Just Me

My Hot Cocoa Bar

2012-01-11T08:29:00.000-08:00

Finally, I did it! It was very low key but so much fun. My friend was coming to visit yesterday and so I told a few other friends that we were doing hot cocoa at my house and though only two were able to make it, it was really fun to do. It was kind of a birthday celebration for my 30th, that is coming this weekend. My friend, Asenath, brought some cute peppermint/chocolate, stirring sticks, and even surprised me with a wonderful gift of Mary Kay make up, she is my Mary Kay Lady and I love her for it! It is so nice to get some things just for me. I had a great day chatting with friends, talking about babies, and thinking about baby showers. It was so wonderful and we ended the night by having Asenath and her husband over for dinner, it was a great birthday celebration!

Hot Cocoa Maker and Other Things

2011-12-28T08:20:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since I have posted, I promise I haven't forgotten about this blog, but boy have I been busy. I have had a lot of little trials that have taken up most of my time and haven't been able to be very creative. I am pregnant with a little girl and she takes up most of my energy, she has quite a personality and moves quite abruptly. I'm a night person and so is she so that has been fun to not be the only one up at night. She is the kind of baby that moves and someone sitting across the room could see my belly rumble. I am working on making her a baby quilt and am excited to get her nursery put together. I have been blessed to recieve lots of clothes from friends, a crib, and I am borrowing some gear from another friend. It is nice to know people care about me and my baby, and though I have a ways to go I can't wait until she gets here. I always thought I would have three kids, but this little girl is working hard on being my youngest. This pregnancy is hard on me but I am excited for our new bundle of joy due mid March.

Here is the latest and greatest for me, I got my long awaited hot cocoa machine, and it is everything I hoped it would be. I need to have some friends over to really test it out but I have enjoyed a cup or two over the last few days.

This is an awful picture of me, with my double chin and all, but can't you see the joy in my eyes:)

I also got a laminator and I am excited about all the things I need to laminate. I will be again making a pre-made scrapbook for my little girl and got the album now...lots to do but now to find the energy and motivation...nesting stage come soon!

Yummy Mashed Potatoes

2011-09-02T13:03:00.000-07:00

I know this isn't new to most people but it was a cool find for me so I will post it. Quite a while ago we had potatoes we needed to use and so we made some mashed potatoes but we didn't want them plain and I didn't want to make gravy so I added some ranch dressing and cheese to taste and whipped it in my potatoes and it turned out great! If you don't want cheese and ranch try sour cream and garlic salt, and chives if you have them. It is a great side dish and a delicious way to use your potatoes.

Tin foil Dinner

2011-08-22T13:39:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like a good tin foil dinner. I peel my potatoes and dice them up along with some carrots then add a little onion flake and some ground beef. Wrap in tin foil, then in damp newspaper or damp paper towels, then in tin foil again. I bake at 375 for about 45 minutes or until done. We still haven't done this camping out here yet but plan to someday, this is a good one to have in the fire while you set up camp.

Enchilada Rolls

2011-05-23T13:20:00.000-07:00

Enchilada Rolls

4 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 can cream of mushroom soup, reduced fat
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can diced green chilies
1/2 cup shredded cheese(more or less to taste or sight)
16 crescent rolls

Combine soup, sour cream and chilies in a small bowl. Pour about 1/3 to 1/2 of the mixture in with the chicken and add cheese. Stir and add more if too dry but don't make it too wet or soupy. Put about 1/4 cup of mixture on each crescent roll at the wide part and roll up carefully pinching closed any openings so that moisture doesn't leak out. Place on a stone or pan and cook at 375 for about 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.(Optional: brush with butter) With remaining soup mixture add a little milk until the consistency of gravy, heat and pour on top of cooked roll as a sauce. Serve with steamed veggies and a salad.

I got this idea from a few other recipes that I didn't have all the ingredients for. They turned out really yummy:)

Practical Sewing

2011-05-19T07:13:00.000-07:00

I have been doing some practical sewing lately. I made a ottoman slip cover for our ottoman and I made a reusable shopping tote as well. My Mom came out for a visit and she was able to pack some fabric that I had purchased when I was first married in hopes to reupholster this ugly car I had. I didn't end up doing it since the car only lasted about 9 months but I just now figured out what to do with the fabric. I have a ton of this fabric so you will be seeing a lot of it.

The lovely shopping bag, it is so durable so it should last a lifetime

The ottoman before, this picture makes it look not so bad but it really was

The after, the fabric is so stiff and hard to iron so it is a little wrinkly

Doesn't it look a million times better and really brings out those nice legs the ottoman has, it also matches the chair in our living room better too.

Navajo Taco and a Closet

2011-04-26T13:14:00.000-07:00

Foodie Moment: I thought I would share this meal idea. I found this on some blog, I don't remember where, but it was for Navajo taco's. Simply buy the big grands biscuits(I buy off brand) and flatten them out thin and fry them and they make great scones. We have done it a couple of times and put left over chili and toppings and it works out great. I usually have cheese and sour cream etc, but we were out so I just put lettuce and some ranch and boy was this tasty.

So since we have moved I have been moving things around here and there to make the most out of our space. We have this small closet that we use for our shoes and we most recently needed to add space to it for some pantry items like potatoes and onions. I noticed that we didn't need all the storage spots for the shoes so I was able to fold them up and sew them together to make them short and leave us with some floor space that we can get to easily. It turned out great and if we ever need them longer again we can just unpick the long stitches. I love having a sewing machine and being able to follow through with these little ideas I come up with every once in a while.

The before picture. Sorry I took it half way through. The one on the right is how long they were and the one on the left is after I sewed it.

After: Much better

I know it doesn't look like much but it is perfect for what we need it for:)

A Skill Is Forming

2011-04-25T08:19:00.000-07:00

I have a bread making skill that is forming and I am getting better and better. It is not easy and I don't live to make bread or anything but I sure do enjoy having home made baked items on hand.

Here is my first attempt at home made buns and they turned out great:) Also, I am really into steaming fresh green beans and adding the smallest hint of butter and and some garlic salt for flavor.

Here are some bunny buns we made for Conference weekend. I got the idea from a church magazine called The Friend. We couldn't wait for them to cool to frost them and I just used our favorite pretzel recipe.

Here is my latest and greatest! I perfected the Hamburger buns and boy was this good to have for dinner.

Camping

2011-04-22T15:51:00.000-07:00

Yes! I finally was able to go camping on the East Coast. I had so much fun and I'm really an east coast girl all the way. I love the climate even though it did get a little cold for my taste. My Dad was able to help me out and get me the basic gear I needed for camping so now I can go. There is just something about it that makes me so happy; I get to see the stars, feel warm by the fire, and have my loved ones close. It is awesome! I didn't bring my flash drive for my camera so no pictures but there will be plenty of other times I will bring the camera. Thanks Dad for making this possible.

Moving

2011-04-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

I recently moved to another city after being in the same apartment for three years. I didn't think it would be that big of deal but boy was I wrong. It is surprising how comfortable you get in the same place and when you move, even when it is a good move, you miss little things about your old place and it is hard to get used to a new living situation.

The move went really well and a big thanks to all the family and friends that helped us out. We are settling in and I really do like it but it will take some time to meet new people and get used to new places.

Happy Anniversary

2011-04-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

My Mom and Dad are celebrating their 40th anniversary this weekend and since I haven't blogged a thing in months I thought I would post it. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad and thanks for having a lot of kids so I could be born (I'm 6 of 8)

The whole reason why they got married...that's right, me. Wasn't I such a cute baby?

It's a New Year 2011

2011-01-03T15:39:00.000-08:00

Wow, a new year already! I can't believe but boy am I ready for it:) Here is a review of my goals from last year and my new goals for this year.

2010 Goals and Review
Spritual Study at least once a day: I did pretty good with this one and it helped me to be able to use other resources along with scripture study and has devloped into a morning devotional. I give myself a B since I wasn't consistent the whole year but I was able to get a new routine by the end of the year.
Buy a Sewing Machine: I got one on sale the begining of the year as kind of a birthday present. It is nice not to have to borrow from friends and be able to use it whenever I want. I get an A+
Make a Twin Quilt: Well, you can't win them all I get a big F for this one since funds were low and I wasn't able to buy any material for it. I do still hope to do this in the future but now isn't the time.
Make a baby quilt: I get an A++ for this one since I made several and figured out my signature recieving blanket that I like to make. I made many this past year making it hard to achieve my previous goal so I get brownie points on this one.
Make a Crib Sheet: I lost count on just how many of these I made. The are so cute and easy and are a perfect gift so I really mastered this one. I get an A++ again.

New Goals for 2011
Morning Daily Devotionals including scripture study: I heard of a friend doing this with her family and thought it was a great idea and it has been going well but it is still in the works. My goal is to polish the routine to ensure that I get my daily dose of spirituality every day.
Combine a Recipe Book: As you know I do freezer meals often for me and my family and this year I would like to finally finish a menu and combine all our favorite recipes into a book. Wish me luck this one can be the most daunting of all my goals this year.
Create a Diet and Exercise Plan and follow through with it: Well, I have gained a good 20 lbs the last half of 2010 and would like to get my diet and exercise plan back on track this I plan to do by joining WW again and to get a realistic and doable exercise plan of my own.
Attend a Girl's night out once a month: This one is the fun one to balance out the difficulty of the other goals. I will do this by either attending RS meetings(Church woman's group), going out with a few friends or hosting a girls night. I need this as a goal so I can remember to take time out for myself.

Blessings and a Curse

2010-12-23T07:21:00.000-08:00

Well, really we aren't cursed but we do have very bad luck. Our car was in the shop again due to an unexpected run in to a median. Everything is fine now and because of some unexpected Christmas money we aren't really going to be behind financially at all. Thanks to all who were involved in that, we really appreciate you:)

I have to admit the older I get the harder Christmas is for me, but I am learning to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and let the little things go. Presents are becoming less and less important and good quality family time is what I look forward to the most. I am very grateful to the Savior and for his birth and his sacrifice. I often feel like I know better and that I can handle everything but if I just "let go and let God" so to speak then I know things work out and that His timing is so much better than my own. I must learn to enjoy my journey with all its twists, turns, and bumps in the road.

I hope we can remember this season that our blessing are many and our burdens few as long as we have the right point of view. Let us all count our many blessings.

I can't write anything spiritual without thinking of the LDS mission I served in West Virginia so in that spirit let me say let's "keep on keepin' on"

Hello Stranger;)

2010-12-10T15:07:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, it has been way too long since I've posted but honestly as far as my personal life goes not much has happened. I had an amazing Thanksgiving and my Christmas Season is going well but I just haven't done that much for Just Me.

I thought I would entertain you with a few of my ideas for the future. I am still going to make a twin quilt though it didn't happen this year and I'm already thinking on my new year resolutions but I am one of those selfish people that REALLY look forward to their Birthday and mine is coming up in a little over a month. I want to do something fun but nothing too much since my funds are a bit low so I came across this idea and I think I can make it happen.

A Hot CHOCOLATE Bar! For those that know me best you know three things about me that haven't and won't change, I LOVE pigs, my favorite color is purple, and I LOVE Hot Chocolate! So this seems to fit my personality. We will see how it comes together but I'm excited for it. I'll keep you posted:)

Grocery Bag Holder

2010-11-01T06:39:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to buy or make something for a while that would hold our plastic grocery bags. We don't get nearly as many as we used to since I switched to reusable grocery sacks probably over a year ago but we still need them and get them from time to time. We used to just have them under the sink but then for our ward Super Saturday we were going to make them and I realized I had almost everything to make my own already so I asked for the tutorial and made it before Super Saturday since knowing me I will spend all my time chatting instead of doing a craft. The bag turned out HUGE! A lot bigger than I thought but it works great and I love it. Next time though I would have made one a little smaller like 16" by 20" instead of 20" by 25".

New York City

2010-10-26T17:04:00.001-07:00

I got a great opportunity to go to NYC for a pretty inexpensive trip. It was really fun and I went with three fun girls from my ward who have all been before so I was in good hands. We had a blast and it was the fastest, and most exhausting 36 hours of my life!

Early morning train:) The train was really great to ride

View from the Ferry

Me on the ferry

My first cab ride:)

My first real Broadway show! Mary Poppins was awesome!

Yummy food at an awesome restaurant in Brooklyn

Our NYC tour guides

Dinner was amazing! My friend was friends with the cook and she spoiled us with yummy Thai food.

24 layer chocolate cake! Thanks Catherine for finding this gem for us:)

We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge on our way back to the hotel at the end of the night

Grand Central Station

Central Park

Ground zero in the works

The view from our Hotel room, it was so awesome at night too! It was the 32nd floor

The toy store was unbelievable and I took a million pictures.

Finally!

2010-10-21T10:27:00.001-07:00

Something for me to wear! I made my first skirt using this tutorial and it turned out great! I had some issues along the way but not near as many as I expected since I've never done something like this before. The zipper was a learning curve but I got it in and it actually looks decent. (thank goodness for this tutorial) I am for sure going to be doing more projects like this in the future since I LOVE the way it turned out.

Using up Fabric

2010-09-23T18:41:00.000-07:00

I've been going through all my fabric scraps trying to use them to finish little projects I've been meaning to do. With some extra canvas I had laying around I made this cute little pouch for my sewing machine cords. It turned out pretty well and it is nice to have them all put together. Enjoy:)

How I will store it:)

The pouch itself

The goods...

and my personal favorite the straps.

Another Baby Blanket

2010-09-23T07:11:00.000-07:00

Here is another baby blanket I did. It is a simple receiving blanket made out of two pieces of flannel that I quilted with long lines..that you can't see. Then I zigzagged the edges then after trimming up the edges a little I washed it to get a cute little uniform fray.

Fall is Full of Change

2010-09-17T14:08:00.000-07:00

August was full of ups and downs so when September came and even the hint of fall weather was in the air I decided I needed change. I started with a totally new hair cut right before our August trip to Utah...HELLO BANGS! Haven't seen you since grade school. It looks good, sorry for the lame picture, and I adore the change. Since I was feeling so great about that change we had to update a few things in the apt to give it a small make over after we got rid of certain items we weren't using anymore:) We started off with buying table cloths for our dining room table instead of the toddler plastic that we have been using over the years. Then our poor shower curtain needed to be retired since my son and I had thrown up on it a few times and washing it shrunk the poor thing. We went with something dramatic but nice and I have to say I am loving the change that comes with fall.

My bangs...LOVE THEM...sorry this isn't a glamor shot but I was camping.

The Table...yes that is real fruit and we love having easy access to it.

Here is the new bathroom. Levi spray painted a piece of art he got on his mission and we bought towels and the curtain to match.

Motor Free Mondays

2010-09-13T13:05:00.000-07:00

I've decided to have Motor Free Monday's. This is one day a week that I will not use my car(unless an emergency). When I was serving an LDS mission in WV we had cars but restrictions on how many miles we could go and so once a month we would have a car fast where we would not use our car for anything for one day. This could be quite the challenge at times but it taught me a lot and we rarely went over our mileage for the month. So that is where the idea came from but I think I want to do it just to save a little money and encourage walking a little more plus it is a little better on our environment too. I live in a fairly walkable community so this shouldn't be too hard to do, plus Monday is laundry day. Wish me luck.

Ruffle Butts

2010-08-18T15:53:00.000-07:00

I went to baby shower the other week and was inspired to make ruffle butt onsies out of some scraps for part of the gift. It turned out really cute. I sure do wish I had some pinking sheers because I am not a fan of how much they shrunk after I washed them. I did a couple of cute ruffles in the front too but didn't get a good picture of it.

The Finished Product

2010-08-04T15:19:00.000-07:00

The moment many of you have been waiting for has finally arrived! We are done! Levi did most of the work but I did the finishing touches and was the manager. We did it together and we have decided not to ever do anything like this again. It turned out way cute and I can't wait to start using it to store my sewing goods and for other uses over the years. A big thanks to my friend Julie for all the advice and the use of her sander. Without her this couldn't have been done, THANKS JULIE! The contrast between the before and after pictures is stunning so please enjoy. Also, if any of you are in need of black paint let us know, we bought way too much and opened both cans...oops.

Before:

After:

Open

Church Tote

2010-08-04T15:13:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to make Clark a church tote for all his quiet things for a while and finally did it! I love it and it has worked out great for church. I messed up on the straps, which means they probably won't last as long as they could last but I will fix that when I have to. He did the art work and I traced it on the fabric and carefully sewed it on the pocket. It wasn't my idea but it turned out great after I made it a bit larger then called for.

Crib Activity Quilt

2010-08-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

I recently(within the last month or so) finished a quilt for a friend. It was a love/hate relationship with quilting as usual but I got through. It became more of an activity quilt since the batting was a bit thick and it had lots of textures and I tied it. It is way cute and my friend loved it so I guess that should make it worth it. Also, here is a sneak peak of the dresser we have been working on and finally finished. (Post coming soon)

Sanding and Painting

2010-07-05T15:03:00.000-07:00

A lot of you are asking so here is the sanding and painting portion of my dresser project. The sanding went fast and Levi did a good job and we both painted(bought way too much paint so if you need some let me know) The last picture is a sneak peek of what it is looking like. Hopefully we will finish soon and I will show you the before and after pics.

Stripping

2010-06-28T11:45:00.000-07:00

First of all...get your mind out of the gutter...secondly doesn't it look so much better already?

Levi has been a saint and has done all the hard work under my direction and only burned himself once. We are excited to sand it down and get it painted.

Watermelon

2010-06-28T10:56:00.000-07:00

So the other week at the grocery store I splurged on a watermelon. I say splurge because it wasn't the greatest price I have ever seen on watermelon but it is summer and I LOVE THEM! I learned somewhere how to pick a good watermelon and so I practiced and looked and found one that was a pretty green and went to pick it up and boy was it heavy, which is a really good sign, after putting it in the cart and when my arms recovered I bought my groceries and naturally weighed it when I got home. I got on the scale first then held the watermelon and got on and it was exactly 17 pounds! Can you believe it...it didn't look that big but it was heavy. I was very, very excited so when I cut it open (minutes later) it was the best color of red I had ever seen. It was of course the best watermelon I have ever tasted; I think I say that about the first one every year though.

In LOVE

2010-06-16T16:27:00.000-07:00

The other day I went to a RS meeting about finances, refurbishing furniture, and thrifting. I am just getting started with my thriftiness but I have enjoyed it so far. The whole meeting inspired me and when I was looking at craigslist at the free section this totally left an impression on me. Originally I thought I would have no room for it and no need....but then my creative juices started flowing and let's just say I have several ideas for this beauty and with the right touch it could be in the family a long time. I drove the 12 miles to get it, not knowing if it would be available, and when I got to the house it wasn't on the curb and I almost left...then the more bold side of me took over and I rang the doorbell and bluntly asked them about it and surprisingly enough it was there...a jewel in the midst of their garage. Thanks to the great family that gave it to me and for helping me put it in my little car, they really went above and beyond. People can be just so very nice:)

Probably not any time soon but in the future this piece is going to be an amazing blog post...and if not the journey has been fun so far.

P.S. Best part is that it has an old radio in it...not sure if I am keeping it but cool non the less.

Crafty Envelopes

2010-06-15T19:47:00.000-07:00

A while ago I made these cash envelopes to help us stay on budget and today I decided to go a step further with it. I don't like carrying a lot of cash on me so I made just a few envelopes to leave in my wallet and then made a little case for the other envelopes that we need for the rest of the month. I just revamped a free check book cover to store them in and it turned out way cute and was a fun easy project to do. Best of all it was a free craft since I just used what I already had:)

Hershey Park Girls Weekend!

2010-06-03T10:23:00.000-07:00

I had my first girls weekend during memorial day and I had a blast! I was a little worried leaving my child and husband but soon got over that and I had a great time. I went with a very good friend of mine, Catherine. We first stopped by chocolate world and stocked up on our supply and shared a wonderful dessert. Then we went to the Hershey Grill at the lodge...the food was to die for and I can't believe I didn't take any pictures there. It was great! We finished the evening with a little shopping then the next day after church we went to the gardens! Wow, was that so beautiful and relaxing but hot, hot, hot! I love the roses the best and I know I will be going back every time I go to Hershey. Then we walked around down town and took some fun pictures and did some window shopping. On our final day there we started off with about an hour at the hotel gym then went to the Hershey Hotel for manicures at the Hershey Spa and can I just say I am so glad we went! I love spas and I even bought the nail polish they used for my manicure....yes, I have vowed to wear red nails until I finish that bottle. I LOVE THEM! After the spa we went shopping for a few hours then out to lunch at a cute little cafe then headed home to see our loved ones right before they went to bed! It was a great time and I took a ton of pictures so enjoy!

The Tote

2010-06-01T10:56:00.000-07:00

The tote is done! I actually finished it pretty quickly too. It was a great simple sewing project to get done and out of the way so I can start on another baby quilt.

Here are some pictures of it being created!

Place Mat Tote

2010-05-27T10:53:00.001-07:00

Attempting to make this tote in the near future:) Wish me luck.

Cooking Day

2010-05-17T10:01:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was my cooking day:) I actually was able to get all the shopping done the day before and almost all the cooking done the next day. A few new things I tried was making frozen pizza's using this recipe but using whole wheat flour and a little white flour. A ham and cheese braid using my friend's roll recipe that I love making with whole wheat flour. We will see how that works out. I did about 35 meals plus another crock pot one I am going to be doing today. I do have a small family of three so most of the meals are smaller portions so that is why I can do some much and fit it all in my freezer but it is still a lot of work. Here is a new website a friend introduced to me that I used a lot this month.

The freezer:

Ham and cheese braid

Not the best twist job in the world

My pizza dough. I just put foil on my pizza stone and rolled it right on the tin foil that way I can just unwrap it and put it right in the oven. I put toppings on the pizza too after the dough had chilled in the freezer about 20 minutes. I hope this works:)

Another Yummy Snack

2010-05-14T15:27:00.000-07:00

Here's great way to get some whole grains and veggies in. I love wraps but haven't been too good in making them until now. This yummy treat is simply a whole wheat tortilla with laughing cow cheese spread all over it and a cup of fresh spinach lettuce a wonderful 2-3 point snack and you could even bulk it up with some protein and more veggies for a complete lunch.

Feels Good to be Done

2010-05-14T14:37:00.000-07:00

I did it! I gave my presentation on Home Organization and it went very well. Everyone was very nice and I actually was able to say what I wanted to with out the nerves getting too much in the way. I almost wish I had a picture of the event but here is the hand out I made for it. Just so you know these are things I do and I don't claim to be the sole creator of coming up with the ideas but they are things I have learned on my journey:)

Home Organizing

1 De-clutter

* Do I use this daily, weekly, or monthly? If not is it worth keeping?
* Do I know some one who could use this? If so ask them and act accordingly
* Can I sell this and get a little cash? If so sell it and save the cash to purchase some home storage.
* Limit trips to the store and pay with cash or use a set budget so you are not tempted to over spend
* Always have a donation pile you can add to as you realize you aren’t using something

2 Limit and Replace

* How many of this item do I have? How many do I need? Get rid of duplicates.
* Categorize your things and limit how much space those items can take up.
* Once you have set a limit stick to it by replacing items instead of adding items.
* Before you buy anything think to yourself if you need it, how often would you use it, and where will you store it.

3 Store

* Think of the storage spaces you have in your home. Measure them and use your space in every way….height, width, and depth.
* Decide what you want to store in each space. Store it in the place that makes the most sense to you
* After you have de-cluttered and limited then get anything extra (shelves, totes, baskets) that you will use to keep it all together. Be creative and thrifty in this process.
* Always use what you have before buying anything new to use for storage and organizing.
* Don’t overwhelm yourself just do one thing at a time. Think about scheduling a time to organize and do as much as you can in that allotted time. Work on easier projects first to give yourself some early success.

4 Is it worth it?

* Storage unit: Cost vs. Keep: Is the yearly cost of your storage unit worth keeping the items that are stored there
* Large amounts of anything: Moderation in all things…too much of anything isn’t a good thing
* Stuff vs. Quality Time: Buying stuff for your family can never replace the quality time they would rather have with you making memories together.

Scriptures to Remember

Mosiah 4:27 Don’t run faster than you have strength.

Ether 12:27 Weakness made strong

D&C 88: 118-119 Organize yourselves

Websites I Like:

http://moneysavingmom.com/category/living-simply

www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/organizing/top-10-organizing-tips-from-chez-larsson-050026

http://www.aetv.com/hoarders/index.jsp

http://uniquethriftstoremd.com

http://www.dollartree.com/home.jsp

A Few of my Favorite Things

2010-05-12T10:38:00.000-07:00

I love finding new low calorie ideas and treats so I thought I would share some of my favorite things as of late:)

Laughing Cow Cheese:) It is only 1 point per wedge and it makes a great spread for sandwiches, bagels, or even melted in your eggs. Love the Garlic and Herb the best!

Bagel Thins:) I hear there is a whole wheat one too, which would be so much better. These 1 point bagels are the best and make great breakfast sandwiches or a deli meat sandwich. Be careful though because if you have two of these in one day you are looking at a 4 point total since they are barely 1 point for one.

Land O Lakes Light Butter Spread with Canola Oil! I've never been that big of a fan of butter or margarine but when I found this 1 point per Tablespoon spread I thought I would give it a try. I LOVE IT! I love the light texture and the flavor is great too! Great on a toasted bagel thin and doesn't add too many calories to your morning toast or your dinner roll.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

2010-04-03T11:55:00.000-07:00

I got an email from Money Saving Mom about making your own laundry soap and I was very interested in doing so since I hate having to buy laundry soap because of the expense. This recipe comes out to be just a penny or two a load and I am hopeful it works just as well as the other stuff. Here is the recipe I used. It makes about 64 loads worth.

It smells nice and it was super easy to make. Levi helped me by grating the soap. BTW I bought all my pots and measuring cups at a thrift store so I don't have to use the ones we use for cooking. Here are some pictures and I will be sure to follow up with how it works on washing our clothing.

Grating the soap:

Melting it down with the other ingredients

Stirring in the rest of the water

Me looking not so cute

The finished product with our 1/2 cup measure cup on top, one for each load.

There are other recipes on how to make powder detergents but I was worried they wouldn't dissolve very well in cold water. I also heard using liquid detergent isn't good if you have hard water.

Bread Making Thursday

2010-04-01T17:37:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know that Thursday is my bread making day and my bread turned out so great I had to take a picture.

Freezer Meals 101

2010-03-30T05:57:00.001-07:00

Many of you have asked me for recipes and tips for doing freezer meals. I am unable to address each one of you individually so I am just going to refer you to one of the many great books out there for freezer meals. "Dinner is Ready" is a great book that goes in detail with exactly how to cook thirty meals in one day. The author of the book is well seasoned in this art and her website is full of helpful books and software you can try. My Mom actually found me this book at a thrift store but you can order it online through the Authors website or amazon.

As far as recipes go hers are good ones to get you started and her software has them all stored electronically so you can print off shopping lists and labels. I would love to try that in the future but for now I am just doing that by hand. You can freeze many of your own meals(soups and chili's work great) just remember to under cook certain veggies so they don't disappear in the freeze, thaw, and reheat process. I don't do much pasta but I hear it really needs to be undercooked or even just toss the dry pasta in with your sauce and cook after you thaw your dinner. Chicken nuggets and other chicken dishes similar to that need to be frozen on a plate first then put into a bag.

Like I said this book goes in great detail of what you need to do exactly and I highly recommend this to get you started. I checked out a few books from the library too but have found this one to be the most helpful. Check out your local library to see what you can find on "once a month cooking" or "freezer meals" and let me know what books you like. Google has been a great resource of information and blogs from people who do this.

Also, if you are not a member of Money Saving Mom then you can sign up to get daily emails of how to be more fugal and she also has started doing freezer meals too and posts that every month.

Good luck on your freezer adventures!

Organizing, Soup, and Freezer Meals

2010-03-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

I really do love to organize and I'm sure people don't think that is much of a talent but I truly think it has always been one of my best talents. Even when I was a teenager I liked things a certain way and tried to be tidy. (I know my Mom is rolling her eyes right now but believe me I had a system). So when I came across a challenge of how to store Clark's old crib those creative organizing wheels started turning. I was going to just sell the crib but it wasn't really selling and we are hoping to have more children. So, I was talking to a friend about it and she simply said "don't you have a closet or something you could store it in?" That is all it took and shortly after that I came up with a solution. Below is a picture of Clark's closet and believe it or not a disassembled crib is in there. Three pieces behind the shelving unit and two pieces behind the mattress and yes there is still room for the jogging stroller. Maybe I should do this for a living.

I also finally got around to making that lovely Zuppa Tuscana soup from olive garden that I love way too much. I got a recipe from a friend and she will be disappointed to hear that I substituted the heavy whipping cream for fat free evaporated milk but it turned out so so good and I am testing a small sample to see if it is freezable. I doubt it is since the potatoes are so thin and cooked all the way through I fear they will melt but we will see. A great soup to have and to share with friends on a chili day or just any time.

We have been doing freezer meals for quite a while now and I feel like I am just barely getting the hang of it. This month I did over 30 meals and they fit perfectly into the freezer. I admit that most of them are soups that freeze well and make 3 to 4 dinners but I still think I am pretty good. Next time my goal is to do all the shopping in one day and then all the cooking the next day. Wish me luck on that one.

Here is the closet, behind the shelving unit is the long pieces and the bottom piece to the crib

Here is the mattress and the ends to the crib behind it. I'm pretty impressed.

My soup...it was really good and only 5 points a cup. (Actually not too great points wise but good enough)

Freezer for the month. Lot's of good food and it will be so easy to use and to have so we are less likely to eat out.

I even had room to spare in the door so I loaded that up with extra meat that I didn't use in the meals. We still have plenty for crockpot meals and I even got a good deal on some steaks. Yummy...now just to get the A1 sauce.

Baby Quilt Finished

2010-03-12T10:28:00.000-08:00

One of my goals for the year has been finished. I just completed a crib sized quilt. This was a big project to get me back into sewing and though it is very, very, very imperfect it still looks great and I know it will be well used and loved. Here are some pictures of it before I send it away to my friend to have for her new baby girl:)

So Close

2010-03-09T04:59:00.000-08:00

I am so close to finishing my first quilt. Up close it is full of imperfections but from a distance it looks awesome! I just have to do the edging and then I am done and it can go in the mail. This quilt has been full of relief and stress at the same time. Stress because it was a hard quilt to do for the first time and relief because it gave me a break from reality and helped me get through a lot.

Finished Book

2010-02-22T10:43:00.000-08:00

I finished the book that I previously posted about. It was pretty good and I really like the writing style: letter/diary. There were parts that were a little uncomfortable to read but it was a good book and a nice little lesson to learn. I think I would recommend it.

New Book: Letter to My Daughter

2010-02-19T13:16:00.000-08:00

I'm only a few pages into it but it seems like a fun, easy read and I love it that some one is writing a letter to there daughter in diary form, it makes it interesting:)

Check it out:

Starting FRESH

2010-02-16T06:35:00.000-08:00

I haven't been so good at eating healthy and staying on track when it comes to Weight Watchers and I have gained over 10 lbs over my goal but I am starting FRESH! Weight Watchers has a new 2010 10 week challenge and I am going to follow it(a little late). My husband is going to do this with me so that will be a great support to me. I am on week one, which is tracking. This week I will just focus on writing down what I eat. You bite it, you write it:) My non-food reward for doing this will be going to a dollar movie of my choice(Yes, New Moon is at the dollar movies now) Wish me luck:)

P.S. This book looks really good. I should see if it is at my local library.

The Super Hero Cape

2010-02-15T04:46:00.000-08:00

This is what I have been up to lately. I have been taking a break from the quilt and made two cute little capes for some birthday parties I have coming up. Here is the link to the tutorial I used: Thelongthread They were pretty easy and turned out way cute:) My husband did the letters and I think he did an awesome job!

Sew Much Fun

2010-02-09T16:27:00.000-08:00

I have had a lot of fun having my husband home to watch my son so I am able to sew with hardly any interruptions. It has been a blast and I have made great progress with the crib quilt I am doing. It is so not perfect, lot's of puckers, but really not too bad for my first time doing any sort of a quilt. Here are some pictures of what I have been up to lately.

The average day at our house during a snow day.

Finished the squares and then sewed the strips.

Got all the strips sewn and I didn't do too bad matching the corners.

Here I am quilting. Learning to twist the material and stuff it through the arm of my machine.

Here is a sample of my quilting. I know it isn't perfect but hopefully I will have many years to improve. I have done 9 squares now just 21 left.

Book Club Host

2010-01-31T16:02:00.000-08:00

I was honored to host book club this month and it was really fun. I know I said I didn't love the ending but after book club I do like the book more because I really enjoyed the read more than the story. It was fun to host and I made my Dad's famous hot cocoa to serve because that(hot cocoa) is what the family in the book like to serve when they had guests over. It turned out great and every one had a lot of fun and the cupcakes a friend brought was the cherry on top!

It's Here!

2010-01-26T18:57:00.000-08:00

My new sewing machine came yesterday and I love it! It has some really cool features that I have already really enjoyed even though I have just done some practice stitches so I can get to know the machine a little better. It is going to be super nice to have and I already have a long list of hopeful projects to do:)

Me looking like an old lady. A happy one though

Sewing is Sew FUN!

2010-01-25T11:02:00.000-08:00

I've been waiting for my sewing machine to come(I should get it today) and while I've been waiting I already cut out my first project. A nice crib sized quilt. I hope it turns out okay and that my new sewing machine will work well for it. I will update with more pictures as I get further along in making it. Wish me luck:)

I Capture the Castle

2010-01-19T15:54:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading "I Capture the Castle" today and I have to admit I didn't love it as much as I had hoped I would. I loved reading a personal journal and I thought it was written well but I just didn't agree with the ending. I really was hoping it would be more like boy meets girl and gets the girl but it wasn't that so much. I still enjoyed reading it and I did like part of the ending but I don't think I would read this book again.

Birthday

2010-01-14T13:51:00.000-08:00

Well, I had another birthday and it was a really fun one this year. I started out by going to playgroup and then I went out to lunch at Olive Garden for my favorite soup, salad, and bread sticks with a few friends and then I ended the evening with the best Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake I have ever tasted! Yes, I made it thanks to a friends awesome recipe. It was so great and I am having another piece right now and it is even better, if that is at all possible. I got a lot of cards and phones calls, a few free dinners coming my way, and a couple other things that will make my life a lot easier. I even tucked away some money for my sewing machine fund. All in all it was a great day. Thanks to all that made it that way!

Lemons

2010-01-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

So Levi and I were watching that 2 and Half Men show and they said something that was not only funny but had a good point. It went something like this:

"You see when life gives me lemons I make lemonade but when life gives you lemons you bite right into them and suck them dry."

It was really funny and it got me thinking about how much I bite into the lemon instead of making something better of it:)

Good Quote

2010-01-08T12:21:00.000-08:00

"In this life, we can literally lose everything—home, family, material possessions. He said if I did not return home, I would lose my job. “Do not worry about material things,” I wrote back. “If I lose that job, the Lord will help me find something better.” I finished my mission."

-After Losing Everything, Liahona November 1997

Goals in Review and New Goals

2010-01-03T17:08:00.000-08:00

Last year I did really good with my goals until the latter part of the year. Looking back on it I had a lot to do and maybe a little too much. One thing I did really well that wasn't really a goal in the beginning was reading more. I was able to finish on average one book a month. That was great!

This year, I am taking it a little easier. I plan to cut back on computer time on Sunday by not checking my email that day, I am also going to do some sort of spiritual study at least once a day...this could be reading the scriptures, or ensign, genealogy or writing in my journal. Also, I would like to save up money to buy a specific sewing machine I have my eyes on in a sewing shop in Woodbridge.(Any donations would be thankfully accepted..ha ha)After that purchase my goals get a little crazy and I would like to at least sew two quilts and some crib sheets.

Here is to another year with new and exciting adventures and challenges:) I hope you all have great goals to work on this year and that you have a loved one, like I do, who is willing to help you achieve those goals.

Getting Out

2009-12-14T16:24:00.001-08:00

It was so nice to have a nice day today and get out and let my son play at the playground. I love that about living here. It can be the middle of December and you can get a small break from the cold.

Not missing Utah again this winter.

Hard Week

2009-12-10T19:28:00.000-08:00

This has been a hard week. I feel so tired and worn out that I feel I will never get my normal life back. My son has been sick all week and it just isn't fun. He is starting to feel more himself but is so so ornery and whiny. Here's hoping the weekend will get better:)

Christmas Mission: Project Chairs

2009-12-02T15:47:00.000-08:00

Instead of buying each other presents Levi and I are doing some in home projects. Our first one was to recover the chairs in the dining room since they needed it. I finally convinced Levi that we needed plastic on them if we wanted any chance of them holding up against our two year old. I would have never thought of this if it hadn't been for a couple other friends who have done this.

Preschool

2009-11-18T15:51:00.000-08:00

I do a preschool co-op for Clark and I am the organizer so this is what I came up with so that it is easier to rotate every week from house to house. I was pretty pleased with how it turned out and was able to use my friend's cricket to make the sign...now I just need a lamination machine.

Cooking

2009-11-10T15:49:00.000-08:00

It is that time of the month again to replenish my freezer with meals. Today I have made four meals of fajita's, three of split pea soup, two of white chili, 2 of chicken tacos, and 2 of chicken burritos. It is tiring but really I have only been in the Kitchen for about 5 hours and I am just about done. Tomorrow I will do Tortilla soup and then just a few crock-pot meals for the month makes about 22.

Here is a great recipe I found and Love it! It is from a lady in my ward. Try it, it is so good!

Hi,

I'm glad that you liked the chili, it is one of my family's favorites! Here's the recipe:

Creamy White Chili

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes*
1 medium onion, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 cans (15 1/2 oz each) great northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14 1/2 oz) chicken broth
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1/2 cup whipping (heavy) cream

In a large saucepan, saute chicken, onion, and garlic powder in oil until chicken is no longer pink. Add beans, broth, chopped green chilies, and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in sour cream and heavy cream. Serve immediately.

I have used chicken tenders that I cut up and cook with the onions, but I have also bought a rotisserie chicken and just used some of the meat from that, and I have also just put two cans of Swanson chicken in. If you use chicken that is already cooked, just brown the onions and garlic a while before adding the chicken.

Enjoy!

Jane

Baby Shower Fun

2009-11-06T18:59:00.000-08:00

One of the many things I love doing is hosting baby showers. This shower I co-hosted with two other friends and it turned out really good. We did a diaper cake and diaper garland and had lots of fruits, veggies, and bread! It was really fun to do and I hope I can do more baby showers in the future.

Book Finished

2009-11-02T14:31:00.000-08:00

Well, it took me only a month and I finished reading the 1,077 pages of The Count of Monte Cristo! It was a page turner that got started very quickly and has a wonderful story line filled with love, mystery, and revenge. It was really good and I don't totally hate the ending it was just a little sad that's all. I can't believe I enjoyed it as much as I did. I went to the book club about a week before I finished it and I almost lost my motivation to finish since a lot of the ladies there didn't really love the ending. Now that I read it I get what they were saying but the way the writer tells the story you kind of expect the ending before reading it.

Now I am on to my next read. "I Am a Mother" This book is a short fun read so far and every time I put it down it makes me feel good about being a Mom. I can't wait to finish it and return it since I am borrowing this one from a friend who loves it.

Hair Cut

2009-10-16T10:45:00.000-07:00

I got another great hair cut from Bubbles Salon. I really like it and it is nice to get rid of that last cut that wasn't so great!

Tablecloth

2009-10-08T14:56:00.000-07:00

I have had pretty good luck with my sewing projects lately but this next one I am about to share was not so successful. I finished it but I didn't do a very good job. I was under some stress and I just didn't care much plus the type of material I used you can't just unpick and try again you have to cut off the part you messed up and try again. Don't get me wrong I may end up doing just that some day to fix it. For now it is used for a blanket for 3 year old's and luckily that audience doesn't require perfection.

I present to you the Picnic tablecloth:

As you can see from the second photo it is for the preschool co-op I am doing. The kids like to sit on it.

Burp Cloths

2009-09-15T13:48:00.001-07:00

I found a great new baby shower gift idea I totally love. Making burp cloths. It is such a fun and easy project and I had to share my good find. I love this Blog she has a lot of cute ideas and things I will try and do over and over again. I used a thin fleece inside instead of quilting batting, it saved me a few pennies and I think it is softer and matches so I don't have to worry about cutting it out perfectly.

The Count of Monte Cristo

2009-09-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

I am taking on the book challenge for my ward's book club and am reading the very long but very beautiful(or so I hear) book of The Count of Monte Cristo! Wow, before this year I have hardly read anything and now I am reading this and get this...I'm enjoying it!

I had to blog about such a thing as this and tell you of my experience in the library yesterday. So I had the book on hold so I could go pick it up easier and when I went to pick it up I saw an older copy of the same book for sale for only 50 cents. I had to buy it since I figured it would take me a little longer than 3 weeks to finish. Can you believe that? It was fate and now I am reading a classic I actually like. Now the hard part is to finish it by the end of October in time for book club. Wish me luck:)

Freezer Family

2009-09-15T13:22:00.000-07:00

I guess I am officially a Once a Month Cooking Mom(OAMCM) making us a freezer friendly family. I checked out a few books at the local library about the subject and I have a friend who is just starting to do it too. We cook a lot of meals one day and eat them almost every day making dinner is a snap. I have to admit a lot of mine are freezer to crock pot meals. So far so good and I hope to get better at it.

Also, I am so excited for my new crock pot coming in the mail soon. Check it out: My New Crock pot

Here is my freezer all with 21 easy meals and some lunches for the next two weeks for Levi. Can you imagine what I could do if we could buy an extra freezer for our apt?

P.S. The frozen banana's were put in a bag and I think I am missing a few stew bags.

Flashback: 11th Ward RS Camp Out 2006

2009-08-10T16:42:00.000-07:00

This is a great memory I have in my first ward as a married women. We were in the 11th ward in SLC and it was an awesome ward! The bishop was so fun and so the ward managed to have activities that every one could come to including dances, bake off's, ice cream socials, and movie nights at the church. Now that I think of it this probably really helped our marriage to go to all of those fun activities together. The Relief society camp out was so fun! It was overnight at some one's vacation home and we all slept every where in the house including the heated tile. The people that owned the house were construction worker family so they built it with odds and ends they had left over. It was pretty cool. This was also my first experience with Cherry Chocolate Cobbler.

Some of the 11th Ward Sisters

View from the hike we did

Group Picture
This was me after I lost 20 lbs with weight watchers the first time and little did I know it was also Clark's first camp out;)

The Twilight Series

2009-08-09T07:40:00.000-07:00

I just finished the twilight series a few weeks ago and I loved it! Yes, there were parts that I didn't really like or had a hard time reading but overall I liked the series and I am already getting the itch to read them again. I am not sure what book is my favorite since I liked so much from each book. I liked the over concept of the series from book one and since that is when I fell in love with Edward.(Go team Edward) New Moon was good because I could really see how much Bella was devoted to Edward but it was hard to feel her pain. Book three was good even though I can't exactly tell you why. Book four was great because I loved the wedding and the new Bella. Now I need to read Midnight Sun so I can get even more perspective out of the series. Too bad Stephanie Meyer isn't finishing it. I know this fan would read it:)

It's Official

2009-08-09T07:35:00.000-07:00

Most of you know this but I thought I must confess it. I am official baby hungry. Some of you may be surprised, I know I am. We are trying to figure out how to get some good maternitiy insurance and then we are going to have baby number two:)
How could I not want another one when Clark was such a cute baby!

A Lesson in Posing

2009-08-08T17:19:00.000-07:00

I got a really cute skirt at the Eastern Market so I have to show it off. The first picture shows off the skirt well but the second one I look so much better. It's amazing what an angle will do for you:)Kind of blurry, I know:(

Can't Wait!

2009-06-01T05:24:00.000-07:00

This is what I have been up to!

2009-04-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

I know it has been way too long since I last posted but I have been so busy. Here are some pictures of what I have been up to. I have taken up a little sewing, I am baking as usually, I have been taking way too many naps trying to make up for the loss of sleep of having a 2 year transition to a toddler bed, and I have just been taking it easy.

I finished New Moon and loved it but am trying to finish my other book before I continue the Twilight Saga. Thankfully I have a friend who owns the books so I can borrow them from her instead of waiting on the wait list at every single library. I do miss that escape but I am trying to finish books that I start, a new thing for me that Levi has encouraged me to try.

Me sewing:)

The cribsheet

Here is the diaper envelope I learned to make.
French Bread, a little crooked.

Cupcakes

Of course my month wouldn't be completely busy if I didn't do a little card making:)

Baby Shower

2009-03-30T07:12:00.000-07:00

I just helped throw a baby shower for my dear friend Annalise. It turned out so cute! We did a ladybug picnic theme and chose picnic foods and had lot's of red instead of pink. She got a lot of cute little girl stuff and it was just so fun being with friends and mingling. Here are some pictures. I made the cupcakes, mud cups, the ants on a log, and the diaper cake for her.

Diaper Cakes and Baby Showers

2009-03-07T18:16:00.000-08:00

I just learned how to make diaper cakes and they are now my new favorite thing to make and give away. I also learned how to make bows for little girls so the two together work great! I love it! Also, I co-hosted a baby shower for the first time and it turned out wonderful! It was way fun, a lot of work, and very rewarding. The other host did the food and invites and I helped out with the cupcakes and decorations:)

Steppin' with Cathe Frederick

2009-02-28T08:07:00.000-08:00

I recently bought a step to do some in home work outs with and I have really enjoyed it. I have a friend who is way into it and she inspired me. I am starting out with Cathe Frederick's basic step workout which is about 30 minutes and it is going great! I have been doing it about 2-3 times a week for the past few weeks and I am still sweating like crazy with every workout. She is really good and her dvd comes with the step when you buy it. I look forward to mastering this dvd and then trying out some others she has. Here is a cool website where you can see a clip of the video before buying it. Cathe DVDs

Life Time and More

2009-02-17T11:40:00.000-08:00

I finally made lifetime with weight watchers. It feels great to finally be here but it is a lot of work to stay here. I am reworking my schedule so I will have a more set time to exercise and then more time for my other hobbies. I also started working for WW yesterday as a receptionist in training. So far it is overwhelming but good to be on the other side of the desk. I hope all will go well and that I can continue to maintain and enjoy working as a WW team member. I also got a much needed haircut and finally found a salon and stylist I think I like enough to use again. I love my short hair!

This Will Be Interesting

2009-02-12T10:38:00.000-08:00

Something just for you! Lucky you! The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year
4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article on properly cleaning your face before a masque. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same prize to the first 5 people who post on your blog. The first 5 people to repost and leave a comment telling me they did win an AWESOME homemade gift by yours truly! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it! (And I'll post them all here as well so everyone can see!) Good luck!

BP2

2009-02-09T07:18:00.000-08:00

I discovered this great thing from a weight watchers meeting. It is called BP2. It is basically dried peanut butter that doesn't have any of the peanut oils. It is a powder so you can put it in smoothies, hot cocoa, oatmeal, stir fry and many other things. I have tried a few things but my recent favorite is oatmeal.

1/2 cup instant oatmeal
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon PB2
1 cup lowfat milk
1 teaspoon canola oil

I mix all the dry ingredients then add the milk and oil and cook it on high in the microwave about 2-3 minutes or until done. It is really good and tastes like a treat instead of like yucky oatmeal.

I Sewed!

2009-01-15T13:11:00.001-08:00

That is right, I sewed. Those who really know me know my Mother is an excellent seamstress and that I really am not. Sure I took as many sewing classes as you could take in High School but I just never truly picked it up. I don't necessarily enjoy it but I do know how to do a little bit.

It all started when I went shopping and found a great pair of pants on sale for less than $10! I had to have them but the only problem was that their were way too long. I quickly told Levi that I could hem them so we should get them. He kind of looked and me funny and said but will you hem them? I told him I would and a few weeks later and a quick trip to Wal-mart for supplies this is what I did. I know it isn't perfect but it really doesn't have to be for what I need them for.

It's My Birthday!

2009-01-13T19:12:00.001-08:00

Levi totally surprised me for my birthday and gave me a beautiful bouquet of purple tulips. They are so pretty and since I don't get flowers all that often I had to take a picture. It was a nice surprise. Levi double surprised me with a big birthday card as well. Earlier this month I went on a small shopping spree so that was most of my gift.

Rock Climbing

2009-01-10T14:35:00.000-08:00

Levi took me out on my birthday date today since my birthday is on Tuesday and we had a blast! I wanted to go rock climbing and because of a great friend we were able to arrange babysitting in Rockville, MD near Earth Trek. Thanks Luz! We went during open climb where you didn't need to know anything to just go try it out. We did three climbs each and loved every one of them even though I got a little stuck on one of the harder ones. I totally loved it and maybe once we are done with law school we can take a class to become certified so we can do it as a more regular date night. We ended the date at Potbelly's. Mmm...good:)

Church and Other Things

2009-01-05T14:20:00.000-08:00

Our first Sunday of the year was eventful. I have to admit I am a huge fan of 3 p.m. church. I love being able to truly take my time in the morning and put Clark down for a nap before church. Clark was so good in church as well. He was a little clingy for nursery but braved it out and did well. We got a few surprises at church as well.

Our ward is so huge and they really need to split it but have been unable to do so with the lack of LDS Church building in the area. The biggest surprise for us was that they split the Relief Society. We now have two official RS in our ward. It was a surprise that seemed to make sense. The transition was easy since they already had two classes for RS. We were able to hear the Bishops thoughts about why they decided to split it and then the two RS presidents spoke. Their testimonies were so great and I really felt impressed that it was the right thing to do.

We were also introduced to the new ward challenge based on the scripture Doctrine and Covenants 123:17. It was so good to read and hear how we must do all we can cheerfully and then stand still and let God do the rest. We talked about the Doctrine and Covenants that we will be studying in Sunday school and were challenged to read the readings. At first I really wasn't wanting to do it. We are ward missionaries so we go to a different Sunday school, but then I thought that it might be good to do with Levi for our companionship study.

Now Levi and I haven't always had the best companionship study in the world but then I was thinking about it and we have read together almost every night since we were married. We even read the entire Book of Mormon together while we were dating between the time he got his mission call to the time he left. That was really great for me and I remember thinking that even if I don't marry this guy that at least I read the Book of Mormon all the way through with somebody. Anyway, I guess I should just be grateful for the times we have to read and not be too focused on making it perfect.

I Did It!

2009-01-03T14:59:00.000-08:00

I reached my ultimate weight loss goal today at my weight watcher meeting. It is awesome! I started WW the first weekend last August and have been trying hard to change my lifestyle. I feel great and have a ton of energy and can actually hold my 30 lb son without complaining about it. The best thing the program did for me was to give me support and to remind me to eat my fruits and veggies and to teach me that my motivation to loose weight and stay healthy has to overpower my motivation to eat unhealthy things. Like my husband saw on a fence once, "Nothing tastes as good as being healthy feels!"

After:

Before :
I look forward to my maintenance period and to maintain my weight in 2009!

New Year Resolutions

2009-01-02T06:14:00.000-08:00

Here are my new year resolutions that I will hopefully following through with and try to become a better person this year than I was last year.

1. 30 Minutes of Church Study
10 minutes any scripture study
5 minutes Book of Mormon Study
5 minutes of any other kind of church study
5-10 minutes of Journal writing

2. Scrapbook Birthday Cards
Make and send a Birthday card for each of our immediate family members

3. No T.V. except while at the gym exercising

4. Lose two more pounds and maintain my life time status at WW

5. Write one story about my life per month and send a copy to my sister Julie

A Sick Christmas

2008-12-27T16:49:00.000-08:00

This Christmas has been very interesting for me because I was so sick. I went to the Doctor for a simple infection and then ended up in the ER that night because I had been throwing up and fainting all day. After 4 hours at the ER and a few pokes and prods later I was sent home to get some rest and take it easy. Luckily there wasn't anything too major wrong with me just some bad reaction to some medication and one body sick and tired of drama.

I still managed not to gain any weight this Christmas week and I was pretty happy about that considering I couldn't really eat for about 2 days and then only ate what I could get down for the next few days. I am feeling much better now and am so glad to have my life back.

I am so grateful that Levi was able to stay home and not have anything going on so he could take care of me and Clark and I am so grateful to my friend Penny for tending Clark while I was in the hospital.

I've Been Tagged

2008-12-03T13:38:00.000-08:00

I was tagged a few weeks ago by my friend and relative Kristi and I am finally getting around to responding. Sorry:(

7 Random things about myself

1. I like Sandra Bullock romantic comedies(While you were sleeping being one of my favs)

2. I made a wonderful pumpkin pie this year

3. I never forget to put the club on my car

4. I always call to make sure Levi hasn't forgotten Clark while he is watching him

5. I need naps as badly as Clark does

6. I would seriously consider adopting a child

7. I hate our Christmas stockings that I made

Thanksgiving

2008-11-29T16:59:00.000-08:00

As you all know that sometimes when you are on weight watchers and are trying to change your life challenges can arise. One of these challenges can be thanksgiving. I prepared as much as I could for the event using tools that I learned at weight watchers . Like making sure I bring lots and fruits and veggies with me while out of town for the big day and packing yogurt and other low point foods. I also made sure I exercised every day, except for Thanksgiving day, so that I could feel better about eating a little more. I packed my smallest pants for the occasion and tried not to starve myself before the big meal. Finally the moment arrived that I was to eat. Everything looked so great but I was determined to lose weight this week especially since I was only 1 pound away from a huge goal. Well I didn't pack my plate too full but I still tried most everything and enjoyed it. I loved being with friends and family and hearing about their past thanksgivings and what they were thankful for. It was a good dinner and I still saved room for pie later that night. Well today I had to face the scale to see if my hard work and determination paid off. It did! I lost 1.8 pounds that week and I feel great. I achieved my goal and I can't believe it.

To all you weight watcher believer keep going, you can do it, just don't give up and you will achieve your goals.

20 Pounds Lighter

2008-11-08T20:31:00.000-08:00

Well, I did it! I am 20.8 lbs lighter and 10 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight. I feel great and I am going for that last 15 lbs. I would like to get there and stay there for about a year before we have another child. To celebrate I bought this new outfit at old navy.

Get out and Vote

2008-11-04T11:37:00.000-08:00

After a long morning of running errands I was finally able to vote around 2 p.m. I am glad we are nearing the end of this election but it has been interesting.

Super Saturday

2008-10-29T17:15:00.000-07:00

It was my wards Super Saturday last Saturday and I had a blast. I had so much fun getting to know a few more sisters in my ward and I love crafting. As pictured I made a cute Christmas board that turned out 100% better then I expected, and I made a Recipe book holder. I also had a chance to make a cute jewelery holder for a friend. It was way fun and I wish I could get together and craft more.

A Mommy Break at the Spa

2008-10-29T17:07:00.000-07:00

Today I finally cashed in my spa gift card I got for mothers day. I went to a spa not too far away that had really good prices. I tried two new services and I was really surprised at how much I liked my facial. I was really nervous for some reason but it was really great! I just had an express and I can totally see why people get the works, it makes your skin feel so soft and healthy.

I also got my first pedicure at a spa. It was the very basic one but it was nice and I love the nail polish I chose. I have to admit I didn't enjoy it has much as I thought I would. I guess I like massages better. I think the next time I go to a spa I will get a deep tissue message:)

I'm Reading a Book?

2008-10-25T10:14:00.000-07:00

As you may see on my side bar I added the current book that I am reading. Many of you may find this shocking. I know I do. I am not a huge reader but I am trying. The other day I checked out my first library book since moving to this area over two years ago. Of course Levi is a big reader and though I hope Clark ends up more like him I also thought it was good that he knows that I can also read books from the library.

She loses, He Loses is a great book and I totally recommend it. It really helps me understand why men lose faster and why we are so different when it comes to weight loss, weight gain, and how to support each other. I am almost half way through and I have found it to be very enlightening.

Wholesome Entertainment

2008-10-23T17:38:00.000-07:00

I recently canceled my cable and I am trying to find other modes of entertainment for me and for Clark. I have decided that I need to go to the library more and so Clark and I have been to two different library's this week. The first time was awful. He was so loud and the library was so small and didn't really have a decent kids area. The second time I did a little more research and found what book I wanted and found that first then we went to the kids area where he played quietly (For the most part) and did some puzzles and read a few books all the while I was in and out of reading the book I picked out for myself. It was still a little stressful since he is still learning to use his library voice but it was much better than the first time. I am sure in time we will both come to enjoy it better. Clark does love the Curious George book we checked out for him.

Later that night we made dinner together. Clark is so cute and gets so excited about pizza so he had a blast:) It was fun and not too much work since I just bought the pizza dough you just add water to. I am sure we will do it again and it is fun that he is getting old enough to help out in the kitchen.

My Scrapbook Night Out

2008-10-20T14:06:00.000-07:00

I recently signed up to be a part of a scrapbook group in my area on Meetup.com. It is really fun to be able to have one night a month to scrapbook and meet new people and learn new things. Clark was really good about it and loved the chance to have some daddy time. He even said "Bye-Bye Mom" to me. It was so sweet. There was a $5 fee and a make a take as well. I made about 11 cards plus this make and take. It is a fun pop up card that I will probably make more of soon. Here are the pics.

Coupons!

2008-10-17T09:11:00.000-07:00

I finally started to be serious about coupon cutting. I had a class with the spouse association yesterday and it was truly inspiring. I just want to be able to save as much as I can. I went to the website of the store I usually go to and found out that Shoppers was having a triple coupon saving for this weekend. I pulled out all my coupons and went through the ones I wanted to use. I ended up saving 18 dollars and spending only 40 on groceries this week instead of nearly $60. I hope I can continue to do so and save us more money. Any ideas or feedback on how to keep saving with coupons would be very helpful:) Thanks

Ahhh...The Spa

2008-10-01T18:58:00.000-07:00

Levi gave me a spa finder gift certificate for Mothers day and I still haven't used it but I am so needing to now. I haven't quite decided where to go so tonight I searched the web looking for that perfect treatment. As I was looking from website to website reading each spa service's details I was more and more relaxed. Just thinking about the spa relaxed me to the point where I am some what blurry eyed trying to type this post. Of course that could also be due to the fact I am super tired.

So to those that are feeling an extra stress in their life and have the means I beg of you to go to the spa and find some relaxation and relief.

I Love Bread Machines!

2008-09-22T19:49:00.001-07:00

I met a new friend recently and we were talking about baking and how long it can take and how bread machines don't always have a great looking loaf or a good crust. Then my friend mentioned how she discovered the dough setting on her bread machine. She said it is so easy to have it do the hard work then you can cook it in the oven in a normal pan and have really yummy bread:) Amazing! I had no idea how much a bread maker can do. She was even so kind to let me borrow her bread machine. She has a sunbeam one and after reading some reviews it is one of the best for its price range. I can see why, I haven't had any problems and I now have tried 5 different recipes. It is so easy and I love the jam setting too. All you bread maker lovers out there please let me know what bread machines you like so I can ask Santa for a really good one this year. And if any one needs me to try out their bread machine just let me know:) Thanks again Elizabeth!

Another Card

2008-09-22T18:34:00.001-07:00

I try to make my cards simple yet pretty. I love flowers and in this card I tried to showcase the patterned paper, which I totally love. I made this card for Levi's Grandmother Sally in memory of her late husband, Jim. I left it blank inside but was thinking of putting on the front "A time to mourn..." and then on the inside "A time to comfort."