked a cruise with Josh and Kirsten, and left 3 weeks later!
Our cruise was on the Princess Sapphire ship, and we sailed out of Los Angeles, CA. We headed down the Baja of Mexico. We went to Puerto Viarta, Mazitlan, and Cabo San Lucas Mexico! It was SUCH an amazing trip and one we will never forget!
So here are some fun pictures from the trip! Hope you all had a great week too!
** Picture explanations follow starting at the top and go from left to right.
1. Miniature Golf on the ship.
2. Cabo San Lucas
3. Parasailing off the beach in Mazitlan.
4. Overlook of our ship
5. Beach in Mazitlan
6. Zip lines in Puerto Viarta
7. Shuffle board on the ship
8. Winning the Amazing race on the ship! Don't worry, we gave the "free" bottle of Champagne to a nice couple!
9. Beach in Cabo San Lucas

Happy Baby Shower

So, a few weeks ago I threw a baby shower for some of my High School Friends. They happen to be sister-in-laws and having their first girls. It was such a fun evening ... Suzanne did the cute decor, Heather helped bring the essential dinner utensils and a salad, and I did the food. (one of my passions!)
The shower wasn't a traditional baby shower with games and such, it was more of a get-together with gifts. It was so fun to see some of these dear friends, one of which I hadn't seen in about 8 years! It is funny how no matter how much time passes, friends are always friends and there is never a dull moment. You can still have conversation for hours upon end without a lull!I promised my friends that I would send the recipes to the yummy dinner I made, but I just haven't had a spare moment to type them up. As long as I am writing them, I figured I could share them with all of you! These are the TRIED AND TRUE recipes that I love and swear by. Try them all! They will CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

Raspberry Tarts
From the kitchen of Shanna Gardner Galen

1 box Betty Crocker brownie mix
1 brick (8oz) cream cheese at room temperature
2 Squares white chocolate (or 1/4 cup white chocolate chips)
1 T. Milk
1 C. Strawberry cool whip dip
1/3 c powdered sugar
1/2 pint fresh raspberries (washed and dried)

Cook brownies in a mini muffin pan in oven for 9-11 minutes as directed on box. Fill mix up to 1/4 inch below rim. After removing from the oven, let cool for a minute or two. Then push down center and press toward the outer edge of muffin pan. Cool before taking out of pan.

In a bowl, whip cream cheese really good so there aren't any lumps. Whip in white chocolate next, again so there aren't any lumps, then add in remaining ingredients.

Place filling mixture in a zip lock baggy and cut off one of bottom edges. Fill the center of each brownie bite. Top with fresh raspberries.

TOMATO BASIL SOUP
From the Kitchen of Ashley Earl McCulloch

Ingredients:
1 onion chopped
1 big carrot grated
3 TBSP butter
2-15 oz cans of stewed chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup fresh basil (TBSP if dried)
1 TSP sugar
1/2 TSP salt
1/8 TSP pepper
2 C. Chicken Broth (one can)
3-5 T of Acini di pepe pasta

Saute onion and carrot in butter in a medium sauce pan until onion is transparent.

Add tomatoes, basil, sugar, salt, & pepper
Bring to a Boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 Minutes
Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth.

In another saucepan:
Bring Chicken broth to a boil and add Acini di pepe pasta. Boil until done (about 7 minutes)
Add all ingredients together.

POTATO CHEESE SOUP
I love this soup almost as much as I love Adam!
From the kitchen of Suzy Dudley

2 Cups of Potaoes, diced
1 Small onion diced fine
2 Stalks of celery diced fine

Cover vegetables with water and cook until tender (15 minutes)
Don't cook too long or they will be Mushy!

Meanwhile in another pan:
1/2 square of butter - Melt
1 Can evaporated milk (Place in a 1 quart jar and fill with water)
After you have made that mixture of Milk - Set aside 1 cup.
Wisk together the 1 cup of milk mixture and 2/3 cup of flour.

Add the Jar of milk mixture and butter together. Then add milk mixture and flour.
Stir until it starts to thicken, Add 1 package "cheese powder" (from package of Krft Macaroni and cheese)
Stir until dissolved.
Add:
1 TSP salt (Maybe more)
Pepper to taste

Taste cream mixture and add salt & pepper to your taste. Then add vegetables, water and all to he cream mixture!
THIS SOUP WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!

Bowtie Teriyaki Salad
I'm not sure where I got this, so lets just say it is my recipe :)

2 cups cooked chicken, cubed
16 oz bow-tie pasta, cooked and drained
1 - 8 oz can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 bunch green onion, chopped
1 - 6 oz bag of Crasins
3/4 cup of cashews or honey roasted peanuts
2 - 8 oz cans mandarin oranges, drained
2 - 8 oz bags baby spinach
Dressing-
1 cup bottled teriyaki sauce (I use very very Teriyaki)
2/3 cup white wine vinager
1/2 tsp salt
6 TBSP sugar
1/2 tsp pepper

Blend dressing ingredients. Mix dressing 1/2 the dressing with pasta and chicken. Marinate for a few hours in the refrigerator. Just before serving add remaining ingredients and toss. Add more dressing to salad if needed.

THEY WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE, SUGAR COOKIES
Again, not sure, so I'll claim them :)

1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 T. vanilla
1/2 t. salt
2 t. baking soda (dissolve in 2 T. of water)
2 t. baking powder
1 1/2 cups milk
7 cups flour

Mix together shortening, eggs, sugar, & vanilla. Add in salt, soda water, and baking powder. Alternate adding flour and milk. Bake at 350 degrees. Check at 6 minutes. (They don't look completely done when you take them out. Let them cook a little more on the pan. They should be a very light brown color on the bottom.)

FROSTING

1 cube softened butter
1 Lb. powdered sugar (2 1/2 cups)
1 t. Vanilla (I prefer Mexican vanilla)
2-3 T. Milk

Mix together until smooth. I start adding the milk last. You want it to be more thick than runny!

Maraschino Cherry Cookies
From the Kitchen of Tanis Tuttle Mosher

1 1/2 cup shortening
1 1/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soda
1 small bottle maraschino cherries, chopped
Chopped nuts (optional)

Cream sugar, shortening, eggs and vanilla together. Add flour and remaining ingredients. Roll into 3/4 inch balls. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

Frosting
1 cube butter softened
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
cherry juice to thin

Frost cookies when cooled.
No Rise Rolls
From the kitchen of Inez Douglass
EASIEST ROLLS IN THE WORLD

3 cups hot water
3/4 cup honey
6 TBSP melted butter
3 TBSP yeast
2 tsp salt
1 12 oz can evaporated milk
10-12 cups flour (start with 5 cups and slowly add in more)

Mix ALL ingredients together. Continue adding flour until you have added 10-12 cups. Knead for 10 minutes approx.. Roll out 1/4 of dough in a circle and wipe additional melted butter on dough. Cut like a pizza and roll each piece from the outside into the center (like a crescent roll). Bake at 350 degrees on a greased pan for 15 - 20 minutes.

These roll freeze well. Roll into crescent rolls then place on wax paper on a pan and place in freezer till they freeze and then remove from wax paper. When you need rolls, take out what you need and place on greased pan. Let thaw about 2-3 hours then bake.

QUIET BOOK IDEAS

So as I have mentioned before, this whole 2 year old thing is becoming more complex by the day. Bryson has become the extreem of terrible two! This week it was brushing everything with a toothbrush (that is with the toothpaste included) including mommy's church cloths right before church. Dumping out a humidifier in Chad's room, and finding a slick writer ... lets just say I am glad he "decorated" the tupperware instead of the walls!

So I decided I needed to do something to keep his attention! I have made a few little quiet books, including this one that was in the March 2009 Creating Keepsakes Issue:


Copyright Creating Keepsakes 2009
These little books are SO much fun!
Another idea is one that came from a concept of a quiet book by a Friend of mine in Page. She did these for a Relief Society activity, but a little differently. I decided to do my OWN concept! :)

This is just a typical ABC Book, and there isn't anything other than cardstock and pictures, but it does it's job, and that is distract Bryce during Church. It also helps him think of Jesus, and that is what is most important!
First I got some American Crafts 4 x 6 Sheet Protectors and a little stack of 4 x 6 Cardstock. Then I simply found pictures on the internet (mainly lds.org) and of our family and made this little ABC book. Of course there are pictures like f - family that are specific to Bryson's book, but I do have the files of pictures that I downloaded in a document that you can print off on your computer to make your own. I also have a Word Document with all of the typed information. Feel free to leave your email address in the comments if you would like me to send the pictures and writing for each page! Even if you aren't LDS, a lot of these would work for all of us Christians. Those that don't feel work, you can change out for your own. Oh, each picture is 3" x 2" ... so that can help you when finding pictures of your own.

My last quiet book idea I posted on my blog private family blog about two years ago. I found the idea in Martha Stewart Kids Magazine (that is no longer in publish). I used the AC Felt shapes ... they no longer sale them, but it wouldn't be hard to cut out your own shapes. I LOVED making this little quiet book and hope that it will inspire you to make a fun quiet book for yourself! Although Bryson was much too young to use it when I made it, he now loves it!

Feel free to comment for any questions you might have and I will do my best to answer them in the coming days!

One Year ago

One year ago yesterday was the day I started to loose my eye site. I have to say, that this was the day that I was dreading for the past little while. The doctors often have told me that a lot of people can loose their eye site for a few weeks, sometimes months, and even up to a year, and if might come back! Although I was told a few months ago that the loss of eye site was permanent, I was still hoping that somehow there would be a miracle, and that I would get my eye site back. Yesterday was kinda that day that really rang true to me. That now that my "one year mark" has hit, there is most likely no hope in getting site back.

My mom was asking me yesterday, why I choose not to talk about it, why I don't bring it up much ... and to be honest ... it is because some days it just reminds me that I have a handicap, and often I choose to ignore it. Most days I don't even remember that I have a condition, or that my life has changed this past year, but other days it hits me over the head like a 2 x 4 and overwhelms me. Luckily I was so engulfed in a deadline for work and sick kiddos, that I didn't have much time to think about it yesterday. But as I sit and write today, I wonder why was it that this happened to me? But more, I try to focus on what this trial has done for me.
I have become more understanding of others with handicaps.
I have become less patient with myself, hoping to finish as much as I possibly can, in case I can't do something tomorrow. (My sister's often ask me what I am on because I am HYPER ACTIVE!)
I have started to understand that the Lord has his own time table, and my timetable doesn't parallel his at times.
I have become more aware of time with my husband, my kids, and my family.
I have become more reliant on the Lord.
I have come to understand his atonement more.
I have started to come to understand my self.
I have a long way to go.

Right now, I will try my best to just look on the bright side. I have one eye and that is better than no site at all!

What a Friday!

My office needs a serious cleaning. Can you say TOO MANY PROJECTS? I am so excited for the LDS General Conference** this weekend to help me get caught up!
** A bi-annual world conference of the Church, held in April and October, where members gather for five two-hour sessions to listen to instruction from Church leaders. General conference is broadcast via satellite from the Conference Center at Church Headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah

I went outside today to get rid of that wonderful diaper full of spring "surprises" that Bryson gave me :) and saw the beautiful green leafs, popping up through the bark. The sun was shining, and for a split second I thought AHHHHH I think I can make it! Winter is almost over! Does it seem like Winter has been SO long this year?

All was great and wonderful, until I went to open the door to come back inside, and to my pleasant surprise, Bryson DEADBOLTED me out of the house. I ran around, wondering WHAT in the heck am I going to do. Luckily I found a window unlocked and was able to climb through. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This terrible two year old thing is really going to do me in!

On a lighter note, I was asked to do a post for the Creating Keepsakes Blog ... and created two fun Easter projects to get us all excited for this upcoming Sunday! Be sure to check it out for a fun ribbon tip!

And last but not least, I saw a segment on the hit lifestyle TV show they have on at 11:00 am everyday in Utah called Studio 5. They made these DARLING flower balls out of crate paper and I fell in love with the idea. Instead of hanging them, I decided to go and get clay pots, paint them, and use one of the branches from the spring pruning that was recently done in our yard. I do have to say that it took longer than I was hoping, but the outcome I was SO excited about. I do need some ribbon to finish it off, and I am doing a smaller topiary to match, but haven't finished it yet! I figured if I don't show you now, Spring might be over and it won't be as fun. Be sure to check out the segment