What Would You Do with. . . Red Lipstick?

Well guys, I think this is my last round of hosting WWYD. I love doing it! But since I'm not blogging regularly I often forget until the morning of, and I have orders to fill and it just ends up crazy town. Plus I'm having a baby next month!! Yay for having my lungs back!

This month we decided to do festive Decemer make up with RED LIPSTICK!!  I love it!  I don't wear much eye make up, because as a blonde I worry too much that I'll become Mimi from The Drew Carey Show.  If I'm going to play up my lips, which I love to do, I have to keep it simple with the eyes.

Anyway, we went to see Tran Siberian Orchestra last month (my fourth time! Such an awesome show!!) and I used it as a chance to dress up "fancy" for the holidays.  As fancy as maternity clothes will allow anyway. . .

I can't wait to see Aubrey's look!! Head over and check her out!  Link up your posts here!

An InLinkz Link-up

What would you do with. . . left over turkey???

This month Aubrey and I are showing you what we do with left over turkey!!  Let us know your ideas too, I'd love to try some new recipes!!

Pulling up pictures for this post and this one pulled up.  It's me and a bunch of cousins and aunt and uncle back with me) about three weeks after I started dating Adam.  They don't look intimidating do they?  Adam had so much fun meeting them all :) 

Last year my mother-in-law decided not to make a whole turkey and make just a turkey breast instead.  Dark turkey meat is my reason for living.  So I had to make my own turkey.  Which left us with A LOT of white meat turkey to use up.  I ended up loving the ease of throwing a dinner together using left over turkey.

Thanksgiving dinner II

I made a pot of gravy, added some shredded turkey and poured it over toast with a side of mashed potatoes, stuffing and cranberry sauce.

Mexican Risotto

I usually make this vegetarian but it was really good with some shredded turkey added in!

Turkey Enchilada Casserole

Another mexican meal I usually make vegetarian but it's fun to change it up and add some chunked turkey.  I mix cheese, diced olives, diced onions and chunked turkey and layer it with red enchilada sauce and corn tortillas.  I used to fry the tortillas, stuff them, roll them and then pour sauce over the top, but you know what???  They taste just the same when you layer them and they're like 100x easier!

What do you like to do with left over turkey?  This year we'll be in CA with my vegetarian family.  I'll make a turkey for me and Adam and probably my brother.  But I kinda want to buy one just to make at home in Utah and use for leftovers!

Next month Aubrey and I will be playing with red lipstick for the holidays!!  Join in and show us your look!

An InLinkz Link-up

Thoughts about the LDS Handbook policy change

 My favorite scripture is two words "Jesus wept".  As a kid I thought that may be the most worthless scripture in the bible.  Two words??  And I'm sure Jesus wept several times in his life, why did this one merit a verse?  Was John trying to meet his quota of verses?

Later when I studied the context of the verse I found profound comfort and love in those two words.  Jesus wept with Mary and Martha.  Their brother had died and they were grieving.  And while I'm sure Jesus was aware of what he was about to do, raise Lazarus from the dead, he did not discount their feelings, their grief.  He mourned with them.

I had mixed emotions, like many of my friends LDS or not, about the LDS handbook policy change that stated children of same-sex marriage could not be given a name and blessing on the records of the church (different than a blessing of comfort or healing) or baptized until age 18.  I took time to read and listen to sources I can trust, and I now feel peace.  But like Jesus, like our baptismal covenants, I will mourn with those that mourn.  If it's still something that is bringing you heartache, my heart aches with yours.  I will hold your hand and sit with you and you are welcome to come to church (or anywhere) with me.

I hope that my church is a place where all feel welcome, to feel the love of our Savior and learn more about Him.  While there may be a right and a wrong, none of us are perfect and all are welcome.

What Would You Do With. . . Orange??

One of the most fun things about fall is decorating!  How do you decorate for fall?  I'm guessing 9/10 chances you're using the color orange somewhere.  Aubrey and I decided it would be fun to show you how we're using the color orange this month!

Last year I made a cute burlap banner to use on my hexagon shelves and this year I'm showing you how I added the color orange to my shelves to bring a little fall cheer.

I fell in love with this cute fox at Target (of course!) and so did my kids!  I decided we would splurge and get him, but that he would strictly be a decoration, not a toy.  My kids are swimming in stuffed animals and this one was too cute to be a toy.  (It really isn't made to be a toy either)  The bright red-orange flowers are from IKEA.

Olivia and I painted jars with orange paint two years ago I believe.  We put a tea light inside and it's very pretty when lit.  You can also do this with glue and orange tissue paper, and then glue black cutouts on top.

We have the best babysitter and she always brings awesome crafts for my kids.  This wooden craft pumpkins was painted by Olivia.  She did a little bit better job than Axel on her pumpkin so I chose to display hers.  (I did try both but it was difficult to balance the shelves with two pumpkins haha)  These orange flowers are also from IKEA.

So link up your fall decor posts so we can see how you used the color orange this season!  Next month we'll be seeing what you do with . . . left over turkey!

An InLinkz Link-up

What Would You Do With. . .Apples?

I think I've said this before, but if each month had a fruit or vegetable mascot, September would have to be the apple.  Last fall I blogged a yummy crockpot apple sauce and today Aubrey and I are telling you what we would do with apples this month!

So last Sunday Olivia and I made baked apples!  I didn't use a recipe, just my favorite ingredients.  I cut the apples into quarters and dolloped cinnamon honey butter (2T butter, 1/4c honey and how every much cinnamon you want.  At Olivia's request we added a bit of nutmeg.  She loves fall spices) Then I couldn't help myself to drizzle a little more honey and sprinkle some cinnamon on top.

After 15 minutes I pulled them out and flipped all the apples over.  The honey and butter had melted and pooled on the bottom of the pan so I wanted the cut side of the apples to soak in that goodness.  I think I baked them at 350 for 45 minutes.

We pulled them out of the oven and then went on a walk around the block.  They're hot like lava, so they were still really warm when we got back 30 minutes later.  And you cannot buy a candle that will make your house smell as good as these apples.

They would be AMAZING with ice cream but we just ate them alone and the kids could not get enough of them! (I'm really trying to watch my junk food intake now that I'm feeling a little better this pregnancy.  Trying and mostly failing but not this time!)

Do you have a killer apple recipe??  Link up below!  And join us next month when we tell you what we would do with the color orange! My husband has informed me that he's going all out with Halloween decorations so he might just do the whole project for me haha!

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What Would You Do With . . . Paint??

Another installment of What Would You Do Wednesday with Aubrey and myself!!

I don't remember which one of us suggested paint for August, but I knew right away that I wanted to paint one of the rooms in my house.  I tried to use our "gold" theme last summer to get Olivia's room painted (it will be white with a gold design on one wall. . . I think!) but it didn't work.

This month I planned to paint the Saturday before What Would You Do Wednesday.  And I was bummed when our day got too busy to paint.  Another month of phoning it in, I thought.  Then I realized I was looking at the wrong Wednesday!!  Hahaha I still had a week and a half.

So I did it!!  I painted my kid/guest bathroom Aloof Gray (by Sherwin Williams, but I had Glidden at Home Depot color match it)  I should probably be the spokesperson for Aloof Gray.  I love it so so so much.  It's a gray that definitely doesn't turn blue when you put it on the walls.  And it's really calm.  You might not even notice it's gray unless you see it next to some bright white, which is why I decorate with so much white :)

(excuses excuses:  This bathroom gets zero natural light and is super tiny so it's hard to get a good angle!  Okay enough of that)

BEFORE:

AFTER:

With about $30 at IKEA and Joann Craft I got some new accessories and now I just really love this space.  The pictures just don't do it justice (pretty much I can only take pictures in perfect light) I need a couple of awesome art pieces to go above the toilet and towel rack, but other wise I'm happy with it! 

What would you do with paint??  Link up your post below!

Next month is APPLES!!  If every month had a food, I think September would be apples.  It's just the perfect way to kick off fall.  :) 

An InLinkz Link-up

What Would You Do With. . . a fancy drink???

It's that one time a month I still blog!  Aubrey and I are talking about fancy drinks for summer.  Neither of us drink alcohol and so I know for me, I sometimes feel left out of the fancy drink group.

But since I'm pregnant, not a lot sounds good to me right now,  so I'm going to fall back on one of my favorites, my frozen lemonade.

I love making this in a magic bullet because the recipes is for an individual serving (I was single for a looooong time) and the magic bullet is perfect for that.  That way everyone can personalize their own (adding berries, not adding berries. . . ).  But I made it for years in a regular blender and its still awesome.

1/3 c lemon juice
1/4 c sugar (a couple tablespoons more if you add strawberries)
1/4 c water
2-3 strawberries (optional)
as much ice as it takes to get thick. . . like 4-5 cubes?  It just depends of the size of your ice.  You can always add more if its too liquid.

BLEND!  Enjoy!

What do you love to make in the summer?

(Next month we're talking about what would you do with . . . paint!  Join us!)

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What Would You Do With. . . .Red, white and blue??

I always think of the time between Memorial Day and Independence Day as the patriotic season.  And since I've moved to Utah where the 24th of July is celebrated (when the Mormon pioneers first came to the Salt Lake Valley) it goes on even longer!  So Aubrey and I decided it would be fun to do some projects with red, white and blue to show our patriotic side.

I've never been one for holiday decor, except for Fall and Christmas.  So instead of making something for my house, I made something for my kids!  (And your kids if you want! ;) )

Photo credit: Her Threaded Needle

I love that having two holidays in July means my kids will get good use out of these, but honestly they're so cute they can be worn any time!  All of these items are for sale in my shop starting July 1 (I'm on summer break right now!) That wont be in time for July 4, but you can still rock it all of July!!  :) 

Next month we're doing a fun summer drink!  We don't drink alcohol and so I always feel left out when it comes to pretty fancy drinks.  Let's change that next month!

And August we're doing a paint project.  Any kind of project that you used paint with!!

Don't forget to link up your red, white and blue posts today!!

An InLinkz Link-up

What Would You Do With. . . Strawberries???

It is time for another installment of What Would You Do with my girl Aubrey, also known as the only time I ever blog any more.

This month we're talking STRAWBERRIES.  You guys.  This is my favorite food of all time.  Except when my favorite food is perfectly ripe freshly picked peaches.  But according to the Miss Lancaster Pageant 2001, my favorite food is strawberries, so that's usually what I tell people.

So of course, I have SEVERAL recipes I want to share with you today.

First, my strawberry lemonade slush.  I wrote this frozen lemonade recipe when I was in college, but it was my friend Tiffanie that came up with the idea to add strawberries.  She's a genius.

1/3 c lemon juice
1/4 c sugar (you can do 3 T if you like it less sweet)
1/4 c water
2-3 strawberries
as much ice as it takes to get thick. . . like 4-5 cubes?  It just depends of the size of your ice.  You can always add more if its too liquid.

BLEND!  Enjoy!


Second, low calorie strawberry shortcake.  I made this recipe soon after Olivia was born and I was working to lose some baby weight.  I have found that I lose the most weight when I avoid all processed foods regardless of calories.  But if you like to count calories or maybe induldge in a processed food treat on occasion, here is a recipe for you ;)

Cupcake: (I broke down a cake mix into a smaller portion, because you KNOW what happens if you have extra cake lying around the house. . . and you're hungry. . . )
1 c Betty Crocker white cake mix (put the remainder of the cake mix in a Ziploc bag and back into the box)
1 egg white
2 T sugar free applesauce
1/3 c + 1 T water

Mix all ingredients, beat on medium speed for 1 1/2 minutes. Spoon into 8 cupcake liners. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes. I let them cool, kept two for our dessert and put the rest in the freezer for another day. Because of the applesauce, these cupcakes will go bad faster than regular. I guess I could have made an even SMALLER batch, but I just didn't want to figure how to break down 1 egg white.
Cupcake: 100 calories

Strawberry topping:
2 cups fresh strawberries cut in half or fourths
2 T sugar (I'm going to try just 1 T next time)

Place strawberries in a bowl and sprinkle with sugar. Use two knives working like scissors to cut the strawberries into smaller pieces. The sugar will help draw out the strawberry's natural juices and make a really good topping.
1/2 c of topping: 45 calories

Whipped Topping:
1/2 c evaporated milk
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 T powdered sugar (must use powdered)

Place milk in a mixing bowl and place in the freezer until ice crystals form around the edges of the milk. (Consider freezing your beaters as well) Mix with a hand mixer on high for 1 minute until frothy. Add vanilla and sugar gradually. Mix on high for 2 more minutes until stiff. Serve immediately. (This can only be used on cool or cold desserts. It will melt on anything hot or warm) Makes 2 cups.
1/4 c whipped topping: 25 calories 


Next month we're doing the colors red, white and blue in anticipation of Independence Day!!!

Make sure you link up your strawberry posts!!

An InLinkz Link-up

What would you do with . . . a floral print?

Hi! Welcome to the one day a month I still blog!  You can always follow me on instagram at @shopolivethethings or @olive_thethings if you totes miss me.  I post a lot more there :)

Aubrey and I are asking you (and each other!) "What would you do with a floral print?"

I don't have a lot of florals in my closet, but I do love them for spring.  I needed (still a work in progress actually) a wardrobe overhaul soooo bad.  So I headed to the thrift store for some floral print fun.  Check out @thedailymer on instagram to see my awesome friend Meredith and her thrifting genius.  I was hoping to have some of her luck/fashion sense when I went shopping.  

I think I did pretty good!  This was my only floral print item haha!  I have like 10000 pajama pants but these were so soft and I love the color.  Maybe I could make them into a maxi skirt?  Or more likely I'll just keep them to lounge in.

This is my "look at how flat my stomach is getting" pose.

And this isn't really a floral, but the pretty coral color and ruffles make it feel like a floral to me :)

I feel like this picture looks like me, how I imagine I really look.  I know it's weird that it's blurry and I'm in the middle of saying something.  Maybe I just wasn't made for high def cameras and face forward shots!

Next month we'll be doing strawberries!!  This is my favorite food, so I'm really excited!

Now go check out what Aubrey did with florals!  She always has the best outfits!!

An InLinkz Link-up

What Would You Do with. . . Gold Glitter??

Happy March!!  Can you believe how fast the year is going!  And I thought last year went fast.  Every year is faster, I tell ya.

This month Aubrey and I are playing with gold glitter!

Initially I wanted to get some really cool gold glitter fabric and make a limited edition item for my shop.  But I took a babysitting job, agreed to judge an FCCLA competition and got the MOST wicked flu ever.  So I'm. . . kinda cheating :(  (again!)

My very first Olive the Things outfit was these gold glitter leggings and glitter onesie.  And they're still in my shop while supplies last!  I love using spoonflower for my printed fabrics, but I love using fun metallics I find at the fabric store as well. 

So sorry I didn't do anything new!!  But I do want to see what gold glitter projects you have going on!  Link 'em up!  Even if they're not new, we'd still love to see them!

And our upcoming months are!!!
April: Floral print fashion post
May: Strawberries

An InLinkz Link-up

What Would You Do. . . for Date Night?

Aubrey's goal this month is to focus on love, so we decided to plan dates for our monthly link up!!

When we were dating I introduced Adam to the wonderful world of sushi, and he has become a huge fan!  So for our ultimate date, we would definitely get some sushi.

We would probably invite some friends.  Adam really loves our friends Brandy and Tony, and though we haven't been able to meet up with them in a LOOOOONG time, I know our ultimate date would have to include them.

Next we would probably hit up a movie.  That might sound dull to most, but after a year of breastfeeding Axel we were kind of out of the habit of going to movies.  We're just starting to get babysitters and go out to the movies again!

And then for dessert we would definitely get some Red Mango fro-yo.  It's been Adam's favorite dessert place since we were dating, and I liked it a lot.  Once they added their sweeter flavors (hello chocolate!!) I've been just as in love with it as he has!

For Valentine's Day we don't go out (thanks to the weirdest V Day ever here) and so I do a special family dinner.  I pull out all the stops and don't give myself a budget.  It's always cheaper than eating out, even if I spend like $30 on the whole meal.  This year we had brisket, baked potatoes and ceasar salad.  Not my fanciest, but maybe my yummiest!!  :)

Next month we're doing What Would You Do With GOLD GLITTER.  I am so excited.  Please join us and link up!

An InLinkz Link-up

What would you do with . . . basic black leggings??

Today is the second Wednesday of the month so Aubrey and I have our link up for what would you do!

There's one thing I love about winter and it's MINI SKIRTS!!!!  Huh??  Well since I'm LDS and I've been through the temple, I can't wear clothing above my knee, shorts or skirts.  But in the winter, I can layer to stay warm, and that means mini skirts over leggings!  And I love it.

But I did not take a picture of that for today.  Ha!  I faced my fears and wore leggings as pants.  Although it helped that these are actually yoga pants.  I like how yoga pants are thicker and have a wider waist band than most leggings I have encountered.

So this isn't super innovative fashion, but it's what I would do, not what I'm telling you to do ;) 

Link up your fashion posts with leggings!  And join us next month for What Would You Do on a date night!!

An InLinkz Link-up

The Word

So I've done my resolutions in a couple different ways the past few years.  In 2013 I did a goal each month.  I actually worked on all of them, accomplished most of them!  In 2014 I wrote a goal for each quarter and I did NONE of them.  Eek! 

This year I want to pick a word to focus on all year, but work on a different aspect of it each month.  I hope this will work better than last year!! 

So I gave it very little thought (because it just sort of popped into my mind) and I came up with. . .

This year I want to grow my business, grow my family and grow my spirituality.  I'm starting with the last one in January by reading the Book of Mormon in one month.  At least that's the plan.  18 pages a day is no joke!! 

Anyway, Happy New Year!!!!  I'll try and stop by this place as often as I can, but in order for somethings to grow, other things have to shrink.