Birthday Present Love

I love The Gap!!! For my birthday my Mom and Grandma took me shopping. This is by far my favorite thing that I got!

Wool Peacoat - $128

You and Me is FRIENDS

Life is too short to wake up with regrets...

So love the people who treat you right.

Love the ones who don't just because you can.

Believe everything happens for a reason.

If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands.

If it changes your life, let it.

Kiss slowly.

Forgive quickly.

God never said it would be easy,

He only said it would be worth it.

Love You Sisters!

Carmel Apples!!

I decided to make some carmel apples for the girls that I visit teach... well that turned into making them for Jared's sibblings, my sister, my brother and his girlfriend. Carmel apples are not the easiest things to make, but they look so good when you are done and taste AMAZING!!!

Carmel Apple Recipe

Ingredients:

6 Granny Smith apples
6 wooden sticks
1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 1/2 cups crushed graham crackers
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Insert wooden sticks 3/4 of the way into the stem end of each apple. Place apples on a cookie sheet covered with lightly greased aluminum foil.

2. Combine caramels and water in a saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring often, until caramel melts and is smooth. Stir in the vanilla. Dip each apple into the caramel and gently run apples around insides of saucepan to scrape off some of the caramel. Scrape excess caramel from the apple bottoms using the side of the saucepan.

3. Combine the miniature marshmallows and graham crackers on a dinner plate. Roll the apples in the mixture to coat. Place on the aluminum foil and chill.

4. Put the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Cook in the microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. Drizzle over the apples and return them to the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Pottery Barn ... Why Are You So Expensive?

I am so in love with Pottery Barn, however everything is so expensive that I will probably never be able to afford the things that I want there... however a girl can dream, right?

I've never really liked the color yellow, however, I am starting to become a lover of this beautiful color. Since I saw these pictures in the Pottery Barn magazine, I have wanted to decorate a room in yellow.

I am so in love with these yellow and white rooms. They look so elegant and fresh.
Every Pottery Barn magazine I have seen, has this table setting. I LOVE it!!! I am hoping that some day I will be able to have an equally beautiful dining room table in my house.

Delicious Arangements

Adorable Apples: For short-term decorating, use sturdy apples like Red Delicious or Granny Smith to craft a cute bud vase. Simply core an apple as deep as you can using a knife or a screwdriver. Keep your handiwork hydrated and fresh by spraying the inside with a mixture of water and lemon juice. Top with one large flower, or try a small bunch. Show off these delicious creations on a mantel, windowsill or atop a rectangular plate on the dining room table when entertaining.

Cute Lamps!

So for some reason at work we get a Pottery Barn Teen catalog. Well I was flipping through it and found these lamps that I really want... however being Pottery Barn they are expensive. I hope that when Jared and I have children that I have atleast one girl so I can buy one of these... or both. :)

$79.00
$35.00

Peach Cobbler

I made this a couple weeks ago and it was so good!!!

Ingredients: (serves 8)
-10 ripe peaches, pitted and sliced (2 quarts)
-1/4 cup cornstarch
-2 tablespoons dark-brown sugar
-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-2 cups all-purpose flour
-1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
-1 tablespoon baking powder
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
-1 large egg
-2/3 cup heavy cream
-Vanilla ice cream, or whipped cream, for serving

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place peaches, cornstarch, dark-brown sugar, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Toss until well combined. Pour mixture into an 8 1/2-by-11 1/2-inch baking dish.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, the baking powder, and salt. Using a fork, two knives, or a pastry blender, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal.

3. Whisk together egg and cream in a liquid-measuring cup. Slowly add this mixture to dry ingredients; mix with a fork until dough just comes together. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board, and roughly shape into a 12-inch log. Using a bench scraper, cut log into twelve equal portions.

4. Place rough balls of dough on top of peach mixture. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar. Bake until golden brown, about 45 minutes. Transfer pan to a rack, and let cool slightly. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

The Constant Princess

I am so in love with these books. This is actually the first book that I should have read before The Other Boleyn Girl. This story was about Queen Katherine of Aragon. Her story was amazing. She was so strong and did so much in her life. Here is the synopsis from the book.

I am Catalina, Princess of Spain, daughter of the two greatest monarchs the world has ever known...and I will be Queen of England."

Thus, bestselling author Philippa Gregory introduces one of her most unforgettable heroines: Katherine of Aragon. Daughter of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, Katherine has been fated her whole life to marry Prince Arthur of England. When they meet and are married, the match becomes as passionate as it is politically expedient. The young lovers revel in each other's company and plan the England they will make together. But tragically, aged only fifteen, Arthur falls ill and extracts from his sixteen-year-old bride a deathbed promise to marry his brother, Henry; become Queen; and fulfill their dreams and her destiny.

Russian Proverb

I heard this quote on 102.7 KIIS.FM this morning...

"Nothings interesting if your not interested." -Russian Proverb

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes

I found this recipe on MarthaStewart.com and I am so excited to try this... I just need an occasion.

Ingredients:

-1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

-1 1/2 cups sifted cake flour

-1 tablespoon baking powder

-1/2 teaspoon salt

-1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

-2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

-1 3/4 cups sugar

-4 large eggs

-2 teaspoons vanilla extract

-1 1/4 cups milk

-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon for dusting

-2 tablespoons sugar for dusting

Martha's Seven Minute Frosting

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Sift together both flours, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.

2. With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is mixed well, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of milk, and beating until combined after each.

3. Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean (about 20 minutes). Remove from oven and allow cooling before removing cupcakes.

4. To finish, combine remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 2 tablespoons sugar. Using a pastry bag with a large plain tip, pipe frosting on each cupcake. Dust cinnamon-sugar onto the cupcakes.

Daddy McGregor's Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

Ringlet Pasta

Canned Artichoke Hearts

Sliced Olives

Chopped Salad Toppings (includes carrots, cucumber, broccoli, etc. and found in salad isle.)

Parmesan Cheese

Italian Dressing

Salami

Directions:

Boil water and cook the pasta until firm. Drain the water and rinse the pasta in cool water until the pasta becomes cold. Place cooled pasta in a bowl. Add the artichoke, olives, salami, and chopped salad toppings. Mix well. Add Italian dressing until the pasta looks well coated. Mix everything well. Cover the pasta with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator over night. The next morning add a little bit more Italian dressing if it looks like it needs more. Stir well and place back in the refrigerator until needed. Before serving sprinkle the parmesan cheese on top.

Dancing in the Rain

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain."

Sounds Like Life

I love the message in the chorus of this song....

Sounds like life to me, aint no destiny

Yeah, the only thing for certain is uncertainty

You gotta hold on tight, just enjoy the ride

Get used to all this unpredictability, sounds like life

Man, I know its tough but you gotta suck it up

To hear you talk you're caught up in some tragedy

Sounds like life to me.

'Sound Like Life To Me' by Darryl Worley

Fourteen Reasons to Forgive

Today in Relief Society the lesson was on Forgiveness. This was a great lesson for me. I try to forgive and forget things but, of course I am not perfect. The teacher gave us all a handout with some information from the Mayo Clinic Medical Experts on Forgiveness. Click here for the rest of the information.

Fourteen Reasons to Forgive:

• Lowers blood pressure.
• Reduces everyday stress.
• Less hostility towards others.
• Better anger management skills.
• Lowers heart rate and diseases.
• Lowers risk of alcohol and abuse.
• Less depression symptoms.
• Fewer anxiety attacks.
• Reduces chronic pain.
• More stable friendships.
• Healthier relationships.
• Spirituality increased.
• Psychological wellness.
• Greater Religious Faith.

Cute Dresses

www.stylehive.com
www.splendicity.com

www.chictopia.com

The Other Boleyn Girl - Book

I just finished reading 'The Other Boleyn Girl'. I love this time in history and love reading about this time. I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting and at some point made me really mad. The story is about two sisters, Mary and Anne Boleyn, who are seducing the King of England in order to bring their family farther up the social ladder. Their main goal is to have a son with the king, an heir to the throne, because at this point the king has no heir. This book was full of drama, sex, jealousy, and sisterly competition. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I look forward to renting it. If you haven't read it, this is definately a good book to read.

Strawberry Recipes

I love everything that has to do with Strawberries. They are my favorite fruit! I was checking out Martha Stewart's page and she has 21 different recipes with Strawberries. So, of course I had to check those out. I choose my Top 3 Favorite Recipes. Enjoy!

Pick #1: Strawberry Cream Cake
Click 'Here' for the Recipe!



Pick #2: Inside-Out Strawberry Ice Cream Cake
Click 'Here' for the Recipe!



Pick #3: 'Sprinkles' Strawberry Cupcakes
Click 'Here' for the Recipe!

Express

I love Express' work clothes! They always have blouses that fit me right and have great colors for summer. Here are some things that I am hoping to get for work this summer.

Striped Blouse - $49.50

Ruffled Blouse with Buckle - $49.50

Short Sleeve Blouse - 39.50

Ruffled Blouse - 49.50

Pleated Full Skirt - 59.50

Pencil Skirt with Ruffles - 69.50
Sailor Button Skirt - 59.50

Beautiful Match

"The most beautiful thing in the world is a match well made." - Emma (Jane Austin)

A Small Giggle

My husband's grandma sent this to me... every woman will understand this one. This explains that unanswered question men have of why women go to the bathroom in pairs or groups.

When you have to visit a public bathroom, you usually find a line of women, so you smile politely and take your place. Once it's your turn, you check for feet under the stall doors. Every stall is occupied.

Finally, a door opens and you dash in, nearly knocking down the woman leaving the stall. You get in to find the door won't latch. It doesn't matter, the wait has been so long you are about to wet your pants! The dispenser for the modern "seat covers" (invented by someone's Mom, no doubt) is handy, but empty. You would hang your purse on the door hook, if there was one, but there isn't - so you carefully, but quickly drape it around your neck, (Mom would turn over in her grave if you put it on the FLOOR!), yank down your pants, and assume " The Stance."

In this position your aging, toneless thigh muscles begin to shake. You'd love to sit down, but you certainly hadn't taken time to wipe the seat or lay toilet paper on it, so you hold "The Stance."

To take your mind off your trembling th ighs, you reach for what you discover to be the empty toilet paper dispenser. In your mind, you can hear your mother's voice saying, "Honey, if you had tried to clean the seat, you would have KNOWN there was no toilet paper!" Your thighs shake more.

You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday - the one that's still in your purse. (Oh yeah, the purse around your neck, that now, you have to hold up trying not to strangle yourself at the same time). That would have to do. You crumple it in the puffiest way possible. It's still smaller than your thumbnail.

Someone pushes your door open because the latch doesn't work. The door hits your purse, which is hanging around your neck in front of your chest, and you and your purse topple backward against the tank of the toilet. "Occupied!" you scream, as you reach for the door, dropping your precious, tiny, crumpled tissue in a puddle on the floor, lose your footing altogether, and slide down directly onto the TOILET SEAT. It is wet of course. You bolt up, knowing all too well that it's too late. Your bare bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and life form on the uncovered seat because YOU never laid down toilet paper - not that there was any, even if you had taken time to try. You know that your mother would be utterly appalled if she knew, because, you're certain her bare bottom never touched a public toilet seat because, frankly, dear, "You just don't KNOW what kind of diseases you could get."

By this time, the automatic sensor on the back of the toilet is so confused that it flushes, propelling a stream of water like a fire hose against the inside of the bowl that sprays a fine mist of water that covers your butt and runs down your legs and into your shoes. The flush somehow sucks everything down with such force that you grab onto the empty toilet paper dispenser for fear of being dragged in too.

At this point, you give up. You're soaked by the spewing water and the wet toilet seat. You're exhausted. You try to wipe with a gum wrapper you found in your pocket and then slink out inconspicuously to the sinks.

You can't figure out how to operate the faucets with the automatic sensors, so you wipe your hands with spit and a dry paper towel and walk past the line of women still waiting.

You are no longer able to smile politely to them. A kind soul at the very end of the line points out a piece of toilet paper trailing from your shoe. (Where was that when you NEEDED it?) You yank the paper from your shoe, plunk it in the woman's hand and tell her warmly, "Here, you just might need this."

As you exit, you spot your hubby, who has long since entered, used, and left the men's restroom. Annoyed, he asks, "What took you so long, and why is your purse hanging around your neck?"

This is dedicated to women everywhere who deal with a public restrooms (rest? you've GOT to be kidding!). It finally explains to the men what really does take us so long. It also answers their other commonly asked questions about why women go to the restroom in pairs. It's so the other gal can hold the door, hang onto your purse and hand you Kleenex under the door!

Cute Things As Macys

I am so excited to go shopping this summer. I love shopping for summer clothes. I love all the colors and the fun shapes that come with each new outfit. Here are some fun things that I found at Macy's.

Ralph Lauren Red Pencil Skirt with Anchor Buttons - $89.50
INC Floral Print Skirt with Sash - $89

Nine West Eyelet Cap-Sleeved White Dress - $150

ECI Belted Peasant Dress - $79

Amazing Pictures

I love these pictures! I love anything that is Disney. Annie Leibovitz takes the best pictures. Here are the ads that she did for Disney, and also a picture I found that she did of the Wizard of Oz.

Julianne Moore as Ariel

Rachel Weisz as Snow White

David Beckham as Prince Philip

Jessica Biel as Pocahontas

Gisele Bundchen as Wendy
Mikhail Baryshnikov as Peter Pan
Tina Fey as Tinker Bell

Julie Andrews as The Blue Fairy
Abigail Breslin as A Little Fairy

Scarlett Johansson as Cinderella

Beyonce as Alice

Lyle Lovett as The March Hare
Oliver Platt as The Mad Hatter

Jennifer Lopez as Princess Jasmine

Marc Anthony as Aladin
Keira Knightly as Dorthy

Pride & Predjudice Quote

"You have bewitched me body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you." -Pride & Predjudice

Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy

Small Beginning

I decided to make this blog because I keep finding all these fun and cute things. I dont want to post them all over my family blog, so I decided to make a seperate one. In this blog I will post cute fashions, poems, quotes, and other fun things.