Things I Cannot Live Without

...well, I could, but who wants to?

(in no particular order, except for the way they came into my mind)

1.  A good mattress--let's face it, we spend a third of our lives there!  It should be good!

2.  Chocolate--in many different forms.  Cheesecake is a good one.  So is a Cadbury Fruit and Nut Bar.

3.  Diet Coke--I was never a soda drinker.  In fact, I once got in an argument with dad p over whether or not Pres. Hinckley meant to say that we don't use any caffeine in a tv interview.  Of course, that was before I had babies 3 and 4, and found myself driving them around in a state of narcolepsy.  Enter Diet Coke.  Now, it is just an addiction.  I admit it.  I don't care.

4.  My husband--Last night for my scripture study I read one of Pres. Monson's talks from general conference.  He talked about how we should be fiercely loyal to our spouses.  (Why isn't it spice?  Mouse/ mice, spouse/spice.  Just sayin!)  I may not be the best wife ever, but I married the best guy ever and that makes up the difference.  And we have a plaque in our room that says, "I chose my love; I love my choice."  Still do.  After 19 years.  

5.  Target--Do I really need to elaborate on this?  I think it is because the whole store is eye candy for me.  It is RED--my favorite color.  They have so many cute things--even ordinary things can make you smile if they are cute!  Like hand towels, or kitchen rugs, or shower curtains, which I use as tablecloths because we have a square table.

6.  Silence--I don't know if I will ever have enough of this.

7.  Clean sheets--Especially if they were dried in the sun.   Mmmm.  That doesn't happen very often out here.  It is too windy, humid, dusty, etc.

8.  The smell of something baking--currently, it is pumpkin chocolate chip cookies

9.  Exercise--If I don't sweat a little, I am just grumpier.  Everyone likes me better when I have gone to the gym that day.
10.  My children, although I hope that one day they won't actually LIVE with us anymore!

11.  Really scary and crazy murder mystery/thrillers--Reading about complete psychopaths makes me feel like not such a bad human being.  Plus, I love the puzzles.  And the twists.  And the surprise ending.  But mostly I love thinking, " well, at least I didn't kill anyone and then mail little pieces of them to their family today."  Sometimes that is the only good thing I can think about myself.
12.  My sister--My mom always said how much she wished she had a sister.  I have one.  My girls have two.  Can you have too many?  I love that I can call my sis in mid-rant and she instantly knows what is going on!  Plus, I don't have to explain my crazy family to her.  Or my kids.  Or my military lifestyle.  And she sends me cute packages.  Always with chocolate.
13.  A great hairdresser--I love it when you can walk in and say, "Just do something"  and it turns out fabulous!  Brandy is like that!  Want her number?
14.  DVR--Seriously.  Who can stand to watch commercials?  I love that I can watch 10 episodes of Frasier in a row.  Or save my crazy murder shows for when my husband isn't home.  He doesn't get as much enjoyment out of them.  Probably because he doesn't need to compare himself to lunatics to feel better!  :)
15.  Air conditioning--I know our electric bill was over 400 for the months of July, August, and I  am betting September.  But we had to live without power/air conditioning for 24 hours.  It is SO worth the money.
16.  Pajamas--I have a fetish.  Or an obsession.  What is the difference?  Psych class was a long time ago.  Anyway, I own a ridiculous amount of pjs.  Yet when I go to Target, I want to buy pjs.  If I don't buy pjs, I buy yoga pants.  Or sweats.  Yep, I am that girl from What Not To Wear.  The one who always looks frumpy.  I just want to be comfortable.  Or I am just tired.

I am sure I have many more items to add, but it is time to feed the monkeys and head out the door to see #13!  

Continue reading →

Peanut Butter Cupcakes in a Jar

I thought it would be fun to send college boy some homemade goodies and I came across this recipe online.

Peanut Butter Cupcakes in a Jar

First, you need some 8 oz. canning jars.  These are the wide mouth ones, so they are short and squat.  Grease with shortening or spray with cooking spray.  Preheat oven to 350 F.  

 Then make your peanut butter mixture.  I thought this would be super complicated.  It's not!  It is just peanut butter and powdered sugar.  Mix well.

 Next, make your cupcake batter.  I cheated and just used a devil's food mix.  You can use your favorite recipe for chocolate cupcakes,  if you want.

 Fill each jar with 3-4 tablespoons of cake batter.  

 Then add a scoop of the peanut butter goodness.  About a 2 inch ball.  It should look like this.

 Then add a few more tablespoons of batter on top of the peanut butter stuff.

Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until the top springs back when you touch it. 

And then...
I should have a picture of the finished product here, but I forgot to take one.   When they come out of the oven, you could frost them, or pour melted Dove chocolate over them.  I topped them with chocolate chips, thinking that they would melt and spread.  Didn't happen.  So next time, Dove chocolate it is!  They were still pretty tasty!  And I was able to just twist on the lids, wrap them in bubble wrap and mail in a flat rate box.  That is important, since they were heavy and I didn't want to spend 40 dollars on shipping!


Here is the complete recipe:

12 8 oz canning jars with lids
Canola oil spray
8 oz. peanut butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 recipe cupcake batter
8-10 oz dark chocolate

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray the inside of the jars with oil.  Mix peanut butter and sugar until smooth.  Roll or scoop into 2 inch balls.  Scoop 3-4 T batter into each jar, then the peanut butter ball, then top with 2-3 T. batter.  Bake on cookie sheet for 15-20 minutes.  Remove and put chocolate on top.  Spread.

Continue reading →

yummy treat

We had some friends come for dinner and I made this awesome ice cream cake!  The recipe was from southern living august.

  Yum.  It is 106 F right now. I could sure go for this.
Here is the recipe and the link for southern living.

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cake

Ingredients

• Parchment paper
• Devil's Food Cake Batter ( I used a box cake mix)
• 1/2 gal. mint chocolate chip ice cream, softened
• 10 chocolate wafers, coarsely crushed
• Chocolate Ganache 
• Garnishes: sweetened whipped cream, thin crème de menthe chocolate mints

Preparation

• 1. Preheat oven to 350º. Grease and flour 3 (8-inch) round cake pans. Line with parchment paper. Prepare Devil's Food Cake Batter, and spoon into pans.
• 2. Bake at 350º for 12 to 14 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks, peel off parchment paper, and cool completely (about 1 hour).
• 3. Place 1 cake layer in a 9-inch springform pan. Top with one-third of ice cream (about 2 1/3 cups); sprinkle with half of crushed wafers. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining cake layer and ice cream. Freeze 8 to 12 hours.
• 4. Remove cake from springform pan, and place on a cake stand or plate. Prepare Chocolate Ganache, and spread over top of ice-cream cake. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. Garnish, if desired.

Southern Living
AUGUST 2011

Continue reading →

my audition for design star!

This is my first attempt at reupholstering furniture!  Okay, not reupholstering, but I made slipcovers for my couch and chair and a half.  I found a great ebook at pink and polka dot that was awesome!

Pay no attention to the bottom.  I am waiting for more fabric to be delivered so I can do some kind of skirt for the bottom.  Love that I can just throw them all in the wash!

Continue reading →

What have I been up to?

About 5'2"!  Hee hee.  Seriously, I can't believe how long it has been since I have blogged.  Since this is supposed to be my journal, I feel doubly guilty.  So.  Here are some of my recent projects:

This is a cute flower arrangement we used for a prize at a RS meeting this summer.  We had an ice cream social.  I just used carnations tucked into florist foam and topped them with a red hard candy ball.

 Here is another decor item for the same event--this one is my favorite kind---EDIBLE!  It is made of whoppers, mini marshmallows, and the same round red candy.

Here is another view.  Yum.

This one I am especially proud of.  Why?  Because instead of stalking other people's blogs and stealing, I mean borrowing their ideas,  I came up with this one all on my own!  Maybe there is a little creativity in my tired old brain, after all!  I made a snack mix out of goldfish, white cheddar popcorn, teddy grahams, pretzels, raisins, m&ms, and honey roasted peanuts.  Then I put it in this cute galvanized pail.  Here is the cute factor--this was for a back to school party, so I used alphabet magnets to spell out "snack mix" on the side!  Centerpiece, snack, and food label all in one!

Continue reading →

spring treats

So, since it is spring break, I thought it would be fun to make some spring treats with the girls. Here is my attempt at white chocolatedipped oreos. I tried to say T hearts V, but I don't have a very steady hand. They still turned out cute, though! And Vaughn ate them all. :) Here are some other variations we tried, pink with white pearls, white with pink pearls, chocolate with sprinkles.

Then we did rice krispy balls--and dipped them in chocolate and/or sprinkles. My favorite was the Ghirardelli chocolate melted with peanut butter. Mmmm.

Then we had to try this cute cute idea I saw on a party blog: bacon and eggs! Made with 2 pretzels, a dab of white chocolate, and a yellow m&m. I think I need to have some people over for brunch just so I can make these for favors!

Here is partner in crime #1, Bekahroo!

And partner in crime #2, Ellie!

If you need something sweet, just let us know! We will send you some!

Continue reading →

Monday morning musings

So, did you know that you can have tennis elbow even if you don't play tennis? Or that you can throw up several times a week for almost a month without being pregnant? Or that within one week your husband, son , and daughter can all injure themselves?

Actually, I do not play tennis, but I do have tendonitis. In my left elbow. I am right-handed. Apparently, all the work I do around the house has me doing the heavy lifting ( literally) with my left hand-washing dishes, moving laundry in and out of the dryer, lifting stuff. I think I use my right hand for the fine motor and my left for all the brute force work.

I am not pregnant. But I did throw up and feel nauseated for a long time. After 3 pregnancy tests (and seriously, vaughn had a little surgery right after Bekah was born!) and a couple visits to the doctor, we came up with sinusitis and severe seasonal allergies. Who knows? But I am feeling better and vomit-free for almost a week now!

On to the injuries: Andy dislocated his left elbow at soccer practice (again). After a week in a splint, the doctor pronounced him fit for normal activity and ready to play as soon as his special bionic elbow brace comes in. Vaughn hurt his back shoveling snow for about two days straight. He is much better, but he is no fun on muscle relaxants. Mostly because they knock him right out. Rachel rolled her ankle right before a soccer game, went on and played in the game, and then a couple of nights later in another game, was on a break, streaking down the field, when an opponent slide-tackled her right into the injured ankle.

May I just point out here that I did not go to nursing school? If I have to see another ice pack or administer one more dose of motrin I just might go on strike. Not really, but SERIOUSLY! These people are killing me, what with their needing to be fed and taken care of and their incessant breathing! Did I just say that out loud? Okay, enough ranting.

It's not like a tsunami just swept our whole lives away. (But really, could we all just be healthy for one day, at the same time?)

In other news, Andy has been accepted to BYU! And BYU-Idaho! But not BYU-Hawaii. He is surprised by that. I tried to tell him that BYU-Hawaii is for people who don't live on the mainland, but I think he is disappointed to not spend the next year surfing, I mean studying, in Laie.

Today is the first day of spring break. Check in with me later this week to see if I have lost the rest of my mind!

Continue reading →