A Collage of Sorts

7

2012-02-10T11:36:00.000-08:00

No introduction needed.

“I am satisfied that happiness in marriage is not so much a matter of romance as it is an anxious concern for the comfort and well-being of one’s companion. Any man who will make his wife’s comfort his first concern will stay in love with her throughout their lives and through the eternity yet to come."

--Gordon B. Hinckley

6

2012-02-09T14:01:00.000-08:00

via Piteira Photography

The following story is related by Stephen R. Covey, author and motivational speaker. I think it teaches a powerful message about how love changes and needs continual upkeep.

“At one seminar, after I’d spoken on the importance of demonstrating character within the family, a man came up and said, ‘I like what you’re saying, but my wife and I just don’t have the same feelings for each other that we used to. I guess we don’t love each other anymore. What can I do?’

“‘Love her,’ I replied.

“He looked puzzled. ‘How do you love when you don’t feel love?’

“‘My friend,’ I responded, ‘love is a verb. The feeling of love is the fruit of love. So love your wife. You did it once, you can do it again. Listen. Empathize. Appreciate. It’s your choice. Are you willing to do that?’

“Of course, I was asking this man if he was willing to search within himself for the character required to make his marriage work. All our relationships follow the contours of life; they have ups and downs. This is why our families provide a critical measure of our character—and the opportunity, again and again to nurture it.”

5

2012-02-08T11:56:00.000-08:00

via Katarina Krizanovicova

Another sonnet for you, from The Man.

Sonnet 130
My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.

-- William Shakespeare

4

2012-02-07T12:17:00.000-08:00

via Style Me Pretty

Elizabeth Barrett married the poet, Robert Browning, her muse for much of her poetry. He is said to have written her a letter before they met in which he declared, "I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett." Well, they fell in love and secretly married because Elizabeth {who was wealthy} knew her father would not approve of marrying a poor writer. I don't condone the whole running away from home and marrying in secret thing, but boy is it romantic, especially when it lasts, which it did for them. They lived and loved for the rest of their days.

So here is another one of my favs. I know this poem is a popular one and you've probably heard of it before, but it really doesn't get much more heartfelt than this.

Sonnet XLIII

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

-- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

product crush

2012-02-06T14:14:00.001-08:00

I have me a crush, and I'm not talking about the Mr., although my crush on him will last forevermore. I'm talking about this darling company that knows how my heart beateth for purses with function.

The company is Jo Totes and I love them for the three reasons listed below:

So there is a world that exists where just one bag will do. I couldn't be more excited!

3

2012-02-06T12:01:00.000-08:00

via inspired-design

On with the letters. This is one written by our former president, Ronald Reagan to his wife Nancy. Just before he passed away, I finished a charming book written and compiled by Nancy entitled, I Love You, Ronnie. I highly recommend it. It beautifully depicts the sweetness of their relationship through their letter writing, and further fueled my obsession for letters, especially ones about love. In Ronnie's words:

"If I ache, it's because we are apart and yet that can't be, because you are inside and a part of me, so we really aren't apart at all. Yet I ache, but wouldn't be without the ache, because that would mean being without you, and that can't be because I love you."

Beautiful words, and so easy to relate to when the lovah is gone. Soon, mine will be leaving for a week on business {boo!} and I have to just push that crazy notion out of my mind and pretend it's not really happening. Not a chance loverboy. You. Can. Not. Leave.

2

2012-02-02T12:02:00.000-08:00

via Rust & Sunshine

I still love hand-written notes and letters. I'm not sure what it is about them, but I will always prefer something written by hand to emails, texts, and other such forms of communication. I'm also quite fascinated by collections of letters written by those who have gone before. Maybe my favorite letter of all time is the now famous one written by Sullivan Ballou to his beloved wife Sarah during the Civil War. If' you've never read it before, you are in for a treat. And when I say you're in for a treat, I mean that you will probably need some kleenex to wipe away the tears you most definitely will shed. I cry everytime I read it.

My very dear Sarah:

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days - perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel impelled to write lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more....

Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me to you with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly on with all these chains to the battlefield.

The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when God willing, we might still have lived and loved together and seen our sons grow up to honorable manhood around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me - perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar -- that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.

Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have oftentimes been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness, and struggle with all the misfortune of this world, to shield you and my children from harm. But I cannot. I must watch you from the spirit land and hover near you, while you buffet the storms with your precious little freight, and wait with sad patience till we meet to part no more.

But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the garish day and in the darkest night -- amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours - always, always; and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again.…

O Sarah, I wait for you there! Come to me, and lead thither my children.

Sullivan

FYI: Sullivan was the judge advocate of the Rhode Island militia during the Civil War. He died at the first Battle of Bull Run just a week after writing this letter, which he never mailed. It was found among his personal effects after his death. Even though Sarah was only 24 years old when her husband died, she never remarried. She lived to be 80 years old.

Sullivan and Sarah Ballou are buried next to each other at the Swan Point Cemetery in Rhode Island. Everytime I think of their story, which I only know of through this letter, I choke up. Oh, how they must have loved!

Click here to read the letter in its entirety.

in honor of love #1

2012-02-01T12:25:00.000-08:00

I happen to love Valentine's Day. I didn't always feel this way. I was one of those haters that thought this holiday existed so retail stores could have a hay day with their sale of chocolate roses and lame stuffed animals embroidered with "Will You Be My Valentine?" And let's not forget the ultimate chessiness: those ridiculous jewelry store comercials. I know you know what I'm talking about. They are ice skating, and he or she falls {can't exactly remember}, they catch each other and then there it is. Some brand new sparkly thing he presents her with. And then smoochy, smoochy, their love is renewed. I don't think that's very realistic. Realistic is when I got out of the shower a few weeks ago and was still in my towel when my husband presented me with a box that contained some beautiful earrings. They were an anniversary gift, given to me a week before our anniversary because husband cannot hold off on a gift. He is absolutely incapable of waiting for the actual occasion, but that's ok; I think it's sweet. We next had ourselves a little smoochy, smoochy, but that was it. No snow softly falling on us as we circle around the frozen pond in our ice skates. I much prefer receiving a gift while sopping wet in a bath towel.

Like I said, I do love Valentine's Day, just not the cheesy jewelry commercials or last minute drugstore gifts. But I am a fan of love, the sincere kind, and expressing that as often as possible. I love love and feel so darn blessed because there is so much of it in my life. So, to honor this holiday which celebrates the stuff life is made of, I'm going to post each day with my two favorite mediums: words & pictures. So get ready to celebrate a month of love.

To start us off, a picture of the Mr. and me taken on our wedding day and possibly my favorite poem on love. I'd like to point out that this poem is a translation from Spanish and is probably 100 times more fabulous and romantic in it's original form, but no hablo espanol, so English it is.

Sonnet XVII

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way

than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

Pablo Neruda {aka THE man}

Note: Our wedding photographer was Tonya from Tonya Joy Photography. She's completely brilliant and I will forever be grateful to her for capturing our day in such a beautiful way. So if you are in the Southern California area and looking for a wedding photographer, I highly recommend Tonya.

crazy hair day

2012-02-01T07:33:00.000-08:00

Do you remember crazy hair day, or twin day, or pajama day? I do and I love that the kids are just as in love with school spirit as I was. Brother even did all the paint in sister's hair. Love our little duo.

we got ourselves a wild hair

2012-01-31T08:04:00.000-08:00

The weekend of our anniversary, husband and I drove out to Wendover because husband has had himself some fantastic luck lately. Wendover is not my idea of a romantic getaway, not even close. If you've never been there, it's sort of like a pathetic attempt at recreating Las Vegas. But we had to go because in the last month, my husband has twice won a contest on the radio, twice! Fantastic luck! Part of the latest win included a trip to Wendover complete with an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet and concert tickets to see Queensryche. So off we went, and you know what, it wasn't half bad. In fact, once I got past the rude hotel employees and tobacco enhanced breathing air, we had a great time.

After 24 hours of Wendover bliss, we drove home. But then we got ourselves a wild hair and decided we couldn't leave without driving onto the Salt Flats. I've decided that ancient river beds are pretty cool, especially for driving really fast in a fancy sports car, or in our case, a 1994 Subaru Outback. I know, you're totally jealous of our car. We even got it on video, but since my husband only got our awesome car up to 45, I think I'll spare you. But trust me, it was fun and I think you should do it on your way home from Wendover too.

Nothing better than seeing your man in a black Gibson t-shirt. Nothing.

my favorite salad

2012-01-30T08:41:00.000-08:00

This is it, my favorite of favorites. It's really simple and healthy too! Here's how I make it.

arugula and spinach mix
freshly grated parmesan cheese
fresh lemon juice
extra virgin olive oil
freshly ground pepper

I really am not good at measuring, so I usually just drizzle a little oil, squeeze a bit of lemon and call it a day. And I could eat this salad every day, but that's just me. Enjoy!

Salsa Verde Chili

2012-01-27T19:02:00.000-08:00

I came up with this chili the other night, partly inspired by the tomatillos I had on hand and because I walked by the rotisserie chickens at the store earlier that day on an empty, growling stomach with very little dinner inspiration. Needless to say, I bought one. It's kind of impossible not to when you're hungry. The aroma coming from that corner of the store was irresistible. So home I went, yummy smelling chicken in hand, and I must say, this twist on traditional white bean chili was very delish.

Here's what you'll need for the chili:

* 1 green bell pepper, chopped
* 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
* 1 can of pinto beans
* 1 can of white beans
* 1 can of chicken broth/stock
* White meat from a rotisserie chicken, shredded
* Cilantro, a handful
* 3-4 tomatillos cut into chunks
* 1 lime juiced, divided
* 1 tsp. garlic salt {or to taste}
* 1 tsp. cumin{or to taste}
* 1 tsp. garlic powder {or to taste}
* 1 tsp. onion powder {or to taste}

Toppings {optional}
* Cheddar cheese
* Chopped red onion
* Cilantro
* Sour cream
* Guacamole {I make mine with avocado, garlic salt, and lime juice. It's perfect.}
* Tomatoes

1. In a stock pot {your chili is going to cook in this}, saute chopped green pepper in olive oil until char marks appear and your kitchen smells amazing.
2. Add beans, chicken broth/ stock, and chicken to pot. Cook on medium heat until chili begins to bubble. Reduce heat to simmer.
3. Meanwhile, put tomatillos, cilantro, and 1/2 of the lime juice in a blender. Blend, then add to chili.
4. Add seasonings.
5. Simmer for about an hour.
6. Add the rest of the lime juice just as the chili has finished cooking.
7. When serving, you may add the toppings listed, or not. Do what makes you happy.

Note: If you'd like to spice up this chili, I highly recommend Jalapeno Tabasco sauce. A teaspoon or two should do the trick, or three or four if you're like my husband. And, I served this with toasted corn tortillas. Dipping them into the chili was like heaven, I promise.

You're gonna love it!

Master Bedroom Inspiration

2012-01-25T14:20:00.000-08:00

Having a new house also means endless tasks such as unpacking {we're still doing it}, creating systems, organizing, and decorating. It's all pretty overwhelming and so I decided to just focus on one room at a time, then divide everything up into little tasks. For example, I organized all my shoes the other day. This took all but 20 minutes, but felt like a HUGE accomplishment for me. I'm still patting myself on the back for that one.

Then there is decorating. My mind could go crazy with this one. Right now, imagining how I would love everything to look could take me to my daydreaming happy place for hours. So, in an effort to not be in my happy place for hours at a time, I've decided to just focus on the master bedroom for now. Here's what I'm thinking.

via Anthropologie

via West Elm

via Centsational Girl

via Abbey Goes Design Scouting

So there's a look at some of the ideas that have been swirling in my mind lately. Any thoughts on how to calm the crazy?

anniversary

2012-01-19T07:13:00.000-08:00

We celebrated our second one last weekend. Husband, it goes like this...

Love you more now than I did then. Didn't know that one was even possible.

Knowing I get to cuddle with you every single day still seems like such a gift.

Marriage and children is exhausting. I'm tired all of the time, but I can't imagine going back to my old ways of 9 o'clock to bed. How incredibly lonely it would be to not have you, my favorite, to talk to, and then fall asleep on mid-sentence. I wouldn't have it any other way.

I care for and love two little ones that I wouldn't have known without you. Thank you for that gift.

Again with the gifts, you can't stand holding off on them. I've grown accustomed to unwrapped gifts, given before the occasion, usually within 24 hours of purchase. I never thought of myself as a gift person. They really never mattered to me, until I started receiving yours, because yours are the sweetest ones. Your gifts matter to me.

Your love, your hugs, your kisses, your thank yous, and your laugh. Oh how I love that laugh. Do you know that sometimes I purposely say things knowing you'll laugh just so I can hear it. And there isn't just one laugh. Oh no, you have several. And I love them all. Pure music.

I'm proud of everything that you are. Even prouder to call myself your wife.

I love you--I always have. Can't wait for another year of you, loverboy.

red iguana

2012-01-18T14:14:00.000-08:00

If you happen to find yourself in the Salt Lake area and would like some killer Mexican food, you must run, not walk, to Red Iguana. All seven varieties of their mole are to die for. Ingredients like pumpkin and chocolate! Yes, I said chocolate. And if you're not sure about which one you want, your server will gladly give you a sample plate so you know exactly the one to douse your tamales in. It must be said, however, that choosing the right mole for you just might be one of the tougher dining decisions you've ever made--they're all equally delish.

Because this hole-in-the-wall is so killer, you most likely will have to wait a bit to be seated, no matter the time of day. They're that busy. Apparently it's no secret that they rock. So we had ourselves a fun time waiting in the cold, under some much appreciated heaters before getting seated. My parents had come into town for a visit, so we made it a whole family affair.

I told you it's a tough decision making moment. Just look at the contemplating going on while my father studies the menu.

Behold, the mole!

home

2012-01-11T21:21:00.000-08:00

This is our new home. And we couldn't be more excited.

We moved the week after Thanksgiving, on that Tuesday to be exact {I DO NOT recommend moving on a weekday, but we're new at this and had no idea how hard it would be}.

I hate to say that I just now feel like I'm home, but it's sort of true. My husband and I lived in our first place for just under two years. It was our first place together, which is special in and of itself, and we definitely have some great memories there with the kids, but there just was something missing. It never felt quite right and now everything about this home, our first home, feels perfect.

So much consideration went into this decision because our situation is a little more complicated than the average newlywed couple. There were countless prayers my husband and I gave asking, pleading with our Heavenly Father to help us find that perfect home, the one that would suit us the best and help our children feel like they belong. You see, this decision to buy a home wasn't about the family we would have--it was about the family we already have. We have two kids, not babies or toddlers, but kids. We cared more about our neighborhood than anything else. That was our number one priority. Our kids haven't had a neighborhood they felt like they belonged to, really ever. We wanted so desperately to find that home that could really feel like ours, that would belong just as much to our children as it does to us.

It feels silly even writing this, but I have this fantasy. It's summer and I'm home with the kids. They have friends like two houses down, and across the street, and up the street, and basically everywhere. They play with them. They ride bikes. They come up with their own games. They're carefree. And they're rarely bored. As I go about my daily tasks, I hear the laughter and sounds that accompany the shinanagins of a childhood summer. The constant open and closing of the door doesn't even bother me, nor does the dirt on the carpet, or the chaos of it all. I'm just happy because my kids have a normal summer to enjoy.

So there it is, my hopes and dreams for this summer. And something tells me it might just happen, this fantasy of mine. I'm just waiting for the snow to melt.

candy cane mud pie

2011-12-22T14:33:00.000-08:00

Doesn't this pie just look delicious? I assure you it is. I've made it the last few years around Christmas and it is always a big hit with with kids and adults alike. It's also very easy to make. Here's what you'll need.

   *Carton of Mint and Chip Ice Cream
   *Bag of Andes Mints
   *About 5 Candy Canes
   *Oreo Cookie Pre-made Crust
   *Hot Fudge {Optional}

1. Let your ice cream sit out for about 10 minutes or so to soften, but not melt.

2. Meanwhile, unwrap your mints and candy canes. Rough chop the mints to the size you'd like {I like them kind of big, but it's up to you}. Then put your unwrapped candy canes in a big ziploc bag, get out a mallet or rolling pin and beat the heck out of your candy canes. I'm serious, go to town on them. Great therapy.

3. Put softened ice cream into a large mixing bowl with your chopped mints and candy cane. Don't use all of the candy because you'll want to reserve some of the candy for the top of the pie. Mix with a wooden spoon until the candy is well incorporated into the ice cream.

4. Spoon ice cream mixture into crust.

5. Top with remaining candy.

6. Put pie back into the freezer for an hour or so to harden. When ready to serve, top with hot fudge.

why owning a spider may not be such a bad idea

2011-12-21T18:54:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I get that some of you may be rolling your eyes at me and even gagging right now. I get it... spiders are ewwwwwwww. I completely agree. I once stared at one that was lurking in our hall cupboard for about 25 minutes before I mustered up enough courage to kill it. And when it finally did meet its fate {death by shoe} I did the ewwwwwwww dance {I know you know what I'm talking about} while cursing my husband for not being home to do the deed. Rest assure it was a large, chunky spider, so my behavior was completely condoned...obviously.

With that said, Sugar, as we call her, is not a bad idea as far as pets go. Now if you're looking for a creature to cuddle and bond with, Sugar is not for you. But if you're searching for a pet that's unique, interesting, extremely low maintenance, and will outlive old Fluffy, Sugar is indeed your gal.

She is a Chilean rose tarantula. We know she's female because that is what the spider guy at the pet store told my husband. She is very mild-mannered and can even be handled by us. Her diet consists of a cricket every week or two. In the summer we hunt our own crickets, and for the rest of the year, we spend a whopping 10 cents a week on her diet. On the rare occasion we get the cool guy at the pet store to retrieve our crickets, we pay nothing. She doesn't smell, we rarely clean out her dwellings, and she has even molted once {little man took that one to school for show-and-tell}.

So for now, because husband and I are not ready for a furry pet, Sugar is perfect for us. I don't hold her or talk to her or anything like that, but I will admit I love observing her through the glass and even sometimes watch her eat, but who wouldn't? I promise you would. You may say you wouldn't, but the temptation to watch is just too strong. It's impossible to look away. I-M-P-O-S-S-I-B-L-E.

car rides

2011-12-14T16:36:00.000-08:00

Sometimes car rides are pretty awesome. Especially on the way to the little guy's basketball game, and most definitely when our sweet girl finds those sun glasses that have been hiding on the floor of the car. And the sunshine is coming through the windows just right. And I have my camera. And the moment is caught and recorded just in time.

10

2011-12-14T07:47:00.000-08:00

Little man turned 10 last month and we celebrated in the most simple of ways: pizza, rootbeer, football. I've got to say that boy parties are so much easier to throw than girl parties. We gave them a frisbee and football and they entertained themselves. With so much going on right now, the simplicity of this party was really needed.

Now on being 10. My husband kept remarking on the days prior to his little man's birthday that he couldn't believe his boy was a decade old, a decade old! Yes, time does certainly fly, especially when you're raising little ones. Sometimes I just want to put them in a jar, and halt their growth for a little while, but of course that wouldn't be fair. They're meant to grow. That's what they do. It's up to us to enjoy every inch of it. And to marvel at it.

rylie's senior shoot

2011-11-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

You can check out more from her senior shoot here. Pretty, pretty girl.

how tomatillos changed my life {with recipes}

2011-11-16T14:09:00.000-08:00

I didn't really know what a tomatillo was until a couple of years ago. This also means I had no idea that salsa verde, what I typically go for in a salsa bar, is made out of them. I guess I just assumed they used green tomatoes or something, no idea, but tomatillo was not part of my vocabulary then. Shame, because it's quite fun to say.

Now I not only know what they are, but I planted some in the garden this summer. Growing tomatillos was a bit of an adventure. I had no idea what to expect. The plants are these spidery things, nothing like a tomato plant. They produce these darling little yellow flowers, which I thought would quickly turn into fruit. They didn't. It took months before I spotted any fruit growing, and when I did, the actual fruit wasn't large enough inside its skin for several weeks. But by September, there were lots of fruit on each plant. Not quite summer anymore, but I was happy.

If you've never had a tomatillo, you really should. They are my favorite salsa ingredient. They are sweet and sour and crisp, sort of like an apple and a tomato made a baby. It's really a beautiful thing.

I did some salsa research. My brother-in-law served a mission for the LDS church in Mexico, so I asked him how salsa verde is made down there. It's simple really: tomatillos, garlic, salt, lime juice, jalapeno pepper, and cilantro. They make theirs using one of those cool stone bowls you mush everything into {no idea what that is called}, but I use a blender. So here is my super simple recipe. Keep in mind most of the ingredients are by taste, so adjust as needed.

Salsa Verde Ingredients

* 10 tomatillos cut into chunks

* 1 large garlic clove {mince it if your blender's lame}

* 1 handful of cilantro

* 1-2 tsp. of salt {or to taste}

* juice of 2 limes

* jalapeno pepper to taste {whole pepper if you like to torture the tastebuds by burning them right off, or half a pepper for a milder flavor, your choice}

Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. It should look like this when you're done and will keep for about a week in the fridge.

So I love this stuff with chips, but one of my favorite things to do is to season taco meat with it. I think this recipe is fairly well-known, but I'll still share. My sister Natalie, who has surprised us all with her wicked ways in the kitchen {marriage brings out the best in us I think} was the first to tell me about this recipe. To feed my family of four and have some leftovers, I use the following:

* 3 chicken breasts {they can even be frozen, score!}

* salsa verde {enough to cover the chicken, or a jar full if you're not using the fresh stuff}

Put your chicken {again, it can be frozen} into a crock pot, pour your salsa over it, and cook on low for about 6-8 hours. When your chicken is done cooking, take a fork and shred it. This is your super delish taco meat. Now how easy was that?

We eat tacos a lot in our house, so I like to come up with different ways of loading them. Below is a picture of the basic taco: chicken, cheese, sour cream, red onion, cilantro, salsa verde. I also am not a fan of the shells you buy in the store that are hard, already shaped for you, and resemble what you get at Taco Bell. Instead, I use soft corn shells and heat them over the stove on a skillet until they are toasted. So good and much healthier than frying them. There are even times when I crave these tacos more than chocolate.

family shoot ~ tami and her girls

2011-11-15T11:13:00.000-08:00

Aren't these ladies just gorgeous? I can't get over their beauty, inside and out. I, being the lucky girl that I am, was able to spend an hour with them on a shoot by an old barn and farmhouse. Click here to see more from that day.

super delicious {no joke} cranberry pork chops

2011-11-08T07:31:00.000-08:00

These pork chops happen to be deeeelicious! And the best part? They only take about 20 minutes to make. I was partly inspired by that can of cranberry sauce in my pantry that has been staring at me for some time now, but also by the holiday season that is in the air and has a way of influencing what ends up on my table.

So this is what you'll need to feed 4 {change proportions as needed}:

extra virgin olive oil {i recommend this one}

salt and pepper to taste {and any other seasoning that floats your boat}

4 thinly cut pork chops

1/4 cup of chopped red onion

1/2 can of whole cranberry sauce

1/2 cup {or so} chicken broth or stock

2 tbsp fresh italian parsley

1. Heat some extra virgin olive oil in a pan on medium heat.

2. Season both sides of your pork chops with salt, pepper, and anything else you like.

3. Cook seasoned pork chops in pan, about 6 minutes on each side. After first side is cooked and you've flipped the chops, add your onions. When cooked through, sides should turn a lovely caramel color and of course, no pink in the middle.

4. Add cranberry sauce to pan and deglaze with chicken broth/stock. Turn down heat and simmer for 5 minutes, letting the sauce thicken.

5. Turn off heat and add chopped parsley.

6. That's it. You're done! I served this meal with mashed potatoes and an arugula/spinach salad, but do what makes you happy.

she turns 6

2011-11-06T19:27:00.000-08:00

We celebrated our little one's birthday Halloween style. It was her first "friends" party, so it was a pretty big deal for her. In fact, her excitement was so overwhelming, that she crawled around the floor and chased her friends around as they arrived. I promise she has social skills...she's just a little awkward right now when things get exciting, bless her little heart.

The girls feasted on pizza, root beer, and spiderweb cupcakes {if only I had pictures, they were darling}. They decorated cookies shaped like pumpkins, ghosts, and cats, played pin the stem on the pumpkin, and watched The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Good times.

the best night of the year

2011-10-31T22:24:00.002-07:00

Would be Halloween of course. I'm completely biased {having an October birthday does that to a person} but it's always been my fav.

These would be the brownies I sent the husband with for his work party. I made them from scratch, not because I have this amazing recipe or anything {baking isn't really my forte}, but because I completely forgot about it and I usually have cocoa/sugar/flour around. When I asked him how they were, he told me they were "too rich," which isn't really an insult because my husband doesn't like dessert. I don't get it and it can't be explained, but I think "too rich" actually means "absolutely delicious." So there you go.

the kids

the grown-ups

the night

Until next year...

jewel

2011-10-25T22:16:00.000-07:00

So here it is, our daughter's costume in all it's homemade glory. She watched Rio, had to be Jewel, and I think it turned out pretty fantastic.

This was another first for me, and a somewhat sentimental one at that since my mom always made our costumes growing up. I really enjoyed the puzzle of making something like this from scratch and I couldn't help but think about my mom during the process. I had several "what would mom do" moments as I finally learned how to sew {sort of}, nursed some hot glue gun burns, and played with R.I.T. dye. Oh the joys.

And, after some coercing, begging, pleading, etc. I got her to wear her mask for all but 3.5 seconds. That still counts, right?

his television debut

2011-10-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

The husband went and got himself on the 10 o'clock news last night. Click here if you'd like to watch. I think he did swell.

30

2011-10-24T13:22:00.000-07:00

I turned 30 today.

I once thought this would be a monumental and slightly depressing day. It was nothing of the sort. In fact, it only dawned on me a few days ago that I would be turning 30. "Refreshingly normal" is how I would describe the day I left my twenties behind.

I usually hate goodbyes, they always make me cry. But saying goodbye to my twenties was really quite nice. They served me well, but I don't miss them. I made plenty of mistakes, of which I learned from {that's the important part, right?}. I began a career I'm still in love with. Doubled the amount of people who call me family. And I married Mr. Rogers who is as delicious as they come {but you already knew that}.

This isn't a post about how perfect my life is, because it's far from it. My husband has an x wife for heavens sake {enough said}. But it is about how happy I am these days. I'm just really, really, happy. I can't wait to see what my thirties has in store for me. I can't wait to just keep on living and learning and growing. Life just seems ridiculously exciting to me right now. Not quite Christmas morning exciting, but pretty darn close.

I'm happy with who I am. I love the people in my life. And I love my life.

on the side

2011-10-17T20:32:00.000-07:00

I've officially got myself a little side business. If you're curious, you can check out my photography blog here.

sort of scary...but mostly wonderful

2011-10-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

I'm of the school of thought that it is quite healthy and good for the ol' soul to do something that scares the pants right off ya every now and again. Apparently I got the itch, because I did something scary...I photographed my first wedding {oh my}.

This is how it played out. I was waiting in this little room {made especially for photographers} for my very happy couple to arrive and I'm surrounded by the other photographers who are also waiting for their couples. Well, these aren't the nice lot of photographers I hoped I'd run into--they're all business, no smiles. And they have equipment, lot's of it. I've got a camera and three lenses thank you very much, but they've got camera holsters with two cameras dangling from their hips and gobs of other stuff, and again, they don't smile. Something like, what have I gotten myself into? is crossing my mind. But then they leave with their happy couples and mine finally arrives. My bride, who is also officially now my sister-in-law is looking amazing, and I casually express my concern to her, in which she looks right into my eyes and responds:

"Amanda, we hired you because we wanted you."

Did I mention I LOVE my new sister-in-law? The Rogers boys really know how to pick 'em.

That was all I needed. A good old pep talk from the bride herself. And you know what, we rocked it. Holster boys don't hold a candle to what the Rogers clan can produce. I promise. We were watching, and they made their couples do silly things, ridiculous things for pictures. Not us. We're classy.

P.S. I will soon have my photography blog up and running so you can look at more pictures from this day. Not only was this an amazing experience for me in the photography department, but I was even more in love with the husband at the end of the day. Nothing like seeing newlyweds make-out like every five seconds to keep the ol' flame alive.

goodbye summer...we loved you

2011-09-23T07:16:00.000-07:00

But we are welcoming autumn with open arms.

Because over here, pumpkins, and squash soup {we've got butternut in the garden this year}, and herbal tea while watching The Nightmare Before Christmas are pretty special.

And then there is Halloween. Halloween is sacred.

There are some pretty cool costume ideas cooking too, which might involve me finally learning how to sew on that brand spankin new machine husband got me for Mother's Day. It's still in the box folks.

on starting kindergarten

2011-09-14T17:53:00.000-07:00

Kindergarten has begun for our little one and I'm left wondering where the time has gone. This little girl has brought so much joy and color into my life. There is no one like her, with her brilliant mind, determined spirit, and affectionate heart.

In the two plus years I've been with her father, we have bonded tighter than I could have ever hoped for. She has become my little buddy, doing everything I do right along side me. We cook together, read together, take pictures together, and even love together, because they just don't make 'em like Mr. Rogers anymore. He is the best kind of father, husband, and the best kind of good I know.

And did I mention this girl is going places? Because she is, and I can't wait to see where this journey takes her.

Remembering Grandpa Del

2011-09-10T21:11:00.000-07:00

My grandpa passed away last week, which was a first for me. I wasn't particularly close to him, but I don't think sorrow cares about that. I burst into tears and did the ugly cry as soon as I got off the phone with my father, who informed me Grandpa wasn't expected to make it through the night. In fact, as I write these words, I'm getting misty eyed. It didn't matter that he was 85 and had lived a good life, or that he had been sick with Parkinson's disease for several years, or that I knew he was now experiencing peace this world could no longer offer him. My grandpa was gone and I was sad.

His memorial service was perfect. I learned some new things about him that day, like how he had a beautiful singing voice, or that he stole a military jeep {while in the navy} so that he could run off and marry my grandma {very romantic}, or how he was on a torpedo-carrying submarine during the war. Why didn't I know these things, these really cool things about my grandpa? I wish I knew what his voice sounded like when he sang "I'll Follow the Sun," his favorite Beatles song. And I wish I could ask him about stealing that jeep. I mean, did he really think he would get away with that one?

Sadly, there's much I didn't know about him. But one thing that stands out to me about my grandpa is the love he had for my grandma. It was always so apparent to me that he was crazy about her. They were sweet and affectionate with one another, even in the very end when his mind wasn't all there. They were married for 66 years and raised five children together.

Quite a successful life, I must say.

Notice how these two lovebirds have matching bathing suits? That's because my grandma made them. She made them matching bathing suits! Maybe the most adorable thing I've ever seen. Watch out Mr. Rogers, an idea has been planted in this brain of mine. Now if only I could sew.

love shoot {stacey & david}

2011-09-09T18:42:00.000-07:00

Meet Stacey and David. I love them. Stacey broke her arm and David is goofy. They will marry in early October and have got to be one of the sweetest, funniest, perfectly matched couples I know. David has always made me laugh and now he's got this lovely lady beside him which just compounds the laughter and fun. Capturing their love on a lazy Sunday afternoon was pretty fantabulous and the most I've laughed in a while.

And because I can't leave you on a completely sappy note, here ya go.

Football

2011-08-30T18:59:00.000-07:00

Our son loves football. Like obsesses over and doesn't want to talk about anything but football. If you want to be his friend, just talk to him about, well, football. His bedroom is basically a shrine to the Pittsburg Steelers complete with fatheads, posters, and pillows all representing his favorite team. So, it's a pretty happy time and crazy busy time for our family right now. It's completely worth it though because there is nothing like watching this kid play, win or lose. His team did win last week though...I'm just saying.

A Random Afternoon

2011-08-15T18:30:00.000-07:00

It was one of those days. You know the kind. You're completely out of cool mom ideas. The kids are sooooooo ready to be back in school. You are sooooooo ready for them to be back in school. So I came up with maybe my last cool mom idea of the summer. It was pretty much a miracle that I even had one left.

My daughter and I went on an "adventure" today. We looked for adventurelike things to photograph, and this post is the result of the last cool mom idea of the summer. Enjoy.

The Man Who Would Slay For Me

2011-08-14T20:40:00.000-07:00

Meet Uncle Jack.

I know he would slay for me because he told me he would, and I'm pretty sure this man is a man of his word.

Let me explain.

The fam recently paid this slayer a visit. I've never been in such awe of a person before. Uncle Jack is a veteran of three wars - WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He was a fighter pilot. He tells jaw dropping, can barely breath for fear of missing one little detail, stories. He plays the trumpet. He misses his wife terribly, who recently passed at the age of 90. He's sharp as a tack. And he basically defines the word cool.

After a couple hours of visiting and story telling, it was time to go. Uncle Jack was saying his goodbyes to us, and when it was my turn, he held me there and said, "I would do anything for you. Who would you like me to slay?" I guess my eyes did it for him, and he made this incredible statement. I never knew my eyes had such power! There isn't really anyone I need slain right now, but I'll keep it in mind Uncle Jack.

We left and I had to hold back the tears. He waved to us from his porch, we drove away, and I had to hold back tears. I remember holding my husband's hand in the car and I knew that I was more in love with him than I was before we walked into Uncle Jack's front door. Something about visiting this man made me love my people more than before. Maybe it is the perspective he has on things. Maybe it was his stories about his trumpet and how it saved his life on more than one occasion. Maybe it was the way he got emotional when he spoke of his wife and how much he missed her. Golly, I don't know what it was, but I fought back tears the entire visit, and now I can't wait to visit with Uncle Jack again.

If you'd like to hear from Uncle Jack himself, click here.

Lost and Found

2011-08-13T16:42:00.000-07:00

I wore these earrings the day I married my husband and then also the day we were sealed.

They hold great sentimental value for me. Aside from my wedding ring, they are the most valuable thing {sentimentally speaking} I own. I'm a real sap, and sort of planned on them becoming a family heirloom, something my daughters would wear when they get married.

Then, I lost one. I was devastated, panicked, and heartbroken all in one nauseating moment. It wasn't until I was getting ready for bed, brushing my teeth and looking in the mirror that I discovered one was missing from my ear. I let out a gasp. Husband came to my aid, worried something terrible had happened. It had and I explained. We looked in all the usual places, but couldn't find it. I went to bed that night, tears streaming down my face, hoping I would somehow find my earring. Please oh please, let me find my earring.

I dreamed about finding my earring the next two nights, and then woke up horribly disappointed because it was only a dream. I told the kids my earring had gone missing. "Oh no, not your wedding earring!" was our daughter's reply. "Yes, yes, my wedding earring." They helped me look too, but still no luck. Every time I thought about it, a sickening feeling came over me, so I made an effort not to think about it more than I had to.

Then one night, my husband told me he would go over to his parents house and look. We thought that it may have fallen off while we were visiting with them. I knew that if he couldn't find it there, it may be hopeless. It was the last place to look.

Twenty minutes later, I received a text: I've got it! I about cried. It was lost, and now it was found. I understand that it was just an earring, an object, a thing that probably could have been replaced. I'm not the type to care about stuff. Stuff is stuff, but this earring was not stuff. It represented something very special. My world forever changed while wearing these earrings. I was promised an eternity with the love of my life while wearing these earrings. I made the most important promises any woman could ever make while wearing these earrings. And then, I imagined being able to pass on all those memories of hope, promise, and love onto my daughters through these earrings.

Now I can.

San Clemente {Part 3}

2011-08-11T10:51:00.000-07:00

While I was in California, I was able to have a girls hangout-gab fest, which I must say was way overdue. I haven't had any alone time with my girls {we've been friends for like ever} since I got engaged two years ago. We stay in touch in all the normal ways, but face to face uninterrupted girl time is priceless. So in an effort to make this fabuloso evening happen, one of my friends kicked out her husband and children {thanks Deanners!}, and made us some yummy grub. Over our chicken salad sandwiches, we caught up, reminisced, and laughed our heads off. Our evening lasted about 5 hours, and I still think I could have gone another 5 hours and not felt like it was enough time. Thank you girls for such a wonderful evening.

But then it gets better. They all met me down at the beach on our last day of vacation with kids in tow, which meant more girl time, and all our kids were able to play together on the greatest playground on earth, the beach.

San Clemente {Part 2}

2011-08-10T15:36:00.000-07:00

The best part of visiting California in the summer is seeing the people I love that I don't get to see very often. We camped with the whole fam, minus my brother and his wife {sad face--they live far away in Florida} which includes Mom, Dad, two sisters, their husbands, and my lively 2 year old niece.

Living 700 miles away from what I called home for most my life can be hard. I planned my wedding without my mom and sisters nearby which was more difficult and stressful than I ever imagined it would be. There are no more just because lunches and window shopping with my mom, or gossiping/laughing sessions with my sisters. And then there are the times that I just want to curl up on my parents couch on a Sunday afternoon and lazy the day away like old times. So seeing these people who claim me is always so special and wonderful and it makes me very, very happy.

Another thing that makes this beach trip so special to me is the tradition of it all. Going to the beach when I was young excited me as much as Christmas. We would go on a Saturday, which meant my dad could go too, and play in the surf all day. Then we would roast hot dogs and s'mores for dinner, and talk and laugh around the fire. Most the time we would fall asleep in the car on the way home, and then be carried to bed by our dad. Seriously, one of the best memories I have. I love passing this onto my husband and kids.

San Clemente {Part 1}

2011-08-09T11:29:00.000-07:00

We took the fam to one of my favorite places on earth, San Clemente. Last summer, Southern California was having some unusual and ridiculously cold conditions, so our annual trip to the beach was a bit dreary. Not so this year. The weather gods were shining down on us, which resulted in weather perfection and some great memories.

Maybe the only body on the beach covered with long sleeves. Poor Husband and his Scottish skin didn't do so well the first day, so he covered up for the rest of our stay.

Vacation

2011-08-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

More to come later, but this is where we spent our days this last week.

Very serendipitous.

The Best Time of a Summer Day

2011-07-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

Is this time.

When the sun shines through the trees and the air is all glowy. It makes me want to sit on the porch steps with my sweets, sip some lemonade, and enjoy every moment of the closing day. For the record, we've never sipped lemonade together on our porch, but doesn't it just seem like a nice thing to do?

And then there was this beauty of a rainbow a couple weeks ago. As our daughter would say, "Don't you just love Mother Nature?" Yes, yes, I do.

Herbs

2011-07-21T13:28:00.000-07:00

I love my herb pots. They're pretty, smell delicious, super easy to maintain, and provide me with lots of culinary options.

When the weather warmed up, I primed, then spray painted some terra cotta pots and planted some herbs I found at Lowe's. The herbs were all around $2.99 and since it costs about that to buy a tiny little bunch of herbs at the store that lasts about a week, this is quite a deal. And, now I use fresh herbs almost daily when I cook...Bonus!

This year I chose mint, lemon thyme {seriously amazing}, oregano, rosemary, basil, and German thyme. It took a few weeks for them to fill out, but now I'm loving the way my steps look.

Royal

2011-07-20T14:21:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a week where you laughed and cried, learned, developed friendships, learned some more, got all crafty and silly, poured your heart out, ate an incessant amount of candy, hardly slept, then walked away knowing you were different {in a good way}? Well my friends, that was my last week.

I went to Girls Camp. This is when you all should be gasping and then applauding me for taking on such a daring endeavor. The truth is, I live for this stuff. I just can't get enough of the brilliance that pours out of the minds of teenagers, which is probably why I teach them for a living. It also doesn't seem that long ago that I was a teenager. I know I'm almost 30, but I really do feel that way. That was when my core took shape. Of course I'm different now after all the life experience I've had from the age of 18 to now, but if you could unwrap all the outer stuff, I really do believe my core wouldn't be much different than it was when I was 15. My memories of that time are quite vivid and I can recall a handful of experiences that molded me. I'm grateful for that time in my life, and the people who were a part of it.

Our theme was inspiring.

"Be True to the Royal Inside of You"

Which meant we wore crowns, tiaras, jewels, and continued to learn about our royal heritage.

And the girls learned about never, ever, ever settling for anyone less than a prince. Luckily, I learned this lesson a while ago, waited, then found and married my prince.

So you see, I know camp is for the girls, but it was for me too, Princess Amanda.

Summer Is...

2011-07-19T14:00:00.000-07:00

going to a Raptors game because we live in Ogden, UT, and Raptors is Dodgers in our lengua. l'm an LA girl, so the sign that reads "Welcome to Dodgertown" as you walk into the stadium makes me smile.

Note: This clown is waving at ME!!! He saw me acting all sports photographer wannabe and put his hand in the air just for little ol' me. I felt very special. Also, let it be known that I waited all night to get the infamous butt pat photo. Well, maybe it's not infamous, but it's definitely a staple in this sport and my patience was rewarded when I finally got it. Score!

Baseball is special to me. Mostly because it's what my big brother played growing up. My mom would cart us girls around to his practices and games. I detested this because baseball {and football, and basketball, and...you get the idea} was boooooooorrrrrring. I didn't get it and games seemed to last FOOOREEEVAH {Sandlot reference}. The most exciting part of the experience was finding two quarters in my mom's purse so I could buy myself a fun dip at the snack shack. Insane excitement I tell you!

But then one day things changed. Not sure what did it, but the universe shifted and I actually enjoyed going to my brother's games. I used to keep track of stats, cheer him on, and get real proud {the kind where I would beam and my heart would thump a little faster and I'd quietly say to myself "that's my brother"} when he'd make a fab play, or get on base. Good times.

So I love baseball. I love how American it is. I love the history of it. I love the tradition. It bleeds authenticity, has a heart that pumps, and a voice that sings, shouts, and cheers. And best of all, I think of my brother when I watch a game. The same brother who I believed with all my heart would one day make it to the big leagues.

Summer Is...

2011-07-07T19:13:00.000-07:00

parades on the 4th, or Pioneer Day, or Terrace Days, or South Ogden days, or any other day we decide to block off roads so our community can celebrate, watch, cheer, and wave our beautiful flag!

The 4th

2011-07-05T09:19:00.001-07:00

We didn't have the kids this year for the 4th {sadness}, but we made the best of it, and went with the fam to the cute little town of Huntsville for breakfast, a parade, and festivities.

One word...Sandlot.

What do you do when all these hats are just hanging around on display?

Why, you try them on of course, no matter how ridiculous you may look.

Summer Is...

2011-07-01T13:41:00.000-07:00

Big Baby everyday, everywhere we go, all day long.

Big Baby {her name, not just description} has become an all encompassing presence in our lives, especially with the freedom of summer all around us. Wherever our daughter goes, Big Baby must also go. Whatever she does, Big Baby must also do. Whatever she wears...you get the idea.

The cutest thing is when I hear our daughter talk to Big Baby, and she is saying things I say to her. It's amazing to witness the influence I have on this adorable little girl. It also puts a lot of pressure on me to be the example she deserves to have in her life.

10 Things I Loved about Our Trip to Zion

2011-06-29T13:20:00.000-07:00

1. Our backyard for 4 days.

2. The Virgin River, which was also in our backyard, and the prettiest river I’ve ever seen.

3. Goofing on the shuttles.

4. All the pretty flowers.

5. The plants that grew out of the rocks, sideways and upside down.

6. Hanging around the river.

7. Being with THIS man for 4 uninterrupted days.

8. Hiking to places like this,

and this,

and this.

9. The coolest Asian bike gang I've EVER encountered.

10. Waking up, not to an alarm, but to the sun peaking out from over the canyon wall.

So goodbye for now Zion. I loved you and can't wait to come back and visit you again.

Summer Is...

2011-06-21T18:37:00.000-07:00

Deciding after dinner and a bike ride that going to the driving range just might be the perfect thing to do.

Our Sunday Afternoon

2011-06-21T14:28:00.000-07:00

The Man, the Myth, the Legend

2011-06-19T11:49:00.000-07:00

My dad is...

My protector

Giver of advice, laughs, and peace

Fixer of all things automobile

Killer of spiders and roaches, or anything else that made us scream

And a part time Rock Star

Happy Father's Day to the first man I loved!

It took me 27 years, but I finally found a man as good as you.

You've been the greatest example to me of character and honesty.

You work hard and don't complain.

You love our mom, and we all knew that growing up.

You sing just like Tom Petty.

We grew up in a home full of love, humor, and music.

Thank you for making that our reality.

Love you and love you!

Some Extremeness along with a Parade

2011-06-18T22:30:00.000-07:00

My husband and I woke up this morning with bikes on the brain. The sky was blue and the temperature just right. We wanted to make our own adventure today.

So we drove here with our bikes in stow.

Lots of loveliness all around us.

Then we actually began riding, and things didn't seem so lovely anymore. My husband is extreme, very extreme. I'm not. Riding along a 12 inch trail with steep cliffs that lead to a sure death if one non-extreme person {me} were to tumble down them is just not my cup of tea. Apparently there are some people {husband} that find this sort of thing exhilarating. After informing my husband that this just wasn't fun for me and was way out of my league, we took it a little easier, and then something amazing happened. I got used to all the extremeness, and it wasn't so bad anymore. As long as I didn't look down the death cliff, I was fine. There is no possible way I will EVER be as extreme as my husband, but maybe I might have a pinch of it in my blood. One itsy, bitsy, tiny little pinch of extreme.

Later, our son was in a parade with his football team. #19 would be our little man.

I love this. He's running toward his dad after spotting us in the crowd.

What's a parade without a trash truck? Why no parade at all.

Maybe my favorite person/thing there, except for #19 of course.

Garden Preview

2011-06-12T21:02:00.001-07:00

So here it is, in all its little glory. Turns out Utah has very unpredictable, ridiculous weather, so our little plants have had to fight to live, but they are fighters, let me tell you. There have been some casualties though. Sadly all our squash {minus our zucchini, go zucchini!} died when we had a lovely little snow, hail, rain storm on Memorial Day. I seriously shed some tears when I looked out our window that morning to see snow on the rooftops. It took me about 4 hours to bounce out of it, but I eventually smiled and then laughed at the fact that we had planted our garden two days before only to have a crazy storm try to ruin our garden happiness. It didn't though. We are still very happy and our plants are trudging along quite well.

So here is a looksee at what we're nurturing with fertilizer {or, as the kids would say, cow poo}, water, and as much sun and warmth our fickle little weather god is willing to give us.

Aren't these just soooooooo purty? They are chives that we planted last year, and to my surprise {mainly because there's tons I don't know about plants} they reseeded, and walaaah, beautiful little chives with fluffy purple flowers on top, and we didn't have to do a thing. Perennial is my new favorite word.

Green bell pepper...lovely.

Dark purple bell pepper...lovelier.

Cilantro, another one of those surprise reseeders. In fact, I thought they were weeds, until I got a whiff of them as I was pulling them out. I stopped yanking them out and discovered that these little guys are EVERYWHERE throughout the garden. They are just spreading the love I guess.

And here is something I'm really excited for, tomatillos. I'll blog soon about my love affair with tomatillos lately, but let me tell you, it's intense. I am head over heels, floating in the clouds, in love with these little green tomato-like fruits.

And here is the littlest member of the garden. It's a purple tomatillo plant we started from seed. It's only about 4 inches tall, but I'm rooting for him and absolutely believe we will see fruit at the end of the season, mostly because he survived the storm and also because I'm a believer like that.

The Jelly that Made Me Want to Die...Sort of

2011-06-12T20:34:00.000-07:00

The other night, I got together with a couple of friends to make jalapeno jelly. I've had it before, and had to stop myself from eating the entire jar in a day...it's that good. Those of you who haven't tried it before may think I'm crazy, but beware, once you do, you'll be hooked too.

I was not only excited to make some jars of this yummy stuff, but also about learning how to make jelly, the canning process, and so on.

So we chopped our peppers, simple enough, and after I was done chopping my peppers, oh my oh my, my hands were on fire, even after I washed my hands a thousand times. During the entire process, I kept soaking them in ice water, which helped at the time, but once I returned home, the pain was unbearable. It felt like I stuck my hands in fire and left them there to cook...so painful. I was on the verge of tears, acting like a big baby and refusing any remedies my husband offered me {stupid I know}. After my husband scoured the Internet for a solution, and we tried about five of them, soaking my hands in cold milk finally worked, which allowed me get some sleep that night.

So the moral of the story is this: Wear gloves when you chop spicy peppers

But I still LOVE this jelly and went home with seven jars of it.

Now some of you may be asking, how does one eat this yummy yummy jelly? It's delish on a ritz cracker with cream cheese...I promise!

Antelope Island and the Mosquitoes

2011-06-05T21:44:00.000-07:00

We spent a few hours on Saturday at Antelope Island. It was beautiful and we came home with some cool pictures, but the bugs were Ri-Dic-U-Lous! We wore bug spray, long sleeves, pants, and hats, and we still came home with multiple bug bites. Those little buggers bit right through our clothing. Incidently, their favorite part of me was my bum {I use that word now--Utah has rubbed off on me} and I've got about 12 bites to prove it.

This is my husband's attempt at protecting himself from the insects. Sadly, it didn't work.

My favorite sunset picture.

And here they are...all 200 million mosquitoes that died on our car.

Husband said it looked like his truck had a beard. I'd concur.

The Pain and the Joy

2011-05-31T07:49:00.000-07:00

Being a step-mom IS NOT EASY. Obvious, right? Well, I tend to think things will be easier than they are--a blessing and a curse.

When I met my husband, I was immediately smitten. I didn't really think about how complicated it can be marrying a man with children, I just knew I wanted to be with him always.

He was divorced--I got it.
He had two kids--no problem.

None of this bothered me. It all just felt right and his kids took to me quickly. I fell in love with them as easily as I fell in love with him. And after a ten month courtship, we were married.

Easy peezy.

But it hasn't been easy. There are times when I feel completely out of it, like I was drafted midseason. I doubt myself all of the time. And then there is the guilt and the pain I share with them. These kids have been through more than my husband and I ever went through when we were their age. When they hurt, I hurt. Funny how that works. For twenty-eight years I only had to worry about my own pain. Then I married my husband and his kids and because of that, there is this invisible chord that somehow binds my heart to theirs. When they hurt, I hurt.

And then there is the joy that makes it all worth it. The joy that melts me. The joy that makes me forget the doubt. The joy that infuses my love for them so deep within my heart, it takes my breath away. This joy has a way of sneaking up on me too. Sometimes I'll be driving with the kids, a song will come on that we all love, we're all singing and laughing, and BAM, the warmth of love and joy permiates through me from my heart to my toes. It's like that for me, real quick and random, but very powerful.

Last night was powerful too. Our daughter delivered our bedtime prayer. Her prayers are always my favorite because they're innocent, full of details, not scripted, and very insightful. In her prayer she blessed her father and me that we would have fun and continue to love each other, she blessed her brother, that he would have fun too. She blessed our plants, that they would grow. And then she blessed Rosy, a friend of ours who is recieving cancer treatment right now. She always blesses Rosy.

So yes there is pain, more than I thought there would be. But there is also joy--oodles and oodles of joy.

The BEST Olive Oil (Extra Virgin That Is) You've Ever Had

2011-05-25T09:47:00.001-07:00

I happened upon this bottle of deliciousness a couple of weeks ago while at my neighborhood Wal-Mart. I needed to get me some EVOO and thought I'd branch out from all the Italian sounding brands I usually buy. It said "California" and "Fresh" on it's label (I'll buy just about anything that says "California" and "Fresh"), and the bottle was dark, so I gave it a chance, and boy am I glad I did.

I get seriously tongue tied when I try to eloquently describe the love I have for this product. It is amaaaaaazzzzzing. Now I love EVOO as much as the next gal, but this particular brand takes my love to the next level, like lick my fingers and then the plate level. It's fruity and citrusy, and olivey, and tastes like its fresh from a California grove, and I love it.

Why I Teach

2011-05-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe, but the end of the school year is here. Every year I ask myself the same question...Where did the year go? I never have an answer. It just seems to speed by in a swirl of kaleidoscope colors.

The best I can do is this: we wrote, and wrote, and wrote. We read, and read, and read. Poetry, short stories, essays, and books. We laughed. We shared. They learned. I learned more. I prayed a lot, hoping that I was doing the right thing, teaching the right thing, saying the right thing. I fell in love with each and everyone of them, knowing that after ten months with me, I'd have to send them on their way where they'd soar, learn more, and remember what I taught them (fingers crossed).

I love being an English teacher. I love introducing them to Matilda, and Percy, and Turtle. I love helping them find their voice and showing them how to use it to shout as loud as they can with paper and ink. I love my craft. But I love my students more. They are the reason I do what I do. Every year they find a way of creeping into my heart, where they stay.

The other day I received this note in my box.

Let me tell you, my teacher heart smiled for days.

I'm grateful for so many things in my life, but as I reflect on summer approaching and the school year ending, I'm especially grateful I get to teach for a living. I love what I do, and I don't think everyone gets to say that.

Graduating and Temple Square

2011-05-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

It's officially official. I'm done with school...for now.

My mom flew into town to attend my graduation and all of my husband's family were there as well. You know you're loved when people wake up early on a Saturday morning and then drive an hour to attend the most boring (seriously) ceremony in existence. Thank you to my mom, my husband, and the Rogers clan. You all made my day so special!

After my graduation, we took my mom to Temple Square to bask in the glory of the tulips. The beauty of this place is breathtaking and I couldn't get enough pictures of the tulips. After a while, I'm sure the men were mentally rolling their eyes at how us women just couldn't stop loving these flowers. It was glorious I tell you.

Rain

2011-05-18T16:46:00.000-07:00

It's been raining for the last few days, which I love, although I think most would really appreciate some sunshine around here. But I find it cozy and romantic and absolutely lovely, so I'm not exactly protesting. Instead, I'm going to snuggle under a blanket and dive into the book I'm reading right now, which is lovely as well. In fact, The Wednesday Wars just might be the loveliest book I've read in a while. So lovely, that I'm now reading it slowly because I don't want it to be over. I'm just not ready to say goodbye to Holling Hoodhood.

For My Mom

2011-05-05T20:08:00.000-07:00

I took a personal day tomorrow because a very special lady is coming into town.

My mom.

She's here for my graduation, but it also happens to be Mother's Day weekend, so I'm doubly excited for her to stay with us.

We all love our moms. Their wombs were our first homes. They love us no matter what. And I know for me, my mom always knows how to make me feel better, especially when I'm discouraged.

So this post is dedicated to my mom and I'm going to love on her for a minute, bloggin' style.

I need my mom more now than I think I ever have before. Now that I'm helping to raise two sweet kiddos, my mother's influence is stronger than it ever was before. She is the voice in my head and I find myself asking, "What would mom do?" quite often.

I'm grateful she stayed home with us kids while we were little. It meant everything to me to have my mom there when I came home from school. My parents made sacrifices for my mom to stay home, but when I look back on my childhood, I don't remember the fancy vacations we didn't go on or the new cars we didn't have. I just remember my mom was there and how happy that made me.

I'm pretty sure my love of education comes from my mom. She was constantly encouraging me to go to college, not to put it off, no matter what. Thankfully I listened.

There is no one I'd rather spend an afternoon with, eating lunch with, gossiping with, and shopping with. Girlfriend time is priceless and my mom is my favorite girlfriend.

I completely agree with Abraham Lincoln when he said, "All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother."

Love you mom.

Mushrooms You'll Love

2011-05-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

I was inspired the other night by a program I saw on the Cooking Channel. The guy cooking was Italian, which in my book means he knows his food, and I will listen to him, and do whatever he says. Well, he taught me a little trick that I'm going to share with you.

He first cooks his mushrooms in a hot pan totally dry, no olive oil or anything. Then he puts in the goodies. He pointed out that by doing this you get a lot of the moisture out of the mushrooms. But whatever, the mushrooms were amazing, so I will continue the dry method from now on until forever more.

My goodies were the following:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 minced garlic cloves
fresh thyme
pinch of salt
freshly ground pepper
and then,
the best ingredient of all,
a splash of balsamic vinegar right at the end

Oh my, it was good.

We put the mushroom goodness on top of our meatball sandwiches, but now my mind is thinking of all the other wonderful things I could do with these mushrooms which includes, but definitely is not limited to...

grilled steak

grilled chicken

lemony garlic pasta

bruschetta

paninis

the list goes on...

Sleep

2011-04-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

I know we all love our sleep, but sleep is particularly sacred to me. I think it is one of the most important things we do, and I'm sure there are tons of medical journals out there that would back me up. Unfortunately, the days of 9 o'clock ZZZZZs are gone from me forever. I'm lucky if I get to bed before 11.

The other night as Husband and I were getting ready for bed, I told him how I often feel like the speaker in Robert Frost's poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." The lines that resonate with me the most appear in the last stanza.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Husband gave me the look he usually does when I try to express my feeling by quoting poetry and asked me if I feel like this every night. Not every night, but most nights. I don't think he knew what to make of this. I wasn't complaining, not even close. It's just the way I feel.

This week has been tough--throw in the towel kind of tough. In most cases, I can departmentalize the craziness that comes my way, push it out of my mind, and then bring it back when I need to deal with it and sort through it. Not this week. The craziness was beyond the reach of my cool "push it away" button. I didn't know what to do.

Enter Husband.

Boy do I love this man. Thread for thread and stitch for stitch, he was custom created for me. He knew exactly what I needed, and calmed me with the sweetest words ever uttered by a husband. My head was no longer spinning and I thought that maybe I just might be able to sleep. And guess what? As reported by husband, I was snoozing before him, which proves he is the best medicine EVER because I had completely given up on the prospect of sleeping...but there I was, sleeping like a baby in the arms of my husband, The Medicine Man.

And then there was last night. Our pillow talk kept us up well past 11 o'clock and we were both dragging this morning. No worries. On my way to work, I just got myself a Diet Coke from McDonald's {in case you're wondering and you're an addict like me, they've got the best Diet Coke around}. Problem solved.

And besides, whenever I felt my eyelids getting extra heavy today, I remembered they are like that because I have an incredibly full life, with lots of wonderful things in it that keep me up well past my bedtime.

And I also have a Medicine Man husband for a best friend who I like to talk to so much, I just can't get it all in by lights out.

And I've got miles to go before I sleep.

So for now, I'm ok with droopy, sleepy eyes.

Feeding My Family

2011-04-19T20:27:00.001-07:00

Learning how to feed my new family took some time. It was a little trickier than I anticipated, which partly came from my unrealistic expectations. My husband likes everything...no pickiness there, so of course his children would too, right? Um, not so much. In their defense, they are better than some kids, and his daughter can be downright adventurous with food, but they're kids. Kids are picky, end of story. So there were a few things I had to learn about feeding my new family.

First, I couldn't take things personally. This was hard for me because cooking is a love language to me. If I love you, I will cook for you. Just watching someone eat and enjoy a meal I have prepared gives me the warm and fuzzies. I don't care how long it takes to make, how messy my kitchen has become, or anything else. If your taste buds are happy, my heart is happy. I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this. I did take it personally when the kids didn't like what I made, which is stupid because it had nothing to do with me, just their underdeveloped ultra picky kiddo taste buds. It took me a few months to figure this one out.

Next, I realized I had a better shot at getting the kids to eat if it was familiar to them. Obvious, right? I think it's important for kids to be exposed to all sorts of foods, but I had to be clever with this one. What I found works the best is to add something different to something they already love, like pizza. Pizza has been the key to getting my stepson to like mushrooms, bell peppers, sausage, and many other things. I also always make at least one thing in a meal that I know he'll eat since he tends to be the pickiest. And let's not forget how cheese and ketchup are momma's best friends. They'll eat almost anything if there is cheese or ketchup on it.

Finally, I had to be patient. Food is really complicated. There is much more to it than just its ability to nourish our bodies. Emotion, memories, all sorts of things are attached to it. I've had to gain these kids' trust in so many ways since I've entered their lives, including preparing meals for them. I think I'm there now, but it took time. The amazing thing is this--they trust me and my cooking now. They'll eat things for me that they never would before and that they still won't for others. My cup runneth over.

With all these lessons learned, I thought I'd share the meal I made for the fam tonight. It was a big hit and had some new ingredients in it.

The Menu
Banana Nut Waffles
Breakfast Potatoes with Stuffed Green Olives
Orange and Banana Smoothies

Waffles
Use a box pancake mix and follow the waffle directions. Here is what makes them special though. Add one mashed banana and one part whole wheat flour to three parts pancake mix. Cook them in a waffle iron and serve with walnuts, butter, and syrup.

Breakfast Potatoes
Heat a couple tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan.
Slice about 4 Yukon Gold potatoes up really thin. Once pan is hot, add the potatoes making sure that all potatoes are touching the pan. This will give them a nice golden color and crispy texture.
Add seasoning to the potatoes. I like garlic salt, oregano, freshly cracked pepper, but you can use anything that makes you happy.
I let them cook for a few minutes, then flip them with tongs and add more seasoning. I keep doing this until they have a nice golden color.
Now add some sliced stuffed green olives. I used some that were stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes. Let them cook with the potatoes for about a minute and you're done!

Smoothie
In a blender combine the following:
1/2 can of orange juice concentrate
10-12 ice cubes
1 banana
Milk, enough to cover all ingredients in the blender
1 tbs vanilla
*Note: This recipe is definitely to taste, so feel free to add more or less of something. Often times I end up adding more milk or even a bit of Splenda if I don't think it's sweet enough.

Wreath

2011-04-16T10:43:00.000-07:00

I made this spring wreath the other day...

Then my husband told me it looked like it was made out of marijuana.

Nope, moss from Dollar Tree...

I promise.

Some Things I've Learned...

2011-04-15T10:38:00.000-07:00

I don't mean to snoop, but I inevitably hear bits and pieces of my students' conversations each day. Usually what I hear makes me laugh, but sometimes I feel enlightened. And what I mean by enlightened is not inspired or anything like that, rather more like this..."Oh my gosh, I can't believe your parents let you do that!"

So here are some lessons I've learned from the things my students' parents allow them to do:

1. I will not allow my 13 year old to have a tanning salon pass.

2. I don't care how much my child wants to date at 13--it's not gonna happen.

3. Video game playing will be limited and definitely will not go anywhere near 6+ hours.

4. My child will not be the stinky kid in class. He/she will bathe regularly.

5. No lip piercings...sorry.

I know, I run a tight ship.

Trip to the Bay

2011-04-13T15:54:00.000-07:00

We recently took a MUCH needed break and headed off to the Bay area to visit my uncle, cousins, and all this beautiful place has to offer.

Waiting to board the Alcatraz Express

And we approach...

Love the irises in front of me. Alcatraz had the most beautiful gardens.

Really, really, cool! When I was a kid, I watched Escape from Alcatraz, the movie with Clint Eastwood, every time it was on TV. Well here it is! The actual cell used to escape from, just like the movie. My hubby and I still haven't agreed on the fate of the three escaped convicts. He thinks they died. I absolutely believe they lived, mostly because I like to believe in legends, myths, and such, no matter how implausible.

You know me, I just had to get a picture of the prison's library!

Saying goodbye to The Rock

My hubby snapped this one while we were in my uncles AMAZING backyard.

Love, love, love his flowers

Panoramic view of my uncle's backyard

Near Fisherman's Warf

LaLa and Papa Joe

On the last day of our stay, my uncle took us on the most beautiful drive through wine country. I was in heaven with these gorgeous views surrounding us.

It was such an wonderful break from real life. With me on spring break and husband on break from grad school, we relished our freedom and returned to Utah somewhat refreshed and ready to battle all that life throws at us. Thank you Papa Joe for your kindness and generosity! It truly was a trip to remember.

Our Garden Begins

2011-04-02T17:54:00.000-07:00

After looking at this view for the last month or so (try to ignore the tractor)

and getting a bit of spring fever (very contagious) because these keep popping up in stores

these were purchased

and planted

We have big plans this summer for our garden which involve some new garden boxes and our very own pumpkin patch.

Emily's Question

2011-03-31T14:06:00.000-07:00

The first time I read Our Town was in high school. Even then it left a deep impression on me.

It goes like this...

Emily and George grow up in Grover's Corners, fall in love (it's a very sweet courtship), and are married. A few years after their wedding, Emily dies during childbirth leaving her son motherless and her husband without his sweetheart and partner in life. This scenario was probably common enough 100 years ago when this story takes place, but to someone actually living it, it's anything but common. The pain we experience from loss is unique to us and losing a loved one is never easy, never.

Emily crosses over and is among the dead in her town, including many that she knows. It is here that she asks if she can have just one more moment back, to relive a memory in her life on earth. Going back does not turn out how she expects. These are her words...

"I can't go on. It goes so fast. We don't have time to look at one another. I didn't realize. So all that was going on and we never noticed. Take me back--up the hill--to my grave. But first: Wait! One more look.

"Goodbye, goodbye, world. Goodybye, Grover's Corners...Mama and Papa. Goodbye to clocks ticking...and Mama's sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new-ironed dresses and hot baths...and sleeping and waking up. Oh, earth, you're too wonderful for anybody to realize you."

And then she asks this question...

"Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?--every minute?"

The simplicity of Thorton Wilder's message has never left me, and from time to time Emily's question haunts me.

This is one of those times.

I received word yesterday that a dear friend of mine lost her husband unexpectedly. This friend and I worked together last year, which bonds people pretty tightly, especially in the teaching world. I ate lunch with her everyday, and felt like I knew her well--her stories, her struggles, her happiness--all that stuff you learn over a sack paper lunch.

It broke my heart to hear that this is her new reality. Of course I started to think about my own life and what I maybe don't realize, enjoy, and relish on a daily basis.

I am sort of obsessed with my husband. I love him more everyday and always strive to let him know this by telling him constantly and showing him in ways he appreciates. I still pinch myself that we found each other in the crazy sea out there and that he is mine forever. With that said, it can be hard to maintain the twitterpated nature of a relationship, especially in marriage when you see each other EVERY day, are comfortable with one another, pee in front of each other, etc. etc.

So here are some things I want to always remember and not take for granted. When I have a quiet moment, and I go to my special place, this is where I want to go...

The night he told me I was the only one he ever wanted to be with, ever. Sweetly and simply...he was done looking. We were gazing over the City of Angels on a balcony at the Getty. It was one of the most romantic moments of my life.

Going for a drive in April with snow in the mountains and lots of green rolling hills.

That Thanksgiving a few years back before any of my siblings were married. We spent it at Uncle Joe's between an incredibly comfortable sectional and a yummy smelling kitchen. Prepare meal, watch the game, repeat. It was the freshest weekend in the books.

The tear that rolled down my cheek as my sisters helped me put on my wedding dress. Me at my emotional peak.

That place between my husband's shoulder and neck that was custom made for my head.

Weekend Journal

2011-03-28T19:01:00.000-07:00

This weekend involved lots of relaxing, our little one enjoying her new found skill, and a birthday celebration for a special grandpa.

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

2011-03-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

I read this classic book to my students at the start of fourth term and asked them to write about the places they hope to go. My purpose was three fold:

1. Get my sweet seventh graders thinking about something other than the RIGHT NOW.

2. It's absolutely cliche to do such a thing. I think every teacher they have ever had has read this to them at the end of the school year. Sometimes cliche is good.

3. Ocassionally I love to get into their heads (I stress occasionally) and figure out what is really going on. Discovering their brilliance never gets old for me, and yep, I believe they all are capable of a little brilliance here and there. It's also entertainment for me and a little tender to read what they have to say about this topic.

As I was reading their darling little responses, I came across this one...

I want to...

Go throughout all of my school years ending up with a degree in orthodontics.

Become a proffesional volleyball player.

Get married in the temple to the man of my dreams (I teach in Utah, obviously).

Start a family.

Live my life to the fullest.

The optimism and innocence of this passage struck me and I became a little weepy eyed, which is by no means unusual. I cry over everything. But it got me thinking about my own "list" and the places I hoped I would go in my life. There have been many twists and turns I had not expected in this life of mine, which I'm sure every adult can relate to. Dr. Seuss warns about the dangers of The Waiting Place, which I'm afraid I spent too much time in. At times I even struggled with decisions I made and whether or not they were the right ones. But when I look at all of it, all that my life has become, I thank my lucky stars because the path I took brought me

to this man

and these amazing kids

I found my sweet husband a few years later than I had hoped and I never imagined I'd be a step mom, but there is not an inch of my life I don't love, even the icky-slippery-not-so-fun-stuff. Seriously, I love it all.

Oh, the places you'll go!