New House!!

Hey, let's brush the dust off this old blog and post some before and after pictures of my new house!

So we'll get the keys in mid-June and that's when I'll finally be able to get some bids from contractors for the different ideas I have!  Can't wait to share them with you!

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!

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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