faire à la main

Stripes

2011-06-14T23:27:00.000-07:00

I love this picture. I took it when I was documenting Abby's 13 month mark. I love the stripes on her shirt. I love her cute little hands with her fingers spread out. And I especially love the back of her sweet head. This view is something I see all the time but I wouldn't normally think, "I need to capture that." I'm so glad I did.

Grilled Margherita Pita Pizza

2011-06-05T23:19:00.000-07:00

When asked what my favorite food is, I often say pizza. My preferred pizza includes a thin, crispy crust, and any combination of fresh ingredients. I love that there are countless possibilities when it comes to toppings. For instance, caramelized sliced pears are simply divine on pizza in my opinion.

With that said, nothing really beats the simple, yet tasty margherita pizza. Tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and basil is just a terrific combination that I adore. This is a perfect recipe to make with a fresh tomato and basil, so make sure to bookmark this recipe for when you have an abundance of each from your garden at the end of the summer. I've said it before, but I use pitas as my crust all the time for ease. You can obviously make your own crust to make this even better. Here is my version of the classic Italian pizza.

Grilled Margherita Pita Pizza (makes one pita pizza)

1 flat, round pita
1 tomato, chopped (mine was a roma, so about that size was perfect)
1 clove garlic, minced
olive oil
red pepper flakes
salt
fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into thin slices (enough to cover the pizza)
fresh basil leaves, cut in ribbons

Mix tomato with a splash of olive oil, garlic, salt, and some red pepper flakes. Grill the mixture until the tomatoes become soft (I made a little foil package for mine like so).

Transfer the mixture back into a bowl and mush it up a little so it becomes more of a sauce, but with little chuncks of tomato still there.

Drizzle olive oil on both sides of the pita and grill until it becomes golden and a little crispy. Add tomato mixture and then top with mozzarella mixture. Put your grill hood on to help the cheese melt (if using an indoor grill like me, place a bowl over your pizza).

Continue to grill until the cheese is melted. Top with fresh basil before serving and eat immediately. Enjoy!

Barbeque Chicken Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

2011-05-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

This salad is full of great flavors that really work together. Both Landon and I really thought it was tasty. I got the idea for the dressing from this blog (at least I'm pretty sure that's where it came from) but changed it up a bit to satisfy my tastes. With that said, feel free to play around with it so that you love it! I didn't top ours with crispy bacon but I am certain it would be delicious, so I have included it in my recipe. Also, a little bit of blue cheese crumbled on top could be great as well. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Barbeque Chicken Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

Dressing
1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
zest of 1 lime
1 Tbs. fresh lime juice
2 tsp. honey
1/3 cup mayonnaise (I use mayo with olive oil)
1 Tbs. olive oil or canola oil
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
salt and pepper

Salad

2 Roma tomatoes, diced
1 cup corn
2 scallions, chopped
4 cups spinach or other leafy greens
1 chicken breast, baked or grilled, cut, and then smothered with BBQ sauce (I used spicy BBQ sauce)
2 slices of bacon, crumbled (optional)
1/4 cup blue cheese (optional)

Whisk all dressing ingredients together and set aside. In a small bowl, add tomatoes, corn, and scallions. Toss the tomato mixture with some of the dressing to coat (a couple Tbs. or so).
Assemble the salad in a large bowl by layering the greens, tomato mixture, and chicken. Top with bacon and cheese if using. Top with extra dressing if desired. I didn't really think it needed much more, but that's just me. You can make extra dressing if you plan to serve it on the side. Serve and enjoy!

#11. Run a Half Marathon

2011-05-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

I finally sat down last week and found a half marathon race I plan to run. I haven't signed up yet because I want to see how the first couple of weeks of training go. It is on August 13 and the place to catch the bus for the race is right by my house. It should work perfectly.

I'm so excited. I'm looking forward to incorporating more speed and endurance training into my workouts (as opposed to just going out to run for 30 minutes). Training with my baby will be interesting but very doable. She loves going for runs and if I need to, I can go to the track once she has gone to bed to do speed training since it stays light so long these days. It seems like the perfect time to do this and I'm crossing my fingers I don't get injured along the way.

I want to see how my training goes, but right now I want to shoot for finishing in right at about 2 hours. My first and only other half time was 1:51 and some seconds, but I was in pretty good shape and had a while to train for it. I'm not trying to set a PR (personal record) or anything like that, I just want to have something to shoot for and do well.

So I guess that is my major summer plan! Anyone else training for anything this summer?

I couldn't find the pictures from my previous half marathon, but here's one from the marathon I did. Hopefully I will be smiling at the end of my race in August!

Extrusive

2011-04-26T21:55:00.000-07:00

My husband and I started doing weekly photo challenges for fun. We pick a random word out of the dictionary as the theme for the week. This last week the word was...

Extrusive: relating to or formed by geological extrusion from the earth in a molten state or as volcanic ash

Here is what I came up with.

This is Landon's.

This week the theme is "dispatch." If you want to join in on the fun, feel free! Upload your photo here. You have to be invited to the group in order to post, so let me know if you want an invite. It doesn't matter to us what type of camera you use or how literal or symbolic your picture is. This is just meant to be a fun way to do something artsy during the week.

Mussamun Currry

2011-04-20T21:30:00.000-07:00

My husband and I love to go out for Thai and Indian food and curries are our favorite dishes to get. I have made a few curries at home but I'm often intimidated to try something new. I get worried that the prep will be too long (my meal preparing has to be quick these days with a baby crawling all over the place and into everything), that I won't be able to find the spices and ingredients, and that I'll mess it up somehow. I promise you, this recipe is really simple and can be easily incorporated into your regular meal routine.

Prepared mussamun curry paste is pretty readily available. You can likely find it in an Asian market and even regular grocery stores can carry it. If you can't find it, it looks like Amazon even sells some.

I got the recipe from this book and just made a couple minor changes to healthify it a bit. Mussamun is traditionally made with beef, but I used chicken. Feel free to substitute beef if you'd like. This recipe makes a lot! I made half of the following recipe for the two of us the other night and we had plenty of leftovers, enough for dinner the next night and then some.

Gaeng Mussamun (Mussamun Curry)

1 pound chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
3 cups coconut milk (I always use low-fat)
1/4 cup mussamun curry paste
2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 medium potatoes, washed and cut in bite-sized chunks (about 2 cups)
1 large onion, large dice (about 1 1/2 cups)
3 Tbs. fish sauce
2 Tbs. brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup unsalted peanuts
1tsp. lime zest
2 Tbs. fresh lime juice

In a large saucepan or skillet, bring 1 cup of the coconut milk to a gentle boil over medium heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened. Add the curry paste and cook for another few minutes, stirring to incorporate it into the coconut milk. Add the chicken and cook another 3 minutes, tossing to coat it with the sacuce.

Add the remaining 2 cups of coconut milk, chicken broth, potatoes, onion, fish sauce, brown sugar, and salt and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Stir in the peanuts, lime zest and juice. Serve warm over basmati rice. Enjoy!

#50. Take Family Pictures (Part II)

2011-04-20T11:40:00.000-07:00

Emily posted some of our family photos on her blog and they happen to basically be ones I picked as my favorites. So instead of posting them here, I'll just direct you to her fun blog!

#50. Take Family Pictures

2011-04-17T23:28:00.000-07:00

My brother and his wife stopped by for a visit during their voyage to California this past weekend. Our time with them was short, but so fun. We were very lucky to have my wonderful sister-in-law take family pictures for us. I have had so much fun looking through them and editing a few. I can't wait to see the ones she edits for us. But for now, here is one fun one that I edited. Thanks, Emily!

Watching

2011-04-07T13:10:00.000-07:00

My husband took this of our baby girl the day we took her to the park to swing and slide for the very first time. I think the thing she enjoyed the most was watching all the kids running around and playing with each other. What a precious expression to capture! Good job, Landon!

A Peek

2011-03-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

Wanna take a peek at my latest project? Here it is.

Last night I finished all the squares I need for my project. These are just two of the squares. I'm excited with the way it looks. It is pretty bold, but I think it's going to be a lot of fun.

Have I mentioned that Abby sometimes helps me with my photo shoots?

Well, she does.

So I decided to lock her up.

It was just for a minute. I promise I'm not a horrible mother.

Lo-Fi

2011-03-20T22:38:00.000-07:00

My husband and I have been having fun learning how to take pictures. We are still amateurs, but it is a hobby we enjoy doing together. My husband's favorite part of it all is the software and post-processing that goes along with digital photography (big surprise there). If you have looked into photography software (well, photography in general), you know that photography is not a cheap hobby.

He sent me this link the other day, and I did a download of the 7 day trial. If you are a beginner and are interested in doing some fun vintage looking post-processing, this program might interest you. It is extremely simple to use, has quite a few presets for film type, mood, and frames, and... it costs only $30 (which is seriously like a breath of fresh air). It is not the most amazing thing ever, but for $30, you can have a lot of fun. Here are some pictures I edited with it.

Architecture

Nature

Portraits

Still-Life

and even Food

Fun, huh? I haven't purchased it, but am definitely considering it. Go try it out and play!

Book Giveaway Winner

2011-03-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks for your comments and favorite books. I loved reading all of them and have added some to my list of books to read. And many of them are some of my favorites as well. I love The Alchemist, Pride and Prejudice, and Harry Potter (specifically numbers 3 and 6). Oh, and yes, Matilda is also on my favorite book list, Jenny.

Okay, the book I'm giving away is...

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

If you haven't read this book, I would definitely recommend it. It is John Knowles' most popular book, but even still, I don't think it is terribly well-known. It is popular among my family members though. When my parents were dating my dad gave my mom a list of books she had to read in order for them to get married. This one was on that list. It is also one of my brother's favorites. And like I said before, Landon loves it as well.

As a man, the narrator visits his old prep school he attended as a teenage boy and tells the story of a terrible event that happened while he was there. The characters experience a wide range of emotions and feelings, which I think are depicted perfectly. That is all I'm going to say about it. I don't want to give too much information.

Okay, on to the winner...

The winner is Annie!

I will get your copy of A Separate Peace to you soon!

St. Patty's

2011-03-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

My mom would always make corned beef and potatoes for St. Patrick's Day, served with green milk, of course. I know it's a traditional meal, but I tend steer clear from it. I also have somewhat of problem with unnaturally green foods. I'm okay with green milk (except my mind expects it to taste like mint), but green eggs or green waffles just creep me out. So if you share my view on St. Patty's Day meals, give these items a try. Naturally green and healthier than traditional Irish cuisine.


Katherine's Green Drink

Garden Pesto Pasta

Ravioli with Apples & Walnuts (use spinach and regular ravioli only so it is predominately green)


Arugula Pesto

And for Dessert...

Key Lime Floats

Mint Chocolate Chip Floats

Favorite Books & a Giveaway

2011-03-11T08:29:00.000-08:00

The other day I was thinking about some of my all-time favorite books. Some of these I would like to go back and read again, but there are so many others I need to get to first.

Because I'm in the mood, I want to share one of my favorite books with you. I guess as a sort of giveaway. Just for fun. And just because this book is written fantastically and should be enjoyed.

However, I'm not going to tell you what the book is until I announce the winner. I know, the suspense will kill you all. Here are a few clues as to what book it is.

I read it as a sophomore in high school in English and did a group project/presentation with two of my very best friends.
Shortly after I met my husband, we discovered that this book was a favorite for both of us.
The protagonist is a teenage boy.

To enter, answer the following question in a comment. If someone referred you to this post, put their name in your comment as well. I will give the referrer an extra entry.

What is one of your all-time favorite books?

I love getting recommendations and maybe one day I will actually get to read some of them. That, however, depends on if I ever tackle this beast.

I'll announce the winner next Friday, so you have until then to enter.

Happy Friday!

Asian Chicken Salad with Ginger Soy Dressing

2011-03-09T21:49:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to incorporate main dish salads into my weekly meal plans. I often struggle to get sides on the table, which essentially means the veggies are left out. I love main courses that incorporate lots of veggies, and obviously, salads do that. There are so many delicious and satisfying salads out there and I'm excited to find my favorites. This one was mighty tasty and will become a regular at our house.

Asian Chicken Salad with Ginger Soy Dressing

For the Salad
3 cups napa cabbage, shredded
3 cups baby spinach
1 large carrot, peeled
1 bell pepper, sliced thin
1 cup strawberries, sliced (grapes would be good as well)
1 cup cooked chicken, cubed
1/4 cup cashews, roughly chopped

For the Dressing
3 Tbs. canola oil
2 Tbs. low sodium soy sauce
2 Tbs. rice vinegar
1 tsp. fresh ginger, grated
1/2 tsp. sugar
salt and pepper to taste

Shave the carrot with a vegetable peeler to make long "carrot ribbons." Prepare chicken in desired way (grill, bake, or use a Rotisserie chicken).
In a large bowl, toss the cabbage, spinach, bell pepper, carrots, strawberries, chicken, and cashews.
For the dressing, whisk all ingredients until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Toss dressing with the salad, serve, and enjoy!

The Monday Workout

2011-03-07T10:42:00.000-08:00

This is a good tip that has benefited me as well as clients I have worked with.

Never skip your Monday workout.

By doing a workout on Monday, I think it sets your whole week up for success. It helps me to make exercise and eating well a priority for the whole week. It is so easy to make excuses not to workout on any day, but I feel like as the week progresses, more things tend to pop up and often replace a workout. If you get your Monday workout out of the way, you are one step ahead and can say you got in at least one workout for the week.

With that said... make sure you get your workout in today!

#5. Make Abby a Dress

2011-03-04T12:03:00.000-08:00

I bought some fabric yesterday, which is one of my guilty pleasures lately. I just couldn't pass this one up.

I love the colors. I love the flowers. I think it will make a stinking cute dress for Abby, which is one of my goals (so I'm justified in buying it, right?).

Abby's birthday falls on Easter this year, so I think it will make a great birthday/Easter dress. I'm thinking this style will be cute since the fabric is retro inspired.

What do you think?

Also, I have had several people ask me to do a tutorial for my mini wallet. I'm so flattered and plan to have one up next week. Thanks for all of the compliments! Have a wonderful weekend!

Funny Face

2011-03-02T10:17:00.000-08:00

I haven't shared my favorite photos in a while because I have been working on transferring a bunch of stuff to our new network hard drive. My hard drive was basically completely full, so it is taken me a while to get things back into gear. But I wanted to share this hilarious picture of my baby girl. This is from her 10 month shoot I did last week. This face isn't her most flattering look, but she does it all the time and it cracks us up. I'm glad I have a way to remember it even if it embarrasses her when she's older.

Good Morning

2011-02-28T09:20:00.000-08:00

What did you have for breakfast today?

When I worked as a wellness/fitness counselor my clients were always asking for ideas for healthy meals and snacks that were also easy to prepare. If you are looking for a healthy breakfast, lunch, snack, or even dessert, this one is great. It is tasty and sweet, yet full of vitamins, fiber, and protein. You can do many variations of this but here is what I like to do.

Layer Kashi Go Lean Crunch! cereal, plain yogurt (without added sugar), and berries (fresh or frozen).

That's it. Easy peasy.

Of course, you could always use granola or any variety of fruit. Try it out! I know you will love it.

Orzo Stuffed Peppers

2011-02-23T21:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, this blog posted a recipe for Orzo Stuffed Peppers. Their photos almost always make me salivate, and this one was no exception. I had to make it as soon as possible. I didn't have all the ingredients the recipe called for and I really didn't want to go to the store, so I just did what I could with what I had on hand. I think they turned out fabulous!

The point I want to make here is that we often feel like we have to follow recipes exactly as they are written. You don't. Especially with general cooking, breads and things like that may be a different story. Be creative and don't be afraid to add your own flair to a recipe.

Here is the recipe I ended up doing. But make sure you check out the inspiration, which I'm sure is amazing as well.

Orzo Stuffed Peppers

1/2 of a small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
drizzle of olive oil
3 cups chicken broth (or veggie broth)
1 cup orzo pasta
1- 14 oz can of diced tomatoes (Italian style could be good)
3/4 cup Pecorino Romano cheese, shredded
3 bell peppers (yellow, red, and orange are definitely the prettiest and taste best, but green could be fine)
1/4 cup fresh basil or 1tsp. dried
salt a pepper

Cook the orzo in broth for about 5 minutes or until partially cooked. It will finish cooking as it bakes. Save the broth in the baking dish you plan to use for the peppers.
Saute the onion with olive oil and salt and pepper until tender. Add the garlic and cook for one minute more. When it is done, add the mixture to bowl. Add the tomatoes, orzo, cheese and basil and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Cut off the tops of the peppers and remove the membranes inside. Cut a thin slice off the bottom of the pepper so it will stand up on its own (don't cut so much that you make a hole). Spoon the mixture into the bell peppers so they are very full.
Place the filled peppers in the baking dish with the broth. Cover with foil and bake at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes. At that time, top them with extra cheese and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until a nice golden crust forms on top. Enjoy!

What They Wear

2011-02-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

Confession: I am way behind on my photo class I'm doing. It's okay though, the class is just via email, so I'm saving the emails as they come and will get to them as I have time. I actually took this photo on the day it was assigned, but finally processed it today.

The theme was "What They Wear." The day I took this I flew alone with Abby to Boise for the weekend. Unfortunately, we found out just minutes after we made it through security that our plane was delayed three hours. So... I had some down time at the airport and was able to do my photo assignment. These jeans are one of the first things Landon and I bought when we found out we were having a girl. Landon picked them out, which makes me love them even more. I think it is so fun to capture them in this way, something I wouldn't have thought to do on my own.

Thoughts on Homemade Baby Food

2011-02-22T13:58:00.000-08:00

I made the goal to make my own baby food at least once. Well, as it turns out, I have made all of the fruits and veggies for my baby up to this point. I have been happy with it and thought I would share my experience in case someone out there has questions about it.

Here are some pros for doing it:

It is cheaper than buying premade baby food. I haven't done a cost analysis on it or anything, but unless you are really good at coupons, I'm confident it is cheaper. It would be even cheaper if you got most of the foods from your garden or fruit trees (either during the season or frozen from your garden previously).
Making large batches and then freezing them is very convenient. If I were to make the food each day for each meal, there is no way I would do it. Thank goodness for freezers! I freeze about a tablespoon in each space of ice cube trays. The foods are best if you use them within a month, but you can keep them up to 3 months.
It doesn't take much time. Making baby food isn't like making a meal at all. All you really have to do is some peeling and chopping, then let it bake or steam, and then puree. I probably make a food two times a week on average, which hasn't been too overwhelming.
Lack of jars and plastic containers. Maybe this isn't a big deal for most of you, but I have a hard time getting rid of containers that could be used again. Therefore, I could definitely see myself stashing away those jars and not knowing what to do with them. I'm glad I don't have that clutter to deal with (believe me, I have enough as it is).
Costco frozen produce. Sometimes it can be hard to find good produce out of season, so that is why I have discovered I love Costco's frozen bags. They are a pretty good deal and that way you have a large quantity in your freezer ready to go.

Here are some cons I have found.

Freezer space. If you don't have a lot of freezer space, it could be harder to do. The ice cube trays don't take up much space, but if you are buying a bunch of frozen produce, then a lack of space can occur. We don't buy a ton of other frozen foods, so it has been fine. But... I still can't wait for the day when I can have an extra freezer!
Time. Even though it isn't much time, it does take up time and requires some preparation. And for mothers who have way busier schedules than I do, I can definitely see why you wouldn't bother making baby food. Convenience is a powerful thing!
Produce out of season. You may not have as large of variety when you make your baby food because you can't always get some foods. Or you can, but they are expensive and don't taste great. Frozen foods, and even dried foods such as prunes, are a good way to combat this.

Would I do this for my next child? I am pretty positive I will. Especially if I have that extra freezer I dream about.

The Overload Principle

2011-02-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite professors from college taught by emphasizing definitions. This is one of his favorite phrases to define.

Overload Principle: the requirements necessary to bring about improvement in the various systems of the body. As the body is subject to loads greater than they are accustomed to, the systems adjust and increase their capacity to perform physical work.
Definition from Strength Training 4th ed. by Philip Allsen

This principle applies to cardiovascular and muscular training. Basically, if you do the same exact workout all the time, your body will not adjust and increase its capacity. Here are some ways you can mix up a workout so that you can continue to challenge your body and improve.

Muscular Training

increase the resistance
increase the number of repetitions
increase the number of sets
decrease the time of rest between sets for a given exercise (rest time should still be at least a minute, however)
increase workout frequency (go from 2 to 3 days per week)
switch up your routine (don't do the same exercise for each body part all the time)
try circuit training (alternating resistance exercise with short bouts of high intensity aerobic exercise like rope jumping, jumping jacks, running, etc.)

Cardiovascular Training

increase your mileage/time
increase your intensity by upping your pace
increase workout frequency (start at 3 days and gradually increase to 5 or 6 days per week)
incorporate hills into your workout (or increase the incline or resistance on machines)
interval training (where you alternate between high and low intensity)
try circuit training (alternating resistance exercise with short bouts of high intensity aerobic exercise like rope jumping, jumping jacks, running, etc.)
try a new mode of exercise (if you're a runner, mix in some biking, swimming, aerobic dance, etc.)

Hopefully these tips will help you incorporate the overload principle and get you out of your exercise routine rut!

Arugula Pesto

2011-02-17T12:13:00.000-08:00

I had some arugula I needed to use and decided to make it into a pesto. I had heard of such a recipe before but just pulled this one together with things I had. Both my husband and I thought it was really tasty. If you don't have pine nuts, I think it would be good with almonds, walnuts, or pistachios. I think it would also be great served with grilled chicken. Here's my recipe.

Arugula Pesto

1 lb. pasta of your choice
2 cups arugula
1/2 cup fresh basil
1 lemon, zested
1-2 Tbs. lemon juice
2 Tbs. pine nuts
2-3 cloves garlic, minced (depending on how big and how much you like garlic)
1/3 cup parmesan or Romano cheese
salt and pepper
1/3 cup olive oil

Cook the pasta until al dente and reserve a cup of the pasta cooking water.

Add the arugula, basil, lemon zest and juice, pine nuts, garlic, cheese, and salt & pepper to a food processor. Pulse a few times to get the ingredients incorporated. Turn the food processor on and slowly pour in the olive oil. Add enough so that is becomes a creamy texture.

Add the pesto sauce to the cooked pasta and toss. Add a couple of tablespoons of the pasta water if the pasta needs to be thinned out. Serve with a little more parmesan cheese on top and enjoy!

#6. Make Homemade Gifts for a Year

2011-02-15T19:51:00.000-08:00

For this goal, I defined it by saying I will make a homemade gift for each member of our immediate family at least once during the year, either for birthdays or Christmas. Yesterday was my cute sister-in-law's birthday. I decided to make her this little coin purse/mini wallet.

I had a lot of fun with this little project and will probably make more. I especially liked picking coordinating fabrics and am in love with the ones I ended up picking.

The finished product measured about 3.25 x 5 inches. I put wallet sized photos of her adorable niece inside.

I think it would also make a great gift card holder. It's perfect for IDs, credit cards, coins, feminine products, etc. It was such an fun and easy project and I am so pleased with how it turned out.

#7. Make Abby a Quiet Book

2011-02-14T11:00:00.000-08:00

For Valentine's Day I decided to make Abby a book called, "Who Loves Abby?" It maybe isn't technically a "quiet book," but I'm counting it to cross that item off my list. I got pictures of my family as well as Landon's and put them in a little photo album for her. I Photoshopped everyone's names on their pictures for fun. I am so pleased with how it turned out. I think it will be perfect for church and it will help Abby recognize faces. Here are some pictures of the book.

Happy 1st Valentine's Day to my baby girl!

Then & Now

2011-02-03T21:41:00.000-08:00

For Day 3 of my photo class, the assignment was "then & now." I was supposed to take a photo that would show change from the past. I decided it would be fun to document "the diaper change" change.

The top one is from when Abby was 3 days old and still in the hospital. I remember I was scared to change her diaper then because she was SO small and would scream when you took the blanket off. The bottom picture was after I changed her diaper today. She is about 10 pounds heavier! Her changing table may have to be retired soon because she moves around so much. I had to be careful as I took these because I was worried she would jump right off.

My photo assignment also included "cropping in tight," which is maybe displayed better in this photo. I could definitely crop it (in Photoshop) more, but didn't feel like the mostly blank wall was distracting.

This is my assignment from yesterday, which was "what they look like." The idea was take a picture of a loved one as they really look, good or bad, and to position yourself so that the subject looks right. This is a definite Landon face/posture.

What They Do

2011-02-01T21:30:00.000-08:00

I'm doing this free online photography class this month. Thanks for telling me about it, Emily! If you are interested, you can still sign up. Today's assignment was to catch someone... doing what they do, and also to find good lighting in your home. I love watching Abby read books and am so grateful I can now remember it forever.

Wedding Bliss

2011-02-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

My favorite photo from this week was not one that I took, but one I edited. In order to save some money, I hired a good friend to take our wedding photos. We were pretty pleased with the way they turned out, but after he had edited a bunch something happened to his computer and he lost everything he had edited (or something like that). He still had all the original files and at that point we just didn't want to wait any longer and took them as is.

I recently decided it would be a good project for me to go through and edit them myself. I'm mostly making minor changes to the majority of them so that they still look natural, just with a little more zing. But for some of just the two of us I am doing more dramatic effects in addition. I always wanted to like this picture, but our hands looked lifeless and dull. I think I was able to bring some life into them and am much happier with the way it looks now.

Argentine Burgers

2011-01-31T14:00:00.000-08:00

My husband lived in Argentina for two years while serving a mission for our church. And if you know my husband, you probably know how much he loves hamburgers. When my mom found this recipe (from Bobby Flay?), she decided it would be a great thing to make for him. It was my first time having chimmichurri sauce and I loved it and thought it tasted great on a burger. The chimmichurri sauce can be made a ahead of time, just bring it to room temp before serving. If you are looking for a way to jazz up a burger, this is a great way to do it!

Argentine Burgers

Chimmichurri Sauce

2 cups packed flat leaf parsley
1 Tbs. fresh oregano
4 cloves garlic
1 tsp. smoked paprika
3 Tbs. red wine vinegar
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Make in a food processor. Combine parsley, oregano and garlic and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add paprika, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Process until smooth. Transfer to a bowl. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

Burgers

1½ lbs. 80% lean ground chuck
salt and pepper
1½ Tbs. canola oil
4 slices manchego cheese
4 buns, toasted
½ medium red onion, sliced in ¼ inch slices

Prepare burgers in the way you choose. Add cheese to the tops of the burgers during the last minute of cooking. Serve on buns topped with large dollop of chimmichurri sauce and onions.

Revisting "Old" Music

2011-01-29T21:00:00.000-08:00

Ever since I got married I have not been an active participant in the music scene. I'm not very good at seeking out new music for myself but mostly rely on my brother to tell me about new great stuff I would like. My brother did move over 2000 miles away from me about the time I got married, so maybe that has something to do with it, or maybe it's because I've been really busy with school, pregnancy, and being a mom. Regardless, I still feel music just isn't that spectacular right now. I'm happy to be wrong, though, so if you have amazing suggestions I would love to hear them.

With that said, I just wanted to share a favorite album of mine that I recently listened to and was reminded of how much I like it. This band no longer exists and were not extremely well known or popular. But I think they are great and I had a blast when I saw them in concert.

Introducing, Dog Problems, by The Format.

This is The Format's second album. I recommend both of their albums highly, but I think I would have to pick this one as my favorite. Some of my favorite songs are "Time Bomb," "Dog Problems," "She Doesn't Get it," and "Oceans." Really, I like every song on here quite a bit. If you have never heard of them, check them out. You'll be glad you did.

*Neither Nate nor Sam paid me to blog about their old band.

Long-Distance Twins

2011-01-23T21:00:00.000-08:00

I will try and get some new subjects in the future for my favorite photo of the week, but I'm pretty sure everyone enjoys seeing this cutie. Abby was dressed in this outfit that her cousin also has. We arranged for them to be long-distance twins, so I had to take Abby's picture.

Sun-dried Tomato & Arugula Frittata

2011-01-20T21:00:00.000-08:00

I love having breakfast for dinner- probably more than actually having breakfast for breakfast. Frittatas are great because you can basically throw in whatever you have on hand. I came up with this variation this afternoon simply by looking though my fridge for about 60 seconds. Regardless of what the photo looks like, this meal was delicious. Even with suspicious ingredients, my husband really liked it. If you don't have arugula on hand, use spinach instead. I also think mushrooms would be good in here, so throw some in if you'd like! This is a quick meal, perfect for the end of the week. Serve it with a piece of toast and some fruit and you'll have a meal your whole family will enjoy.

Sun-dried Tomato & Arugula Frittata
Recipe by me

Drizzle of olive oil
1/2 cup onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups arugula or spinach
1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
4 whole eggs and 3 egg whites
1/2 cup milk, cream, half-and-half, etc.
1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
zest of 1 lemon
1/4-1/2 Pecorino Romano cheese (or parmesan), grated
salt and pepper

Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
Drizzle a 10-inch skillet (that is oven safe) with olive oil and heat over medium heat. Add the onion and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the onion is soft and translucent.
In the meantime, whisk the eggs in a mixing bowl until light and frothy. Add the milk, lemon zest, feta cheese, and salt and pepper.
When the onions are done, add the garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and arugula, and cook for one minute so that the arugula begins to wilt. Add the egg mixture and gently stir to combine. Let it cook on the stove for 3-4 minutes without stirring. During this time, grate the Pecorino Romano over the top of the frittata.
Place the skillet in the oven and cook for 10-12 minutes. Then, turn the oven on broil for just a couple of minutes to get a nice golden crust on top. Cut like a pie (I cut it into 8 slices and we each ate 2) and serve immediately... enjoy!

#37. Eat at Boise Fry Company

2011-01-18T14:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, so some of the items on my list aren't really a big challenge and are more for enjoyment. I'm fine with that though. Who wants to complete a huge laundry list of hard things?

I'm a proud Boise-an. I think it is a great place: not too big, not too small, more fun cultural activities than you might expect, great food, growing college football team, etc. Did I mention the food? I know you can find great food pretty much anywhere, but some of my very favorite places to eat are local restaurants in Boise.

A new place in town is Boise Fry Company. Their slogan is, "Burgers on the side." That is my idea of a burger joint! We went over Christmas break for the first time and thought it was fun. They have several types of fries (russet, golden, sweet, yams, purple), cuts, sauces, and seasonings. It is a little overwhelming for an indecisive person like me to choose what to get, so we basically tried everything we could. The picture shows all of the sauces. My favorite was the blueberry ketchup. I was a little disappointed in a few of the sauces because they tasted a little too much like plain mayonnaise. I think my overall favorite thing I tried were the yams with vanilla salt and blueberry ketchup. I also had a buffalo burger for the first time and thought it was pretty good.

Overall, we had a fun time, the food was great, and I would like to go back again. If you happen to be in Boise, try it out!

Corny Pasta

2011-01-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

The worst part about coming back from a 3-week Christmas vacation at my parents' house is realizing I have to plan and prepare meals again. I enjoy cooking, it's the planning and shopping I don't care for as much. I'm not sure how my mother (and women everywhere) has been planning and preparing meals for years and years. Maybe it gets easier with experience? I hope so. Nevertheless, I feel so satisfied when I make a successful meal. And this one was! I just changed a few minor things from Rachel Ray's Summer Corn Fettuccine, so I can't take credit for the idea. I haven't tried many of her recipes but this one hit the spot. If you like corn chowder, you will love this dish. Here's the recipe.

Corny Pasta
Adapted from Rachel Ray

1 lb. fettuccine or other pasta
6 slices of bacon, chopped
2 cups of corn (fresh or frozen)
3 shallots, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup half-and-half or whole milk
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
a few shakes of cayenne pepper
1 cup grated Pecorino Romano
1/4 cup basil leaves, cut in ribbons

Cook pasta according to package directions.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and cook the bacon until rendered, golden, and crisp. Remove the bacon and save for later. Add the shallots, bell pepper, and 1.5 cups of corn to the bacon drippings. Season with salt and pepper and cook for about 5 minutes or until the veggies are tender.
Combine the remaining corn and half-and-half in a food processor and puree until smooth.
Add the chicken broth to the veggies and let simmer for a minute or two to reduce. Add the corn mixture and thyme. Stir often and let the mixture thicken. Add the cayenne pepper and stir.
Add the drained pasta to a serving bowl and grate the Pecorino Romano on top. Pour the sauce over the pasta and toss to coat. Top the pasta with bacon and basil and serve. Enjoy!

A Challenge

2011-01-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

Landon issued me a challenge this week:

Take one photo each day.

I have only been doing it a couple of days but thought I could share my favorite from each week. Here is this week's favorite.

I may be biased, but I think this girl is a beauty.

#1. Make a Quilt

2011-01-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned this project before, but now that Christmas has passed, I can finally tell you that I completed it. Hallelujah! It was not an easy task, but still a lot of fun. I learned a lot and do not think it will be my last quilt.

All along, the quilt was intended for my newest niece, Lucy. She is my sister's fourth child and she arrived in November. My sister did a lot of sewing for my baby's nursery since I lacked the time and skills. So this project was the least I could do to say, "thanks."

I forgot to take photos of the finished product (doh!), but luckily my sister took a few for me. Here is Lucy showing it off.

Here it is!

I got my inspiration from Cluck Cluck Sew. I did three sizes of rectangles/squares and arranged them randomly. For the quilting I just picked some rectangles that were equally spaced throughout the quilt and stitched in the ditch around the perimeter of each rectangle. The binding was probably the most frustrating part. I just used the backing fabric and wanted to machine sew it down. I thought it would be a breeze. I was wrong. The machine (or rather I) kept pulling it funny so it was just a mess. I only got about half way down one side when I decided it wasn't worth it. I ended up hand stitching it, which didn't take as long as I thought it might. I'm glad I did it that way. It looked just the way I wanted it to. I'm not even sure if I would attempt to machine sew a binding in the future, but we'll see. Hooray for finishing my first quilt that I did every cut and stitch on!

The New Year

2011-01-05T12:28:00.000-08:00

Have you seen/heard all of those ads for gyms, lipo, exercise equipment, diet books, etc. this past week? Health goals and the new year go together like peas and carrots. The new year is a great time when most people feel motivated to change. I loved working at the new year because we were always busy with new clients. Unfortunately, this enthusiasm doesn't always last long. Gyms are typically much less crowded in February. I think this often happens because people make goals that are a little too hard to keep up with. With that in mind, I just wanted to remind you of SMART Goals. Here is a link to the posts I did a few months ago.

Here is another bit of advice I want to share. Weight loss is typically a common goal with the new year. Instead of obsessing over the number on the scale, expand your goal. Try keeping track of body measurements every month or so, or get a body composition test. If you live close to a university, it may have equipment to do a body composition test.

#8. Make Christmas Stockings: Abby's

2010-12-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

I finally came up with an idea for Abby's stocking. I had an image in my head, but couldn't decide how it would actually turn out. Landon told me to just go with it and see what happened. So I did. And I think it turned out just the way I wanted it.

This picture isn't the best, but it gives you the basic idea. I promise the toe and cuff look better in person.

My original plan was to put her name on the cuff, but now I can't decide. What do you think? And if I do it, how should I do it?

I'm not sure what I'll do, but for now I am calling it good. I need to get going on Landon's and my other projects. I'm so glad I can cross this off my list and do it with something I am proud of.

Abby's A

2010-12-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

Here is one of my homemade Christmas presents. It is for my baby girl, so I figured I could share it on here. These types of projects are nothing new, but it was my first time making one. I used pinking shears to cut the letter out so that I wouldn't have to cut the paper to fit exactly on the letter. I think it looks cute that way, and seemed a lot easier in my mind. I plan to hang it in her room with red ribbon. It was only a few dollars and makes a great gift.

Christmas Decorating: A Centerpiece

2010-11-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

This is the centerpiece I made for the holidays. I am so pleased with how it turned out. I got the orange/peppermint idea from Real Simple a couple of years ago and just love it. I think it is a great combination for Christmas but one I never would have thought of. I already had the jar and ribbon and I purchased the evergreen for $2. It was so easy to put together (I did it during one of baby's short naps). I have also done the orange peppermint thing in little clear baggies tied with ribbon for gifts. The possibilities are endless!

Brown Paper Packages

2010-11-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

I have been busy this week trying to cross things off my list as I mentioned last post. Many of the things I won't share with you because they are Christmas presents, so I will probably share them after Christmas.

Here is one thing I have done that isn't a Christmas gift spoiler. It has to do with Christmas presents, but people will see it before Christmas anyway, so it really doesn't matter that much. I like to come up with a theme for my gift wrapping at Christmas. Nothing too fancy or expensive, just something a bit more special than simply wrapping paper. Here is what I came up with this year.

I love plain brown wrapping paper and did this bow to freshen it up a bit. I got the idea for the flower from here, but changed it a little.

I thought the green rick-rack was a nice change to regular ribbon. And I think the color scheme is festive without screaming Christmas.

I made the flowers by cutting three circles of descending size. Then I sprayed them to make them damp. Crumpled them up in to a little ball. Un-crumpled them, arranged them, and secured them with a brad. Let them dry completely. Very easy.

Crunch Time

2010-11-14T22:00:00.000-08:00

I just looked at my calendar and counted that there are only 40 days until Christmas! That still seems like a ways out there, but I know it is going to fly, especially once Thanksgiving passes by. I have accomplished a lot so far, but still have many things I need to do and finish before the joyful day.

I have made a list of all the things I need to do before Christmas and have put my game face on. Here it is.

I even have a plan to do a couple projects while out of town for Thanksgiving. I figure I should take advantage of the opportunity of so many willing babysitters! We'll see how everything goes. So far my list is just of things I absolutely need to do, while I still have ideas in my head of things that would be nice as well. I'm hoping for the best, without excessive, unwanted stress.

I know I'm not the only one in this position, so good luck to you all as well!

Beverages

2010-11-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

There are a million varieties of beverages out there these days that have loads of sugar and fat, yet are so delicious. It is very easy to drink hundreds (maybe even thousands) of calories without even realizing it. Even easier than eating tons of calories, in my opinion.

I'm not telling you that you have to stay away from these types of drinks, but just remember to use the same sense as with food. Here are some tips.

Reserve these beverages for special occasions and at that time, watch your portions.
Go with water as often as possible when eating out. It's typically free and also calorie-free.
Don't drink soda on a daily basis. Start cutting down little by little if you are a soda-addict, even if you are a diet-soda addict. Maybe they don't have calories, but it is debatable on what they do to your total daily caloric intake. Plus, it is still bad for your teeth.
Drink plenty of water throughout the day. An easy way to determine how much you need is to take your weight in lbs and divide by two. Drink at least that amount of fluid ounces. (140 lb/2 = 70 fl oz. = about 9 cups)
Drink low-fat or skim milk. Although you don't need more than 3 cups each day.
Limit intake of juice, but when you do have it, drink 100% juice without added sugar. You can try diluting juice with water as well. The increase in volume will decrease the proportion of calories and sugar.
Make smoothies yourself. Use only fruits, veggies, water, and maybe a little yogurt if you want. Don't add extra sugar. Bananas are a great way to make them creamy without adding any dairy.
Drink some gatorade if you are sick of water. It will give you an extra boost of flavor without a ton of sugar and calories.

I hope these tips help you out. Believe me, I've been struggling with this one as a nursing mother. I am thirsty all the time and it is hard to drink only water all the time! I try to use my own tips and feel they really are doable. You can do it!

*Thanks to my husband who questioned me on this topic and inspired this post.*

What I should be doing right now...

2010-11-10T22:00:00.000-08:00

As part of my 500 Days of Refinement, some of my goals I want to accomplish have to do with reading. I really do like to read, but as a full time student the past six years, "reading for pleasure" didn't really happen. I am now starting to get back into the habit.

What I did for my project is ask my husband, parents, and siblings the following question:

"If you had to pick only one book for me to read, what would it be?"

I thought it would be a fun way to have a reading queue all set up for me and to include books I maybe wouldn't have picked up otherwise. Here are the responses I got.

Husband: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
Dad: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Mom: Siddartha by Herman Hesse
Brother #1: The Fifties by David Halberstam
Sister: The Mother in Me by various mothers
Brother #2: Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Brother #3: A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

I have started The Count of Monte Cristo, but am only about four chapters into it. At this rate, I probably won't even finish it in the next 500 days. It's not that I don't like it, it is just intimidating because it is a very long book (I was specifically told I am not allowed to read the abridged version).

On that note, I think I will hop in the tub and read a little before bed. Goodnight!

Fall Things

2010-11-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

I love Fall, it is probably my favorite season. It is a toss up though. Spring and Summer are great as well. And since Winter contains Christmas, it is also great.

Anyhow, I do love Fall. One of my favorite parts about Fall is running. I ran cross-country in Jr. High and High School and the season for the sport is during Fall. I have so many fond memories from that time in my life. Friendship and conversation while canal running, crazy moments on the trips, fun and painful practices, the anxiety associated with meets... I could go into a lot more detail, but I won't. But it really was the highlight of my high school years. And whenever the leaves start to fall and they crunch under my feet as I run, my mind takes me back to those moments.

This past weekend, or maybe the one before, was likely the state meet in Idaho where I grew up. That means it was seven years ago when my team swept it. Both our varsity girls and boys teams won. It was an amazing thing to be part of and the best way to end my senior year of running.

I didn't really mean to go on a tangent about that, but there you go. What I really wanted to do was show you pictures of these beautiful bushes that are all over our apartment complex. I love them. I need to figure out what they are so I can have them one day.

Aren't they gorgeous? These photos have not been altered in any way. They accurately portray the true colors. I love how all the amazing autumn colors are incorporated into a single plant. And the berries add a great touch. If you know what kind of bush this is, let me know. I need to put in on my list of "things I want in my future house." I don't have an actual list, but if I did, these would for sure go on it.

Floats

2010-11-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

One night (a long while back) we had a float night. We went to the store and picked sodies to go with ice cream for new creative floats. Here are the combinations we tried.

Jones Soda's Strawberry Lime with Vanilla Ice Cream

This one was good, but not as good as I was hoping. It was quite pretty though. Maybe it would be better with a lime or lemon sorbet, just to bring out those flavors more.

Cream Soda with Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

This was probably our most adventurous combination and it was actually better than we expected it to be. Honestly, it was really good. Try it for yourself.

Key Lime Soda with Vanilla Ice Cream

This combination was also a success. If you like key lime pie with ice cream, you will love this float.

Lemon-Lime Soda with Raspberry Sorbet

This was probably my favorite float out of the bunch. I love most anything with raspberry and lemon together. It tasted brilliant. Although, I realize we can't really take credit for this match-up because it tasted pretty similar to those drinks often served at bridal and baby showers. Oh well, it was still great as a float and I would recommend it for something different.

We'll keep thinking of more fun float ideas and share the great ones with you!

#8. Make Christmas Stockings

2010-11-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

I haven't actually completed this item, but wanted to share with you that I have started it. Now that I have a child, it is critical (in my mind) that I make homemade stockings for our whole family. I'm not sure why I feel so strongly about it, but I do. I want her stocking to be something special that she will have her entire childhood. Therefore, I have to get it done. I don't want to confess to her later in life that she didn't have her special stocking until her 2nd Christmas. I just can't live with that guilt.

I am struggling, though. I just can't decide what I want to do for her. If you have any amazing suggestions, let me know.

In the meantime, I'm working on Landon's. He picked out the above fabrics. And this is what we are going to do.

Pretty, huh? He wants the front of the stocking to be a patchwork. He did most of the cutting, I just helped a little, and he came up with the design he wanted. Now it is up to me to do the sewing. I think he did a great job with the picking and arranging. I am tempted to make a similar Christmas table-runner with the extra fabric since it is so pretty, but I can't get distracted with other projects until I finish my baby girl's stocking.

"I'm only pretending to go as a cowgirl!"

2010-11-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

I did a big post about our Halloween costumes on our family blog. I was going to do a smaller version of it on this one, but decided to just refer you to it in case you came here first!

Coping with Post-Halloween Stress

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

Starting today, Halloween candy typically goes on mega sale. The cheap price may tempt you to buy it. Just don't do it. Turn your head and walk away. You likely have plenty in your house anyway, and as the holidays draw near, treats will be plentiful. Believe it or not, you will spend less by not buying into the great deals!

Here's another tip I have to use all the time. If you are going to eat candy or chocolate, you might as well eat the ones you really enjoy. Sometimes I find myself eating candy that I don't even like that much. Save the really great stuff and chuck the rest. You'll be glad you did, trust me.

My Little Pumpkin

2010-10-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

Abby dressed up as a pumpkin for a little party we went to. I think she looks pretty dang cute.

Happy weekend!

Progress

2010-10-27T13:15:00.001-07:00

I've been sewing! Remember that quilt I told you about? The one I am determined to do all by myself? I know, I mentioned it quite a while ago, but I'm finally getting some things done on it. I actually have the quilt top all sewn together and pressed! It is definitely not perfect, so don't look too close when I post the finished product. But I think I did well for my first time. I have already learned many things I can do better in the future, including using a different foot that is ideal for patching (and that actually came with my machine, I don't have to buy it!).

My next step is basting and quilting. I have only tied quilts before but for this one I want to machine quilt it. I've been doing some research because I honestly know just about nothing. I'm thinking of doing "stitch in the ditch." I've read that it is good for beginners and since this quilt is bright and has bold patterns, I don't think elaborate quilting is necessary. I am open to suggestions, though, so feel free to give me any advice you might have!

#12: Make Baby Food

2010-10-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

I have accomplished one thing from my list of 50 things! One down, 49 to go. Making homemade baby food was a lot of fun and very easy. I learned a lot on how I can improve the process in the future. I made mine with peaches and here's how I did it.

Cut the peaches in half and leave the pits in.

Place a baking sheet on your oven rack and use a pitcher or glass to to pour about 1 inch of water into it. Trust me on this one. I put the water in the pan before and when I tried to put it in the oven... I spilled all over the place. Then arrange the peach halves cut side down.

I ate one of the halves... oops! It was too tempting.

Bake in the oven at 350 degrees until the peaches are nice and tender and the skin starts to pucker, about 10-15 minutes. When they are done, please DO NOT pick up the pan. The water will be hot. Use a baster to remove the water and then take them out of the oven. Save some of the water in a bowl in case you need to thin your puree.

Remove the pits.

And then remove the skins. They come off very easily.

Then dice 'em up!

Throw them in your food processor (or blender) and process until smooth.

If the mixture seems too thick, add some of your peach water. My texture was perfect with the juice that accumulated on the cutting board.

Use a tablespoon to distribute into ice cube trays. It fits perfectly and that way you know exactly how much your baby is eating. I got 4 trays out of 5 1/2 peaches.

Wrap the trays in plastic wrap and label what it is and when you made it. Remove one or two cubes as needed. They will stay good in the freezer for 3 months. I can't wait to try more foods!

500 Days of Refinement

2010-10-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard of "101 things in 1001 days?" I'm not really sure where it came from, but I first heard about it a while back from one of my dear clients. Basically, you just make a list of 101 things you want to accomplish in the next 1001 days. When she told me, I thought it sounded fun, so I started making a list. However, coming up with 101 things was just too many and 1001 days was just way too far out for me. I wasn't motivated to really do anything because the deadline was more than 2 and a half years away. Therefore, I have come up with my own plan.

500 Days of Refinement

I have made a list of 50 things I want to accomplish in the next 500 days. This just seems way more doable to me. Today is my official start day and that will have me end on my birthday in 2012. Basically, my list includes projects, health things, spiritual things, books to read, and then just fun and random things. Some tasks are large and will take a lot of time, while others will be very easy to accomplish. But all of them are"refining," at least to me. I think they will help me to utilize and refine my talents as well as help me be a better wife and mother. I will share some of my experiences with you as I complete them.

My husband helped me prepare my list in a fun way that I will print out and hang up (below). I think it is a lot of fun. Thank goodness for a husband who has mad computer skills.

Ravioli with Apples and Walnuts

2010-10-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

The past few days have been absolutely beautiful fall days. Sunny and about 70 degrees. Eating this meal is a perfect complement for a day like this. Here is the recipe.

Ravioli with Apples and Walnuts

1 lb. cheese ravioli
1 Gala apple, sliced thin
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
2 Tbs. olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp dried parsely
1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Cook the ravioli according to the package instructions. Pour oil in a bowl and add the basil, parsley, salt, and pepper. Toss the cooked ravioli in the oil to coat. Add the apple slices, parmesan cheese, and most of the chopped walnuts and toss again. Garnish with a little more cheese and walnuts. Serve and enjoy!

Balboa Park

2010-10-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

While in San Diego, we walked around Balboa Park. I had been there before but could hardly remember what it was like. It is beautiful. What really stands out is the architecture of the buildings. Here is just a couple of photos I took while we were there.

I loved the lanterns

Black & White

Part of the organ pavilion

If you ever go to San Diego, definitely check out Balboa Park!

Halloween Costumes: "Rrr-eady."

2010-10-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

Ever since I started dating my husband, Halloween has been even more fun. We have been dressing up together and it is a blast. Here are some of our costumes.

Devil and Angel

It made for a great silhouette.

The next year I was Angela from The Office dressed up as a cat for Halloween. Landon was Dwight dressed as a sith lord. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures from that one because I had lost my battery charger.

Last year we were Tom and Summer from "500 Days of Summer." We came up with it on Halloween and pulled it together in a couple of hours. We were pretty proud of ourselves.

I have a feeling dressing up with our daughter is going to be even more fun. We are all set and now we just need a party or something to go to so we can show off our costumes. There is a clue in the title of our post as to what we are dressing up as. If you can guess correctly, I will be very impressed.

The Scientist

2010-10-15T14:00:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about music is when I hear a song and I have a memory connected with it. Sometimes these memories are happy and uplifting, while other times I remember a time when I felt pain and sorrow. Regardless, I love these connections. Remembering pain may not seem like a fun thing to do, but it often leaves me feeling appreciative and positive.

I am not a huge Coldplay fan, but I have always really liked the song, The Scientist. The melody is very pretty and it is a very "real" love song to me. When I was preparing for my first childbirth experience, I put together a playlist of songs that were meant to help me relax and remember how to breathe and I included this song. I'm not going to go into my whole labor story at this time, but just share a snippet.

When I was told I could stay at the hospital, my labor was progressing slowly and I felt very calm, not much pain, just trying to stay relaxed and wrap my head around the fact that I was actually in labor. At one point when I was checked I was told I was dilated to a 4. I was feeling good and thinking about how I had several hours before anything exciting would happen. Shortly after, it hit. I was basically having constant contractions and could not breathe and relax the way I was wanting to. I thought to myself, "If this is what a 4 feels like, there is no way I am going to make it."

It hurt.

A lot.

It is hard to remember all the details of what was going on because everything was happening so quickly. But the one thing I distinctly remember was hearing these words from The Scientist playing from my iPod.

Nobody said it was easy
Nobody said it would be this hard

I can't say it gave me the strength I needed, but I felt comforted.

Fast forward to my first day at home with my beautiful baby. I was sitting on the couch with my baby girl laying on my chest. This time, I was again trying to relax, wrap my head around that fact that I was actually a mom, and feeling a bit overwhelmed. The Scientist came on once again. It was the first time I had remembered that I heard the song while in labor and I broke down crying.

I realize that having a song remind you of childbirth is not something you would think you would want. Childbirth was not easy. Being a new mom was not easy (it still isn't). But I have a perfectly sweet little baby girl and I'm glad I have a way to remember these tender moments.

Chicken Cacciatore

2010-10-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

Or as I like to call it, "Kitchen Checkatory." This is a delicious chicken recipe and is fairly easy to make. I used white grape juice instead of wine and it gives it a nice sweet taste. If you don't want as sweet of a taste, dilute the white grape juice or just use chicken broth. Once I accidentally used a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies.... oops! It was actually still tasty, it just had an extra zip! Here's the recipe.

Chicken Cacciatore
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
salt and pepper
½ cup all purpose flour
3 Tbs. olive oil
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
¾ cup white grape juice
1 ( 28-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
¾ cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1½ tsp. dried oregano leaves
¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves

Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Dredge the chicken pieces in the flour to coat lightly.
In a large heavy saute pan, heat the oil on medium-high. Add the chicken pieces to the pan and saute just until brown, about 5 minutes per side. If all the chicken does not fit in the pan, saute it in 2 batches. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
Add the bell pepper, onion and garlic to the same pan and saute over medium heat until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the white grape juice and simmer until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juice, broth, and oregano.
Return the chicken pieces to the pan and coat them in the sauce. Bring the sauce to a simmer. Continue simmering over medium-low heat until the chicken is just cooked through, about 30 minutes.
Serve chicken over pasta. Top chicken with sauce and a sprinkle of fresh basil.

Every Step Counts

2010-10-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

This weekend I attended the Obesity Society's conference in San Diego and displayed a poster with an abstract from my study as a masters student. It was my first time doing anything like this and it was a fun experience. I was also able to attend a few of the lectures that were presented by the big shots. They presented a lot of data on exercise and physical activity and its effects on different things. It was interesting to look at the details of the findings, however, many of the presenters share my simple philosophy.

Doing something is better than doing nothing.

Here is one way you can do this.

Wear a pedometer.

A pedometer is a little device you wear on your hip that tracks the number of steps you take in a day. Most health professionals recommend accumulating at least 10,000 steps throughout the day. Many people like to wear pedometers because it is like a game you can play with yourself. It encourages you to think of ways you can increase your steps to reach 10,000.

Try it out. You can get a decent one for about $20 like this one.

Accent Pillow

2010-10-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

When I made my bed the other day I was thinking, "I ought to find or make an accent pillow for this bed." Maybe someday I will, but for now I think this will do.

Lemon Ginger Hummus with Homemade Pita Chips

2010-10-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

I am a hummus lover. I will try any kind you can throw at my and I generally like all types. This recipe is one of my favorites that I have made. I originally made it for a staff meeting where I used to work and it was a big hit. I paired it with these homemade pita chips that I came up with by simply combining some of my favorite spices. Let me tell you, the marriage of the two is fabulous. The lemon and ginger really mesh well with the spices in the pita chips. Here are the recipes! Enjoy!

Lemon Ginger Hummus

2 (15 oz.) cans garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

2 Tbs. olive oil

2 medium lemons, juiced and zested (or 7 Tbs. lemon juice)

½ tsp salt

1" piece of ginger, peeled and minced finely (I use my zester to grate the ginger)

pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in food processor until desired texture is achieved. Chill in the refrigerator for an hour or so before serving.

Pita Chips

4 Whole-Wheat pitas, cut into triangle pieces

2 Tbs. olive oil

½ tsp. cumin

½ tsp. chili powder

½ tsp. ground coriander

¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

½ tsp. garlic salt

Place pita triangles on a baking sheet. Mix oil and spices together in a bowl. Use a basting brush to coat oil mixture on both sides of the pita triangles. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until golden and slightly crisp.

Changing the table setting

2010-10-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

Eating too large of portion sizes is a common problem for all of us at one time or another. One fun way to try and combat this is to use smaller plates, bowls, and glasses when eating. If you put the same amount of food on a large plate and a small plate, you will likely think the amount on the smaller plates looks more satisfying. Try eating dinner on a salad plate and don't go for seconds. We often do this at our house. I also have special ice cream bowls. They are very cute and small and I really do eat less ice cream because of them.
Try it for yourself to see if it makes a difference!

When Broken Glass Floats by Chanrithy Him

2010-10-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Have you read this book? I have intended on reading it for the past couple of years, and I have finally had the chance to do it. I really did enjoy it.
It is a memoir of a Cambodian girl who grows up under the Khmer Rouge, a communist organization in Cambodia in the 1970s that resulted in genocide. It is of course, a sad book, but very humbling. The whole time I had to remind myself that this was going on only 30ish years ago. The lack of technology made me think it happened so long ago. A common subject in the book is food, or rather, the lack of food. I found myself feeling hungry whenever I read about the poor rice rations they would receive. Yearning for food was a guiding emotion throughout the whole book, however, longing to be with family and loved ones was even stronger.
I would definitely recommend it. I learned a lot and like many books with similar themes, it made me appreciate what I have and where I live.

Corn Chowder

2010-09-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

It is officially Autumn now and the other day it actually felt a little like it here. So to celebrate I made some soup. I love soups. Soup is my favorite comfort food. In the dead of winter, it can warm my soul. Okay, maybe that is a little over the top, but it does hit the spot.
Corn chowder is one of my favorite soups. I used to love love love the corn chowder at Mimi's Cafe until I actually made some myself. Don't get me wrong, I still love theirs, but I like that my version has less of corn-starchy texture. I used a few recipes to come up with my own. I would recommend serving it with the Brown Sugar Muffins I mentioned last week. I hope you enjoy!

Corn Chowder

5 strips of bacon, diced
1/2 a large onion, diced
2 ribs celery, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper (or more or less to taste)
1 large potato, diced
2-1/2 cups corn (fresh or frozen)
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup half-and-half or whole milk

Cook bacon in a soup pot until browned. In the meantime, blend celery with the chicken broth until smooth. (You don't have to do this, I just do to get a less chunky soup. You could also blend the onion, especially if you are serving children). In the same pot you cooked the bacon in, saute the onion and red pepper until soft (and celery if you choose not to blend it). Add the garlic, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper and cook 1 more minute. Add the broth and celery mixture as well as the potatoes and corn. Let simmer until the potatoes and corn are cooked all the way through, about 20-30 minutes. Pour into bowls and top each serving with crumbled bacon. Garnish with chopped cilantro if you have some on hand. Enjoy!

SMART Goals - Part 5

2010-09-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

(This is Part 5 of a 5 part post on setting goals.) Click here for Part 4.

When it comes to health, setting goals is very important. However, it is easy to make goals and then slowly (or even quickly sometimes) watch them fizzle out. Let's talk about how we can make more effective goals!

SMART

S- Specific
M- Measureable
A- Attainable
R- Realistic
T- Time-Oriented

Time-Oriented: Last, but not least, it is important that your goals are time-oriented. This will help you get focused rather than putting things off. Make sure your deadline isn't too far in the future. Or if you do have a big goal that will take a while, make smaller goals along the way to help you reach the big one, as I mentioned before.
With my example, my half marathon race was my deadline. Races are a great way for me to stay committed to my goal. I figure, if I pay for a race, I want to be prepared and do well. Therefore, I have to stay on top of everything. If races aren't your thing try these other ideas.

simply make weekly or monthly goals, that way you have a strict amount of time that you have to accomplish things
pick a special day to work toward; birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, etc. I once had a client who wanted to reach her goal by the time her son came home from serving a mission

Remember, make sure your goals are SMART goals. Seriously, do it. I challenge you. Make 1 SMART goal health related or not. You can do it! Feel free to ask me for any advice or suggestions, or to just share what you want to work on and when you succeed. I would love it. Good luck!

Farmer's Market

2010-09-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

This past week I had the opportunity to go to a new farmer's market. The purpose of it is to give students easy access to organic, locally grown produce. I loved it because I was able to put my baby in the stroller and walk a few minutes to get delicious produce. If you live in Provo, please take advantage of this great event! It will continue the next three Thursdays from 2-7 p.m. in the LaVell Edwards football stadium parking lot. Stock up on tomatoes, pumpkins, peaches, raspberries, honey, and even BYU Creamery ice cream. I think if it is successful there is a better chance of it continuing.

SMART Goals - Part 4

2010-09-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

(This is Part 4 of a 5 part post on setting goals.) Click here for Part 3.

When it comes to health, setting goals is very important. However, it is easy to make goals and then slowly (or even quickly sometimes) watch them fizzle out. Let's talk about how we can make more effective goals!

SMART

S- Specific
M- Measureable
A- Attainable
R- Realistic
T- Time-Oriented

Realistic: You may wonder, "what is the difference between attainable and realistic?" Realistic goals are ones where you are both willing and able to work toward. Let me use an example my husband shared that explains it well. He said, "I could run a marathon if I wanted to, but I don't want to." Therefore, he might be able to do it, but he is not willing to do it.

Again, in order to be realistic, you must be honest with yourself. But be sure not to put yourself down, stretch yourself! You can likely accomplish more than you might think. Remember, make sure your goals are both attainable and realistic!

Brown Sugar Muffins

2010-09-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

These muffins are delicious. I got the original recipe from my sister. They are simple and sweet and everyone who has ever tried them has loved them. They are a great thing to take with a meal to a friend in need. Try them out and I promise you will think they are wonderful. Here is the recipe.

Brown Sugar Muffins

1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup milk
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
2 cups flour (try using 2 cups whole wheat flour, or 1 cup white and 1 cup whole wheat)
1/4 tsp. salt

Cream butter and sugar. Add the rest of the ingredients and beat until smooth. Bake 375 degrees for about 15 minutes. Makes 12 -15 muffins.

SMART Goals - Part 3

2010-09-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

(This is Part 3 of a 5 part post on setting goals.) Click here for part 2

When it comes to health, setting goals is very important. However, it is easy to make goals and then slowly (or even quickly sometimes) watch them fizzle out. Let's talk about how we can make more effective goals!

SMART

S- Specific
M- Measureable
A- Attainable
R- Realistic
T- Time-Oriented

Attainable: If you plan your steps wisely, you can likely achieve any goal you set.

My example: My main goal was to run a half marathon. However, I had to make several goals to meet that big and lofty goal. When I started, I was only running about 3 miles at a time. I had to progress to 4 miles, 5 miles, 6... all the way 14. (13.1 miles is a marathon, but I wanted to make sure I could do it before I actually ran the race.)

Another example might be if someone wanted to lose 30 pounds. Losing that amount of weight is not a simple task. But if you break it down by working on losing 5 pounds at a time, your goal will likely be more attainable.

If your goal is lofty, make sure to break it down into small steps to make it more attainable and SMART!

rock-a-bye baby

2010-09-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

That is my mama's lovely rocking chair you see. She rocked me as a baby and now I rock my baby in it. However, we had to fix it up a bit before I could use it.

This is the back of the chair. It is a weave called "caning." The seat was like this as well, but with all the use this chair got, it wore out. We called around to see if we could have it re-caned, but it was going to be a pretty pricey. Instead, my dad helped me upholster a new seat so I could use it.

Isn't it lovely?

In case you didn't get a good look. My sister made that adorable pillow for me.

Aren't these photos great? My husband took them. The light was glowing perfectly through the window, so I asked him to take some photos while I fed the baby.

I love my chair and all of the warm fuzzy feelings I have already acquired by using it for my sweet girl. I hope to use it as long as I can.

SMART Goals- part 2

2010-09-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

(This is Part 2 of a 5 part post on setting goals.) Click here for Part 1.

When it comes to health, setting goals is very important. However, it is easy to make goals and then slowly (or even quickly sometimes) watch them fizzle out. Let's talk about how we can make more effective goals!

SMART

S- Specific
M- Measureable
A- Attainable
R- Realistic
T- Time-Oriented

Measurable: Establish specific criteria to measure your progress toward your goal.

For my half-marathon example, I kept track of my daily and weekly mileage. Increasing my mileage each week helped me stay motivated to do my workouts throughout the week. I knew if I missed a workout, I would be in trouble when the next week rolled around and the mileage would be more.

Here are some other ways you could measure your health related goals

have your blood pressure measured weekly
have your cholesterol levels measured
weigh yourself (although be careful with this one and don't do it too often)
have your body composition analyzed
keep track of miles, the amount of time exercised, or the amount of resistance used for strength exercises
track calories
keep track of the number of fruits and veggies you eat each day
keep track of fiber grams
keep track of saturated fat

Just make sure what you measure connects to the purpose of your goal. Good luck with making your SMART goals!

just some photos

2010-09-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Our baby girl loves to be outside and go to different places. Therefore, we go on a lot of walks and other adventures. We often use this opportunity to practice with our new camera. Here are some shots I took on our Sunday stroll.

SMART Goals

2010-09-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

(This is Part 1 of a 5 part post on setting goals.)

When it comes to health, setting goals is very important. However, it is easy to make goals and then slowly (or even quickly sometimes) watch them fizzle out. Let's talk about how we can make more effective goals! .

SMART

S- Specific
M- Measureable
A- Attainable
R- Realistic
T- Time-Oriented

I'm sure we have all heard this goal-setting method at one point in our life, but I think it's definitely worth remembering because it really does work. Here is a more in-depth explanation of these components with an example of a goal I have made using this strategy (and it worked!).

Specific: It is easy to say, "I want to be healthier," or "I want to get in shape." Although these may be good aspirations, they are too vague. Try answering the following questions to help you be more specific in your goal setting. This practice will help you identify what you really want to accomplish.

who? Who is involved?
what? What is it that you want to accomplish?
why? Specific purpose, reasons, and benefits of your goal
when? Set a time frame
where? Identify a location
how? Are there any constraints or requirements

My example:

who? me
what? I want to run a half-marathon.
why? I want to run more regularly than I am now so that I can improve my cardiovascular endurance, I just feel out of shape. I feel better when I have a regular exercise program. I love races, signing up for one will help me stay motivated and stick to my plan. I have never run that far before, I would feel very accomplished! It might give me the confidence to run a whole marathon. I wouldn't mind losing 3 or 4 pounds. Training would motivate me to eat healthier. (Really do some soul searching on this one and be honest with yourself).
when? There is a half-marathon in Moab in March- 5 months from now.
how? I need to sign up for the race. Training may be difficult during the winter months.

If there is something you want to work on, try this exercise to help you set a goal. Use it for any aspect in your life, not just health! Stay tuned for the next four parts of this post!

southwest pita pizza

2010-09-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love making pizzas out of pita bread. It makes for a really quick and delicious meal. Of course, you can do the same recipe with real pizza dough, which would be even more amazing. But I'm all for quick meals. I thought this pizza was delicious and more fun than a basic pepperoni. Here is how I did it. Oh, and excuse the lack of measurements, with pizza just throw on as much or as little of each topping that you would like.

Southwest Pita Pizza

1 flat pita
Mexican style tomato sauce
shredded chicken
pepper jack cheese
frozen corn
tomato, diced
red onion, diced
cilantro, chopped

Top pita with Mexican style tomato sauce (not hard to find, Western Family even makes it- just look by the Mexican stuff if it isn't with the regular cans of suace). Then add chicken, cheese, corn, tomato, and red onion. Throw it in the oven at 350 degrees for about 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and golden. Add the chopped cilantro before serving and enjoy!

attempting to quilt

2010-09-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love the idea of quilting. Picking out fabrics and arranging them into a beautiful design is such a satisfying activity to do. Those are generally the parts of quilting I'm best at. I love to look for fabric, cut them up, and arrange them on the floor... and then watch my mom sew it all together.

Yep, that is how I quilt.

Recently, I had the urge to start a quilt. I have my favorite parts done and now it is on to the sewing and my mom is miles and miles away. I am determined that this quilt will be the first that I sew together all by myself. Wish me luck!

wellness

2010-09-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

I've decided to incorporate something new into my blog. The best way I can think to summarize it is with the word, "wellness." For the past six years I have been going to school studying exercise science; including a BS in Fitness and Wellness Management, a minor in Nutritional Science, and masters degree in Health Promotion. I have also spent the last four years working at my university's wellness program. There I counseled faculty members, students, and people from the community to make goals and improve their lifestyle. Now that I am done with school, I miss sharing my knowledge, so I thought utilizing my blog would be a good way to continue.
I have a few words and phrases that best describe my philosophy about health; "prevention," "quality of life," "every bit counts," "do what you enjoy," and "add rather than restrict." Perhaps these phrases are self explanatory, but in these wellness posts I will try to give tips to further explain my philosophy. I'm not about quick fixes. Just like everything worthwhile in life, I feel that acquiring health is a lifelong process. I know not all of my tips will work for you, but hopefully you can benefit from at least one. Look forward for tips on aerobic exercise, strength training, nutrition, stress management, among other things.

McCall, Idaho

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

I have vacationed in McCall, Idaho every summer for as long as I can remember. If you have never even heard of it, it is definitely worth looking into. It is a sportsman's paradise with everything you need to bike, hike, run, water-ski, snow ski, fish, snow mobile, snowshoe, and simply relax. Shore Lodge is a nice hotel that is located right on the beautiful Payette Lake. We don't stay there when we go, but we went there for dinner one night and it was a lovely atmosphere. These are photos I took from that night with my new camera. I'm still learning, so these aren't perfect, but it was hard to make these photos look horrible given the beautiful scenery.

baby things

2010-09-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

Naturally, much of my attention has been on baby things for the past year. One thing I have really enjoyed doing is appliqueing on onsies. It is fun to come up with a new design and pick out the fabrics to accomplish the look. Here is one that I have made.


blue elephant

here is a closer look at the elephant and stitching

I think they turn out pretty cute and they make a great personalized shower gift. I have made several and will continue to share them with you. Have a great weekend!

Penne with basil, tomatoes, and feta

2010-09-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

I love finding new pasta recipes because they are usually quite easy and quick to prepare. This pasta dish is perfect for the end of summer, especially if you have a bounty of fresh tomatoes and basil you need to use up. The combination of tomato and basil is one of my favorite flavor pairings. There is so much you can do with them and it never seems to fail. This holds true for this dish as well. The ingredients are simple, yet flavorful and satisfying. Serve it as a main dish or as a side and enjoy!

Penne with Basil, Tomatoes, and Feta

12 ounces dried penne pasta (don't be afraid, try whole wheat)
1 1/2 pounds ripe tomatoes, diced
1 cup fresh basil, chopped
3/4 cup cumbled feta cheese (about 4 ounces)
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper

Bring 2 quarts of water to boil. Add the penne and cook until al dente. Drain. Meanwhile, go to work on all the chopping. Mix the tomatoes, basil, 1/2 cup feta, garlic, and olive oil in a large bowl. Add the hot cooked pasta and mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle with the the remaining 1/4 cup feta.

I'm back

2010-09-01T13:22:00.000-07:00

Wow, has it really been more than a year since I have posted on this poor blog? Let me share with you what I have been up to the past year. I've been working on my best creation yet (I can't take all the credit, but I did help)!

This is my beautiful baby girl. I found out I was pregnant with her shortly after the last post I did on here. She was born in April and she is an absolute joy and I love being her mother.

The past year I have also proposed, carried out, and defended my thesis project. I am officially done with my master's degree! It wasn't necessarily difficult work, but it took a lot of work. It provided me with great experience where I really learned the importance of persistence.

In addition, I went to school, worked, tried to take care of myself and my husband, etc. I probably could have continued this blog had I really wanted to, but it was at the bottom of my priority list. Actually, it was thrown out the window completely. But now that my schedule is more flexible, this blog has made it back on my priority list. I'm so excited to share the things I've been working on.

4th of July Craft and Dessert

2009-07-13T13:07:00.000-07:00

A while back, I bought a cheap glass vase from Wal-Mart and have been using it for all sorts of things. At Christmastime I put ball ornaments in it. For Easter I put plastic Easter eggs in it. I also used it as a vase for some beautiful tulips on Mother's Day (or in my case, Wife's Day). I wanted to use it for the 4th of July but didn't know what to put in it. Finally, I came up with this idea.

A Picture Frame!

All I did was take some 4th of July themed paper and cut it to fit in the vase. I used a flexible measuring tape to measure the height and circumference of the vase. This works best for vases where the circumference is the same throughout the entire vase. I used a picture of us from 4th of July last year. I was really pleased with how it turned out.

Here is a 4th of July tradition from my family. We always make this flag cake. I didn't make it last year because I knew we would never eat all of it. But this year we had my sister's family staying with us to help finish it off. Here are my cute nieces who helped me make it. We dished it up while waiting for the fireworks to go off.

1 box cake mix, baked according to directions on the box
Strawberries, halved
Blueberries
Raspberries
1 package of whipped topping

1. After cake has cooled off, top it with a layer of the berries so that the cake is completely covered.
2. Top the berries with the whipped topping.
3. Use blueberries and strawberries to make the cake look like a flag.

Enjoy!

Berry Delicious Desserts

2009-06-15T21:53:00.000-07:00

I would never describe myself as a lover of desserts or chocolate. I hardly ever make desserts. I could count the number of times I have made a dessert on both hands in the past year. And most of those times were due to party planning. But that does not mean I don't like desserts. They are especially appealing to me when fruit is somehow incorporated. So here are some beautifully delicious fruit inspired desserts.

Berry Trifle

My client gave me the idea to do a trifle bar for the bridal shower I threw over the weekend. It was fun and I think everyone really enjoyed it... because many of them went back for seconds! It was easy to pull together, which is always a plus when serving food for a party. Here is how you can do it!

Cake

1 box of cake mix of your choice (I used Betty Crocker's Golden Vanilla)
wet ingredients in the amounts the box suggests

Instead of taking the time to make a cake from scratch, I used a cake mix. Several hours before your event, bake cake in a cookie sheet so it isn't as thick as a regular cake. Make sure you reduce the cooking time. Use a toothpick to determine when it is done (when it comes out clean). Mine was done in about 15 minutes. Let the cake sit out uncovered for several hours. This will help keep it from sticking together when you cut it into little pieces. About 20-30 minutes before serving, cut the cake into 1 inch square pieces and serve them on a platter.

Custard

2 small boxes of pudding of your choice (I used White Chocolate)

Once again, I could have made the custard from scratch. But I had cleaning and other things to get done. You can make the pudding ahead of time as well and let it chill in the refrigerator.

Toppings

Fruit- I used strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and bananas.
Sauces- caramel, strawberry, chocolate
Ready whip

My client also let me borrow an assortment of fun glasses. Everyone had fun picking their own cute glass and what ingredients they wanted to include.

Berry Chocolate Panini

Since I had left over berries from the trifles, I made these treats just for fun. I would highly recommend them. Even my husband, who doesn't get excited about dessert, thought they were scrumptious.

8 slices of day-old-bread (or 2 day, in my case)- I used a baguette
A couple of strawberries, sliced thin
8 or so raspberries
chocolate chips or chocolate sauce
strawberry or raspberry jam (optional)
1 Tbs. olive oil

Put olive oil in a small prep bowl. Using a pastry brush, or an unused paint brush, brush a small amount of olive oil on one side of 4 bread slices. Place on heated panini grill, oil side down.
Place a few chocolate chips on top of bread. This allows the heat to start melting the chocolate while you slice the strawberries and prepare the rest.
If using jam, spread a small amount on one side of the other 4 slices.
Place strawberry slices and raspberries on top of the chocolate chips.
Place the remaining slices on top of the berries. Brush olive oil on top. Smash with grill top and heat until chocolate is completely melted. Serve and enjoy!

I would recommend using a baguette for these because of the small size. These are rich, and in my opinion, good things come in small packages. Plus, they look cute when they are small. I made 4 for the two of us, but we thought 1 each was just enough. If you don't have a panini grill, you can heat them in a pan on the stove. They just won't have the attractive grill marks. Once again, these were fabulous.

Bridal Shower Invitations

2009-06-07T19:31:00.000-07:00

One of my oldest and best friends is getting married in a few weeks and I have the privilege of throwing her a bridal shower. It is this week and I've been having a lot of fun planning it. I'm just crossing my fingers the weather will cooperate because I'm planning to do it outside. Hopefully I will have good pictures to post from it in the future. This post is just to show the invitations I made for it. I thought they turned out cute for being so cheap and so easy to throw together. This picture is pretty terrible though, so it doesn't look too exciting. I thought this style would be cute for a baby announcement as well.

Something Healthy: Katherine’s Green Drink

2009-05-09T11:36:00.001-07:00

Because I am pursuing a master’s degree in Health Promotion, I am often asked for advice on how to eat healthy. So I thought I could devote a theme to my blog on ways to do just that. For the most part, I try to ‘healthify’ any meal I make, but some are better than others. In the future, look forward to more “Something Healthy” posts.

My advice to go along with this post is to strive to eat a serving of vegetables for breakfast. I don’t know about you, but I never crave a salad when I first wake up. Most people eat veggies for breakfast by adding them to omelets and frittatas. Not a terrible idea, but I wouldn’t recommend eating eggs every day. Other methods do exist. I’m sure you have all seen those green drinks and smoothies at grocery stores. The most common brands are Odwalla and Naked Juice. These drinks sound and look healthy (the green color), but I have a better alternative for you, I promise.

My parents came to visit me recently for my husband’s graduation. While they were here they bought me one of those huge bags of fresh spinach from Costco. I love spinach, but let’s be honest, those bags are huge. I worried I would not be able to finish it before it went bad and freezing wasn’t really an option because I do not love frozen spinach and my husband especially does not care for it. So I started experimenting with it! And this is what I came up with.

Katherine’s Green Drink

2 cups fresh spinach

8 medium strawberries (fresh or frozen), halved

1 medium banana, sliced

½-1 cup of cold water

1. Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth

2. Enjoy!

This drink/smoothie is surprisingly delicious. The banana contributes most of the calories and sugar, but it does its job well! It adds sweetness without adding extra sugar, and it also adds creaminess you would otherwise get from yogurt, milk, or cream. If you don’t want the sugar, use less of the banana or skip it altogether.

Let me now introduce you to a good friend of mine. Meet Sparkpeople’s Recipe Calculator. This allows you to input ingredients from recipes and spits out the nutritional information.

Let me point out some selling points from the nutritional information from my green drink. If you ate the amount the recipe makes (about 20 oz) you will only consume 151 calories, 6.4 grams of fiber, and 15 grams of sugars (from the banana). Let’s now compare to Naked Juice “Green Machine.” An 8 oz serving gives you 140 calories, 0 grams of fiber, and 28 grams of sugar. However, the typical bottle size is about 16 oz. If you drink the entire bottle you will get 280 calories, 0 grams of fiber, and 56 grams of sugar. In addition, the “Green Machine” only contains 100 mg of spinach whereas my version has 85 grams of spinach. I would definitely recommend my version with a slice of whole wheat toast for a quick and satisfying breakfast.

*Note: Smoothies are often the key component to many silly diets out there. I’m not advertising this smoothie as a weight loss plan. Consuming ample amounts of fruits and veggies (especially leafy greens like spinach) is strongly associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease, cancers, and other chronic diseases. My goal here is to enable you to eat more fruits and veggies and to enjoy doing it!

Cinco de Mayo, it's holiday time!

2009-05-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

I'm back! I know it has been a while. Like always, my excuse is that I was busy with school. But now that it is Spring/Summer term, I am only taking thesis credits and have zero coursework! Yea!

I realized it was Cinco de Mayo while I was at work yesterday. So while I walked home, I came up with this festive meal...

Dora's Mexican rice, Refried Beans, and Chile Lime Quesadillas

I was really happy with the way this meal turned out. And it surprisingly took little time. The rice recipe is from a family friend who comes from family of excellent Mexican cooking. It is authentic, easy, and delicious. The beans and quesadillas are satisfying creations from simple ingredients that were already in my pantry. Here are the recipes.

Dora's Mexican Rice

Ingredients
2 cups rice
1-8 oz. can of Mexican Style tomato sauce
4 cups water
5 tsp chicken flavor bouillon
drizzle of olive oil
Pinch of salt

Drizzle olive oil in a 2 qt pot. Heat oil and add rice. Cover rice in oil and heat until golden. Do not let the rice burn. This gives the rice a nice authentic texture.
Add water, tomato sauce, and bouillon. Stir until well mixed.
Let simmer until rice is done. Stir occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Refried Beans

I would like to make real refried beans one day, but I was short on time last night. So here is what I came up with.

1 can refried beans
1 Tbs lime juice
Sprinkle of goat or feta cheese
cilantro

Mix and heat through.
Garnish with cheese and cilantro

The lime juice definitely spruced up the boring can of beans.

Chile Lime Quesadillas

Ingredients
1-16 oz. can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1-4 oz. can chiles
1 Tbs lime juice
1/4 cup salsa
1/2 cup pepperjack cheese
cilantro
4 tortillas of your choice

Drizzle olive oil in pan and turn heat to medium.
Add beans, chiles, lime juice, and salsa.
Mix and heat through.
Add half of the mixture to one tortilla and the other half to another. Top with cheese and cilantro. Top each quesadilla with a second tortilla.
Bake at 350 for 8 minutes or until cheese is melted.

I would recommend enjoying this meal with horchata, preferably served in a margherita glass. Enjoy!

Gift Idea: Homemade Books

2009-02-08T22:17:00.001-08:00

Allie (my niece) turned 6 years old this past week. It took me a while to come up with an idea of what to get her, but finally came up with these cute homemade books that I learned how to make at a church activity. She is in kindergarten this year and loves to draw and write. It was fun to pick out paper that reflects her girly girl personality. I was a little worried about her reaction, but they were a hit. She really likes them.

These are great for children, but I think if you got the right paper, adults would love them to. You can get creative with these by adding all kinds of embellishments. I would suggest putting their name on it to make it personalized (especially for kids).

Here is how you can do it!

Supplies

decorative paper for the front and back cover
computer paper for the inside of the book (or any kind of paper)
embroidery thread, waxed cotton, or whatever you would like to do the "sewing" with
pieces of cardboard (optional- to make the front and back cover less flimsy)

Instructions

Since I didn't take pictures of myself making the books, I'm going to direct you to this website instead. I figure this is easier than my explanation with only text. The figures definitely help!
Feel free to ask me any questions if the instructions are confusing!

Psst... For all four books, this gift cost less than $2.00!

New Ideas!

2009-02-04T14:48:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking about some ideas on making this blog even more fun for me (and you). With my busy schedule, I tend to put blogging off. I still do craft (although it is not frequent) and make new/old recipes (this is frequent because we have to eat) and I take pictures of them, it is just the posting that gets put off. I have a picture folder with at least ten recipes to blog about just sitting there waiting for their chance in the spotlight.
So I want to come up with ways that will give me somewhat of a deadline, but not a strict deadline. Here are a few ideas I have come up with, but I would love your input on more that would be fun.

Meal of the Month: Where I would post an entire meal (main dish and two side dishes) rather than individual recipes. This way I will for sure post one complete meal once a month.
Challenge!: Where you suggest a cooking/crafting/whatever challenge for me to complete. Here is an example of a challenge: "I want to make something for a bare wall in my house (cheaper is better)." I could then respond to your challenge with a post like "Sprucing up the bathroom."
Gift Idea: Where I would post things I have made and then gave away as gifts.

Please let me know what you think of these ideas and of any other suggestions you have.

Chipotle Cilantro Hummus

2009-01-25T20:28:00.000-08:00

It is about time that I posted about hummus. I am a huge fan of hummus. It is a great dip for chips, pita, or veggies and is also great as a spread for pizzas and sandwiches. Not to mention, it is a healthy snack. Hummus traditionally uses olive oil and/or tahini (made from sesame seeds) which are mostly comprised of healthy monounsaturated fats. Consuming monounsaturated fats is one of the most effective dietary changes a person can make to increase HDL (good) cholesterol. For my Lifestyle and Chronic Disease Prevention class, I have to improve my own cholesterol levels, my HDL in particular. So I may end up making (and eating) a lot of hummus this semester. Increasing duration and intensity of exercise is even more effective, so I am working on that as well.
I found this hummus recipe about a year ago from 28 cooks and decided to try it out. It is Landon's favorite hummus of all time, and I love it as well. Hope you enjoy!

Chipolte Cilantro Hummus
2 (15 oz) cans garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
4 canned chipolte chiles, and
1 tbsp adobo sauce
1 clove garlic
1/2 c olive oil
1/4 tsp cumin
1 tbsp cilantro

Puree chipolte chiles and adobo sauce in a food processor until well minced. Add garbanzo beans (also called chickpeas), garlic, and cumin and process until smooth. Slowly drizzle in olive oil until well mixed. Add cilantro and pulse a few times. Allow to chill in the refrigerator for an hour or so for flavors to make friends.

You can find chipotle chiles canned in abodo sauce in the Mexican section of your local grocery store.

*This hummus has some kick to it, if you do not like much "kick," use fewer chiles.

Ratings (scale of 0-10)
Landon: 9.8
Katherine: 9

Cheap but Cute Christmas Decor

2009-01-11T20:38:00.000-08:00

During the month of December, life was hectic with final papers, projects, and exams. However, I was able to do one fun Christmas decor project in the midst of the craziness. Sorry I didn't blog about it before the holiday season was over. Now you will have to file it away and remember to try it next Christmas. I was very pleased with it and received many compliments from visitors.

All I did was buy some ornaments (balls and snowflakes) at the dollar store. I then hung them with fishing line from the curtain rod of my front room window. Voila! Like I said, very cheap, easy, and it looked very festive. I was really sad to finally take it down. Sorry about the bad picture, it was hard to get a good one without a glare from the window.

Sprucing up the bathroom

2008-11-16T21:19:00.000-08:00

This is a picture from our "guest bathroom." We got this shower curtain (right of photo) for the bathroom but had nothing else in there. So I decided it needed something (preferably something cheap). I got the idea from my sister-in-law, Hayley. She made something like this for her room, only I made my individual squares smaller and did a completely different color scheme/style. All this wall arrangement requires are nine 6X6 inch squares of styrofoam, your choice of scrapbook paper, and ribbon to go around the outside edge. We were stoked when we found the dot paper that practically looks exactly like our shower curtain. This was a very fun project that would be fun to do in a child's room, or even in a living/family room. It definitely made our bathroom a little more friendly.

Spicy BBQ Chicken Pizza

2008-11-11T21:37:00.000-08:00

This was my first time making a pizza with a real crust. I usually use pita bread or ready-made crusts because I don't have the time. Although, I must confess that I used my breadmaker for this dough. So I guess I still haven't made the real thing.
The pizza was a success! When I say it was a success I mean that I really liked it and Landon really liked it. When it comes to pizza, Landon usually sticks to cheese and pepperoni. Not only did this pizza have BBQ sauce, it also had chicken, onion, red onion, yellow bell pepper, and fresh tomatoes. It was a novel experience for him and he really enjoyed it. He suggested it was a great "cold day" meal because it was nice and warm and the BBQ sauce was a little spicy.
Here is the recipe.

Half-Wheat Pizza Crust Dough (in breadmaker)

1 cup water (80 degrees)
2 Tbs. oil
1 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 1/4 c. whole wheat flour
1 1/4 c. bread flour
1 1/2 tsp. Quick-rise yeast (I use saf-instant)

Directions

This recipe makes one thick crust or two thins crusts. Place dough on lightly floured surface and roll out (or toss, if you are brave) into desired shape (circle, rectangle, heart, etc.). Place on baking surface, I recommend a pizza stone. Generously prick dough with a fork.
Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges of crust begin to turn a light golden brown. Remove, add toppings and return to oven to bake an additional 15-20 minutes.

Toppings

your favorite BBQ sauce (I used Sunflower Market's Spicy BBQ Sauce)
chicken- shredded
cheese (I used shredded mozzarella)
any veggie toppings you like! I used yellow and red onions, yellow bell pepper, and tomatoes

Directions

Mix chicken in BBQ sauce and spread over pizza crust, leaving a one inch border. Top with cheese and other toppings of your choice.
ENJOY!

Ratings (scale of 0 to 10)
Landon: 8.0
Katherine: 8.0

I'll sing my praise to Borah High!

2008-11-09T16:04:00.000-08:00

I really enjoyed my high school experience. I participated in cross country, choir, honor society, and was a faithful Borah sports fan (aka: Rowdie). Because of these, I collected quite a few Borah shirts that would have been difficult to part with. Instead of throwing them away, I made a quilt out of them because you can always use more quilts.

Out of all the t-shirt squares, this one wins first prize.

This is the back of my cross country shirt from 2002 (my junior year). It was drawn by Steven Waggoner. It is the classic scene from Lion King, only the lion is wearing running shoes and all of our rival mascots are bowing in submission.
This was a very fun project that allows me to be sentimental without being a pack rat.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

2008-11-08T20:42:00.000-08:00

Butternut squash soup is perfect for a chilly fall day. When I originally served this meal, I did so in my everyday yellow dishes. I did not take a picture that day because it looked terrible (they were the same color). So this picture is from the day I had the leftovers for lunch.
For the finished product, I combined a couple of recipes. The main recipe came from my sister-in-law, Tonja. I did not follow Tonja's recipe exactly because it said to cut the squash into 1 inch pieces and then boil it. I did not have the time or energy to cut the tough hull, so I roasted it. The cumin gives this soup a very nice flavor. Here is the recipe!

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

1 large butternut squash- 2 lbs.
olive oil cooking spray
1 white onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 Tbs. cumin
2 Tbs. olive oil
dash of cayenne pepper
dash of chili powder
1 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. salt
1 can fat free evaporated milk
1 Liter fat-free, reduced sodium chicken broth
Parmesan cheese (just a sprinkle)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cut squash in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds. Spray all sides of squash with cooking spray. Place cut side down on a non-stick baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes.
While squash is roasting, add oil to a large soup pot. Saute onions for 5-6 minutes or until they are clear and golden.
Add cumin, cayenne, chili powder, pepper, salt, and chicken broth. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove squash from oven and scoop out squash meat into soup pot; discard skins.
Add evaporated milk and simmer for 20-30 minutes until thickened. Stir occasionally.
Working in batches, puree soup in a blender until smooth.
Serve in soup bowls (but not yellow soup bowls). Sprinkle with fresh parmesan cheese.

Garden Pesto Pasta

2008-11-04T18:35:00.001-08:00

This pasta dish of my mom's is one of my favorite recipes of all time. For the past eight years or so, this dish has been my request for my birthday meal. I love pasta, and this dish blows traditional spaghetti sauce out of the water. I like meatless spaghetti sauce, but pesto is just spectacular. This particular pesto sauce uses parsley, but I'm sure fresh basil would be great too. I like to serve it with a strawberry and spinach salad, and bread to dip in olive oil. This recipe also works well for a green themed dinner for St. Patrick's Day (especially if you can feel your arteries start to clog while eating corned beef)!
Here is the recipe!

Garden Pesto Pasta

Blenderize:
2 cups fresh parsley
1 tsp. each dried basil, oregano, marjoram, and salt (I never use marjoram because I don't have it)
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 clove garlic, crushed (I usually use more)
1/3 cup olive oil

Cook half a pound of spaghetti or linguine (go for whole wheat, you can do it!), drain. Add pesto sauce and toss. Top with parmesan cheese and pine nuts. You can also serve it with grilled chicken on top.

Tip: I make the pesto sauce with the whole bunch of parsley (about double or so) and then adjust the rest of the ingredients. This way, you can freeze the extra pesto for a quick meal later and you don't have to feel bad about wasting the fresh parsley.

Place Mat Handbags

2008-10-30T11:06:00.000-07:00

My mom introduced me to the idea of making cute and simple handbags/purses/scripture bags out of place mats. Genius! I have made several as gifts and one for myself that I use as my scripture bag. They end up being a perfect size to fit the normal size of scriptures in, plus a little room for your keys, chapstick, and the Relief Society manual. They are super easy to make, essentially 4 seams with a sewing machine and then you attach the handles (can be done in a variety of ways). Some of them turn out to be pretty dang cute, I must say. I like to find cute place mats at Cost Plus, Pier 1, and Target. I usually just buy one at a time, or I will get one of several varieties that do not match at all. I'm sure the store clerks think I am silly.

Here is one I made for my dear friend, Anna. It was one of the first ones I made, and I have learned of better techniques to attach the handles. Sorry, Anna! The handles on this one slide around pretty easily. But I still thought it turned out great. These photos show the front and back of the bag.

You can definitely get creative with these. Like I said before, I have come up with different ways to attach the handles. I also did one where I took a plain red place mat and sewed a black ribbon about 1 inch below the top edge of the purse and then stitched on a black bow. The possibilities are endless, people!

I will post more pictures in the future of other handbags I have made this way.

Baked Berry French Toast

2008-10-17T20:25:00.000-07:00

For our date night meal tonight, I made Baked Berry French Toast served with orange juice in champagne glasses. It was quite the delicious recipe. It is one of those meals that just makes you feel good inside because it is warm and sweet. I loved it, and Landon said we should have it again sometime. The frozen berries thaw into a lovely, sweet sauce (that was Landon's favorite part). I would definitely recommend this recipe to anyone. The only tricky part was making sure the bread baked through enough that it was no longer soggy. When I first took it out I thought it was done, but when I touched one of the pieces it was still pretty gooey. Don't be afraid of overcooking it slightly. I liked the pieces that had a little crunch to them. Here is the recipe.

Baked Berry French Toast

- 1 egg
- 4 egg whites
- 1 cup nonfat milk
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp vanilla
- ½ cup sugar
- 8 slices ½-inch thick whole wheat bread
- 2 ½ cup frzn raspberries
- 2 ½ cup frzn strawberries (I also used blueberries)
- 1 Tb cornstarch

Directions

-preheat the oven to 400 degrees

-whisk the egg and egg whites in a shallow baking dish. Whisk in the milk, powder, vanilla, ¼ cup sugar, and cinnamon. Add the bread, turning to coat. Let the bread stand for 10 minutes, turning occasionally.

-lightly coat a 9-by-13 inch baking dish with cooking spray

-combine the frozen berries, ¼ cup sugar, and cornstarch, and spread evenly on the bottom of the baking dish

-arrange the bread slices in a single layer over the berries.Bake until the bread is golden brown and the berries are bubbly. 20-25 minutes

-place 2 slices of French toast and some of the berry mixture on each of 4 plates. Spoon a bit of the berry sauce over the toast.

Nutritional Information: Calories: 315, Carbohydrates: 66g, Fat 3g, Protein: 9g

ENJOY!

Purple Scarf for Mandy

2008-10-16T19:43:00.000-07:00

I knitted this scarf for Mandy Pratt for Christmas in 2006. At that time she was my friend, and now she is my sister-in-law! Mandy loves purple, so there was no question on what color of yarn to pick for her. I don't wear a whole lot of purple, but I think this yarn is beautiful. I was very pleased with the way it turned out.

Flowers and Trees

2008-10-15T18:21:00.000-07:00

I am not a photographer. But I have taken a few photos that are aesthetically pleasing (at least to me). I especially enjoy taking pictures of flowers and trees. Here are some of my favorites.

Tulips at the Tulip Festival 2007

Pansies - Spring 2007

Single tulip with amazing coloration- Spring 2007

Blossoms- Spring 2007

The little canyon by Landon's grandparent's home in Bountiful- Fall 2007

Rose Garden in Winter Park, Florida- December 2007

New Blog!

2008-10-15T18:01:00.000-07:00

Today I had this random idea of making a blog that focuses on all the things I make with my hands. The possibilities are endless really. I can post pictures of anything I make: knitting, sewing, jewelry, recipes, home decor items, photos, etc. I am not an expert in any of these areas, but I love to do them all. And I love the feeling of finishing a successful project. Because I often give away items I make as gifts, I feel this will be a good way for me to remember the items. I hope anyone who comes across this blog enjoys the things I have done.