Happy New Year friends!

This has been a great year, in many, many ways.

This year we had a few cabin excursions, had a wonderful vacation with friends in beautiful Cozumel, Mexico. Dave and I headed over to Cancun for a little alone time and got fried. Finished up my obsession with Lost... sigh. Was in two plays, much to Dave's chagrin (he was a little 'played' out, not anymore though fyi). Ate way too much, sorry for all the food posts... Went to see my favorite comedian Brian Regan, hosted two baby showers, ate some more, read a lot of books, oh, built a house. We spent an amazing few days in Jackson Hole with my fam for the reunion, saw some good movies, went crazy decorating my house, and also had an incredible trip back east with Dave's family. We also went to the Utah State Fair, were Alice and the Mad Hatter for Halloween, aquired a new brother in law!, had many back problems (still unresolved...), and had a very expensive car repair year ($200 only a few days ago for a specific Saturn battery grrr...).

But overall we have quite a lot to be thankful for. I hope next year is going to be just as awesome.

oh. my. ohmyohmyohmyohmy

Where have we been? Yes, we're still alive. We've just been busy little bees. What a crazy month yo!

Amidst Bre's wedding, family Christmas parties galore, watching our favorite Christmas showes, and trying to sleep in between, it's been a busy month.

Bre's wedding was loads of fun (pictures to come, hopefully...).
Family Christmas parties were awesome, I LOVE my fams.

And Christmas was wonderful. Christmas Eve, after having to work till 2pm..., we headed up to my parent's house in Heber and the snow was just lovely, really got you in the Christmas mood, since SLC was really lacking in that department. Had a great Christmas Eve evening (can you say that?) with all my siblings and their {very loud, but lovable} kids. Half of the siblings, those without chilluns, slept over and experienced Christmas morning at the parent's. After getting everything our little hearts could desire, we had a delicious breakfast made by my hubby and my little sis. Crepes, fruit, and bacon (guess what was Dave's contribution). After filling up our tummies with Nutella, bananas, and "man-candy," we headed up to the Smith's cabin in Timberlakes and braved the 9 foot tall snow drifts (ok only some of them were, but seriously, tons of snow).

Up at the cabin we just vegged, and vegged, and vegged. I was a little vegged out, I'll be honest. Dave bested everyone at pool, that kid has skills yo! I read a new book, watched Toy Story 3, and ate and ate and ate. I think I'm done with food until 2011, please don't ask me to eat anymore leftover cookies! Bleh. Too much goodness.

Now on to New Year's Eve... I've never been a big New Year's person, probably because I usually fall asleep before midnight. Lame? Yeah, probably, but whatevs ;)

So what are you doing New Year's Eve? (every time I say that I start singing the song...)

During the 'storm of the century' that wasn't.... my sista Bre came over and I made some delicious Christmas goodies while watching Jim Carey in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, it gets funnier with each viewing.

Oh these cookies were good. Love those peppermint Kisses.

Then I finally used up a package of Frrrrrozen Hot Chocolate from Serendipity3 and it was goood. Dave had two (because after I made them I realized I had poured four glasses for some reason. Alzheimer's coming early?) But he sure didn't mind.

You all should have a 'snowed in' night sometime, even if we weren't really snowed in and all, just the prospect of it got us in the Christmas mood.

Two wedding and a baby shower later.......... I was pooped.

Cousins Meagan and Alycia at the shower at Alycia's house {sisters}. Alycia, on the left cuts my hair, and Meagan, on the right, is having a baby due on Dave and I's anniversary. My little sister Bre and her hubby are sitting by the fireplace in the background, it was a double shower for Bre and Meagan for the Briggs side of the family.



Then I rushed home to quickly make the most amazing caramel wassail/apple cider in the world, first time wassail/apple cider maker too mind you (we couldn't figure out which it was - wassail or apple cider, if anyone really knows the difference, let me know). It was supposed to simmer for an hour.... more like 20 minutes on high for me, but still delicious. It made my house smell amazing. Then the guests for Bre's 2nd shower started arriving, mostly from the Evans side of the family.
That ginormous poinsettia was a house warming gift from my pseudo family, the Wahlstroms. Thank you guys! And do you see our new rug that FINALLY arrived? Two and a half months later.... and right in the nick of time for the shower. Those bar stools we are painting red FYI, one of the several things I just couldn't get to in time for the shower. This pic was taken after all the hoopla {and 30-40 people} left.

Bre and Addison hung around after the fiesta to watch Modern Family with Dave and I, and I caught them canoodling...

Bre I think most of my pictures of you are with your mouth wide open... you Muppet.
{The Smith family after the shower(s)}

After all the cleaning, the festivities and re-cleaning after the festivities, I pooped out on the couch. Dave and I started Shrek, such a good movie, and I fell asleep at 9 p.m. Yes, 9 o'clock. 9 in the evening. And didn't wake up until 8 a.m. Eleven hours of sleep....I think the last time I fell asleep that early I was 10.

It was a great Saturday. I seriously have The. Best. extended family in the world, on both sides. I'm always so excited to see my cousins, aunts and uncles (and of course all the in-laws, we're huge now) and it's awesome knowing that they're there for you to help out with anything. Food for the shower, done. Everyone pitched in, as they always do, and brought some amazing desserts and appetizers. And I love the company, always fun to talk to. I'm seriously so lucky to have such a great family.

So happy wedding Bre! And Meagan we're so excited for little Samuel to come on Dave and I's special day, hope he makes it before the end of the year!

Some of my favorite things from Thanksgiving 2010:

Miss Lucy-loo, check out those eyes. Adorable child.

And Jimmy, with his pants raised as high as possible {curtesy of his loving and practical joker father, Wayne}
And Jimmy {obviously} loving it, and showing it off with p.r.i.d.e. {and perhaps a little swagger?}

I love family. So grateful for them this holiday season.

Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving.

Another new favorite - tried sweet potatoes for the first time, never grew up having them oddly enough, and they were amazing Mylissa! Nice job. I think you'll be asked to make them every year from here on out. I made a delicious, if I do say so myself, old favorite, spinach artichoke dip. Oooh it was heaven.

Family AND food. Can life get better? I submit it cannot.

Love is...

....letting Kirsten watch a major chick-flick when my favorite team is playing my least favorite team and I REALLY want to watch it!

Love you Kirst!

{written by Dave}

merry christmas to me {early}

This item has been bugging me on my Amazon wish list for ages; always wanting me to buy it, saying how much I'll like it, saying my home will be beautiful and my life will be fulfilled if I just purchase it. Well... I gave in. Can't wait to get it!

So I just added this followers section to my blog.

Maybe you all should become a follower.... so it looks like I have more than 3 friends.

Just do it. Make me proud.

Follow me while I post embarrassing insights into Dave and I's life.

And thank you :)

P.S. Anyone else super excited about the royal wedding taking place in Britain?? Go Kate Middleton! Yeah I'm jumpin on that royal bandwagon. And I can't wait to see her wedding dress. Just saw this picture and had to laugh, love the superimposed head ;)

you know what i love about today?

it was a partial snow day at work.

i got to leave at 3:15.

and i was so happy.

i was going to clean my house with my extra two hours from work, i was going to make cookies, still might, and i was going to dig out my Christmas decor but now i'm watching Bruce Almighty with my sister and hubby.

and it's beautiful outside.

maybe i'll get around to my stuff. maybe.

first off: it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and i am LOVING it. i woke up to this weather yesterday morning. this pic was taken from my bedroom window. and i immediately started blasting Christmas music, the first time this year. dave was hesitant but how can you not listen to Christmas music when it looks like that outside??

secondly: house updates

the master bathroom flower decale, i like it.

DIY tisssue balls, made for my sister's shower.

family room corner decale in damask print.

the blue body length mirror, used to be a dark brown color (i need to take a picture of the finished product...)

curtains i "hemmed" myself, with a little help from my iron :)

it's all starting to come together, o' little home of mine. bit by bit. just waiting on getting my rug i ordered 2 and a half months ago.... supposedly it's coming this week....

a few more projects in the works that i'm really excited about. hopefully i get a few done this week before my sister's bridal shower. wish me luck!

Have you ever blanched before? I did today, for the first time. And I so don't recommend it.

Have you ever put your foot in your mouth? I did today, not for the first time. Once again, don't recommend it.

I was even thinking earlier this week about stupid things I've said or done in my life that I totally regret now. Isn't that the worst feeling?

I concluded life really is about living and learning, sometimes painfully. And I have a lot of the later to do, but at least I know it.

Seriously - weird experience blanching. I mean I read about it in books all the time, "So and so blanched when she saw the look of fear in her son's eyes" etc. etc. I looked it up {because when Google is your best friend, you do that with everything} and here is the very interesting definition:

a temporary whitening of the skin due to transient ischemia

and what is that last part? transient ischemia means "a mini-stroke"!

Whaaat? So apparently I had a mini stroke this morning. I probably deserved it.

Sigh........

cats and dogs

You haven't seen this half of our family in awhile. Look at those glamour shots!

Re-meet Sophie and Lola

{Piglet and The Fatty}

Sophie snorts like a pig, especially when she's super excited, meaning when she wants to eat something, which is pretty much all of the time.

Lola, or Kitty, is lazy as I'll get out {I just learned that phrase btw, who really says "as I'll get out"?} She naps about 8 hours a day. But dang she's so friggin cute. I really have a love/hate relationship with her. She doesn't love me {she's a cat, did I really expect more?}, and so then I hate her. But out of nowhere I'll be reading my book on the couch and this little head will poke out from under my book forcing me to cuddle with her and she turns into the sweetest little critter I've ever seen.

But most of the time she ignores me, aren't cats just the best ;)

veteran's day rocks. especially when you work at a bank. and you get the day off :]

so i spent the day:

sleeping in till 9:30... ooooh yes

going up to Park City to my pop's business to take pictures of him and the office for his new website {if you're in need of an amazing eye doc, he's the one to see}

freezing while taking pictures outside, not ready for this weather just yet

meeting up with my mom to eat at a new/old favorite {i hadn't been there in years, like 10 or more} Kneaders. go, if you haven't. they're actually going to cater my sis's wedding in December and i can't wait to eat the desserts....

returned a pantry organizer we bought at Bed, Bath, and Beyond because we found a better one at Home Depot (yes, HD, weird) and I bought one of these instead which i've been eyeing for quite some time

this weekend i:

"hemmed" my curtains using Bond 'N Seal and it worked like a friggin charm

hung up some hooks in my bathroom that we've been waiting to do for ages

cleaned the entire house

hung up a few more pictures

yelled at a the worst company, Rugs USA. bought a rug from them two months ago and still haven't seen it, apparently it's on back order and i'll get it in a week and half... i'll believe it when i see it amigos

sanded some stools and other furniture that now is waiting for me to paint them (ok to be fair - Dave sanded them)

went to see The Drowsy Chaperon and LOVED it. Aldolpho was my favorite, he played my "husband" when i did Singin' in the Rain. he's hilarious.

watched the worst movie made, Jonah Hex. i know, i know. why did i even go there? couldn't i tell it was dumb from the cover? i know, but i did. and i wasted 88 minutes of my life

made an amazingly delicious pot roast that dave devoured and had three helpings of

longingly looked at home things online that i'll just have to wait to get till after the holidays...

sat around the house in these amazing things

oh and read two great books, The Lost Hero and The Scorch Trials, liked em both and am annoyed i have to wait a whole other year for the sequels...


all in all, a fairly productive weekend for me. i still have many things i'm working on with my home which are keeping me busy. and yes, i'm still waking up thinking about where to hang things and what to put on what wall and i'm going a little mad in the process...

i love technology, but not as much as you you see. but i still love technology. always and forever.... always and, sniff, forever...

So yesterday I forgot my phone. Wow. Talk about withdrawals! I did the same thing on Friday (okay just to clarify what might seem like a common occurrence, it's NOT, I never forget my phone). I felt nakie. On top of that our computers and the phones at my job didn't work for about half the day. It was the weirdest day. I mean, what was life like before cell phones, texting, email and internet? I can barely remember. Okay I totally remember, but I just don't like to.

Remember when you set up your first email? Remember when you sent your first text? {Dave taught me how to use T9 when we were dating back in our BYU days}. Remember when sending and receiving texts were like 15 cents a pop? Remember when you were in school and used to have to look everything up at the library, in books? My mom actually "bought" a phone number with a PIN that we could use for emergencies at any pay phone, before a cell phone entered my life. Remember when cell phones were for 'emergencies only' (well in my family anyway)? I don't even have a home phone now.

Yesterday I totally felt like an addict being weaned off a drug. No surfing the internet! (not like I do that at work anyway...), not texting, no email, no calling anyone on the drive home. Whew, hope I never have to be without it again. I might just sleep with it tonight.

A side note: why in the world are pillows (or pellows as we say in Utah) so freakin expensive! I really want these pillows from Target but they're like $50 a piece. Are they lined with gold or something? Sigh. Aren't they cute for Christmas? Maybe if I'm a super good girl... no wait, what am I thinking? Even for Christmas I don't think I'd spend that much on pellows.

what we've been up to

a beautiful sunset on the drive home...
and then Halloween! can you guess who I was?

somebody couldn't get enough of my blond wig.... like seriously ;)

how embarassing dave! you came in the same costume as our host. but you had a good chat about how cool you looked.

speaking of cool.... how cool do these cupcakes look? can you guess what they are? i made them for the party.

enjoying the last of the warm weather out at sugarhouse park and loving the leaves.... absolutely gorgeous.

happy fall, one and all! oh and i bought my first christmas item at the store today. i shouldn't have because i believe in the proper order of things; thanksgiving then christmas... but i couldn't contain my excitement for the season. literally i grabbed dave in the store when i saw the christmas stuff and kind of gave an embarassing girly scream/giggle and then said "let's buy our first christmas item of the season!" he kind of shook his head and moved several feet away from me... i want to say it's because he went to grab one of the said christmas items but i have a sneeking suspicion he might not have wanted to be seen with me right at the moment.

a movie review

"He who is not busy being born, is busy dying."

That, is what this movie was all about. I went to see it last night at The Broadway Theater in downtown Salt Lake. And I have to say I really enjoyed it, enough to recommend it even. It's a unique story that focuses on a young teenager, facing, what would seem, the regular struggles of our day. Overwhelmed with thoughts of suicide he decides to commit himself. In the adult psychiatric ward he discovers many things about himself while looking through the eyes of those around him.

I thought this material, which could seem very dark and heavy, was realistically displayed, all with a simple and honest sense of humour. It had just the right touch of making the characters real but bearable to watch and laugh with/at. It was touching, simple, and funny, but brings to light many things that we all are struggling with and teaches us how to just "deal" with what life throws at us.

Not like this show didn't have it's pitfalls, a few crude parts that I thought could have been left out, but also not so crude that I wouldn't recommend it.

If you have the time, go and see it. The acting was surprisingly fantastic and the themes surprisingly poignant. The main boy in it I would totally adopt for my younger brother, what a sweetie. Go here for a summary/analysis if you want to totally spoil it for yourself, I suggest watching it first and then reading it.

Things I forgot, never knew, or wish someone had just told me.

I forgot how good Thriller is. Have you been to see it at the U? Awesome. Thank you to my friend Jenny for hooking us up with tickets. And guess who was there with a stellar performance as a Ghostbuster? Gev from So You Think You Can Dance. And I think he can. After much pushing and pulling on my part, Dave finally consented to go and he loved it. He even wants to go next year.

I forgot how good looking Marlon Brando is. Does anyone remember who he is? He's an oldy but goody actor (think A Street Car Named Desire, On the Waterfront, and Guys and Dolls). What a babe. And On the Waterfront is a good classic btw. Dave also liked that, probably not as much as me however ;)

I forgot how high Oliver's voice is in Oliver! But I also forgot that I love that movie. Love the music. The whole thing makes me want to cry though, I especially hate the battered woman storyline... but the rest of the story is beautiful.

I never knew and wished someone had told me just how easy/delicious/and wonderful tin foil dinners are! I never knew you could make them on a grill either. Dave and I have been on a tin foil dinner kick and loving it. Sooo easy. I had a random craving for it the other night and have been making them the last four nights, yes, FOUR nights. They're perfectly pipping hot for these chilly fall nights. Here's what we found worked great:

Tin Foil Dinners with the Smith's

ground beef or sausage, seasoned with steak seasoning I got from Costco
baby carrots
scalloped potatoes
green peppers, diced
white onions, diced
and here's the best part, a dollop of cream of chicken soup on each serving

Wrap them all up like a burrito in two layers of tin foil, leaving it a little loose so that it can steam. Cook on a preheated grill at about 425 degrees for 20 minutes. Then turn over and cook for another 20 minutes. Easy peasy! You can shred some sharp cheddar on top and it's delicious. Enjoy.

Oh I wish someone had told me this years ago. Did you know you can preserve cheap rings so that they don't turn your finger green or turn a copper color? I went to return a ring that started turning my finger green right away and the girl asked me if I'd ever tried putting clear nail polish on it. Say what??? Why has no one told me this before?? I rarely buy expensive jewelry but I do love the costume stuff. I'm always sad when it turns coppery and I can't wear it anymore. Now you all know, I wear the cheap stuff, but now I'll get to wear it longer. And now you all can too.

I never knew how interesting Interview With the Vampire is. Thought I would read it just in time for the Halloween holiday. It wasn't amazing but it was very entertaining and an easy read. My friend has the movie edited so I think I might watch that before Saturday.

Speaking of Halloween... I never knew how much renting a costume could be! My word. We always go to our friend's, the Wahlstrom's, Halloween party and you HAVE to have a costume. They go all out and it's awesome. This year we decided to try renting costumes vs. creating a dumb costume at the last minute. And I think our costumes are going to be fantastic. At least I hope... we shall see come Saturday. Did you know that buying costumes costs about the same as renting? Yes, they do. So we think we'll just buy them on sale after Halloween is over and then we'll have a slew to choose from later, and maybe save a few bucks along the way.

Happy Halloween everyone!

A picture is worth a thousand words...so they say. So here they are :]

It's somewhat 'too little too late' but... meh.

The State Fair.

Ahhhh nachos. They were gooood.

Cows eyes. And udders. You don't see those everyday. Nor would I want too...
Pigs in a blanket. Soooo cute. And little.

Cotton candy. The fair is not complete without it.
And now fall. Summer has ended :(

Bre's birthday dinner. At the Blue Plate Diner. If you haven't been there before you are so missin out. Love it everytime. Breakfast all day - try the banana pancakes. Delectable.
Dad is great, he gives us chocolate cake! {Whoever can name what I'm quoting, you will get a gold star, and personally be invited to eat one of my specialty chocolate cakes, when/if in fact I ever create a specialty chocolate cake.}

Happy birthday bird! Now you can legally {not} drink.