Birthday Preview

Tyler celebrated his birthday this past weekend...

It was so fun!

Here is a picture of the 9 inch 3 layer cake we made!

I love the little ribbon flags...

More to come on the birthday weekend!

New Favorite Thing

Tyler and I are currently loving Diet Root Beer.

Which means we are REALLY loving Root Beer floats!

{Since it is made with Diet I think it cancles out the ice-cream part and makes it healthy... right?}

These fun mugs and twisty straws* are part of the awesome

"30 day count down to 30" celebration I have been doing for Tyler {more to come on that}!

*Do not dishwash twisty straws-- they will come out sad. Tyler still loves his though, says it adds personality or something like that!

S'More on a Stick

Wish I could take credit for thinking of these adorable munchies, but I can't.

I made these {with the help of Tyler} for Young Womens.

We are visiting some girls tonight, so I wrapped a few up to take!

Another First

"Awkward like a first date"

That is what I am titiling this picture!

(I promise he had fun despite the lack of enthusiasm in the picture.)

Tyler and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary of our first date this past weekend. It was actually on the 25th but we postponed due to our unexpected illness! We went to wear it all began- Thaifoon. It was a lot of fun. We enjoyed remembering our first date, and thinking about all the things that have happened this past year! {A LOT has happened!}

I even had a special "1 year" anniversary dessert planned, and Tyler surprised me with the Shrek dvd (the movie we saw on our first date). It was perfect.

We are looking forward to many,many, many more years of celebrating!

A lot of Firsts

We survived our first bout of sickness as a married couple!

Out of nowhere I got a terrible terrible stomach bug. All the sudden during church my stomach didn't feel so great... I decided I could make it through church but as soon as the prayer ended I BOLTED out of there.

Tyler was wonderful, and I had my turn to be wonderful about 2 days later.

Good news is we are all better and I got all caught up on the news and day time television.

The whole time I was sick I kept thinking, "I should really have a bowl with me, just in case I don't make it...mom would want me to have a bowl." All that parenting advice stuck with me over the years.

Happy Anniversary

4 months!

(this pic is from Disneyland-- which I have yet to blog)

I can't believe we have been married for 4 months already! They have been the best 4 months of my life! Before I got married people told me the first few months might be tricky with all of the adjustments, and that the first year of marriage is the toughest. Lucky for us that has not been an issue it has been a very smooth transition! Marriage is wonderful when you are married to your very best friend.

Happy 4 months Ty!

You are the best husband.

We make the best team.

ILY.

I still feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

Let's Go Back

This time last week...

We were laying on a rock overlooking Zions National Park!

Can't wait for July!

Day 2

Emerald Pools

We hiked to all 3 pools, and then had lunch at the 3rd.

I swear- sandwiches always taste better on picnics/hikes.

We hung out in Springdale for a bit- checked e-mails, answered text messages, listened to voicemails. Ate ice-cream at "our" ice-cream place. {We ate there last year when we were still dating- so it will forever be "our" place.}

We also went to Grafton the Ghost Town. That was fun-- the weirdest part about the ghost town is getting there- you go through this place that has like 6 cameras on your car at one point, and then you keep driving FOREVER. I thought I was hearing banjos at one point. The saddest part {according to the brochure} is a grave for 2 best friends who died while swinging together. I could not find that grave.

Day 1

Zions National Park

1. Beginning of hike
2. Yellow flowers in the red rock dirt
3. Red Rock everywhere
4. We made it- Cable Mountain!


We were able to go down to Zions for a few days...


Perfect weather...
Beautiful surroundings...
No cell phone service...
Great Food…

{Trail mix pancakes
French Toast
Egg Sandwiches
Salmon with homemade pesto
Margarita Tacos with strawberry and avocado salsa
Steak pasta
And of course picnic lunches}

We were able to go hiking everyday. Tyler is such a good motivator- at one point I may have said, "If we do not get there in 15 minutes I am turning around." Luckily we made it within the timeframe. I am pretty confident in saying that I would not have been a very good pioneer.

Mothers Day

I know it is a little late...

Things my mother taught me

1. Do not say anything you would not want everyone to hear

2. A new outfit can make things better

3. How to be freakishly responsible

4. To put others first

5. To love reading

6. To serve

7. To Love

8. To be a good listener and to be patient (this must come with being a mom to 3 girls)

Of course there are so many more... thank you for continuing to teach me.

I love you mom.

Check

I make lists is my head all day long. I think I have been doing this since at least middle school- maybe before. I remember writing lists in the margins of my notebook paper, while doing other assignments, I wrote to-do lists in my planners. It started much earlier than middle school, because I remeber begging my mom for an American Girl Planner. It was purple and it was awesome.

Anyways- I make lists for everything. Things to get done at work, things to talk to clients about, things that need to be done around the house, grocery lists, things that need to be done in general, but one of my very favorite lists to add to is the "Food I want to Make" list! I am able to cross one out- the cake batter cinnamon rolls.

I actually made them a week and a half ago and froze them so that we could bake them and make them for my mother-in-laws birthday!

This was my first attempt at making cinnamon rolls from scratch. It was a success. Tyler helped me roll them all and he made the cake batter glaze. So good.

April

During March as I was getting prepared for April I told myself, "If I can get through April I can get through anything". I am trying really hard to live for today, not constantly looking forward to tomorrow- but by telling myself that I was able to get through the day! Actually, it was only 2 weeks that I needed to get through. Back to back events- which might I add went extremely well.

We did a lot of fun things in April.

Made home-made cake batter flavored cinnamon rolls {with an icing glaze and sprinkles}
Got each other Easter surprises. {I got Tyler a cute mini-cooper toy car and a car magazine and he got me a little Burts Bees pack. We know each other so well!}
Made PF Changs style lettuce wraps. Let me just say- PF Changs has nothing on me.
Tylers car broke {not so fun} But we got to drive a brand new Mini Coop for a week {and by WE, I mean HE}.
I got my Utah Drivers License {bittersweet}
We celebrated our 3 month wedding anniversary
I became obsessed with the Jersey Boys soundtrack- I MUST the musical
We were able to go up to northern Utah to see both sides of the family
Had dinner with some friends who have the CUTEST baby. She is so adorable.
Re-watched Season 1 of Modern Family {funniest show EVER}

New Rule.

Whatever we bake MUST be shared.

Mini S'more Pies Oreo Brownies with peanut butter and chocolate on top. Big S'more Pie

Lucky for us we have family that live close by!

I love finding new recipes to try. I can't wait to cook at the cabin for my family in July!! I have a new rule. If I am going to eat something that is clearly on my "meal plan*" it has to be worth the calories. No more random chocolate chips, no more gross cookies. If I am going to ruin my calorie count it better be good.

* I use the term "meal plan" extremely loose these days.

All Over Again

I fall in love with him over and over and over again all the time.

This kind of looks like a creeper picture-- he knew I was watching him but I do not know if he knew I was taking a picture!

Go Jazz.

You may be wondering if we were at the very top of the arena.

Ummm no we were not.

We had one row above us.

We were determined to see one Jazz game this season!

It was a lot of fun- even though we lost. We had a brief glimmer of hope when we went into overtime. It was a very brief glimmer.

Hello goodness.

We had a fun double date at our place on Friday.

We made mini pizzas- crust and everything!

And I made this deliciousness for dessert.

Red Velvet Brownies with White Chocolate Frosting.

The picture is from my phone-- so it does not do it justice!

Work.

Where have I been?

Buried under this mess.

I would say it looks worse than it really is, but there was more mess than this.

I have some big things coming up!

It's That Time of Year...

Girl Scout Cookie time!!!

I am even resisting opening them until I get home to share them with Ty!

I have some fun memories of being a Girl Scout and selling cookies!! The best was my mom being the Cookie Mom!! I always look forward to this time of the year... at first I had 4 boxes ordered and then brought it down to 2. Ahh... self discipline. There is hope for me! I should have bought some Carmel Delights {or whatever they're named now}! Can't believe I didn't do that... I am sure that they will be selling them outside a Grocery Store soon, right?!

A Few of My Favorite Things as of this second

• Garlic Press
• Instant Netflix on our television
• KitchenAid
• Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook
• The Library (Mom-- are you smiling?!)
• Hulu
• Words with Friends on my phone
• Homemade whipped cream
• Mangos
• Going to the Temple with my husband
• Little notes from Tyler

I like to look at this list when I get stressed and realize even the littlest things can make me smile.

Don't Judge.

I worked all weekend... I am talking 13 hour days. We had a succesful event, and I walked away with two new favorite shows. I love Hulu. Seriously- it is in my top 10 favorite things these days.

Kitchen Nightmares. Talk about scary. Also, it will make you begin to second guess all eateries.

It is good. Chef Ramsey is awful, and I think he feels as if he needs to get the people to "crack" and then he can make everything better. Some people should not open restuarants. The following people should not open restaruants.

• Family with family (terrible idea)
• Friends
• Waitresses who only know how to serve
• People who have no idea how to run a restaurant
• A caterer (just because you can cater does not mean you can run a restaurant

Also-- choose good chefs. Duh.

I took a quantity cooking class in college, maybe I should open a restuarant. Even better I majored in Hotel, Resort, and Hospitality Management. I definately should.

It just reinforced what my dad always says, "60% of all businesses fail in the first 4 years." {I am not really sure what % it is... but my dad is pretty smart.}

I can feel you judging me. Stop.

This is the most terrible show ever. Yet, it is also amazing at the same time. It is hosted by Whitney from MTVs The Hills. I don't know if hosting a show is exactly her strength. I feel like we have the same television hosting skills {kind of awkward}. Anyways... this is the search for the Genuine Ken. You know, the perfect boyfriend. The one who cooks, cleans, knows how to decorate, plans great dates, dresses well, and has talents {those are the tasks they have performed so far}.

I just feel really bad for the contestants, because they have no chance at being the "Genuine Ken". He couldn't make it on the show because he's already married. Married to me.

If that last line wasn't gaggy, I do not know what was.

I apologize.

If you find yourself with 21 or 41 minutes to spare... I suggest either show.