Valentine's Day: In Review.

What is love? A husband who will grocery shop for my last-minute missing ingredients on his way home from school.

Our dinner was yummy. (Well...except for the "seafood medley." We both decided that mussels are not our favorite. They were tossed in the trash. Sad. I hate wasting food, but I could.not.eat.them. Ick.) We were too stuffed to eat dessert. J's favorite menu item was the asparagus soup. Mine was the green bean salad. (The only thing missing was a great, big, homemade, buttery dinner roll. Too bad it's not on my diet. Sigh. I miss gluten. Allergies stink.)

I set the table in red and black and pulled out our polkadot martini glasses for the water. (I learned that martini glasses are not good water glasses, by the way. They hold next to nothing and we ended up refilling every two minutes. But, they were pretty. That's what counts, right?)

We exchanged small gifts. We both bought each other wallets. Kind of funny. Mine is small to go with my new mini purse and is chevron striped. He knows me too well.

After the candle-lit dinner, we did what all truly romantic couples would do:  homework.

Hope your heart-day was fabulous.

15

Friday Lovin'.

 :: Lovin' February. Hearts. Pink. Love notes. I've received no less than 12 valentines already from my daughter. I love any holiday that encourages the eating of chocolate; even if I won't be eating any this year. (It has been 32 days since I've eaten sugar...am DYING for something sweet.)

:: Lovin' that my husband couldn't stop talking to me last night. I kept nodding off when he'd bring up another "Remember when..." He was reminiscing about our dating & early marriage for 2 hours. It was cute. I love being married to a sentimental guy.

:: Lovin' my new fleece electric blanket. A gift from my husband. I haven't been sleeping well because of the cold. My husband told me I was keeping him awake saying "I'm so cold" in my sleep. It was a lovely, welcome gift.

:: Lovin' nude nails. Light pink and glossy. I'm all about Zoya's nail polish lately and the barely there look. (Current favs? Erika, Dovey and Mia. 2-3 coats for maximum opacity. And by the way...the picture above is much closer to the true color than what they show on the Zoya website.)

:: Lovin' my neighbors. So sweet and supportive. I had multiple friends stop in unexpectedly to see how we were doing while we were sick. We had meals, popsicles, medication and balloons all dropped off. Errands were run. My mother's best friend, Elaine, delivered a giant care package to the kiddos full of toys and treats. We are feeling very loved and fortunate to live where we do.

:: Lovin' that my kiddos, though feeling better, are still in a cuddly mood.

:: Lovin' Kelly Purkey's window decor idea. Am thinking about blog-lifting it this weekend.

:: Lovin' my new cookbook. I'm not vegan, nor do I plan to be, but the recipe book helps me to avoid the foods I'm allergic to. (wheat, eggs and milk.)

:: Lovin' new-to-me books. Plugging away at my Book Challenge.  (Read "The Giver" for the first time yesterday and can't stop thinking about it.)

:: Lovin' my talking baby. He says "Wow!" as he points to this and that. Says "bye-bye" and waves to his school-bound sister every morning. He gives open mouth kisses while saying "Mmmah!" That boy! He is a joy.

:: Lovin' that we have no plans this weekend. Our Idaho road trip to see Hil&Co was canceled due to illness. And, because of the daunting weather and temperatures up there, we aren't too sad. March sounds like a much nicer time to visit.

:: Lovin' the Canon G12. Yes-sir-ee, it's true: I'm a point and shoot owner again. Excited to have this as a side-kick to my well-loved Rebel XSi. Lugging an SLR around our family vacay just doesn't sound fun. I'll tell you all about the upcoming trip later. We are very excited. Very.

:: Lovin' all the twine lovin'! If you haven't entered already, tomorrow is your last chance.

12

Mint Chocolate Brownies.

My husband is a mint-chocolate lover, and this recipe is dedicated to him.

This particular recipe was given to me by my college roommate, Casey, and is a favorite. Fudgy - but not TOO fudgy. The perfect brownies. The perfect treat to bring to a festive gathering. A definite crowd pleaser.

CASEY'S MINT CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
3/4 cup cocoa
2/3 cup plus 4 tbsp. shortening
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt

Melt cocoa and shortening in a bowl. (You can microwave or melt on the stovetop.) Mix in sugar, eggs and vanilla. Stir in remaining ingredients. Spread in 9x13" cake pan. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Let cool completely.

MINT FROSTING

1/2 lb. powdered sugar

1/4 tsp. peppermint extract

green or red food coloring

1/4 cup butter

1 tbsp. light Karo syrup

1/2 tsp. vanilla

dash of salt

1/2-1 tbsp. milk, if needed 

CHOCOLATE FROSTING:

1/2 lb. powdered sugar

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/8 tsp salt

1/8 tsp vanilla

4 tbsp. butter

5 tbsp. boiling water

1/2-1 tbsp. milk, if needed 

Mix the ingredients for each frosting. Frost brownies first with mint frosting. Put into fridge for 10 minutes. Frost with chocolate frosting. Cut & enjoy.

*Brownies pictured below were made in a jelly roll pan. I was experimenting with making thinner brownies. They were still yummy, but this recipe is much better when cooked in a 9x13 dish.

10

Belated Birthday Wishes.

"Oh, Life!"

A frequent exasperation leaving my lips as of late. Life doesn't want to settle in our home. Uneventful days seem out of reach. It's an adventure, that's for sure. An adventure that I'm glad to be in with Jason.

He is my perfect fit. We thrive on each others' strengths. We carry each other when weak. We crave each others' company and live for our late-night chats.

Jason thrives on simplicity. He is the calm in our storm. He keeps me sane and helps me to handle it all. A breath of fresh air when I am suffocating in life's stuff.

Jason is an outdoors-man. An adventurer. A climber. A hiker. An explorer. If he sees a cave, we must stop the hike, climb to it and investigate. He dreams of living in the mountains on a ranch with horses. So glad that country-boy fell in love with this city-girl. (After 8.5 years of marriage, our roots seem to be melding. Idaho now feels like my second home and Jason is comfortable in traffic.)

Jason is an athlete. He is fantastic at sports; any sport. I don't know how he does it. Perhaps it is my lack of coordination that makes me awe at his natural abilities. His expertise is basketball. Boy, can that boy jump! Right over guys a foot taller. It's almost funny what polar opposites we are in the athletic regard. I'm glad he finds my lack of coordination amusing.

Jason is a chocoholic. A true, rich and dark chocolate lover. He is known for saying, "If it doesn't have chocolate, it isn't dessert." I like his thinking!

Jason is healthy, despite his chocolate addiction. Conscious of his body and what he puts in it. He cheers on my efforts to buy natural and whole. He snacks on fruit.

Jason is witty. A thick, dry humor. No one can get me giggling like him.

Jason is a hard worker. A doer. A completer. Dependable to the end. He sets goals and accomplishes them. Despite some personal challenges, he is top of his class. He has to put in more effort than most to get his grades, but he does it. He makes me proud.

Jason is gentle. Tender-hearted, soft-spoken, in-tune. He is the kindest soul I know. When his life gets hectic, he worries about me. He always puts himself last. A sweet husband. A true gentleman.

Jason loves me and I love him back. It doesn't get any better than that!

When I think of my marriage, my exasperated "Oh, Life!" changes to an exhilarated "Oh, Life!" Jason makes my life better. Jason gives me joy.

Happy Birthday, Babe! I love you!



Other News:
• Thanks to all who purchased the $1 Twelve Days download! It is still available! Click here to get one for yourself!
• Will be back before noon today with a chocolate recipe dedicated to my main squeeze.
• A weekend report coming soon. Our first December weekend was quite eventful!
• An exciting giveaway will be posted tomorrow!

5

My Wife.

 Hi. Jason here. And this is my first ever blog post.

For everyone following this blog, I have a treat for you.  On her birthday, I wanted to give you an insider's view of Hannah.  

As a professional, Hannah constantly amazes.  She understands style.  She creates beautiful crafts and designs the most amazing blogs, logos and wedding invites.  She built a successful design business from the ground up.

As a mother, Hannah thrives.  She chose to work from home so she could be here for our kids.  With three young children, a busy work schedule and a husband who is never home, she struggles day to day through the many demands on her time.  Yet she still makes time to work on craft projects with our daughter when she comes home from school, volunteers in our daughter's kindergarten class, and takes our boys to the park and library.  Then, to top it all off, I always come home to a home cooked meal, even if it is spaghetti.

As a wife, Hannah is perfect.  She is a never ending stream of confidence that I tap into when times get tough.  She is the best friend I yearned for as a child.  To put it into accounting terms, she is the debt to my credit in a balanced account.  We have been married eight years now and every year gets better.  If I were to take the advice of a disney princess my daughter is fond of, I would dedicate to her the song "Angel" by Jack Johnson because those words are meant just for her.

Happy Birthday, Hannah. Love Ya.

"ANGEL" by JACK JOHNSON

I've got an angel

She doesn't wear any wings

She wears a heart that can melt my own

She wears a smile that can make me wanna sing

She gives me presents

With her presence alone

She gives me everything I could wish for

She gives me kisses on the lips just for coming home

She could make angels

I've seen it with my own eyes

You gotta be careful when you've got good love

Cause the angels will just keep on multiplying

But you're so busy changing the world

Just one smile can change all of mine

We share the same soul

We share the same soul

We share the same soul

24

Birthday Favorite: Dating My Spouse.

I live for Date Night. We don't have a lot of time or money, so being creative to keep things exciting is a must. We occasionally do the stay-in-and-watch-a-movie night, but we also believe it is vital to a marriage to do new things. We don't want to lose the spark that we had while dating, and these dates "kindle the flame." Some of our favorite memories are our silliest dates. After 8 years of marriage, my heart still skips a beat when he walks in the room. I love being with J more than ever.

Here are some of our favorite cheap date night ideas:
• Drive to the local scenic outlook. Bring a picnic and eat while enjoying the lights of the city.
• Go shopping in a mall, each with $5. Give yourselves a time limit and buy something (our usually end up being silly) for your significant other. (We've done this twice. I love my silly trinkets and keep them on display. They bring back great memories.)
• Bake cakes. Then decorate them. (We did this once blindfolded with spatulas. It was hilarious.)
• Grab a book. Sit under a tree and read together.
• Carve pumpkins.
• Go on a walk through the city. Window shop.
• Go on a compass hike.
• Bake cookies.
• Run through the sprinklers. (I am serious.)
• Rent a bike built for two.
• Jump in rain puddles.
• Play croquet.
• Put together a puzzle.
• Have a ping-pong tournament.
• Go bird watching. Don't forget your camera and a bird-book.
• Fly kites.
• Go bowling.
• Play racquetball.
• Go to a park and throw a Frisbee.
• Skip stones on a lake.
• Go on a nature hike.
• Eat a sunrise breakfast in the mountains or park.
• Go visit a nearby waterfall with a picnic.
• Go on a bike ride through the canyon.
• Feed the ducks.
• Go for a drive with no destination in mind. Bring treats and keep the radio off.
• Hunt wild flowers.
• Spend a "survival day" in the wilderness.
• Visit a state or national park.
• Play checkers.
• Go to a store and play "The Price is Right."
• Go to the zoo.
• Watch a movie at the library.
• Visit a historical site.
• Visit a museum.
• Go to a summer theater.
• Visit a bird refuge or aviary.
• Visit an art gallery.
• Attend a ballet or theater performance.
• Go on a progressive dinner date; eating each course at a different restaurant. (I highly recommend sharing each course. This can be expensive and a lot of food.)


We like to keep a jar of ideas and pull one out when we want to be spontaneous. I hope this gives you and your spouse/boyfriend some good ideas! Our next date is tomorrow night....we are going to see HARRY POTTER. I am way too excited...

11

8 Years.

8 years ago, I was 19. And getting married. I'm not sure how a youngin' like that made such a brilliant choice in husbands, but I did. Luck, I think. Certainly not maturity.

Since that day, a lot has happened. We are nowhere near where we thought we'd be 8 years later. Dreams change so much from age 19 to age 27. I'm sure I'll say the same thing in 10 more years after life takes us for a few more unexpected turns. But through all the uncertainty of life, one thing has remained constant: I am completely and totally in love with my husband.

A few wedding pictures for your enjoyment:

Minutes after we said "I do!" (I am holding my small, back-up bouquet in this picture.)

My gorgeous bouquet. The flowers at my wedding were out-of-this-world. When I was at my consultation, the wedding planner asked me what I wanted my colors to be and I said "Bright! For sure yellow in the mix."  With her help, we came up with this beautiful bouquet and the colors made me sooo happy. The gerber daisy is actually a salmony-pink, which helped calm down the bright-bright-bright of everything else.

The pretty cake. This cake was DELISH. The fruit tied in with my bright, bright theme. At the time, I wasn't really a cake-kinda-girl, so this was oh-so perfect for me.

Our kiddo entourage. My sweet little princess cousins and nieces. (And one handsome little red-headed boy who looks amazingly like my own red-headed boy. They must be cousins.)

We had two receptions. One that my parents put on (seen above), and one that was hosted by my husband's parents in Idaho. Both were lovely. One of the best thing about getting married to someone from Burley, Idaho is that you are required to register at Ace Hardware. (No, really. You totally read that right. ACE HARDWARE.) I remember telling my future father-in-law that I didn't really want to register there and he said, "Well, that's fine, but no one is going to give you any presents." So, we did. When we arrived at the reception, before it began, there was a table of matching-presents already waiting for us. Ace delivers! Oh, it was the highlight of my day. We have had a few too many laughs over that.

We're going to be celebrating all weekend. (Our actual anniversary is Sunday, but we like to drag out the festivities.) Will be back Monday with some of our final organization tips and maybe an announcement.

32

A Weekend List.

:: When I get stressed, I bake. Everyone seems to be posting their favorite cookie recipes on their blogs, and my stress level has forced me to try way too many. (I'm afraid my scale is not going to be happy with me, but I'm too scared to step on it.) Many of them were yummy, but I haven't found one that compares to my grandmother's chocolate chip cookie recipe. I made a batch today and quickly (so I didn't eat them myself) wrapped them up in cellophane, pretty yellow ribbons and a sticky label. Will deliver tomorrow.

:: Bought some new makeup this weekend. I've finally reached the bottom of my beloved MAC Woodwinked eyeshadow. Feeling adventurous, I decided to try a new brand. Oh, it was a scary step for me. I'm one who gets in makeup ruts. I purchased a couple NARS colors and some Urban Decay. Can't wait. Mostly neutral...but I did buy some color. I'm waiting with bated breath for them to arrive.

:: Also bought some new nail polish colors. (See? I AM stressed. Making random purchases and baking are both sure-signs.)

:: Am still on the hunt for the perfect red lip. A color that pops without making me feel uncomfortable. Am thinking of Full Body by MAC. Too dark? My splurging didn't go that far. But I was close. So, so close to buying it.

:: Did you know Shade Clothing is going out of business? So sad. Everything is on sale. Too bad I spent all my money on makeup.

:: At this very moment, my husband is taking his last final of the summer. He only gets two weeks before the next semester starts, but oh-how-sweet those two weeks will be!

:: Am taking my 5-year-old daughter school shopping this weekend. My sweet little one is going to public school this year. Am getting a little teary just thinking about it.

:: My sweetie and I will be celebrating our 8th anniversary in one week. We have some fun, but cheap, plans. (I spent all our money on makeup and nail polish, remember?) We have tickets to a rodeo. What? You don't think that sounds like a very good anniversary activity?

:: We share the same anniversary week with both my little sister and my sister-in-law, and it is just weeks apart from my in-law's and brother's anniversaries. I spent the weekend making all of them cards with my new Wplus9 stamp set. I can't show you, though. The stamp set won't be released until September, but be excited!! It is definitely my favorite stamp set so far!

:: Monday starts another awesome round of Project: Organize. I hope you are liking this series! I know I am!

Have a beautiful Sunday!

11

...sundays

why i love sunday:
01. uplifting church meetings
02. my one non-working day
03. sunday walks + drives
04. cute husband gets to spend more than an hour at home.
05. family movie day (a.k.a. lounge around in our comfies and watch a disney while cuddling day.)
06. watching my kids adore/maul their daddy who they miss.

3

...we're students

My husband started school this week. He is going to be working on his third degree. I have to admit that I am a tad jealous of J. I love school. I desperately miss school. I graduated with my bachelors degree in 2004 and have been craving a little classroom lecture and homework ever since.

I hit the jackpot today. Dear Oma, of the wonderful blog TravelinOma, is offering a free course online, and I signed up! I am going to buy school supplies this weekend...and maybe get a back to school haircut with my daughter. Now I don't have to feel so left out when I send my darling husband and baby girl to their classes every week.

Come and enroll with me!

Have a wonderful weekend. See you in class!

4

...while we were away

We are back from a wonderful trip. Dreamy, actually. We relaxed, reminisced, rejuvenated, and relished each other's company. It was a little strange living without children for a few days, though. A whole lot of thinking about ourselves and being able to go wherever we wanted, whenever we wanted. We forgot what that sort of freedom was like. A big thanks to my sweet sister, Sarah, and her wonderful husband for watching our adorable monsters. I know they can be a handful!
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder." It is true. I missed these two rascals. I couldn't keep myself from wishing they were experiencing the fun with us. (Well...only for a moment. Then I came to my senses.)

That statement is also true for my little guy...although in a different way. I thought my mama's-boy would cling to me when I walked in the door, but he didn't. He clung to his older sister. They have been inseparable. CJ won't leave Sue alone! Instead of our normal morning cuddle, he wants Sue to be the one who holds him. (I am guessing CJ thought we abandoned him. His big sister is his only faithful family member.)

This morning, CJ begged Sue to hold him. His mouth was hurting (darn molars!) and he wanted some comfort. I told him that he was too big, but Sue said, "Mom! I WANT to hold him!" And she did for the next 15 minutes. Ha! After the holding was over, he sat next to her for another 15 minutes with his head on her shoulder. It was funny, sweet and heart warming all at the same time. There is nothing cuter than loving siblings.

I took a picture because this can't last long. Had to document the moment.

***If you are wondering about the hat...I am too. He found it and wore it all day. Even outside in the heat.

7

...a getaway!

Hubby and I are off on a weekend jaunt without the little ones to celebrate our anniversary. 7 years ago on Saturday, I married my best friend in the beautiful Salt Lake Temple. I still adore him!

9

...i love you

photo taken by sheena jibson

I walked down the halls of BYU-Idaho and caught a glimpse of you. My heart skipped a beat and i couldn't stop smiling. I could see in the way you walked that you were excited to see me too. Your steps looked more like bounds as you walked towards me, smiling. I thought that I loved you then.

Remember that night we spent all evening together? You went home around midnight and immediately called me. We hadn't had our fill of each other yet. We didn't stop talking until it was time to get ready for class the next morning. I hung up and the phone instantaneously rang. "I forgot to say one thing," you said "I love you!" I melted. I thought I loved you then.

We were on our way to St. George to spend the week with my family at the condo. You proposed. My heart started beating too quickly and I had to tell myself to calm down. "OF COURSE!" was my answer. I thought that I loved you then.

It was the big day. You looked beautiful to me. You were the only one I could see. I couldn't help but stare at you and smile. I was so happy and felt incredibly lucky. Married for time and all eternity sounded just about perfect to me. I thought that I loved you then.

Last night, I peaked in the baby room. There you were, one kid on each knee reading a book. Our cute little girl was cuddled up under your neck and the boy was sitting looking like a mini-you, idolizing his daddy. Tears welled in my eyes as I watched you be a fabulous father. So patient and kind. I'm in love with you, J. I couldn't love you more than I do now. (But...I have said that before, haven't I?)

11

...trying to get my husband to wear these "fashion trends"

I'll admit that every season I am excited and anticipate the announcement of the latest color and fashion trends. I frequently check Pantone's and the other designer's websites who dictate our style. When I saw the Spring '09 announcement, I couldn't help but laugh imagining my husband in these "fashion trends." He would probably die before wearing them. He really would...

4

...why I love my husband

Check out what my sweet husband bought me! A new lens to help beautify my blog. (This really isn't the reason I love my husband, but it certainly didn't diminish my feelings...) I would never admit to being a great photographer...but maybe I will get a little better with this pretty piece of equipment ...

Expect a lot of photography in posts to come...cause I want to test it out! (Now...if any of you have photography tips or sites you love...let me know!)

3

...j's christmas wish

My husband, J, has his heart set on the new macbook for Christmas, so I have been working hard to get it for him. Its keeping me busy! (Thank you!) Lately, I have recieved a bunch of blog design orders for food blogs. It is so interesting how different all of their styles are! I also love to cook, so I am loving all the new recipes!

Here are the URLs to two blogs I designed. The authors of the blogs post yummy recipes you all should try:

ENLIGHTENED COOKING

AGGIE'S KITCHEN

0

...missing my husband

My husband has a crazy schedule. He works 6 days a week, 8-10 hour days, and starts the day at 6am. He gets home from work between 4-5 and we eat a rushed meal that I try to have ready for him when he walks in the door. (No...I am not one of THOSE wives normally, but he wouldn't have time to eat otherwise.) After dinner on the weekdays, he has school which starts at 5:30 and goes until 9-9:30. I lived for Sundays. It was the only day I had J to myself.

Not anymore.

J has been called to be the Ward Clerk...again. He'll be great. I just miss him.

5

...my fabulous husband

J surprised me with a NEW BIKE for Mother's Day! I am so excited!! We went for two bike rides today and it was glorious!

Check out the color on my legs. Hayley...I am obviously NOT using your lotion enough.

13