Friday Faves…

I had a few minutes to sit down today and type-I miss it! I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorites with you.

1.Vanilla and Cinnamon Chex. Seriously. YUM!

2. Peppermint Body Scrub. Heavenly.

 

 

3.  This quote- I need to remember this, I am trying slowly to change our eating habits around here and sometimes it can be overwhelming to think about all the JUNK we eat- it’s in EVERYTHING! This is helping me remember that even small changes can make a big difference! :)

And this book is darling. I think I might need it! Braxton LOVED it, we read it twice within an hour and now he talks about Junk Food Dude and Green Smoothie Guy when making any food choices! Love it!

 

4. Life changing! Seriously. I have a glass cook top on my stove and this is hands down the best cleaner for it. It makes my stove look brand new! I get it at Don Asletts Cleaning Center.

5. I’m a documentary freak. It’s the only TV I’ve watched in about 6 months but I loved both of these. Both are on Netflix.

STUCK.   Death By China.

6. Kind of loving this too. Humans of NY. People are fascinating don’t you think?

7. Oh and this Pumpkin Steamer?! You have got to try it! It’s pretty great! Tastes just like pumpkin pie. MMM!

Milk, Creamer to taste, top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. I’m thinking Santa might like this for a treat instead of his regular old cup of milk this year! ;)

Summer Lovin’…

I got the sweetest email from a blogger, wondering where on earth I had gone. Thanks Jill- SO sweet of you. Honestly, I’ve just been BUSY. I keep up a lot better on my kids blogs. They are private, and if you’d like an invite I’d be happy to share one. Just email me. :)

Let’s start off with some Summer Lovin’-

#1 This Camping Cobbler. The recipe is my Father in laws. It’s GOOD. Go HERE for the recipe.

#2 This for a quick and fun visiting teaching idea- it’s the summer mix 20130 You can pick it up at Deseret Book for $1.99- and don’t you LOVE washi tape?! I could use it on everything!!

click on the picture, download and print. 

#3 These two apps for instagram are SO much fun!!!! – Follow me on Instagram my user name is sunshineinmysoul_33

A Beautiful Mess and Rhonna Designs- download them in the app store.

I’ve downloaded the Rhonna Designs app but haven’t used it yet. This week I’m going to figure it out! It has a lot more options! :) YAY!

#4 This song is SO fun- I’m totally loving it right now!

#5 I’m picking up this kitten tomorrow at our local animal shelter. We are adopting her. She’s SO sweet and I can not wait to cuddle her! Isn’t she SWEET?!

#6 We watched this movie over the weekend, and laughed till we hurt! It is SO cute, clean too- we watched it with our kids!

 

I’ll be back SOON Jill I promise! ;) Going to be better about blogging. I AM! Thanks for the sweet email to get me motivated again.

♥ list…

Absolutely LOVING the TV Show “Lie to Me” right now! It is so intriguing! We had a little Netflix marathon yesterday. ♥

 

loving my Christmas music station on Pandora.

Two crafts on the list to make this month:

THIS headband

and THIS scarf.

ooh, and while you are checking out her blog, be sure to watch this video by Amanda…

Now you can sport those cute scarves that are SO in lately. :)

Also wanting to try THESE apple nachos, recipe from my cute friend Heather.

Happy Monday Friends!

Super cute downloads…

Just thought I’d share a few free digi downloads that I am SO loving right now!

Just click on any one of the pictures to take you to Kristina’s downloads!!

Also a movie recommendation. Awesome movie!

Also wanted to share these fun cupcakes my sister made for my nephew Kolbin's 1st birthday...

cute huh!

Hope you are having a great weekend!



Eat, Pray, Love…

So excited to see

 

LOVED the book!

Looking forward to getting caught up on my scrapbooks this weekend, and hopefully organizing the kids clothes for fall & winter.

Can you believe that summer is so close to being over?!

Pros & cons to all of it I guess!

I ran across this article:

Click on the picture to check it out.

What do you think? I wish I only had to wash my hair every 2 weeks?! What the!?

I seriously gave it a try, I lasted 3 days, actually more like 2.5

Really, I’d love to know what you think. Maybe I did it wrong?

Ordering one of these cute petti skirts for Miss Brooklyn! EeeK! ♥ them!!!

You can find awesome deals on the petti skirts & MORE HERE.  {thanks Julianna}

My sister in law brought these over last week, and I am gaining a few extra pounds because of them! You will probably want to go grab the recipe and make them for yourself.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheese Cake Bars

GO HERE.

Enjoy your weekend & do something nice!

It’s a perfect day…

to RAKE these:

 

We are SO close to being ready to plant the rest of our yard for grass! Hip hip HOORAY!

I am thanking the heavens it’s an overcast day with a slight breeze, giving me much motivation to get it done!

It’s already been a great day, I got to visit with my sister who lives in California. Did I mention she & her hubs are HILARIOUS?! Well they are. Check out their VLOG!

Also thought I’d share our Relief Society Workshop with you, it was super fun thanks to all the girls who attended!

It was a “Back 2 School” Workshop.

{Banner Tutorial found HERE.}

I cheated & just used cardstock, chalk & my glue gun.

We shared After School Snack Ideas.

 

Here are two that I found-

 

{Apples cored out with Peanut Butter & a gummy worm sticking out}

 

{Cute little apple cupcakes} ♥ them!

I used a pretzel for the stem and “Rips” for the leaf, I found the Rips @ Walmart.

Also found some awesome organizational tips:

Keep a Homework kit in your car, include anything your kids need to do homework that way on your way to dance, soccer, or just running around in town your kids can get their homework done while waiting.

I have a cute blogging friend named Christina, who shared this idea with me {sorry her blog is private}

{This picture is also Christina’s}

This is what she shared on her blog:

“I battle clutter every day. It bothers me, but I can't ever get entirely on top of it.  I didn't know what to do with them...until I came across this idea at Somewhat Simple. Each box will hold all that school work clear through their senior year in high school. Then I can simply hand the kids their crate when the leave home (instead of sacks and bent up cardboard boxes like I have).”

• You can buy these crates in various colors at Wal-Mart for 5 bucks.
• I used 1 1/2 inch ribbon and it fit the holes perfectly.
• I bought these nicer color files at OfficeMax (aren't they much prettier than the dull green ones?) sidenote: they were the store brand

And besides being super cute, they stack well. I will finish them off with their names in vinyl above the bow.

Isn’t that darling & a great idea?!!!

We also had some awesome gals in our ward come & teach basic haircutting tips & tricks, & I did a demo on how to make a few of the new botique style flowers & bows.

Now on to planning September’s workshop!

Ideas WELCOME!!! :)

We finished the movie Gandhi yesterday. WOW. I really didn’t know the whole history and story behind his life. Pretty incredible man. In honor of him- one of my favorite quotes:

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” -Gandhi

Remember if you are looking for ways to serve check out the new ideas on

HAVE A REAALLLLY GREAT WEEK!

Just poppin’ in…

Hello out there! Want to see what I’ve been up to? Probably not, but it’s all I have to blog about at the moment. Life has been a little hectic, but that’s nothing new to any of us right?!

Last night we rented

  and  

Great combo right? Well we loved both of them. I wasn’t a huge MJ fan, but I was sincerely impressed with his kindness and talent throughout the show.

Brooklyn had a Valentine part for her dance class today, and so last night we made these to put in her little gift bags:

{You can click on the picture and it will take you to the tutorial.}

We loved watching the Super Bowl, yes I was cheering for the Saints! I generally pick the team that has the cutest coach. I sure nailed it this year! ;)

vs.

{Just for the hubs sake, neither really tripped my trigger like he does. ;)} Okay okay, back to being a G-rated blog!

Loved the game though, what a tender moment at the end!

Also wanted to share a very FAB blog with you all! My friend Hanna and her sisters are so super talented. Everything they do turns to gold. Seriously some of the most hilarious, and darling girls I know! I know you will want to check out their blog and  their give away!!

Doing anything fun for Valentines Day?

Hope you all enjoy your day!!

Perfection…

For some reason I had a hard time getting going today. Brooklyn came in half way through the night and of course her dad let her snuggle in. So this morning, I was hesitant to get up with such a sweet little thing still by my side. This week I’ve had an overwhelming sense of love and well being. Sometimes in life that seems rare. Especially when all around us we see despair and lost hope. I think about the many, many people all over the world, who need hope. Right now of course I am thinking about those beautiful people in Haiti. I wish there was more I could do.

I have much to be grateful for.

Want to see one of the things I am looking forward to?

I think this looks like SUCH a fun documentary, I can’t wait to see it!

Speaking of movies…

I’m not a huge fan of suspense movies, but I thought I’d give Zach a break from Chick Flicks

and I rented State of Play out of the Red Box, last week, it was good. It’s an older movie, but a goodie!

Tuesday, Brooklyn’s grandma called and invited her to come decorate Valentine cookies, she was in heaven. She told everyone that came to the door that day ALL about it.

{image courtesy Google}

Well me and Braxton decided we should make some cookies too. We tried out a new recipe,

while they don’t look very appetizing, don’t let the pictures fool you. They have this delightful, and energizing hint of lemon in them, perfect for a refreshing treat in the middle of your dreary winter day.

I posted the recipe HERE.

While Braxton napped and Brooklyn was at Grandma’s I sat down to listen to a CD that my mom had given me. It was called “The Myth of Perfection” by Gerald N. Lund

It was yet another breath of fresh air. If any of you get the chance to listen to it, DO! It was just what I needed to hear. I fear that I am not the only one on a mission of perfection though. When will we be good enough? When will we be able to do enough for those around us? When will we stop trying to be Perfect? When will my home be clean enough? When will I be the perfect weight? When will I master the art of cooking, decorating, being a good mom, etc, etc. Never. I can love much and try my best though. And really, that is ENOUGH.

As I listened to this amazing talk, I felt the spirit. I felt my Heavenly Father’s love for me, and for those around me too. I felt a deep sense of satisfaction with my life, and where I am at personally. It was one of those tender mercies from above.

Then to remind me once more I came across this:

If I were Satan and wanted to destroy a society, I think I would stage a full-blown blitz on women. I would keep them so distraught and distracted that they would never find the calming strength and serenity for which their [gender] has always been known.

Satan has effectively done that, catching us in the crunch of trying to be superhuman instead of striving to reach our unique, God-given potential within such diversity. He tauntingly teases us that if we don’t have it all—fame, fortune, families, and fun, and have it all the time—we have been short-changed and are second-class citizens in the race of life. As [women] we are struggling, our families are struggling, and our society is struggling. Drugs, teenage pregnancies, divorce, family violence, and suicide are some of the ever-increasing side effects of our collective life in the express lane.

Too many of us are struggling and suffering, too many are running faster than they have strength, expecting too much of themselves.
AND MY FAVORITE LINE--
...We must have the courage to be imperfect while striving for perfection.

To read more go HERE.

Funny that the word I picked for the year was Abundance. Abundance in all things good. You know what I’m already finding out? Abundance does not necessarily mean MORE, for me it means doing less of the unimportant things, so I can ENJOY more of the important ones.

To top off my week, I got to spend the afternoon in the temple. {thanks to my sister-in-law Linda for watching my kids!!}

Tomorrow, I get to spend the day with my favorite guy. I get to listen to him speak for a Success Symposium. He’s pretty much the best, and stinkin’ cute too boot! ;)

I hope that you each have an abundant weekend, full of everything, you love!