Fourth Of July

 The fourth of July is up there when it comes to favorite holidays. Bar B Que, perfect weather, fireworks and my favorite people. I'm not sure it gets better. 

 My family picnicked at the eaglewood golf course with KFC (ha! 'merica) and watched a beautiful fireworks show. 

The next day we prepared the most delicious 4th of July spread! Mini pies, BBQ Coke ribs, grilled chicken corn, and a whole lot more. 

For the pies we made a chocolate cream, apple spice, peach crumble and strawberry. They were so fun to make and so, so cute. 

It was all crazy delicious! 

Of course as the sun went down we played with fireworks. 

(Maybe the 4th of July brings out the pyromaniac in me.) 

 

 Mom, sisters and sparklers

(sparklers have to be the best part of the holiday) 

It was a happy day. I am thankful for this country, and for our freedoms, and for the people that strive to preserve them. 

(These authentic reactions brought to you by our first aerial firework, haha classic)

Easter Celebration

Easter is one of my favorite holidays. First of all there's the candy, which is arguably the best holiday candy of all (cadbury creme eggs...need I say more?). Then there's the egg hunt, the annual Easter dress, the strawberry shortcake, all wonderful aspects. But lastly (and most importantly) the meaning of Easter is so full of hope and love it's such a beautiful message, and one that is well worth a day of remembrance.

 We started off our Easter celebration with our annual midnight egg hunt. My mom and step dad hide glow stick stuffed eggs all over the yard, and then my siblings and husband and I are let loose to gather them up. Because there are no little kids around we have to get creative with the hunt to keep things interesting. This was my moms brilliant idea.

 On Easter morning we went to church as a family and came home to check out our overflowing Easter baskets.

 The best Easter gift was a ticket to see the stage production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Hale Center Theater in Salt Lake City, with my mom and sisters.
(I can't wait!)

 
And of course there was the Easter dinner. My mom and I worked away in the kitchen preparing this fabulous chicken cordon bleu with roasted asparagus and wild rice pilaf. We also had a delicious berry and bleu cheese salad.

 

 We finished our meal with individual strawberry shortcakes. I made cinnamon and vanilla bean scones. They were basically the perfect place for a pile of sugary strawberries and a heap of sweetened whipped cream.

 

It was a wonderful Easter spent with people I love, eating good food and, remembering the sacrifice of our Savior.

I hope you had a wonderful Easter as well. 

Love Day Equation

This:

 Plus this:

Plus this: 

 Plus this: 

Plus this:

 Made for one happy Valentines day. 

We had a romantic evening in with candles and homemade gifts and tasty things to eat.

Happy Valentines Day!

My Valentine

He sings Ingrid Michelson with me in the car, he helps me shape rolls, he wears scarfs because I like them, he's supportive, he pretends to care about what happened on the latest episode of chopped, he buys me shoes and chocolate chip cookies, he makes me laugh and tells me he loves me everyday, he brings out the very best in me, he is my best friend and I am so glad that he's mine.

 I wouldn't want to celebrate this day of love with anyone else.

 

Today he is my Valentine, but then I guess he is everyday.

 

Happy Valentines Day - I hope you celebrate it with the ones you love



The Tree

Today we ate soup and listened to Christmas music and put up a tree in our living room with lights and sparkly ornaments (all against Adam's will, I'll have you know, except the soup - he liked the soup). For now the tree will be known as a "Thanksgiving Tree" for Adam's sake. But even he has to  admit that it's feeling pretty cozy and festive at our place right now.

 I'm debating whether or not I should sleep on the floor under my tree tonight, you know like I did when I was 7.  I'll let you know what I decide. :)

Halloween

 

  

 Halloween was such a fun day. Because it was a week day Adam and I both had to work. My company goes all out with pumpkin carving contests, caramel apples and costume contests which makes it a good place to be on Halloween. The theme this year was the zombie apocalypse so to fit with the theme, I dressed up as a zombie girl scout and handed out cookies. I got up early and my sister and I went to town on my make up making me look as zombie-ish as possible, who knew Elmer's glue and frosted flakes could look so gruesome. I even won a prize for a creepy costume! Adam and I finished off the day by eating waffles and watching a scary movie. It was a great day!

 

 Zombie beauty queen, zombie bride and zombie girl scout.

 

Hope you had a happy Halloween too!!