Tuesday, January 31, 2012

I'm thankful ...

... For the Bachelor! Those girls make me feel so emotionally stable and normal! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Congratulations...

...to me! So apparently blogging about wanting an answer works! I got my long awaited letter in the mail that day. My heart leaped when I saw that BYU envelope in my mailbox. It's official! I have been accepted into to LPP (leadership preparation program) at Brigham Young University. It is a masters in education. I am excited ... and kinda terrified all at once. A lot of changes are coming my way! More on that later.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Patience

They (not really sure who "they" is) say PATIENCE is a virtue.  It is not really my best virtue.  This waiting game is kinda killing me right now.  I am such a planner and trying to plan based on two very different scenarios is not my cup of tea.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Friday Photo




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Monday, January 23, 2012

Pumpkin Soup

I know it is not exactly pumpkin season but this is the BEST pumpkin soup! I am not normally a huge fan of pumpkin soups because of how sweet they can be. This one has a nice kick to it. I got the recipe from Kim who got it from pinterest who got it from http://simplysogood.blogspot.com/2010/10/pumpkin-coconut-bisque-with-sage-and.html. Here is my adaptation of the recipe to make is a little healthier and vegetarian.
Pumpkin Coconut Bisque

2 tablespoons butter
1 cup chopped onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups canned cooked pumpkin
2 1/2 cups canned vegetable broth
1/2 tablespoons agave
½ teaspoon ground allspice
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon fresh ginger
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups Silk coconut milk
Ground nutmeg

Melt butter in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until golden. Add fresh ginger and garlic. Saute an additional 3-4 minutes. Add pumpkin, broth, sugar, allspice, crushed red pepper and ginger. Bring to a boil then reduce heat. Cover and simmer until flavors blend, about 30 minutes.Ladle the soup into a blender and puree until a smooth consistency. Return the soup back to the pot and add coconut milk. Bring back to a simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with nutmeg and serve. Makes 4-6 servings.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Smoke Detector

4 AM the dreaded CHIRP!  
No worries I am prepared.  I actually have a stock of 9 volt batteries.  I get up, I get the step latter out, I figure out how get the battery out, I replace the battery and I am good to go.  The test chirps go off.  I climb back into bed.  Dozing off with not too much harm done to my nights sleep. 
CHIRP! 
WHAT? WHY? NO!
I replaced the battery.  I don't know what else to do.  I learned last time that you can't just take the old battery out.  (They are all hard wired now days and if you take the battery out of one the others panic that they have a man down).  I climb back up there, fiddle around, make sure I put the battery in right. 
CHIRP!
I am an independent, resourceful, smart girl.  If I weren't I might have sat down in the hallway and cried for a minute (ok I might have done that anyway).  I don't know what else to do! 
WHY does this always happen in the middle of the night? 
Thank goodness for the World Wide Web! 
Tip of the day! (I don't want this to ever happen to you).  Did you know that batteries go bad (and I am not talking 10 year old batteries) and that they go bad faster if stored in their package (according to the internet anyway).  Second, before you put in the new battery push the test button a few times to reset your detector.  If none of these things work you need a new smoke detector (Not helpful at 4 AM on a Sunday).  Three batteries later I wasn't hearing any chirps.  I tentatively got back into bed (It was now about 5:30 AM) with my detector dangling from the ceiling. To avoid this all together one could change the batteries on a regular schedule.  I am pretty sure part of hell will be smoke detectors chirping!

Friday, January 20, 2012

Friday Photo

No he isn't mine .... but I kinda want to pretend he is.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

BF+MJ= Eeeek!

A week before Christmas my BFH (Best Friend's Husband) called. He was giving her (Beck) tickets to MJ's Immortal Tour and wanted me to go with her as part of her Christmas present. OK!
I had hardly settled back into real life when it was time to fly off to snowy Denver. I could hardly contain my double excitement.
1. Seeing my BF twice within just two months!
2. Getting to go to see MJ with her!
(I was suppose to be going to see it with KimiD. in SLC. The day I was leaving for Denver we found out it had been canceled. Heartbreaking!)
Beck is prego with #5! Her life is anything but calm.
Coach Beckie! She coaches the YW basketball team! hehe
The weekend flew by as we crammed in a movie, shopping, eating out, talking and talking and talking! No time for sleep!
We had a little downtown adventure too.
just a random picture from downtown.
Of course the highlight was the show! It was
A.MAZ.ING!I loved every second of it and at points might have even cried a little.
MJ does live! If only in our hearts.
Thanks Greg!
I have the best BFH!

Friday, January 13, 2012

Friday Photo

MJ Lives!!!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Friday, January 6, 2012

Friday Photo

Denver bound!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Twas The Night Before Christmas

Christmas Eve
All the words that describe our traditions.
(design by Kat)
Christmas pajamas!
A favorite tradition.
Santa drops them off on the porch sometime during the evening. We excitedly open them and then try them on. This year we all had matching shirts! All this excitement burst into merriment and dancing! It would not be Christmas Eve without the Nativity.
A few weeks ago we found out that our dear friend and neighbor Lynette Loveland is battling cancer. Christmas Eve our neighborhood gathered to light lanterns (like in Tangled) to send her prayers and wishes! It was a beautiful, touching event. The Lovelands have been our next door neighbors since I was 3 years old. They are good, kind, wonderful people. We have such a great neighborhood. There was so much love in the air on this special night.