Pins I Love

Unless you live under a rock you've heard of Pinterest. Here are some of my

favorite pins I've tried.

Source: theidearoom.net via Sabrina on Pinterest

These cookies were so moist. I love anything peanut butter and chocolate so this was amazing.

Source: smithsfoodanddrug.com via Sabrina on Pinterest

This was a recipe we received from Smith's Marketplace. It's so easy and more fun that traditional meatloaf because it's mini. This was a big hit for dinner.

Source: bloghungry.typepad.com via Sabrina on Pinterest

This pin I almost put as a flop. It definetly takes longer to prepare than regular calzones but the garlic butter glaze makes it taste so good and Tad made it two weeks in a row he liked it so much. Anything Tad will prepare is a winner in my book.

Source: southernliving.com via Sabrina on Pinterest

Love this version of broccoli salad so much more than the traditional version.

Source: chef-n-training.blogspot.com via Sabrina on Pinterest

This was so yummy. Mine looked nothing like this because the recipe says to throw everything and cook but this photo shows uncooked green onions. Yeah it doesn't look this pretty at all but it was yummy.

Source: rufflesandstuff.com via Sabrina on Pinterest

I created one of these prints of my own with dictionary paper I have from a book from the DI.

Source: simplesong.typepad.com via Sabrina on Pinterest

These were listed as free printables but they aren't. There is however a very cute book that the book cover contains all the alphabet that I've cut up to hang up in the boy's room. So cute.

What we've been up to

Enjoying City Creek. It's been a very long time since the project was started and it's nice to have it completed. I see several trips to Chick-fil-a and picnics near the mini fountain this Summer.

Falling in love with Baja Cantina at PCMR. Horrible photo but I totally dream of these flautas. You order 4 flautas and it's $10.85 for two people and that includes chips and salsa. Yum!

Munching on this little guys rolls. This photo doesn't even do his fatness justice. He's a super chunk and still the happiest baby. He's also completely mobile. We were wondering if he'd ever crawl because he's way too busy pulling himself up to walk.

Enjoying all this warm weather and spending as much time outside as we can playing and working in the yard.

Geeking out over Star Wars on boy's day out.

Playing trick or treat.

Visiting Legacy for trip 1 of 23,836 this year. This time it was on roller blades.

Aisha's Chicken Bean Quesadilla Dip

Photo isn't the best but I seriously craved this after I had it. My friend Aisha made this for me when I had Evan. I had to get the recipe because I was craving it. She said she made it a lot on her mission because it was so easy to make.

Rotisserie chicken taken off and shredded or cook chicken in slow cooker with lime, cilantro and chicken broth for the day.

1 can black beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can refried beans
1 can red beans
1 can Mexican style stewed tomatoes
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, diced
1/2-1 Tbsp. cumin
salt and pepper
lime, optional
sour cream, optional

In skillet cook onion and green pepper. Drain and rinse all the beans. Add beans, tomatoes, chicken and chicken broth to skillet. Season to taste with cumin, salt and pepper. Let simmer for 20 minutes.

This is a really hearty chili so I liked it more as a quesadilla dip. Use the uncooked tortillas for your quesadilla, I promise it will taste better. Add lime and sour cream to your chili and then use quesadillas to spoon in the yummy goodness to your mouth.

iPhone Photos

Next month Tad will have had his iPhone for a year. I was downloading his photos for my photo a day album (which I love, you can check out Project Life here). Here are just some of my favorites found on Tad's phone.

Aviator Logan















Love this photo of Logan fighting Darth Vader in the Lego store at Disneyland. He carried around that pornographic balloon gun everywhere. Thank goodness it deflated overnight.














Brothers.























Logan and Nyxon on a double date this summer with Mom and Dad.




















Not sure if I love this photo so much because it has all my little guys in it or the fact that it doesn't have my multiple chins in it. Maybe Tad secretly has a skinny photo app on his phone.

This gorgeous shot in Moab from the Porcupine Rim trail. I'll never go on this trail so I'm glad Tad could share a view from it.

One of several trips to PCMR this summer.

Ward Christmas Party Decorations

Two years ago I did the ward Christmas party decorations. I went a little overboard but was so grateful that Brittany, her husband Jared, my husband Tad and several young women in the neighborhood help to put it all together.

We made Christmas trees from old hymn books. I could have never pulled this off if our ward wasn't getting rid of all the hymn books. I think we made 120 trees. The tutorial for the trees is here.
We used lots of popsicle sticks to make stars and mason jars filled with photos of ward members from past Christmases.

I saved the Christmas songs from the hymn books to make little Christmas songbooks. I think most of them ended up in the trash. Oh well.

We also made lots of lollies. These were so easy to make but when you are making 100s that's where it gets time consuming. We called the day we made the lollies - Lolliepalloza. We also had giant lollies on the wall.

The one thing I didn't take pictures of was the luminaries on the stage. To make it I saved cans. Then you put water in them and freeze them. When the water is frozen draw a design (upside down if you aren't using a candle) and use a hammer and nail to make the little holes. We placed the cans on top of a string of Christmas lights.

I thought it turned out pretty cute and everyone loved the little trees and took those home at the end of the night. In case you need some ideas for your party.

Neighbor Gifts - Canvas Bags

A couple years ago for my neighbors and co-workers I gave canvas bags. I was so excited for these because I'm all about getting rid of plastic bags and who doesn't need another canvas bags. I went to cheaptotes.com and you can get the bags for as low as $.89 right now. Then I just cut out fabric to make a custom bag for each person. Since the whole point of the present was to cut down on waste I just created a gift tag and tied them with some tulle.

Here are some of the designs I did. The yellow and red one says blurg since the Noices are huge 30 Rock fans.

What are some ideas you've done for neighbor/co-worker gifts? I struggle with this every year.

Brek's Sangria Punch

This a super sugary (almost syrupy) drink that I should have shared this Summer but it's coming to you now.

1 tub Crystal Lite Raspberry Ice Flavor Drink Mix
1 qt. (4 cups) cold cranberry juice cocktail
1 cup cold orange juice
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
3 cups cold club soda
2 medium oranges, sliced
2 medium limes, sliced

Empty drink mix into large pitcher. Add cranberry juice cocktail, orange juice, and lime juice and stir until drink mix is dissolved. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Stir in club soda and fruit. Serve over ice in tall glasses.