Monday, January 25, 2010

Family Home Evening


So one thing that my hubby and I are not very good at is doing family home evening once a week. We both feel that it is a great time to sit down and learn about our savior and his plan for us. We have both struggled thinking of things that we could talk about for the lesson and then activities that we could do with just the two of us. My wonderful brother sent me a file that has a list of lessons, activites and a whole outline for an entire year of family home evening fun. It is geared towards families with children but who doesn't like going and sitting in primary and hearing the simple messages that they have? The lessons are still good and they teach the same principals that we should all be learning. If you would like a copy of this guide leave a comment on this post with your email and I would love to forward it on to you! Happy FHE to all of you:)

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Catching Fire


I stayed up until 2 a.m. last night finishing this bad boy. All I have to say is that if you haven't read the Hunger Games series you need to start! I loved this book! I thought it was a lot better than the first book. Usually I am disappointed in the second book because it is not as good but Catching Fire had so many unexpected twists I just couldn't put it down. The last book in the trilogy comes out August 24.
Good Reads Description
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.
61% of all readers gave this book 5 out of 5 stars
The overall rating of the book is 4.53 out of 5
Awards the book has won
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults (2010), Goodreads Choice Award for Favorite Book and Young Adult Series (2009)

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Quick Valentine Decoration

Thanks to Twin Stitchers I created this beauty today!


Best Friends


I must admit these two get on my nerves...but it's moments like these that make it all worth it:)

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Worlds Easiest and Best Lasagna!

So yesterday I made my husband’s favorite...lasagna! I secretly think this is how I got him to marry me;)



1 large can Ragu *the biggest at the store
1 lb. hamburger
1/2 of an onion, chopped
lasagna noodles
cottage cheese
mozzarella cheese
salt
pepper


In a deep skillet brown the hamburger and onion. Add salt and pepper to taste. When the hamburger and onion are cooked add the can of Ragu. Let heat through and add a layer of the sauce to the bottom of a 9x13 pan (1/3 of the mixture). Cover with a layer of lasagna noodles (uncooked! Trust me it's better this way). Cover the noodles with a layer of cottage cheese. My husband likes a lot of cottage cheese so I make sure that I can't see any noodle. Add a layer of mozzarella cheese on top then add another 1/3 of the sauce. Top with another layer of noodle, cottage cheese, and mozzarella. Then before you put the sauce on add another layer of noodle, then the sauce and then some more cheese. Bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours. And ENJOY! If you want the cheese to not be brown and crunchy on top cover you lasagna with alluminum foil before baking either way is equaly delicious!

**The more cottage cheese you add the runnier your lasagna will be.
Thanks to my mom for this great recipe!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

I Heart Headbands!

So I have been obssessed with looking at crafting blogs lately. I guess you can say I have the crafting bug. This is the latest craft that I just finished.


I just got my hair cut so I needed something super cute to add to my list of things to do with my hair. Here is another headband that I made. I figured brown and black can go with just about anything.

If you want to make these super cute headbands there is an online tutorial that is very easy to follow. If you have a hard time following written directions, like me, than there are fabulous pictures to help you along. Thank you UCreate!

My next post will be a Valentines Wreath. If you would like to do this craft along with me you can visit Smashed Peas and Carrots and join in the fun!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

So Much Brighter

Once a month my sister-in-law, my mom, and I clean each others houses. That means that once every three months I get a deep clean in my house. With my two beautiful dogs it needs it a lot more but I never feel like I have the time with teaching and everything. I love getting my house cleaned because afterwards my house seems so much brighter. I know that the lights are brighter maybe it's just the feeling of knowing that your house is clean.
One of my favorites thing about cleaning is getting to chat with the girls. I love it! My mom has two steamers that we use. If you haven't ever used a steamer while cleaning your house you are missing out! My mom has a Sargent which is the BEST, and she has a Shark. The Sargent is more expensive but you will not be disappointed. If you want to find out more about either of these steamers you can do that by looking at their website.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Cheaper Than Fast Food


Yesterday Mike and I participated in The Old Spaghetti Factory's 41st Anniversary 41% off sale. This is what we were able to get for a total of $14 (including tip). Two Manager's Favorites, two salads, two milks, a loaf of hot bread, and two scoops of ice cream. I hope they have this event again next year. It was so delicious! If you haven't ever been to The Old Spaghetti Factory you should go. It is one of our favorite out to eat spots. It is inexpensive (even without the 41% off), you get a lot of food, and it is so nummy! Thanks to favorites and things for the heads up!

Baby Quilt


Yesterday I finished a quilt that I started working on just after Christmas. This is a baby quilt, no I am not pregnant, I saw this pattern at The Fabric Center and fell in love with it. The pattern is by Sweet and Shabby Designs. It was super easy and as you can see very cute. If you would like to see or purchase patterns by Sweet and Shabby Designs you can visit their blog.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Cheap and Cheerful Gifts

Here is a great idea for holiday gifts. Bake a batch of your favorite cookies and print out the recipe. You can get small paper bags at your local craft store along with some festive ribbon. Mount your recipe on scrapbook paper, place the freshly baked cookies inside the bag, and tie together with your ribbon. This year I did two different cookies and gave the recipe for both.



Day Date

If you every have a chance to get down to Provo there are two places that you CAN NOT miss out on. The Sweet Tooth Fairy Bakery and J-Dawgs. Today I had a test down at BYU and since I am never down there anymore my husband and I decided to take advantage of a couple of our favorite spots. Here is that master creator in front of his blessed shop Jason. (it has now been relocated to the shop right next door to accommodate all of the dawg lovers out there.)


Here is the old spot (still standing right next door)


And here is the delicious creation with all the toppings: beef or polish dog that has been cut crisscross and grilled to perfection, 1/4 of a large pickle, banana peppers, onions, sauerkraut, special sauce(this stuff is magic), and jalapeƱos all topped on a soft squishy warm bun. This is the best dog I have ever eaten in my life, and that is no exaggeration.


Next we travel to a little bake shop on the south end of Provo called The Sweet Tooth Fairy. I found this wonderful guiltless gorging spot while watching Rachael Ray. Every day on Rachael Ray's talk show they have a snack of the day and one day they featured The Sweet Tooth Fairy's cake bites (which are chocolate covered pieces of cake). I was so excited that something featured on one of my favorite shows was so close to home and that I could possible try there confections some day. Needless to say the next time I was in Provo I made a stop and met my new best cake friend.


The first time we went right before closing and they were cleaned out of all of there cupcakes. Today when we went it was early afternoon and they still had all of their freshly baked pieces of heaven just waiting for me to buy and devour. You will spend a pretty penny on these masterpieces but you will not be disappointed. Today on the way home my husband and I ate their strawberry shortcake cupcake. The mountain of frosting on top (which I usually scrape most of it off, but at this delectable spot there will be no scrapers because the frosting is not too sweet and so mouthwatering) was flavored from real strawberries. I turned to my husband and said two things "This frosting tastes just like a strawberry milkshake" and "If this is the cost of getting fat sign me up!" The cake is moist and a perfect platform for the variety of frostings and toppings pilled on top. Here are a few pictures from our stop at the STF.

In front is the Strawberry Shortcake Cupcake (yes you have not been decived that is a chocolate covered strawberry on top!)


This is their Chocolate Raspberry Cupcake


 
This is the Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcake



Yes we couldn't decide which to try so we decided to get one of each and share here is our hawl (minus the two strawberry shortcake ones that were devoured on the car ride home).



I hope that you all have the priviledge to visit these two treasures of P Town.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Great Read


So the first book that I have started reading this year is Taking Charge of Your Fertility. One of my best friends suggested that I read it. I can't tell you how much I am enjoying it. It is not a book on how to get pregnant. It is a book about the woman body. I can't tell you how many times something has happened with my body and I either thought I was dieing or I had cancer. This book has, in several ways, put my mind at ease about several issues. It looks like it is a text book and is going to be a teeth puller to get through but it isn't. The author has included various examples that I find myself chuckling at, it is a book that I look forward to reading each day. Read it I know you'll love it.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Here's To a New Decade!

I can't believe another year is gone! This year I have really high hopes for my list of goals. Usually I have about 1,000 things on my list of goals for the year. This year I am making a very short manageable list. One way I have found to not overload yourself with all of the improvements that you want to make in your life is to make one goal for each part of your life. So here is my list.
Spiritual: Read the scriptures and pray every day
Mental: Read 27 books this year (that is one book every 2 weeks)
Physical: Exercise at least 3 times a week. ( I would really like to take a spin class this year as well)
Emotional: Finish a quilt for my bed. (crafting really is like therapy)
Personal: Get out of debt.