Things I Love - January Edition

I absolutely love Flickr. Where I've been dying to just take pictures or scrapbook or just do anything creative I love flickr. It seriously is the most inspirational place on the web for me. To the left is just a screenshot of one page of my favorites at Flickr. You should check it out and maybe you'll find something that inspires you or leads you to something else that inspires you.

I spent the weekend finishing another sappy novel. I'm seriously so embarrassed they totally suck me in but I love them. So I'll tell you the author - it's Marcia Lynn McClure. Uggh, I'm so embarrassed. Brittany and I have been calling them the velveeta because the titles, pictures on the front and characters names are so so so cheesy but with all that being said I can't put the two that I've read down.

Then also while on Flickr I found this photo of the SL Temple. So I totally hate church art and think it's totally cheesy. If I'm going to go to hell for hating church art I'm fine with that because I just don't like it. But I love this photo he took of the SL Temple and plan on ordering one. He also has photos of the Manti Temple in case you are interested.

Okay this one is huge. So lately I've been loving everything on PBS. Well I missed the showing of Wuthering Heights but I saw that you can watch it online here. You have to be quick though because it's only available till February 1st. I all ready watched the first 9 chapters and Heathcliff is hot. So check that out.

I've been wanting to tell people about Brittany and how awesome she is with makeup. So she posted about doing makeup on her blog. Seriously the pictures don't do her justice at all, she is amazing. So if you need your makeup done for any occasion give her a call.

So what things do you love right now?

Resolutions - finally

Okay so I didn't start most of these till last Monday. So they are broken up by areas of my life. None of them are real great ones and most are just weird.

Work

• Enter time weekly - failing miserably
• Pack more lunches
• Decorate my office - I finally know what I want to do now I just need to do it. You really should see how pathetic and bare my office is.

Church

• Read Doctrine & Covenants
• Learn 4 new hymns on the piano - stole this one from Brittany

Home

• Finish side of driveway - Remember August POTM, uggh!
• Cook more often
• More parties
• Grow a plant from seed and plant it in the yard - I'll be starting this in February
• Cook two meals by dutch oven

Family

• Continue hikes as a family
• 2 camping trips as a family (can't include Ward Campout or Family Reunion)
• Finish our Utah 16

Self

• Lose 30 lbs. - started P90, now just waiting for my dang P90X DVDs to get here from China
• Handmade cards for each family member's birthday - All ready failed on this one because I missed Debbie's birthday but hopefully the dinner I had for her will make up for that.
• Make the Weekender Bag
• Go to the library - haven't been there since high school, well for books - I went last fall to vote.
• 1 craft/project per month - this month I'm working on a punch needle pattern
• Keep scraproom clean - I've found keeping it clean actually gets me scrapping more
• Project 365 -I have the kit, thanks to Brek. Now I just need to do some pages for it and continue taking pictures no matter how boring my life is.

Okay now if you read all that I'm so sorry. I just had to put it out there because it makes me feel more accountable to accomplish them.

Silly Logan

Let's just say that I found this little guy up in the sink with the water on when I got out of the shower this morning. The kid is into everything.

Change

Today is a great day. I've been waiting for this day for quite awhile. I was hoping to do a celebration dinner but with the recent diet I've started that won't be happening. I hope everyone watches tonight. I'll have to record it but I'm hoping I get out of YW quick so I can watch it.

I wanted to make a shirt for Logan but of course ran out of time. Here is the shirt I wanted to make.

Also there have been a lot of changes going on at our house. I don't have my list of resolutions right here but I'll have to get those posted. Right now I'm probably really cranky because of the new diet and having to cook rather than eat out. I'll give more details on this diet when I post the resolutions. This is only day 2 of said diet.

L & Crew

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to take pictures of Latesa's extended family. Some of you might know Latesa from high school. Latesa lives in my neighborhood and recently we've gotten back in touch with each other. She's also a great hairdresser if you guys need one.

Here's the whole crew. I really liked the colors they wore. Latesa's nephew D.

Latesa's little girl N.

Latesa's guys - T and James

Then her sister-in-law is getting married in August so I took some pictures of the couple. C&B (no Brittany it's not Chuck & Blair).

Creativity Overflowing

I don't know what it is but lately I've been feeling really creative. I'm not sure if it's the results of having a clean scrap room but I love that I can go in and just scrap and not have to deal with a huge mess.

In the last three weeks I've probably scrapbooked 12 layouts. Keep in mind I haven't scrapbooked in years (I've just collected the supplies). Another thing I know that has helped is Logan's 2 1/2 - 3 hour naps.

Also I've been wanting to buy a bunch of fabric. I recently purchased this book and can't wait till I make one of these bags. There is the cutest picnic bag made out of a astro turf and lined with a vinyl tablecloth. Most of the bags require no or very little sewing. They use staples and duct tape for a lot of them so they should totally be ones I could do.

I also read a really cheesy romance novel in just 3 days. I'm too embarrassed to share the name but it was so good and I'd recommend it to everyone but it's out of print. It was good though. Now I'm reading Pride & Prejudice. I read it in high school and hated it but since I love the movies I figured I need to give it a second chance. So far I'm loving it.

Penne Pasta Salad

This salad is so good and it's actually called Penne Pasta Griled Chicken Salad and I got it from this blog. Well I'm too lazy to make it how she does so I've changed it and it's still really good. Here's the recipe

1 10 oz. package penne pasta
7 oz. Buitoni Pesto w/basil
6 oz. Feta Cheese
1 3.8 oz. packaged sliced olives
1 bottle buttermilk ranch dressing
1 package of cherry tomatoes
1 package Fresh Baby Spinach (I usually just use half of a package)

Cook pasta. Mix pasta, pesto, feta, olives, cherry tomatoes and dressing. Put in the refridgerator to chill. When it's time to serve, mix in the spinach.

Book Review

I've had this book forever and Brittany has been bugging me to read it. It's not our usual trashy books so I couldn't get into it. It's also written in a kind of different style that jumps all over the place that drove me crazy but I loved it.

It's about a family of four and when their daughter is 2, she is diagnosed with cancer. Well the family decides to conceive another daughter that would genetically match this sister so she could donate her cord blood. Well eventually this younger sister at 13 years old files for medical emancipation from her parents. There's lots of other stories that take place in this book and it's so good. I won't say anything else. So if you are looking for a good book, pick this up.

Another book I didn't read but listened on tape was Austenland. I also really liked this book. It's totally just a fun book to read and while it was fun to listen to I'm not sure I would have loved it if I were reading it. It just wasn't the best writing and there wasn't much substance to it.

I did find myself laughing at the character, Jane since I've recently it seems become obsessed with all things Jane Austen. I loved, loved, loved the ending to this book. So if you want a fun little read, check this out.

Chicken Dances

So Logan was making this clucking sound just like Gob on Arrested Development. So then I had to look up the chicken dance. Then it just felt wrong not to share it with all of you because it's too funny to keep to myself. Again if you've never watched Arrested Development - do it. Let that be your New Year's Resolution.

Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball

Here is a recipe that is so good and simple to make.

8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter (no substitute)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3/4 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup chocolate chips*

In a mixing bowl combine the cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Mix until fluffy. Gradually add the sugars, mixing only until the sugars are combined with the mixture.

Chop 3/4 of the chocolate chips into very small pieces. Carefully fold the small pieces into the cream cheese mixture. Cover and chill for about 2 hours.

Just before serving remove the cream cheese mixture from the fridge. Roll the cream cheese mixture into a ball. Serve with graham cracker sticks.

*Chocolate chips can be substituted for Heath candy and it is just as good or better.

Loved the break

I think I'm all ready used to the work 2 1/2 days then have 2 1/2 days off. I'd love to keep that schedule on a permanent basis.

We did a lot of things while on the break.

• Watched a million and one episodes of Thomas.
• Played some Guitar Hero
• Cleaned and organized the house including the scary closet under the stairs. It looks amazing now.
• Went sledding.
• Shopped after Christmas for Christmas ornaments. I now have 3 trees I could decorate. I can't wait for my silver, red and green tree for next year.
• Ate way too much food.
• Hung out on NYE with the Maughans and Evans. Maughans you guys need to move back right now because it's probably too much teasing for Mark trying to pack in the whole year of razzing in one night. It's a good thing he's worked for Satan so he can take it.
• Watched the Utes win the game.
• Tad hurt his knee skiing but should be back on the slopes this weekend. It was nice to have help in church today
• Cleaned my scrap room and actually scrapbooked. I don't think I've honestly scrapbooked in 2 years (The scrapbook for Teisha doesn't count because I didn't get to keep it.) I put it in red because that is just huge if you saw how big of a mess this room was.

For YW this week we are working on setting goals. I'll post my goals later this week when I get them all finalized. I'm hoping to make a little sign because I feel like I need more of a check list for them because they are just weird ones along with the usual that I seem to have every year.