TREASURE HUNTING & CHOIR

Thursday Steve had the day off from work. We don't usually spend a Thursday together, so I gave up a day scrapping with the girls to hang out with my honey. We didn't have anything extremely excited planned, but I seriously just enjoy being around the man.

So we loaded into his truck and went to WalMart to finally replace the crock pot that broke a few months ago. I was so excited. We got a nice 7 quart!!! YEAH. Then I suggested we go to DI (deseret industries) and go "treasure hunting". I got this idea from another woman's blog. She lives in Washington DC and hits the Goodwill ever so often and finds all sorts of neat treasures: nice silver, cool furniture, china, and linens on the CHEAP. Steve and I meandered around the store. I did find some cute jeans for the girls for only $4, but my awesome find was these cool green, square plates. I liked them as soon as I saw them, but then when I turned them over and saw that they were Pottery Barn and only $1 a plate I LOVED them even more. So we walked out of DI with Pottery Barn dinner plates for only $8...my LUCKY day!!! Later that evening we loaded the family in the van and headed over to Barnes and Noble. The elementary school will be hosting 6 different children authors at the school on Friday. Barnes and Noble had an event at their store where the children could purchase the author's books so the children could have them signed at the school the next day. They also had performances by the band and choir and the principal read a story to the children. It was quite and event. Katie and Becky bought 2 books by the author Jessica Day George. They have read her first 2 dragon books and loved them.
Belle purchased a book by the author that would be visiting with the 6th graders and Zack finally spent his 2 Barnes and Noble gift cards purchasing a Pokemon Pokedex and the book Dune. I didn't want to be left out, so I bought a copy of the JD Salinger book Catcher in the Rye to add to our bookshelf on the same day the author passed away at the age of 91.
Before we checked out we listened to the girls perform with the choir. They were the same songs we had heard them sing in November at the choir program, but I still totally enjoyed watching them. It is those little moments that I LIVE for.

FINALLY got to get some scrapbooking done. I registered a few months ago for a charity crop that would benefit the Utah Down Syndrome Foundation. I sometimes plan things months ahead and when the event arrives, I question my sanity for schedule one more thing in our busy life, but this was not one of those times. I so needed this time to get some of scrapbooking done.
Dayna and I cropped Friday night with our friend Annette (it is her niece that has organized this whole event). Chick-Fil-A and TGIFridays provided some yummy food that evening for us to munch on as we got our creativity on. They played the GLEE cd, which I totally enjoyed. There was some conversations goig one about books and tv shows. I love how a bunch of women, who don't really know eachother. can get together at an event like this and become great friends by the time it is over. I was excited for all the room we had on the tables. Plenty of room to spread out and really look at everything you are working on. Dayna and I got home about midnight after a very productive first day.
I didn't get much sleep that night. Zack had to get up early to go with his Deacon's Quorum to do temple baptisms. So of course I woke up and made sure he was ready to go at 5:30. It was pointless to try and fall back to sleep, so I thought about the pages I would be working on that day as I dressed and had breakfast. When I arrived at the crop, Einstein bagels and juice was waiting for us. We got our registration packets which included a cute beaded charm on a long necklace chain for each lady. We also had the chance to purchase raffle tickets.
There was free product handed about about every hour and there was also raffle drawings as often. There were donations from so many vendors. It was fun to see what would be handed out or won every hour...fun paper packs, flair, stickers, stamp sets, jewelry, wall vinyl, tools...

Lunch was also brought in from Olive Garden and for dinner we were treated to Pulled Pork from Texas Roadhouse. Definitely quite a treat. I tried the whole day to stay focused on my projects. My number one priority was getting our vacation album done from the California/Cruise that we did in December. The goal was to get as many pictures in my 10x10 album as possible and all my different pieces of memorabilia. I used my new Bind-It-All machine once all the pages were done.

With a couple hours of time left and the vacation album done, I decided to pull out an album I began in a Teresa Collins class in November. It was a gratitude album. So glad I brought it and was able to finish off one more project. It also gave me a little time to think about all that I have been blessed with in my life. Unfortunately, doing this made we want to get home and be with my family. So I actually left the event about an hour before it all came to an end.

This was a well put on event. I look forward to next winter and hopefully I will get to be there for their 4th annual crop.

NEW POCKET GUIDE

It's Wednesday, which means it was another weigh in. I walked in and found my card in the file box and went to check in. The receptionist that checks us in commented that I would be getting a new pocket guide, which means it had been a year and I had filled the last one. And just as the thought of, "another year and I STILL have not reach goal..." she said, "this is the book that you are going to reach goal in." It turned that negative self speak I was doing right around. I walked over to the scale thinking, "...that's right...I am going to hit my goal in this book." Isn't it funny how one person's small comment can affect someone so much.

The scale was kind to me. It was my 3rd loss in as many weeks. I was down 1 POUND!!!

JUST CHARMING

Last week while I was at bowling my friend Lindsi brought in some charms her sister had made. They were so cute. I chose one and thought it might be fun to make some of my own. So this afternoon Katie and I brought out the beads and pliers and went to work.
Before we got started we took a "field trip" to Hobby Lobby to buy some extra jump rings. While we were there Katie began eyeing the different charms. She was so cute. She would look at the price and then ask if she was figuring the correct tax. I thought she was thinking of buying a charm for herself, but it was then that she told me she wanted to purchase the charm for me to thank me for teaching her today. HOLY COW!!! That was such a neat thing to hear. I told her how much I appreciated the gesture, but I thought she should buy one for herself to put on the necklace we were making. I have the most thoughtful kids.
Once we got home, I brought out my boxes of beads and the ones that she got for Christmas. I explained and showed her how to make the loops. I thought for sure she would have problems making the loops. I explained she had to be patient and not to get frustrate. The little stinker got her loop right on the 1st try. Within about 30 minutes she had finished her charm. And was so proud of herself.

I made 2 of my own, but have to admit, making the loops were a little harder for me. The best part was spending the afternoon doing something creative with my girl.

EBELSKIVERS

I woke up this morning and walked into my mom's kitchen and watched as Mom and Belle worked to together making our breakfast of EBELSKIVERS (traditional Danish pancakes in a distinctive shape of a sphere. Somewhat similar in texture to American pancakes crossed with a popover) They were quite yummy. She filled some of them with raspberry preserve and some with nutella.

EBELSKIVERS

2 eggs

1/2 qt. buttermilk

1/4 c. oil

2 c. flour

1 tsp. soda

1/2 tsp. salt
Beat egg yolks and add buttermilk and oil. Sift dry ingredients into liquid mixture. Beat egg whites and fold into batter. Cook on burner in a greased Ebelskiver pan. Fill each section with 1 heaping tablespoon of batter. Drop 1/2 tsp. of filling (nutella, raspberry preserve, applesauce) Top with a small dollop of batter. Turn with fork or skewers.

It was nice to watch Belle work with her Grandma. Definitely a neat opportunity for Belle to spend time with Grandma and to leave little something about baking.

Home Alone

The kids went back to school on Monday after being out for 39 days...yep, you read that correctly. The last day that the girls had been to school was the day before Thanksgiving, when we left for our California/Cruise vacation. And following that they were off track from year round school. Steve and I spent Monday and Tuesday taking care of things around the house and then going on our "HAPPY TUESDAY" date. So today was the first day that I was home alone. It was kind of peaceful, but one of the best parts was that I just felt like things have gotten back to NORMAL.


I went to my Weight Watchers meeting. I was a little nervous, it would be the first time stepping on the scale since before Christmas. But I also know that I want this year to be when I finally hit goal. So I walked in today, silently praying that I would at least maintain what the weight was before Christmas. I was pleasantly surprised to have Lynda (my WW leader) tell me I had LOST 2.4 pounds....SWEET!!!!!! Wow, if that is not a great jump start to getting back on track I don't know what else would be. So for the next 10 weeks WW is setting goals for members to work on each week. This week is tracking. I know it is a huge key to the weight loss thing, but to be honest, sometimes ignorance is bliss...unfortunately that same bliss can help you weigh 200 lbs. So I am focusing on the journaling of my food. The fridge is filled with veggies and fruits and I have my Lean Cuisines in the freezer to help through dinner.

In the afternoon I loaded our new kitty "CHARCOAL" into his pet carrier and headed over to the vet. It was time for the little guy to get more of his shots. He did pretty well through the whole thing. The vet and the nurse told us what a good kitty he is. I have to say as a former cat hater, I have been surprised how easy he is. And I actually have enjoyed playing with him in the evenings. Daisy, our lab, gets a little jealous from the attention that the kitty gets, but we try to give her some love too. The rest of the afternoon is being spent helping my kiddos with the homework, making dinner and getting Zack to his Mutual Activity.