New Year's Resolutions.....

It's New Year's Eve

It's a time to reflect on the past year and to make some resolutions for the next year...

It's an exciting time, a time for hope, for new beginings or time for a renewal.

So I can never remember my resolutions from any previous years....so this blog can help me to remember, or just keep track.

Here we GO!!

#1. Be more Organized and reduce the Clutter!!

seriously!!

I can do it...I've actually already started.....

I bought another set of these containers at walmart...only like $8.

I already had the other set of 4.

and out came the cricuit! :)

so awesome.

Sure, it's BIG and BOLD

but i kind of really like it!

It made me so super excited!

I even went to the dollar store today to buy some containers to put all my other stuff in {marshmallows, chocolate chips, baking supplies, nuts, etc!)

I need to label them {makes me really want a label maker....} but I might just print them out and tape them on, they have the chance to change....

I also bought ome drawer organizers so stuff isn't just thrown in a drawer....it gets a bit excessive.

Also....I saw on pinterest {of course} this:

Source: mysimplerlife.com via Lisa on Pinterest

It literally is a calendar for 2012 with one project a day to help you declutter!

Love it!!!

I am SO going to do this!

And it will help so much when we move {hopefully into a bigger-townhome!}

#2 Cook, Create, Sew, Bake, and Decorate more!

how fun does that sound?

This also includes.....posting it all on the blog so I can share it all with you!

how awesome is that??

So, excpect more from me on all those items

Hopefully we will see some big changes and growth!

I'm excited! {you should be too!}

#3 Lose ALL baby weight PLUS the extra 10{ish} I had from Miss K.

big feats!!! lol.

P90x is in my future, and I'm SO excited to start it all!

really! how crazy does that sound?

I will share with you all my weight loss journey as well!

That, won't start until late April, but it is already a Big goal and I'm excited about it too!!

There will be lots of other things too but those are the big ones that I am sharing.... 

What are your resolutions???

This post was featured here!!
go check out her site! SO cute!

GD!! really??

ok....it doesn't stand for Gosh Darnit....but it should...

on my appt on tues. I failed my 1 hour glucose test.

FAILED!

:(

deep down I was expecting it.

i don't know why....I just had a feeling.

I got a 151, and i guess it should be at most 140, so not too bad.

BUT...It is just a screening for Gestational Diabeties and isn't the diagnositic test.

so that's good. 

there is still a chance I don't have it.

I go in next week to have the 3 hour glucose test. fun!

But until then...I am cutting back on sugar, somewhat....It's christmas!!

I am still super thirsty all the time and drink about a gallon of water a day.

and still have swelling.....SO....we will see next week when I go back

as of tuesday, baby is breech

{there's still time}

and measuring a smidge bigger.

Dr. isn't worried about my weight gain so far.....but i am.

{hence my previous post/vent}

I am HUGE and don't see how I can actually get any bigger.

seriously....how?

trying{SUPER hard}not to think about it.

eat lots of veggies, drink lots of water...not much I can do

{in my opinion.}

it's the last days before christmas......and seriously there was a MILLION people at the mall today.

A MILLION!!

no parking spots, terrible drivers, crowds, lines, mean people, people in a hurry rushing you...

ahhhhhhhh. not my idea of fun.

my shopping is done and has been for at least a week, hopefully I don't have to go back

but oh well....it's much more fun when you have all your family with you doing crazy stupid things.

have you seen that show "Impractical Jokers" on TruTV?

yeah....the boys have started doing some of the crazy things seen on that show in the mall.

pretty funny.

you should check out the show.....

just saying.

time for a nap :)

Having fun

I want to blog....

I really do

but I'm seriously busy

busy with family, hanging out, launging, playing games, and eating good food.

We are in Provo for about another week   

family is visiting from Maryland

we are having fun with the new baby

we made some of Kristina's crock pot lasagna but added ground beef, more cottage cheese, a zucchini, and more sauce to fill the gi.nor.mous crockpot i have. plus feeding 2 teenage boys {one whom is 6'5 230 lbs} so it had to be able to basically feed an army.

we've gone shopping, done the shooting range....

we also have plans to go the lights, a baby blessing, temple square, and hopefully we get to get some PHO!! seriously. love that stuff. {it's a vietnamese noodle soup}

next time....I will tell all about my OB appt....the good and the bad

yes, there is bad......sucks, but everything is pretty good.

Happy Holidays :)  

a quickie....

We are out of town :)

spending lots of time with family

waiting for more family to arrive!!

counting down until christmas.

mostly just hanging out with baby Kyler

Miss K loves to rock him in his bouncer

kiss him all over.

touch him lots.

we use lots of hand sanitizer in this house. lol.

she's in love.

we all are though.

he's adorable!!

has tons of hair and sleeps all.the.time.

seriously!

LUCKY!!!!!

{miss k was always awake...always....she made me cry, a lot}

I caught him when his eyes were actually open for a bit.

it's always a fight to hold him. of course. lol.

So, if you don't hear much from us at all....

that's what we are doing.

and enjoying every bit!

and......

since there hasn't been a baby update in a while....

this was me december 10, just before going to the temple.

at about 25 weeks.

not as humungo as  used to be....weird. feels like I shrunk.

baby moves tons

i have heartburn....constantly

my "brown line" has started to appear above my belly button already

i've also got this permanate "tan" thingy that looks like i'm wearing a bib. seriously.

I completely forgot about that happening with k until I was about to get in the shower this morning.

it's weird.

i have acid reflux....did i mention that?

I get my glucose test on tuesday.

baby usually feels like she is head down

i bought some super huge maternity pants (they didn't have my size) so I look ultra huge in them. but they are comfy!!!!

some days drink at least a gallon of water a day. seriously. i'm that thirsty. it's good for you.....but we will ask tues if i should be worried.

I get really winded going up and down amber's stairs all the time.

i'm really starting to slow down. lol.

still no name decided.

almost into the 3rd trimester now.....so like 13 weeks left!

wowza!!!

getting down to the wire...

and we don't have ANYTHING. lol.

{besides some clothes and also a pack 'n play leftover from k}

i'm not worried....

{ok, trying not to freak out as i type this...}

once christmas is over, we will have pleanty of time to focus on baby! it's all good.

lol :)

Hope you all are enjoying your final days before christmas

<3

Candy Apple "Pie"

So, I found this recipe on pinterest.....

{isn't that how most conversations start now adays....funny}

Source: tastykitchen.com via Lisa on Pinterest

the original recipe comes from she's becoming doughmesstic

it's supposed to be in like a pie form...but they used a springform (takes better pics I guess)

I did too.....I used the 10"......should have used the 9"

it looked a little flat...

I didn't have the nuts that it usually called for....or the toffee bits you could substitute it for

so I just omitted it.

I didn't have the stuff to make the homemade whipped topping....

so I just used the refrigerated in a can stuff

{yeah it's still good!}

it was SOO yummy.

the crust became all carmelized and chewy....and so yummy.

Hubs loved it. it's like apple pie and cheesecake in one.

Just a little vent-ish type thingy.....

ok.....First off...I love the fact that I am pregnant and I am So thankful that nothing has gone wrong....

that being said.....

why do I have to be the one who gains SO much weight during pregnancy?

I swear.....

with Miss K I gained about 45 ish lbs {gasp! i know!}

and I was going to spin class at least 2 times a week, and working out the rest

You would think she would be this huge, pump baby.....

nope

not at all

she was born 11 days past my due date and only weighed like 6 lbs 12 oz.

seriously!

HOW? where did all that weight go?

to my butt. and my legs. and my belly....oh, don't forget my face.

I am not one of those girls that can wear pre-pregnancy jeans home from the hospital.

I can't even fit pre-pregnancy jeans in the 3rd trimester!

it's semi-depressing

because I see people who look freaking awesome like a week after birth.

really? i think i'm going to cry.....

I'm just not blessed in that area, genetically.

sucks.

I hate watching movies/tv where they come home from the hospital and they are super skinny...

thanks for making your movie realistic.

thanks for making the mothers around the world feel worse about themselves.

You probably think i sound crazy

blame it on the hormones.

but I am tired of the unrealistic view of women in the world.

I am not airbrushed {wish i was sometimes :) }

I don't have a six pack {never have no matter how hard I tried}

I've never even had a flat stomach {even when I weighed only 110 lbs and went to the gym almost everyday-right before my pregnancy with k-seriously}

i have strech marks {a friend once told me they are the sign of a real woman}

I have scars...

I am not perfect {no one is}

AND....that's OK!!

I won't stop trying

we are going to be working out hardcore post baby {p90x, anyone?}

and I eat pretty healthy now {minus last night's pastrami cheese burger-it was Miss Brittney's birthday!} and will eat healthy postpartum

I will have a ways to go {I'm guessing at least 45 lbs to lose--that includes the extra 15 left over from K. awesome!} but I will try and I will get there. This time, I have Drew to help :)

but, if i avoid you for a while...it's because I still look like a fatty.

don't judge me.

Sorry for my little vent here...but, you know...hormones ;)

consider yourself lucky ladies if you are back to a pre-pregnancy weight {or less} with in 3 months of giving birth. {I secretly hate you, btw ;)}

But remember....if you aren't....You are still beautiful!!
{i'm still trying to get it through my head, lame i know.}

And you aren't the only one....trust me :)

Creamy Butternut and Veggie Soup Recipe

We got a bountiful basket on Saturday...which means we were up and out of the house by 7 to go pick it up! yikes, that's early. {and we also got to see the lunar eclipse!!}

it came with a lovely butternut squash so I automatically think SOUP!

and I, of course, get all excited!

{who gets all excited about making a soup?? this girl.}

So I head over to pinterest {where else?} to find a yummy recipe.

I found 2. But then I wanted to make it differently...or use BOTH recipes.....So that's where this recipe came from!

If you want to see the originals go Here and Here 

Creamy Butternut and Veggie Soup

Ingredients:

1 medium butternut squash

1 large sweet potato

1-2 large carrots

1-2 large stalks of celery

2 apples or pears {or combo}

1 small onion

olive oil

salt

pepper

2-14.5 oz cans of {low sodium} chicken {or veggie} stock

1/2 cup ricotta/cottage cheese
1 tablespoon honey
1/2-3/4 c sour cream
dash or two of cinnamon
ground nutmeg to taste (optional)

First, you need to prepare your butternut squash.

Do this by cutting off the ends, then cutting it in half.

peel off the skin and chop in half, the other way

the bottom has a bunch a seeds, so clean these out with a spoon

chop up your squash
{looks like a cantaloupe, huh? smells like it too!}

Add this to a foil-lined deep cookie sheet

Then you peel and dice up the sweet potato, carrot, celery, apples and/or pears.
and add them to the cookie sheet

drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper

Roast these for 1 hour in a 275 degree preheated oven

Remove from oven and pour all ingredients into a large pot.

Cook on medium/medium high for about 7 minutes, things should brown a little.

Add chicken stock

Bring to a boil

Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for about 45 minutes.
{until all veggies are soft...longer if veggies are chopped bigger}

Transfer soup into a blender, add cottage and ricotta cheeses, and blend until smooth
{My blender broke about 2 months ago....well the cup part shattered because it wasn't exactly put away properly...So I had to blend it with my hand mixer, then also use my kind of small food processor to blend the ingredients...see the extra mess? :)}

return to pot and add honey, 1/2 c sour cream, and cinnamon.
blend well.

add more sour cream to taste {if needed}

serve & enjoy! :)

the family's verdict....the hubs thought it was ok {he's not a big soup fan in the 1st place} plus he said, "compared to the other stuff you make, this isn't as amazing" his translation: you are an amazing cook, but this isn't my favorite.
the child: loved to dip her homemade bread into it.
So, the leftovers are being put into muffin tins and frozen for later individual use.

going to make some?? come back and tell me what you think! :)

<3

I actually won something! :)

So when I linked up my scarf storage to Lil' Luna she was also doing a giveaway! 

HOORAY for a giveaway!

{go check out her site! it's freakin' legit! recipes, tips, printables....etc. awesomeness!}

I never win anything....

but not this time! :)

The giveaway was sponsored by Chic Headbands

I got to pick ANY headband I wanted to! 

I picked the Harlo....

looks nice?

{forget the terrible pics of me with my getting bigger preggo face...more on that later!}

i'm not much of a headband girl...i bought it for the baby coming

BUT that's what's awesome about these headbands....it fits baby thru adult!

So i can wear it, the child can wear it, or the baby can wear it!!

sweeet!

doesn't she look lovely?

and the headband...SUPER CUTE!

I love the flower, it really does look so real! 

much better than a rolled flower type look!

Go check out her etsy site...I might have to go buy some more, it was SO hard to choose just one!

<3

Christmas Q&A

I saw this little Q&A on Welcome to Heardmont and thought I should play along! {go visit her site to see her answers, and browse, she shares some great tutorials and recipes!} I noticed we have the same curtains {from IKEA! love that place!}

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate?

Both...BUT...hot chocolate for me, and eggnog for the hubby. {he loves that junk! bleh!}

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?

He wraps! Unless...there is a really big item, it would just get a bow {i can't stand seeing alll that paper go to waste!}

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

White. only white. I think it's more classy...and the hubby only wants white also!

sorry it's blurry

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

Nope. don't even know where to get it....I guess I could look and find some...

5. When do you put your decorations up?

I'm supposed to wait until after Thanksgiving. But I don't have Thanksgiving Decorations {none!} so, this year we decorated right before we left on our mini vacay. it was nice...the house was all decorated when we got home :)

6. What is your favorite holiday dish?

Ham. I don't know why....I love it! with mashed potatoes! 

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?

{not exactly a fav but I can't really remember any...} 

The last christmas with my dad. I remember getting the tree and him getting it up the stairs, there were needles everywhere. I was excited. 

That was the last real tree I remember. 

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

Don't remember...don't care. It's all still magical and beautiful. I love Christmas

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

Yes! usually pjs. we have to match! I love that tradition.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

right now we have no ornaments on here, hubs says it looks "classier" that way. I don't really care, considering ornaments look funny on them since they are maybe 36" tall. We put them on top of our buffet thingy. I think it looks really good there!

11. Snow! love it or dread it?

more of a love than dread...I love to watch it fall and see how beautiful it is all around you. But walking in it or driving in it...not so fun...because other people can't drive {I can, of course!} We haven't had too much snow here...weird! but that's ok....

but not...

if it's going to be this cold, it should snow. 

just sayin.

12. Can you ice skate?

not very well. I won't even try right now since I'm preggo. scarrrry!

{side note-the hubby & I's 1st date was ice skating--in August! :)}

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

probably a bike when I was younger.

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?

Family! No doubt. 

I love that we can spend so much time together, hanging out, having fun, relaxing, etc. 

Plus, it's a great time to remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?

cheesecake :) yummy! but I don't discriminate...I try everything!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

matching pjs...

we are still working on establishing our own traditions but the pjs will be there every year!

17. What tops your tree?

nothing at the moment.

18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving?

GIVING! 

I love the anticipation. 

I love trying to pick out the perfect gift. and when you actually think you have the perfect gift! that makes it better. 

I can't wait for people to open the gifts that I got for them. 

But I also worry that they won't like it! Especially if it's something I've made for them!

19. Candy canes: yuck or yum?

minty ones: yuck...fruity ones: yum...chocolatey ones: not so much

but I don't really eat them anyways

20. Favorite christmas movie?

ELF. I LOVE that movie! Will Ferrell is beyond awesome. I can almost quote the whole movie. seriously. 

21. Saddest christmas song?

the christmas shoes one. I cried the first time I heard it. 

22. What is your favorite christmas song?

{very hard to choose}  "What child is this"

I’m curious to see how you guys would answer these questions.  Do we share any favorite Christmas traditions?  If you play along, leave a link so I can come visit and see your answers!

Ugly COokies

Ugly Cookies

{ugly but oh SO good!)

I recently made these for 2 church activities. The first batch, we took home an empty pan and lots of requests for the recipe. The second we got to take home 1/2 a pan-it was a RS activity (only about half the women came) {hooray for the hubs, who LOVES it!} 

But...I have to give credit for where I got it, I didn't make it up....I don't know if she did or not..but in our ward cookbook Cecilia Young submitted these...

Ingredients:

1 lb graham crackers (I used 1 box or 3 packages)

2 cans sweet condensed milk

2-12 oz bags chocolate chips*

chopped nuts (she says to use 2 bags of pecan gems---I omit them)

1 tsp vanilla (I forgot it the first time. lol. but it was still tasty!)

*Can also use a mix of white chocolate, butterscotch, or peanut butter chips (the first time I only had 1.5 bags of choc chips, so added white. Still yummy!) 

*For this time I added a half bag of mini marshmallows also

In a big bowl, dump the graham crackers and smash them into bite-sized pieces

Add the rest of the ingredients.

{see the few white choc chips?}

Mix well

{I added the mallows last, then mixed}

Spread out on greased cookie sheets

*or if you want you can put them on a spoonful at a time

Bake at 350 for about 10-15 minutes

(the longer time if they are in the bar form and thicker.)

Watch it to be a golden brown

Enjoy!!

I usually allow them to cool first....hubs usually can't wait.

<3

linking up in the linkies section!

Giving Thanks--Day 24

{what the heck happened??}Good thing this is the last day....I can't seem to keep up with anything{Thursday}Today, I am thankful for our family.I am thankful for those in my household, as well as those not.....Our mothers and fathers, brothers, sister, nephew, grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, cousins, second cousins, anything...you name it.Without our families our lives are less meaningful.We are so blessed to have such amazing families with such great examples. We love them all so much!For thanksgiving we got to spend lots of time with Drew's cousin Larry, his wife Mina and their 4 wonderful children. It was lots of fun...and only a 5 hour drive away from us! Not bad for living so far away from family. Their house is gorgeous and we can't wait to go back to hang out, play more music, and have K run lose and basically control the other 4. lol!She had a blast. They read to her or did anything she wanted whenever she wanted them to...if one didn't, another would. they had a nice tag team effect going on. Yes, K uses that much energy!
We do get sad whenever we cannot make it to family events or get togethers.It's not that we don't want to go, It is because we just can't right now. We're kind of poor college students. kind of...it just can't fit into our schedules or budget. We love our family so much and LOVE it when we can spend more time with them. Family is the most important thing to us and we hope to build that same outlook within our children.
<3