Rememberance

Today is somewhat bittersweet.  Two years ago today is the day that my beautiful sister Suzanne "graduated" from this life.  Suzanne is a loving and kind soul.  She hated to see people unhappy. Family was the most important thing to her and she was a true friend to others.

Anyway, my reason for posting today is to not only express my gratitude for having the opportunity to know and love someone who will love me unconditionally, but also to express gratitude for having such loving friends and to live in such a beautiful world.

The last few weeks have been so busy I honestly forgot what today was when I woke up this morning.  A couple of my friends sent me texts of support and love and I was somewhat confused at how random that was.  I then recalled the significance of the date and have thought of Suzanne the remainder of the day.  Later as I was driving home from work this song came on the radio and I felt her love for me even more.

For some reason the video isn't linking.  The song was My Wish by Rascal Flatts.  You can listen to it here if you like.

I am so grateful for the small, everyday moments when I am able to feel Suzanne's immense love for me.

I will probably post again but to get the thought out there, Suzanne's birthday is April 6.  This year my mother expressed the desire that for our gifts for Suzanne we will be preforming service and small acts of kindness in her name and memory.  I would like to invite anyone who would like to join.  And please, if you do join, we would love to hear of the lives Suzanne is able to touch through all of us.

Deliciousness!!!

So I have all these great fantastic looking recipes on Pinterest that I intend to try..................one day................when I have more time..........more space....................etc.  However I now have a friend who absolutely loves trying new things.  It's fantastic.  It helps me to be a little more adventurous with my cooking.  This was the result of our efforts one day.

The Cinnamon Roll Cake.  It barely lasted into the next day it was so delicious.  The success of this made me even more excited to try all the other delicious looking things I've found.  This is a must try.  It was fairly easy and rather fun.  You can find the recipe here.  Enjoy! And have fun!!!

Confusion

One dozen large brown eggs.......................

???????????????????

(gotta love Wal-Mart)

Fall Decorating

For those of you who know me you know I LOVE to decorate.  I thought I would just share a few photos of some I have done this fall.  Enjoy!

 

This is the whole picture of the top of the entertainment center.  I was quite pleased with how it turned out.  The next ones are just some close ups of the center and each side.  No worries, I'm not going to burn the house down with those candles.  They're not real. :)

 

 

 

 

  My mom made this little Jack-O-Lantern quilt.  I think it's called "Happy Jack"

Mom saw this and loved it so we finally got it and added the leaves.  I'm gonna have lot's of fun with the different seasons. :)

Melan-choly

Yesterday I went to the BYU football game with my parents.  When the marching band came onto the field for the pregame show I was reminded of a dream I had ever since I was little.  I was going to be in the Cougar Marching Band when I went to college.  It's the only big dream I can remember.  And it makes me sad to think that it won't come true.  In all of my changing of major I have not come to one that BYU has a program for and so I won't ever attend BYU.  So I'm feeling a little melan-choly.

UFOs

 

Since I am at home for a little bit I have decided to go through my projects and finish some UFOs.  I started this dress probably between a year and a half to two years ago.  I just finished it a few weeks ago and love it.  The fabric I used was some mom had had for a while.  She told me that Aunt Janeen made a pair of slacks out of it.  I had just enough to cut out the pattern but not enough to lengthen it which is why I put the band on the bottom.  I had fun making it.............got a little frustrating at times......but it was fun.

I am trying to get my quilt done that I made for my class over to Snow.  Of course I had to choose a time consuming border to do and I have a lot of it cut out.  I just need to sew the pieces together.  I also pulled out a jacket mom and I had started several years ago and got the lining put in and tried it on.  Sadly it doesn't fit me anymore but I think we should finish it for mom.  After working on that for almost an entire day I was so frustrated and need to make something I didn't have to think about, I made a pair of pajama pants.  But I was so worn out from the jacket and really wasn't thinking about what I was doing and sewed a seam wrong and had to unpick it.  So much for it being an easy mindless project. :)  I also have a pillow case I am going to make.

Before Christmas I went to Provo and stopped at Heindselman's to get some yarn for a scarf mom and I want to make.  Well I started mine a few days ago and got it all knitted.  All I have to do is sew on the button.  I'll get a picture of it on here sometime.

I hope I can post more UFOs, as well as new projects, soon.  And lots of them!!!

From Far East to Middle East to Modern American all in one night!

So tonight mom and I had a FABULOUS dinner.  We tried out a few recipes I found on Pinterest.  We had P.F. Chang's lettuce wraps, chicken gyros, and s'mores. :)

Our dinner

I know, it's a lot of food for two people and yes, there are a lot of leftovers.  It was delicious though.

Lettuce wraps

 (I got this recipe here)

Chicken gyros

(I got the recipe from here)

I cooked most of it and mom came and help with some of it.  It was a lot of fun.  We really enjoyed cooking the rice noodles.  That is one thing that is not included in the recipe for the wraps but they serve it like that at P.F. Chang's.  It was a lucky find.  I was at the store looking for sesame oil and looked down and saw the rice noodles, or sticks, as they are labeled on the package.  The one's I found are called MAIFUN Rice Sticks.  Also, instead of peanuts in the chicken we put cashews.

You cook them in oil and they are great fun to watch. :)  Make sure you break them apart so they have more room to fluff.

raw

before and after.  The one on the right has been fluffed. :)

(in case you're wondering, the pink on my thumb is spray paint from doing flowers for the dance this weekend.)

And in they go.

and they're fluffed!  It doesn't take very long.

 They sink to the bottom when you drop them in and then the start to bubble and they crackle and twist and with a puff of smoke (or steam I guess) they're done!  It's pure magic!  They are only in the oil for like 10 seconds.  It's way fun to watch. :)

The gyros weren't quite as exciting as the noodles.  Mom made pita bread while I worked on the chicken.  Just a suggestion on the sauce.  I would mix it up before adding the lemon and then add to taste.  It was pretty strong.  Mom was having a great time between cooking the pita bread and the rice noodles.  She  loves to watch the bread puff up.  She gets so excited about it.  She had a great time playing in the flour too. :)

After cleaning up dinner and washing the dishes I made s'mores for dessert.  Though they aren't quite traditional.  They are super delicious though. :)

Don't they just look delicious?

 (I got this recipe here)

These were super easy.  And like I said, they are delicious. :)  All in all, it was a good night. :)

Says it all.....................

I heard this song on the radio on my way back to Logan tonight.  I've heard it before but for some reason tonight it really touched me and I wanted to share it with everyone.  It's one that says it all. :)

Favorite songs

My list of favorite songs is forever getting longer.  Here is my new addition to the list.  My roommate has been listening to this song and I love it.  I think it's super cute...........and it's country.  What's not to love about it? :)

Big Adventures

So for a few weeks now I have been thinking of what to do next semester since I have decided to take a break from school.  I was deciding between finding a job here in Utah or going to New Jersey to be a nanny.  I have now decided that I am going to go to New Jersey!  It's a little scary and there are a few things that I am sad that I will miss but I think it will be a very good experience for me.  It will be hard but then I just have to remember that everything is hard.  Now I'm just excited.  I find myself a little impatient for January to get here.  Now it's off to another big adventure......................wish me luck! :)

My brother John

So I've heard this song on the radio several times in the last few weeks.  I really like it, but the reason I wanted to share it was because it makes me think of my brother John.  And those of you who know him I'm sure will know why.  We all love him. :)  Enjoy.

Flowers by Chelle

So I just started a new blog.  Those of you who read this one should check out my new one.  I have just started doing wedding flowers.  I started a blog so people can see what I have done.  It would be awesome if I could have some help getting the word out.  Although I have only done a few, I love weddings.  I hope to be able to add more pictures to my  blog.  It could be exciting.  Anyway, check it out and please, if you know anyone getting married, feel free to refer them to my blog.  Thanks!

www.weddingflowersbymichelle.blogspot.com

Bigger and better.........

So when I left Snow I was kinda sad.  I really enjoyed Ephraim.  It was close to home, small town (a lot like home), and I just loved the people there.  Although, I was also ready to move on and start on all the plans I had made.  So, I came to Utah State University.  I've enjoyed the few weeks I've been here in Logan.  It's a great place.  I have great roommates, and quite a few friends from high school and from Snow are up here as well.  It's been fun to walk around campus and see an occasional familiar face.  It's also great to have family up here.  It's nice to know that I can call Lisa if I need anything.  I think this will be a "bigger and better" experience.

Orlando (continued)

The Grand Staircase from the Titanic.

 The car sounds like it's running and beeps at you.  The sorting hat actually talks!!!  It explains about the ride.  It's pretty cool.

The Three Broomsticks.  I love how everything looks as though magic really is holding it all up.

 Seuss Landing was my favorite part of Universal Studios.  The Onceler's house, Horton (of course)

If I Ran the Circus, The Truffula trees, and Sneetch Beach

 Sneetch footprints.

 A Zamp in the Lamp.

I kind of wish I could have gotten pictures with the characters but the lines were forever long.

 

Brer Rabbit at Splash Mountain. 

Swiss Family Robinson tree house.  It was awesome. 

Epcot

Oh yes, the reason we were down there.  I didn't place but I'm glad I got to go.  It was a lot of fun.

We had to be at the airport at four thirty.  A few of us were this desperate for sleep. :)

I was taking pictures of the mountains cause I thought they were pretty.................

Then I saw the "Y".  Didn't realize we were that close.  Then of course I had to get pictures of Timp for mom.  It all looks so different from the air.  It's beautiful.

The trip was a lot of fun but I was very glad to come home.  Next year Nationals are in San Antonio.  I haven't quite decided if I am going to do PBL at USU but I think it would be fun.