Christmas 2008 & One Word + 200th post...

Well the year has come and gone! I'm so excited about 2009! First I'll do a quick re-cap of our Christmas. The kids were SO much fun! By far one of my favorite Christmases! Played games, LOVED having Angie & Neal home from California for two weeks, went shopping, had a marathon of "The Office". Anyone else out there Office fans?!

haha.

What a wonderful time of year it is! I love all the family get-togethers and fun that goes on. I especially love that we take a little more time than usual to remember the importance of Our Savior's birth. What a glorious miracle. What peace & happiness He brings into my life. I am so very thankful for the knowledge that He lives and loves each one of us! I hope each of you had a very Merry Christmas too!

My little sister Angie & I made this scarf

EEEK ! I am in love!! They are so cute! I've only made a beige one but am planning on making a few more. Which brings me to this MANDY won the give-away from below. I love Mandy! She is one of the most genuine, down to earth and sweet people I know! Mandy e-mail me with your address, and tell me if you would like a beige, robin egg blue, red or green scarf! :)

I am preparing for our New Year's Eve bash tonight. We are having a Wii party. I am super excited for this upcoming year. I started a new tradition for myself last year. I picked one word to incorporate into my life for the year. It was so amazing. You can read more about the process HERE. Last year my word was LIVE, the reason being, is sometimes with all my perfectionism and "to do lists" and great goals that I am constantly setting I forget to really stop and enjoy my life. I want to really live this year and not just let another year fly by me. I'm going to take time out for me. I'm going to have more tea parties and dress up time with Brooklyn. I want to be more supportive of Zach and really take advantage of the time we get to spend together. I want to get out of my comfort zone and try new things, for instance I'm going to take a few online classes, one being photography! I'm going to stop being so busy and really focus on what matters most to me.

I feel like I truly accomplished that goal in 2008. I tried many new things. I got out of my comfort zone and I jumped at the opportunity to do more with my little family and anyone else that asked me for that matter. :)

So in honor of 2009 I'm excited to announce my new word! This year I've picked SERENITY. The definition of Serenity is this: the quality or state of being serene; calmness; tranquillity

For me this year it means I'm going to work towards serenity through meditation, keeping the focus on the positive in life, and letting go of what I cannot control. I want to get back to the basics with my family. Eat dinner around the table together, choose healthy foods, and feed myself and family spiritually! Have you ever been to a Spa or better yet the Temple? I want to bring that type of "serenity", peace & calmness into my own home & heart.

This is my 200th post! Can you believe it?? So let's do one more scarf give-away! Leave me a comment telling me what your One Word or new years resolution is going to be for the year! Thank you so much for reading my silly little random ramblings on this blog. I have had so much fun getting to know you all and reconnecting with old friends!

HAPPY 2009!!!!!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas...

I'm sitting here sipping on a cup of Mexican Hot Chocolate. It's really to die for! About a month ago, Zach brought me home a cup of it from Maverick. I thought, I've got to find a recipe for this so I can have it any old time I want to! I would hate to be alone in my sheer bliss, so I thought I'd better share the recipe. Don't let the chili powder in it scare you, it's key and SO SO yummy! Mexican Hot Chocolate

3 T. instant hot chocolate mix 1 T. chocolate syrup 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon pinch of chili powder 1/4 cup milk 2/3 cup boiling water In a large mug mix the hot chocolate mix, chocolate syrup, cinnamon & chili powder. Add the boiling water and stir. Pour in the milk & stir again. Or combine all in hotchocolate maker. Turn on and wait for it to be done (I love technology)! Add marshmallows or whipped cream, sit back & enjoy.

I also thought I'd put a little wish list up just in case (Zach) hadn't finished all his Christmas shopping. :)

I love this coat! (can be found at Target)

I'd also love one of these: possibly in black. (I copied you Christal)I am head over heals for this vintage print, I got my new Ballard Designs catalog yesterday, and I think this would be SO cute in my kitchen!

While we are on the subject of art I also want a bigger one of these: Greg Olsen's Gentle Healer

I can't decide between these couches what do you think?

And this entertainment center

Oh and my dream house to put it in. :) Isn't it beautiful?! And what I'm really getting for Christmas:

a trip to California in January to visit my sister Angie! We are planning on going to see this: Thank You Santa!

What is on your wish list?

Leave me a comment & I will pick a winner for a little prize after the New Year (if I can figure out how to make the cute scarf in the post below it may be one of them). I'm on break until then.... unless something really big happens & I feel the urge to blog about it. haha. :) Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday Mom...

this is gianna jessen. she is adopted. she is an abortion survivor. this is her story. I saw this on the R House blog. Completely inspiring! Worth the few minutes it takes to download and watch. And if you take a peek at Mrs. R's blog send up a prayer for this sweet lady. They are in the middle of a nightmare concerning their adoption. I have a few craft projects I want to do in the next few weeks: I want to make this Sparkly Peppermint Playdough with Brooklyn. You can find the recipe HERE. I think this bracelet & this scarf. are so cute. Love that Martha!

Oh and these cute little Christmas Tree hair clips are SO cute and festive! Find the instructions HERE. Super Easy!

Recipe #4 of the Recipe Extravaganza

I made these Lemon Meringue Cookies Saturday night and they were really good! Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 1 pkg. yellow cake mix 2 eggs 1/3 vegetable oil juice of 1 lemon lemon zest Mix ingredients until well blended. Add 1/2 - 3/4 package white chocolate chips. Drop by the teaspoonful onto cookie sheets.Bake for 6-9 minutes. Bottoms will be lightly browned.

(Never mind my cave woman hair?!) haha.

It's also my mom's birthday today. I love this lady! She is seriously THE BEST! She is the sweetest, most giving, super funny, & spiritual person I know. She's the kind of person that everyone wants to be around, because when you come away you feel better about yourself. I look up to her in so many ways. She is an amazing cook, she always has time for her family no matter what, and her grandkids adore her. Not to mention she is beautiful! We love you mom! Happy Birthday Mem!

The White Elephant Gifts...

We had so much fun at the Christmas Party we went to on Wednesday! Thanks Travis & Sabra!This is where they had the party!

It was so cozy, this place holds 60+ people, if you are interested let me know & I'll e-mail you the website. Would be SO fun for a family Reunion etc.

Okay so on to the White Elephant gifts! We died laughing! The first one was Maxi Pad Slippers. This guy was hilarious, and even tried them on! haha.

The second one was Shaving With Barbie. I love this one too! You just buy a cheap $1 store barbie and cut some of her hair off, use double sided tape or a glue gun to put the hair on her legs. Add a shaver into the package and type up the words Shaving with Barbie and add to the package and you are good to go! You'll have to let me know if you use these ideas and how they went over. haha. There were some other great gifts too, not G rated for the blog though. lol.

A little Christmas tag from my sister! Thought this was fun, Ang... you & I had almost ALL the same answers! Can't wait for you to be home with us!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper--definitely. 2. Real tree or artificial? Call me lame but I'm all for the artificial, it's not so messy and all you need is a nice pine candle! Plus I'm sorta against cutting down trees... (right Hanna) hahaha. 3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving 4. When do you take the tree down? Around New Year’s 5. Do you like eggnog? Yes who doesn't like that extra 10,ooo calories a sip! I love eggnog shakes and I like to put in my hot chocolate! 6. Favorite gift received as a child? Pink beanbag chairs that all 4 of us girls got one year.

7. Hardest person to buy for? All the guys on my list! 8. Easiest person to buy for? My sisters 9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes a few, the one on my wish list though is the Willowtree set 11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Ugly Sweater 12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Santa Clause (only the first one), ELF, and Miracle on 34th Street., Polar Express & Shreck the Halls 13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? All year long! 14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Probably to Goodwill! 15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Candied Almonds, chocolate covered pretzels, Carmel's, real oranges, hot chocolate with candy cane--all those yummy homemade goodies! 16. Lights on the tree? Yes! White for mom's tree & colored for the kids tree. 17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh my gosh, I LOVE them all! Big fan of Christmas music! 18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home 19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yep all I gotta do is sing the famous song! 20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I like stars for the most part 21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? PJ's on Christmas Eve and the rest on Christmas morning 22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? I hate how busy it is in town and how fast this time of the year goes by--I feel like I have no time to just relax and enjoy it. 23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Hmmm... I am really liking the red and lime green right now.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Rolls, ham and funeral potatoes 25. Favorite family Christmas tradition? We always had a small manger and we would go around doing good deeds for each other, every time we did one we would leave a piece of straw by the good deed or put one in the manger and see how soft we could make baby Jesus' manger for him. I want to start that tradition with my kids too.

I tag anyone who wants to play!

Fa-la-la-la-la...

Hello! I have SO much to share! I La-la-LOVE December! So many happy & fun things going on! First off, will you scrap booker's please go right over HERE to help a cute little girl with Cystic Fybrosis. It's so simple, and I'm sure will mean so much to her! I'm getting a package ready for her right now! Second look at this, SO cute! Brooklyn, Krystal & I made these snowflakes on Sunday. They were super easy, made out of q-tips! Brooklyn loved the glitter part of it! You can find the instructions RIGHT HERE.

Oh I need to post my Recipe for Recipe Extravaganza #4

Egg Nog Bundt Cake

1 yellow cake mix (preferably with pudding in the mix)

3 T. flour2 c. eggnog¼ c. butter, softened

2 eggs, slightly beaten

¼ tsp. rum extract

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

Beat until smooth and creamy. Pour into greased bundt pan. Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes. Dust lightly with powdered sugar for presentation.

Caramel sauce:

½ lb brown sugar (~1 1/8 c.)

½ lb butter½ lb powdered sugar (~2 cups)

½ T. cinnamon

½ qt. rich vanilla ice cream

Melt together over medium heat. Pour warm over individual servings immediately before serving.

And a few more reasons why I LOVE blogging: Look what I won over atBecky's Craft Closet

These CUTE earrings! Becky is one of the sweetest most crafty and talened girls I know!

Also, I was checking my bloglines the other day and saw my friend Ann-Michelle had posted some of her Christmas decorations. I had to leave her a little comment, because she has the Pottery Barn Christmas stockings that I think are SO cute. (I have been eyeing, since Brooklyn's first Christmas! ) Well a while later I was checking my e-mail and I get a little note back from Ann-Michelle saying she has two extra stockings, I guess there was a mix up with her order and she wanted to know if I wanted them!

I was SO excited. I mean REALLY excited! When I went to get them, I couldn't believe how sweet she was. I even offered to pay her for them, and she wouldn't let me!

I won another give-away on Shaela's Blog, you've got to check out her scrapbooking, she is SO creative! She sent me these darling cards & CUTE stamps! (By the way, she has an Etsy Shop,where you can find all of her handmade gifts!) We need more people in the world like Ann-Michelle & Becky & Shaela! Thank you SO much girls!! I feel like I've already had Christmas at my house! :)

We have a Christmas Party to go to tonight.

I'm excited. I like white-elephant gifts I know, I'm silly but I think the more crazy and out there the better! I can't post the two I'm doing just yet... but they crack me up!

So stay tuned...

I need to make a goal to blog once a day, then I could get caught up!

Just wondering...

Wow, this week has just gotten away from me. First off I have a request, I'm thinking about changing over from bloglines to google reader... any suggestions of why or why not you love either one? Also if you have a "follower" button on your side bar will you let me know so I can add you to google reader that way, it will be easier if I do decide to go that route. The main reason I am thinking about it is my friend Marci (she has a private blog) told me that google reader will even update you on private blog (which I desperately need, I am very behind on reading all my cute private blogger's blogs...)

vs. Okay so now I wanted to make sure I got my recipe posted for the Holiday Recipe Extravaganza (you can read more about that HERE) Recipe #3 Candied Almonds

1 C water 2 C sugar 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 4 C whole almonds 1 tsp. vanilla Combine water, sugar & Cinnamon. Stir until dissolved over medium heat in a non stick frying pan. When boiling add almonds. Stir continually for 4-5 minutes. When the mixture starts to change and becomes thick and almonds are well coated, dump on an ungreased cookie sheet and stir occasionally as it cools to keep almonds from sticking together.

PS If you are wanting to copy this recipe head over to my recipe blog @ http://www.life-should-be-delicious.blogspot.com/ (I added an html code to protect some of the pictures on my blog from being stolen which also makes it hard to copy the recipes I post on this blog sorry, but if you head over to the other blog, you won't have a problem.)

I also made these Candied Almonds and some yummy truffles for our Recipe exchange group on Wednesday. If you want to see more of our recipes (which were all SO amazing! Thanks girls!) go to http://www.thecookinmamas.blogspot.com/

We also did a gift exchange of our "favorite things" it was SO fun. We had a limit of $20 for all 12 gifts. Seriously SO fun. I wanted to take a picture of all the CUTE gifts I got, but wouldn't you know it my camera is broken again! (no more Kodak Easy Share's for me!) Hopefully I can find a good one when I am in town today. So the only gift I have a picture of is my own. My first favorite thing was hand written letters. Call me old fashioned but I LOVE finding a handwritten note from Zach or recieving one in the mail! So I wrote one to all my fun new friends.

Second favorite thing: Sugar Cookies this Betty Crocker mix is just as good as homemade cookies and takes less than half the time! Only catch is you have to use homemade frosting. :)

Third Favorite thing: My house smelling yummy! I think I did a post about them last year too, it's seriously my favorite thing to give out during the holidays.

Place a few slices of fresh oranges, lemons & limes, and fresh cranberries in pot then sprinkle whole cloves and 4 or 5 cinnamon sticks into the mix. Fill the pot with water, covering the potpourri mixture. Bring to a boil and turn down to low. Let simmer, adding water as needed. The potpourri mixture will last approx. one week. And will fill your home with a delicious aroma.

My Mr. B also turned 10 months old.

Oh, I have so much I want to blog about, so hopefully next week I get a few spare minutes!

7 years...

Today Zach & I are celebrating 7 years being married! We've done alot in these short 7 years! We have moved 11 times and lived in 3 different states! We have two kids. Zach graduated from school! We bought our first home. I can't wait to see what the future holds for us!!

*Mandy tagged me a while ago, but I thought I'd wait until today so I could brag about my honey! :) Thanks girl!

1. What is his name? Zach

2. Who eats more? Zach does for the most part. Although I have been known to eat a whole big judd hamburger 2x :)

3. Who said I love you first? I'm sure he did, but is this bad... I don't remember the first time! teehee.

4. Who is taller? Zach is but that's easy because I'm only 5'3"!

5. Who is smarter? Zach is he can tell you just about anything and he learns really quickly.

6. Who is more sensitive? Me for sure. Zach sees things a little more black and white then I do.

7.Who does the laundry? I do, and when Zach does we end up with pens and gum etc. in the laundry. We've ruined a few batches of laundry this way! haha.

8. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? He does. Don't most guys? It's usually closer to the door, so I feel safe.

9. Who pays the bills? I get them in the mail but Zach tells me how much to pay he's better at finances than me. I mostly just like to spend. :)

10. Who cooks more? I do, but he helps when I make certain dishes. He's a great cook.

11. What meals do you cook together? Dutch oven chicken, steak, Taco's and Fajittas are the main ones.

12. Who is more stubborn? Hmmm... it's a toss up!

13. Who is the first to admit they're wrong? Me, but after 7 years, he's getting better about that.

14. Who has more siblings? Zach does by 2

15. Who wears the pants in the relationship? I don't know we make a pretty great team. But I am more of a pushover with most things.

16. What do you like to do together? Go out to eat, vacation & travel, talk, okay almost Everything!

17. Who eats more sweets? Zach does, he's got a sweet tooth for sure! He bought $20 worth of tootie fruites a month ago! haha.

18. Guilty pleasures? Video games, hunting, fishing, anything outdoors really.

19. How did you meet? I went to Lake Powell with his family the summer after I graduated.

20. Who asked who out first? Hmmm... I'm going to say our real first date he asked me, but I invited him to a fireside the day after we got back from Lake Powell.

21. Who kissed who first? Zach, but if we are going to get technical I kissed him on the cheek.

22. Who proposed? Zach did!! He has a pretty good made up story about me proposing to him though, {that he loves to tell everyone! }

23. His best features? eyes and smile, and his arms. I love those big strong arms. Something that is hilarious though is the first time my sister met him, she said wow, he has the cleanest ears I've ever seen and he smells good, like cinnamon! I like that about him too! :) haha.

24. What is his greatest quality? I can't name just one.. Sense of humor, great daddy really he is awesome!, positive attitude, willingness to help, He's a keeper for sure!

25. Tagged? Anyone who wants to do a little man tag!