holiday gift tags

Here are some gift tags (minus the ribbon) that I made yesterday. They were super easy and fun to make. I hope their recipients enjoy them =) I love Christmas + crafts~

Humbug Cookies

Humbug Cookies


I got the book, "Humbug," this year & thought it was a really cute story to share with my students. Then on Friday, I saw this great activity on Good Things Utah to go along with it. We're going to try it out in class--maybe it'll become a tradition =)

Conversations

w/ M. Russell Ballard and his wife. Lately, I've been listening to some of the programs on the mormon channel. I really love the way that President Ballard discusses women's insight, wisdom, and goodness, and men's need to listen more =~) This is a good one. Listen HERE.

it's the most wonderful time of the year...

Yesterday, Tracy and I ventured out into the stores for our first taste of the Christmas season. First on the list was Hobby Lobby (heart you HL!) I'm decorating my tree this year in candy canes and gingerbread and other "sweet" attire; Tracy is doing the white, silver, blue motif. We found many "have-to-have" items, but we're going to need to buy in increments. Next we hit up Tai-Pan Trading and I found EVEN MORE giant pieces of candy and swirled green and red ribbon/garland. Choices! I downloaded a Holiday playlist this weekend as well, so I guess it's officially the beginning of the happ-happ-happiest (Griswold family Christmas) ;)!

aspen grove

Went to a retreat here this weekend. Heard Randy Bott speak (amazing!) & enjoyed the beautiful fall scenery.

Annie's Wedding

Annie's wedding- rooftop terrace at Noah's in South Jordan

peneloopies

in LOVE with these adorable blankets by Peneloopie. Super soft and they come in adult sizes too!!

nightmare on 13th

Disclaimer: My makeup had worn off and I had 2nd day dirty hair. Don't hold it against me.

It wouldn't be Halloween without a haunted house! This was one of the scariest I've been in! So fun.

General Relief Society Meeting

Feeling Very Uplifted By This Meeting

This weekend I listened to two talks on byutv.org that Julie B. Beck gave at Women's Conference. Both were on Nourishing and Protecting the Family and The Family: A Proclamation to the World. I felt inspired to prepare for the sacred role of wife and mother in building the kingdom of God. Sister Beck is a wonderful example of love; I am blessed to have such amazing women to look to in the church to learn how to raise a righteous family.
Then I had the privilege tonight to attend the General Relief Society Broadcast and listen once again to Julie Beck and our prophet, Thomas S. Monson. I was touched by all of the talks and testimonies given, but especially the tender message that was shared by President Monson on Charity and being non-judgmental. "If you judge others, you have no time to love them!" I am going to watch his message over and over again because it holds such important truths. Loved it!

just sayin'...plan to eat

best best best recipe website and meal-planner that I have ever found:

www.plantoeat.com

I have 36 recipes so far, and I'm adding new recipes I found for pumpkin cupcakes and black bottom cupcakes today. I also found a ghoul-ish swamp brew halloween drink. check it out and become a friend, then we can share our recipes :~).

scera theater

HaiRsPrAy

Thanks Tracy and Shawnae for inviting me tonight to hairspray :~) even better that it was free. loads of fun.

goings on...

I went *here* yesterday. Ah, how I love you women's expo. For one full day, i get to shop to my hearts content. I got etsy jewelry from b lovely, diamond earrings from cherry lane, crochet beanie from chic boutique, and freebies from valley clinic, living scriptures, organwic soy candles, and for every home. Found new things to try like Family Tree Maker and PaperKiwi. Got coupons at elase spa and fab-u-lash. So.much.fun.

Started "Catching Fire" - just finished "The 5 Love Languages," which I highly recommend. Excited to start "Lost Childhoods."

Went to Logan and ate at Texas Roadhouse. I got the pulled pork dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy, steamed veggies, and rolls. Soo Good. Saw a dude couple and then a lesbo couple almost back-to-back at Kreg's apt complex. You don't see that everyday in Utah.

So excited that it is fall and my mom is sending me all kinds of autumn decorations to put out! She already sent me kitchen towels and pumpkin candles.

JC cracked me up this week with his tree-hugger story and then spelling "there"- "thur", followed by his "cowboy" rendition. I like Tracy's name for him--Chris Farley Camacho. haha. Perfect.

Continue...In Patience

Traci Garff and Brother and Sister Braithwaite spoke this Sunday on President Uchtdorf's conference talk: continue in patience. It was the best sacrament meeting I have attended in a long time and I felt Heavenly Father's love for ME because it was exactly what I needed to hear. They spoke of enduring well...knowing that God has a higher purpose and really knows you and has your best interest at heart. When you look back from the mountain later, you can see how He guided your life and carried you through. GROWTH and JOY can be more in the waiting than the receiving. I am thankful for a Heavenly Father who knows and loves me.

Watch the conference video HERE

hard week

this past week has been a hard hard WEEK. Yes, week. the entire thing. death-wrenching stomach cramps last wednesday, weird itching, counting every penny i spend, issues with friends, boys. ug. needed to vent. im gonna go put me and my blue funk to bed. i hope i can share happier moments soon ...

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall

Today...

1. Ran a mile in my best time in a long time (9:43) and had an awesome workout with Tracy @ Zumba.

2. Ate 2 yum-yum No-Bake Cookies

3. Helped Chelsea sweep and mop behind the refrigerator, washing machine, and dryer. Washed windows, cleaned the curtains. She swept the nasty spider-web ridden porch and garage (bless you child).

4. Went to work for half a day and got all files audited. Yay~

5. Mom and Dad are making progress in packing and the renovations on the house are moving along--new tile in bathroom, carpets cleaned, new stove and sink. Can't wait for Christmastime!

Brigham City this weekend w/ Him

Click on people's faces in the photo to tag them.

Homemade Egg Rolls

These egg rolls are baked instead of fried, and use ground turkey instead of ground pork (although you can substitute pork if you'd like) Although it takes awhile to prep the veggies, the result is well worth it!

Ingredients:

-1 medium head of cabbage, finely shredded
-1 carrot, grated
-1 zucchini, grated
-1 lb. ground turkey
-1 (16 oz.) pkg. egg roll wraps
-Olive Oil Pam Spray
-2 cloves of minced garlic
-Ginger Root (optional)
-Crushed Red Pepper (optional)
-Soy Sauce

Brown 1 lb. of ground turkey in saucepan and season with minced garlic,
2 Tbsp. Soy Sauce, and Ginger Root. Chop and grate vegetables and combine in a large bowl. Add turkey to vegetable mixture. Put 2 Tbsp. of mixture onto each wrap. Follow package directions for how to fold. Spray each wrap with PAM and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until browned. Dip in soy sauce. Enjoy! **You could also use eggplant in this recipe and you can freeze the wraps before deciding to bake.

my trip to logan

on sunday, kreg and i got some food and drove to newton (a Mulberry-like town west of logan) and went to the park there for a picnic. as you can see, kreg enjoyed the merry-go-round even though it was making him dizzy :~) i got on the swings, and kreg climbed the dome. we proceeded to take an adventure drive through clarkston, and followed a gravel/dirt road up and down and around through farmland, and then entered the caribou national forest, passed deep creek reservoir, and ended up in malad, idaho. at the entrance of the forest, there were the cool rocks featured above. later that night, we went to cutler reservoir under a full moon and clear skies {enchanting} and fished until midnight. an old train went by, coyotes howled, and of course, we saw a muskrat (I seem to attract those little buggers!) i l-o-v-e this wild wild west.

me gusta

aren't they lovely? these are from the Joseph Smith Memorial Building Empire Room and Wasatch Room. I hope i will one day get married in the fall because i love love love shades of brown =)

healthy muffins!

ah yes...good for you and amazingly scrumptious!

Two of my favorite bran muffin recipes:

#1- Molasses Bran Muffins
1 c. wheat bran
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. raisins
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. milk
1/2 c molasses or honey
3/4 c. applesauce
2 Tbsp. oil
2 eggs beaten

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Combine wheat bran, flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
Stir in raisins.
In a separate bowl, blend applesauce, milk, molasses, oil, and egg.
Add to dry ingredients and stir until moistened.
Spoon into greased muffin tin (or paper muffin cups)
and bake for 15-20 minutes.
Makes 12 marvelous muffins!

#2: Walnut Bran Muffins

1 c. regular oats
1 c. milk
1 c. wheat flour
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
2 egg whites
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Combine and bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 mins.

No Bake (Boiled) Cookies

These were my favorite when I was growing up!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder or 1 block of Mexican chocolate
  
• 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 3 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa. Bring to a boil, and boil for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in peanut butter, vanilla, and oats. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper. Let cool until hardened.

bubble wands

k, ignore the dominoes in the picture. i'm just going to give instructions on the bubble wands. these are so fun to make for the kiddos! You take 3" x 6" wooden sticks (dowels) and choose whatever color of acrylic paint you want. Give the dowels a few coats of paint and let them dry completely. Then using black wire (I bought mine at Roberts), wrap the wire around a cookie cutter of the shape of your choosing. I used hearts and stars and circles, but you could use anything from moons to pumpkins. After forming the shape, wrap the wire 3 times around the top of the dowel, then proceed to spiral down the dowel and wrap 3 times around the bottom. Cut off excess wire. Wahla! You have your very own super cute bubble wands.

alton brown's stovetop mac-n-cheese

Lovin' the homemade macaroni and cheese!

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound elbow macaroni *You could also use spirals
  
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 eggs
• 6 ounces evaporated milk
• 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• Fresh black pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
• 10 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded *You could use cheddar or another shredded cheese of your choice
  

Directions

In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente and drain. Return to the pot and melt in the butter. Toss to coat.

Whisk together the eggs, milk, hot sauce, salt, pepper, and mustard. Stir into the pasta and add the cheese. Over low heat continue to stir for 3 minutes or until creamy.

easy key lime pie

in florida, key lime pie is a must in the summer. i haven't had this summer comfort food though since i moved west. i found this simple, delicious recipe the other day and thought I would share. you'll love it too!

Ingredients:

-1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
-1 (6-oz.) can frozen limeade *I used MinuteMaid
-1 cup of heavy cream
-1 (6-oz.) graham cracker pie crust
-Zest of 1 lime (or more if you want to put sliced limes on top)
-2 drops green food coloring if you want to make it green-colored

Place the condensed milk, limeade concentrate, and cream in a large bowl (and the food coloring, if you want). Use an electric mixer to beat until fluffy and soft peaks form. Pour the filling into the piecrust and smooth the top. Refrigerate until chilled and loosely set, at least 4 hours (and up to overnight). Sprinkle the pie with zest (or sliced limes) before serving. Enjoy!

bear lake

i went to bear lake for the first time this summer! the water was beautiful, the condo was really nice, and the raspberry shakes were aMaZinG. I loved it and can't wait to go back!