More loves: sewing and great deals!

Saturday Doug was assisting at school for the NERB clinical exam from 7:30- 5pm. He wanted to see what it was going to be like to help prep him for when he takes it next year. So to take my mind of him being gone, we had a dress alteration party at Britta's. This Saturday is the Dental School formal and several of us girls bought Ann Taylor or J. Crew dresses at Gabes for crazy cheap...$5- $30. I know rediculously cheap! But the problem was that they needed to made modest and be adjusted to fit our size. My sister in law, Kim, actually bought my dress for me a couple of months ago and I just had to take it up and in and am debating on making a bolero to go over it out of another dress that is similar to it, same fabric- different style, that I got for $5. Some girls are adding sleeves, covering low cut fronts and backs, or even redoing the entire bodice. (Note: Katie added those cap sleeves in the first picture, don't they look fabulous!) It was so fun working on our dresses together. I love creative minds and talented hands!

Also, I thought maybe my soon to be sister in law might want to use the Ann Taylor dresses I got for $5 a piece (retail for $199) for her bridesmaids, so I asked my fabulous friends if they wouldn't mind modeling them for a picture for her to see them. They each are a bit different from each other, but it's hard to tell in the picture. It was fun and we were being silly. I told Doug that we could get married again because I have enough bridesmaid dresses.

And a note to my boys: Thank you for being so wonderful while I worked on my dress. I sure appreciate your ability to play independently and happily. Jax, I love you for taking a 2 hour nap on Britta's couch but I sure didn't love it when you disobeyed mom and climbed into that tall thick bush and couldn't get down on your own. I was barely able to squeeze myself between the branches enough for you to stand on my hands for step stools. It's a good thing I've been working out. You have always been a great climber, do you think you could be a great listener too? Note: Jax said to me afterwards, "Mom, I need a tree to climb in with leaves." I said, "Ok, we'll find you a tree." And we did find a more safe one he could climb in. Later he says, "Dad, I need a bow and arrow so I can shoot a rabbit." Dad grins in delight and says, "This is the best day of my life." Like Father like Son.

The tree/bush to the right is the one he got stuck in. A good 9 feet up there! This was the first bush he climbed in, only 5 feet or so.

Loves of my life...Doug's romantic getaways!

So my husband knows that I love surprises, especially ones that make me feel like I'm the most important thing in his life! Well, last Friday I knew he was planning on taking me out for dinner, but when we past all the restaurants and ended up on the interstate heading south, I realized this was going to be more than a normal "dinner date." We drove an hour and a half south to Roanoke, WV a.k.a. the middle of no where and I said to him, "Is this where we are having our picnic dinner?" He smiled as we drove into Stonewall Resort. The Valet asked us if we were staying the night and Doug said, "Yes." I was so excited! He had surprised me with a getaway when Talon was just 5 months and he had done it again! After checking into our room that had a view of the lake, a red rose on the king size bed (how I long for a king size bed!), called room service to take away the Champagne that we didn't order, but did try the chocolate covered strawberries they brought us, we hurried off to our dinner reservation. We dined in their restaurant "Stillwaters" and enjoyed their Valentine's buffet. It was loaded with delights. I wanted to try everything, so I took samples of it all. Some of my favorites were the Curried Chicken Breast with Mango and Papaya Salsa, Hand Carved Herb Roasted Prime Rib, and Raspeberry Cheesecake. We stuffed ourselves full!

To our dear friends, Daniel and Kate Johnson- Thank you so much for sacrificing your weekend to give us a gift that is hard to give- time together. It meant so much to me that you guys were willing to watch our kids, in our own home, with your 6 month old. What are your thoughts on 3 kids, 3 and under? =) I felt so comfortable knowing you guys were there. Maddie, thanks for sharing your parents. I hope I can watch you sometime so your parents can have a getaway.

To my Doug- Thanks for making me feel so loved! I loved that you came up with the idea and planned it out well. I loved all the detailed surprises throughout our little trip. Your creativity and thoughtfullness is one of my favorite things about you. I love that you make our relationship a priority. P.S. Thanks for helping get our house in order this week, it sure made me feel better that the Johnsons could sleep in a clean bedroom.

To my sons- When you are married, do whatever it takes to let your wife know that she is #1 to you! Let her know she is worth the planning, creativity, money, effort, thoughtfullness, etc. Don't be average...because she doesn't deserve an average husband and you didn't marry an average woman. Go above and beyond to make her feel sooooooo loved, the way Heavenly Father would want her to feel. I promise you will in return be with a woman who wants to do whatever she can to make you feel the same way.

P.S. I really wish I had some pictures to post, but since I didn't know we were going away, I didn't bring the camera.

Loves- Great Food!

After a recent conversation, I realized that one of the reason I'd like to go to Europe is to eat. That reminded me about how Gwyneth Paltrow and Mario Batali ate their way through Italy and how I was drooling during the whole show! I just love how the Lord was so wise and so creative when he decided to help us maintain our bodies with foods from the earth and beast from the fields. How amazing that we eat things the start as a tiny seed, that then blossoms into delicious fruits and vegetables, with anti-oxidants that prevent us from getting cancer, vitamin C to keep our immune systems running, folic acid to grow healthy babies, vitamin B for good vision and healthy skin, vitamin D to help us be happy, etc. That's just amazing to me! The whole thing was skillfully thoughtout and planned to help us! And the fact that we can grow these things in the dirt...even more amazing! I loved growing some veggies and herbs last year and look forward to doing it again this year. Though we don't have a yard, our Earth Boxes did great! We got at least 100 tomatoes off our 2 Roma Tomatoes plants. Talk about savings at the grocery store...which by the way is another love...getting good deals...but we'll stay focus on this one.

I love the magic of combining foods to get flavors! The science behind it all is beyond my brain compacity...honestly, I had to take Food Science twice at BYU. I'm just in awe with the creation of food and sure love to eat it!

Some of my most favorite creations are:

Indian- Chicken Tikka Masala or Chicken Korma, withNan, and Basmati Rice
Thai- Pinapple Curry or Masaman Curry, Mango sticky rice for dessert
Italian- Tomato Basil Ravioli
Meditteranean- Tabouleh
Japanese- Nicu jaga
Chinese- Gyoza
Mexican- Tomales
American- anything grilled(BBQ Cheeseburger, BBQ ribs, shish kabobs)
Hawaiian- Pinapples...ok, seriously... Kalua pig roasted in the ground
Southern- Cornbread and Beans... I know ghetto, but I love em
Creole- Jumbalya or Cajan Salmon
Brazillian- Black beans and rice...anyone have a great recipe for this! I need it!
Ocean- Crab in garlic butter or Blackend Mahi-Mahi with Mango chutney
Freshwater- Walleye

Ok, now that I'm salivating...I'm excited for Doug to take me on our dinner date!

Loves of my life- MUSIC

I just love how music makes me happy, shares a complicated emotion, uplifts and draws me closer to my Savior, makes me wanna dance, and somehow makes cleaning a whole lot more fun. I love the classy top hat full orchestra of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, the natural barefoot on the beach style of Colbie Caillet, the piano poetry of Sara Barellis and Alicia Keys, the ballroom swing of Michael Buble, the rhythmic words of Jason Mraz and Adele, the hipswaytion of Beyonce and J-Lo, the belting vocals of Celine Dion and Carrie Underwood, the acoustic diaries of Taylor Swift and Ingrid Michaelson, anytime piano and a full band are combined like Gavin Degraw and The Fray.

For all of you music lovers out there, to the right is a sample of some of the songs on one of my playlists. By the way, www.playlist.com lets you create your own lists to listen to...love it! And www.pandora.com lets you enter an artist or song and then they create a whole station based upon that style of music. Next time you're feeling gourmet, put in Andrea Bocelli and I guarantee not only will you enjoy cooking more, but it WILL taste better!

YEAH for MUSIC!!!

Loves of my life...

In honor of Valentines, I'm going to post some of my "loves."

Today is the love of warm sunny weather! Not that today is exactly that, but the last month has been so crazy cold and snowy that it's putting a serious damper on my plans and attitude. Today was a bit nicer and we took the boys to the park. I long for beautiful sunshine and to spend more time outside! My boys need to have a daily park outing, as their energy is turning into creative disaster in our home. How I look forward to the day when we have a back yard. And now, more than ever, do I hope we get stationed in San Antonio after dental school. We'll, see. This week is suppose to be nice and I'm planning on being outside everyday, unless it rains. If anyone wants to join me at the park, give me a ring.

Here are some pics why I love the sun!