What I Love About Valentine's Day

There are many great things about Valentine's Day, here are some of my favorites:Conversation Hearts
For some reason I find these tiny 'heart felt' (haha) messages delicious! I could eat a whole bag in one afternoon. Not to mention all the fun you have making funny sentences.


Boxes of Chocolates
Ok, so I'm really not a huge fan of the chocolates that come inside of these cute boxes, but I have a soft spot for them. When I was a little girl my dad was only in charge of one holiday, which was Valentine's Day of course! When I woke up in the morning there was always a cute box full of chocolates laying on my pillow. Love it.


Valentine's Day Cards
ESPECIALLY the cards you give out when you're a kid. I remember being so excited when my mom came home with a box of Garfield or Scooby-Doo valentine's day cards for me to give to my friends!


Valentine's Day Box
And where better to put those awesome cards than in the box you made out of a shoe box, some construction paper and some stickers. I LOVE those boxes!


Pink & Red Clothes
I love dressing up for holidays, or at least dressing up my kids! So adorable!


And what I love most of all is Chocolate Covered Strawberries
I have an addiction to these deliciously, delicious things. I wish for some every V-Day, and this year I hope I get some!


What's your favorite thing about Valentine's Day?

Mommy Advice Please

Ok, one of my other New Year's Resolutions was to have more of a schedule with my day to day tasks with my kids. So I started with trying to think of at least 1 thing we could do each day. Basically all I've done is set up play dates with some of my friends who have kids about the same age as mine. While this is nice, I don't think it's enough. Here's what I have so far:


Monday - playdate with a friend & her son

Tuesday - drop my kids off to play at a friends house so I get 2 hours to myself

Wednesday - watch my neighbor's kids for a couple hours

Thursday - return the favor from Tuesday

Friday - I have class for 1.5 hours, kids get time with dad


Like I said, I think this is a good start, but it doesn't feel like enough. So I need help, please tell me what you do each day. Keep in mind that I can't afford to take my kids to do things that cost money very often, I have no back yard, and even though I live in St. George it's fairly cold outside (at least it is in the mornings).


We usually do ok in the mornings, and then there's nap time/quiet time from about 12-2. It's really just the last 3 hours of the day that are killing me. My one year old has decided to turn from a little darling to a big pain in the 'arse'. So any tips or suggestions would be great!

Caught My Interest On Pinterest

52 Things I Love About You via





Pallet Crafts via


Because You Were There; 13 Tips for Family Self Portraits via


DIY Dress Up via


Slutty Brownies via
The name alone deserves to be re-pinned.

Favorite Friends Guest Stars

There are so many awesome guest stars on Friends. Some of them stay for several episodes, and some of them are only there for 1. Either way they are all awesome. Here are a few of my favorites:

Jennifer Coolidge as Amanda
Check Her Out Here
I LOVE her, and she is so hilarious in this episode.


Winona Ryder as Melissa
Check Her Out Here
Oh Winona, I do have a soft spot for you.


Brad Pitt as Will
Check Him Out Here
Brad makes this episode one of my top 5 favorites, and that is saying something!


Reese Witherspoon as Jill
Check Her Out Here
I love Rachel's sisters. Christina Applegate is another awesome guest star who plays a Green sister.


Bruce Willis as Paul
Check Him Out Here
Bruce stars in Tad's favorite episode, which is what the clip is of. I don't know how he manages to be so HOT at his age, but I love it.


Tom Selleck as Richard
Check Him Out Here
Who doesn't love Tom Selleck?!


Ben Stiller as Tommy 'the screamer'
Check Him Out Here
I about peed my pants watching this one. So awesome!


Jennifer Grey as Mindy
I couldn't find a clip with her in it, but who had any idea that Mindy was our favorite Dirty Dancing star? I didn't!!!!


Julia Roberts as Susie Underderpants
Check Her Out Here
Such a classic!

So tell me who is your favorite Friend's Guest Star?

SIGNS!!! DIY Tutorial for Making Custom Signs

I can't tell you how many adorable signs I've seen on Pinterest, or perhaps just hilarious quotes that I wish were on a sign. So for Christmas this year I decided to make some for gifts. I didn't remember to document those, but luckily it was Tad's birthday yesterday so I had another chance!

Honestly the hardest part is decided which quotes to put on the board, but that's where Google and Pinterest come into play. Here is my awesome tutorial for a thrifty way to make your own awesome sign for an awesome price.

Step 1: Buy a piece of wood
I got this at Lowes for around $11. There's a great selection there with boards of various sizes, I didn't have to cut this at all. At Christmas I got a board that was about this tall but a lot wider and had Tad cut it in two and I made two signs :) You can get smaller boards at craft stores like Michaels, or just use scrap wood.

Step 2: Pick a Quote, Print it out in whatever font you want

Step 3: Rub pencil lead on the back of your lettering. Make sure you cover it well.

Step 4: Cut out your words and tape them on the board how you want them.
I used measurements and drew strait lines on my boards for Christmas, but this time I just eye-called it. I say do whichever you like! I especially liked using a figure on this board, I think it made it a little more unique. Tad loves his MJ.

Step 5: Trace your lettering with a pencil.
You don't need to press really hard, just use a 'medium' amount of pressure.

Step 6: Paint in the lines.
Try and find a paintbrush with a nice skinny-tip, especially if you've chosen a font that's thin. When choosing a paint color remember that the stain will darken it.

Step 7: Make sure you have the stain you want and rubber gloves.

Step 8: Lay your board out on plastic, and use a rag to stain your board.
I used garbage bags and it worked great. You can either apply extra coats to make it darker, or rub off excess stain to lighten it a little. So start with a light coat!

Step 9: Let it dry.

Step 10: Admire your work

It's THAT easy! Although there are a couple of 'ifs'.
IF once your done you find that your lettering doesn't show up as much as you'd like, you'll probably need to repaint over it.
And IF you decide you don't want to stain your board and that you'd like to paint it instead paint the board first, then trace your lettering onto it.

I know you're all dying to go try this out, and honestly I can't blame you! It's awesome. So go do it!

Sweet & Sour Chicken

This recipe is awesome! I had all of the ingredients in my kitchen, it was really easy to make, and even easier to eat! So delicious! We ate the chicken in wraps, but you could do it any number of ways. I found the recipe on Get Off Your Butt and Bake, and here is what she has to say:

SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN

This Recipe is from the Lion House. It is so delicious, and super simple to prepare.

I am posting 2 versions. If I’m short on time, I usually make the 2nd version. They are both yummy!

YOU WILL NEED:

6-8 Chicken Breasts, Soy sauce, Chicken Broth, Cornstarch, Vinegar, Ketchup

Garlic Salt, Pepper, Sugar,

MIX THESE INGREDIENTS INTO A MED. SIZE BOWL:

2 teaspoon garlic salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 beaten egg

4 to six tablespoons cornstarch or flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup vinegar

1 cup chicken Broth

7 tablespoons ketchup

2 tablespoon soy sauce

7 to 8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Sprinkle chicken with garlic salt & pepper. Let stand for 5-10 minutes. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

1st Version: Dip chicken in beaten egg, then in cornstarch or flour. (cornstarch makes chicken crispier). Brown in hot oil. Place in baking dish. Cover with the following sauce: Mix sugar, vinegar, chicken stock, catsup, and soy sauce in medium bowl.

Pour over chicken. Bake uncovered for 1 1/2 hours. Turn chicken once or twice.

Faster, easier version – When time is limited

Same recipe as above, only eliminate frying your chicken, and add 3 large tablespoons cornstarch to the above sauce recipe.

Layer raw chicken breasts in glass dish (9×13). Mix all sauce ingredients in bowl, (plus 3 TBSP corn starch) with wire wisk. Pour directly over chicken breasts. (Refer to Picture below)

Bake uncovered at 325 for about 1 1/2 hours, or until sauce is thick and dark in color.

So Easy, and so good! This dish is great for company. Leftovers are wonderful.

Remember this is the color of the sauce before it is cooked. The sauce will thicken & the color will darken greatly. It will be similar to thick barbeque sauce. The chicken needs to be (fall apart) tender! Serve this with a Baked Potatoe, Hot Rolls & a vegetable.

This is also great warmed up the next night, and served on Soft Flour Taco shells, or on a bed of rice.

This is what it looks like when you first pop it in the oven.

The sauce will get thicker, darker and it’s yummy!

So schedule this into your weekly meal plan!

'Skinny' Desserts

If you have a sweet tooth any where near the size of mine you will love these awesome bloggers who share these 'Skinny' recipes for desserts. Here are a few that are on the top of my 'To Make' list:

Skinny Snickerdoodles
these are 40 calories per cookier
see the recipe from Chocolate-Covered Katie here


Skinny Brownies
these are 130 calories
see the recipe at Sunday Baker here


Low Calorie Red Velvet Cupcakes
these are 140 calories
see the recipe from TheHowToMommy here


Skinny No-Bake Cheesecake
these are 5.25 WW points or 239 calories
see the recipe from SkinnyTaste here


Skinny Funfetti Cupcakes - 2 Ingredients!!!
these are 1.5 WW points, or around 90 calories a piece!
see the recipe from FashionMeetsFood here

Which one are you gonna try first?

Our Very Awesome Very CHEAP Date Night

One of Tad's new years resolutions was to institute a weekly Date Night. Now the problem is coming up with a date every week. I was in charge this week and this is what I came up with. I think it's pretty awesome, especially since it's about as cheap as you can get!

First copy down this list (twice, once for each of you), next head to your local bookstore/library. Once you're there each of you take a list and start making your way through the sets.

via Love Actually

After each set find a place to sit and chat through your choices. Each new set begins after you return your previous set's books.

I would follow this activity up with this list of questions from Zack Terry while you are munching on some treats from the BN Cafe. Questions 28-31 are a little....intimate, so just be warned!

50 Questions to Ask your Spouse on a Date Night

By Zach Terry

Today I met at Starbucks with a few guys to discuss how what we have been studying on Sunday mornings at Capshaw practically applies to our lives. One of the big things we discovered was the need for very open communication and date nights with our spouses. To help with that I want to share this list of 50 questions that are to be discussed with your spouse while the two of you are alone. Don’t try to tackle too many in one setting. It’s actually best if you just get through a few but really talk in detail. Let me warn you that a couple of the questions are specifically only for married couples.

1. What are your 5 favorite foods, with the most favorite first?

2. What are your 5 favorite kinds of meals, with the most favorite first?

3. What are your 5 favorite desserts, with the most favorite first?

4. What are your 5 favorite restaurants, with the most favorite first?

5. What is your favorite color?

6. What are your 5 favorite hobbies, with the most favorite first?

7. What are your 5 favorite recreations, with the most favorite first?

8. What are your 5 favorite sources of reading, with the most favorite first?

9. What gifts do you like?

10. What is your favorite books(s) of the Bible? Why?

11. What is your favorite verse(s) of the Bible? Why?

12. What is your favorite song?

13. What makes you the most fulfilled or happiest as a woman/man?

14. What makes you the most fulfilled or happiest as a wife/husband?

15. What makes you the most fulfilled or happiest as a mother/father?

16. What makes you saddest as a woman/man?

17. What makes you saddest as a wife/husband?

18. What makes you saddest as a mother/father?

19. What do you fear the most?

20. What other fears do you have?

21. What do you look forward to the most?

22. How much sleep do you need?

23. What do you consider to be your skills?

24. What do you believe to be your spiritual gifts?

25. What are your weaknesses?

26. To ask wife: What things (personal, home, car, etc.) need repairing?

To ask husband: What things around the home need to be cleaned?

27. To ask wife: With what chores and responsibilities do you like my help?

To ask husband: How can I make it easier for you to lead our family?

28. What caresses do you enjoy the most?

29. What caresses do you enjoy the least?

30. What action of mine provides you the greatest sexual pleasure?

31. What other things stimulate you sexually?

32. At what times do you need assurance of my love the most?

33. How can that love be shown?

34. What can I do that will make it easier to discuss and work on areas or problems that are uncomfortable to you?

35. What concerns do you have that I do not seem interested in?

36. What things do I do that irritate you?

37. What desires do you have that we haven’t discussed?

38. What do you enjoy doing with me, with the most enjoyable first?

39. What things can I do that show my appreciation of you?

40. What varying desires (spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual, social, worth,

appreciations, recreational, security, etc.) would you like me to provide?

41. To ask wife: In what ways would you like me to protect you (physically, spiritually, socially, emotionally)?

To ask husband: In what ways would you like me to respect and reverence you?

42. In what ways would you like me to sacrifice for you?

43. What things do you see by my actions that I place first in my life?

44. What implied or unspoken desires and wishes of yours would you like for me to

fulfill?

45. What concerns and interests of yours would you like me to support?

46. How much time would be good for us to spend together each day?

47. In helping family members to use their skills and develop their abilities, what

motivating factors would be helpful for me to use?

48. What can I do that provides the greatest comfort and encouragement for you when

you are hurt, fearful, anxious or worried?

49. What personal habits do I have that you would like changed?

50. What ways demonstrate to you that you are a very important person who is as important or more important than I am?

I would love to hear some of your date night ideas! And I hope at least one of you will have a good time with this plan, we sure did!

Candice's Plan To Be Skinny

In keeping with my New Years Resolution to lose the pounds that hurt my feelings I have put together a plan. It's very new for me, I have NEVER been one to restrict my diet. Unless you count staying away from soft cheese and lunch meat while I'm pregnant. However my scale said I needed to reevaluate my weight loss regime. So here it is, Candice's Plan To Be Skinny:

Low Carb Diet
Following my awesome brother's lead I'm cutting back on my carbs. It's been about a week now and the only thing that's really that hard for me is cereal. MAN I LOVE my cereal, but I'm still going strong. I do allow myself a bowl of Special K Red Berries now and then.


Water Aerobics
My awesome mom and I have started our own personal Water Aerobics Workout. She has the good fortune to live in a community with an indoor pool so we've taken advantage of it. We spent some time online and made a list of exercises we could do and just went for it. In case you're looking for some Water Aerobics Exercises here are a few that are on our list:

Wall Torso Twist

In shallow water, stand next to the wall of the pool with your back resting against it. Extend your arms out to your side and rest them on the ledge. Support your body weight with your arms and slowly lift your feet off the floor to extend your legs out in front of your hips. Press your lower back into the wall by engaging your core and position your legs side by side. Keep your legs parallel to the floor as you twist your torso to the right, allowing your legs to follow. Pause and return to the starting position before continuing on to your left side.

Knee Tucks

Stand in chest-height water. Squat down to bring your shoulders to the water line. Extend your arms out to the side at shoulder height. Tighten your abdominals by contracting your core muscles. Keep your knees bent and pressed together as you powerfully draw your knees up toward your chest. Quickly lower your feet back down with control, making sure not to let your feet slam into the floor.

Wave Maker

Targets: Back, abs, butt, and legs

• Facing pool wall in chest-deep water, hold on to edge of pool deck with left hand and place right palm, fingers pointing down, against wall just below water line for stability.
• Extend legs behind you at water level with both feet and knees together, then kick like a dolphin: Initiate the motion with abs and hips and transfer it through thighs to knees and finally to feet. Kick as hard and as fast as you can for 30 seconds, trying to make the biggest waves possible.

Pike Scull

Targets: Abs, hips, and arms

• Standing in shallow end of pool, simultaneously sit back into water, treading with hands by sides, and lift both legs together so that you fold at the hips (like a jackknife) and your body forms a wide V, with head and toes just above surface.
• Maintaining V position, move cupped hands in small circles by hips to tread water and propel yourself forward (sculling) down length of pool for 30 seconds.

MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal is a great resource for anyone who is looking for some help in the struggle against laziness and deliciously fattening food. They have a great database full of almost every food/meal you can think of, complete with all the stats on calories, protein, sugar and everything else. You put in what your current weight is, what you hope your weight will turn into, and your height and it gives you an estimation of what your daily calorie intake should be.
There's also an exercise section (complete with another awesome database of exercises and how many calories they burn) that keeps track of your daily or weekly efforts. It also factors into your food diary by subtracting the calories your worked off! There are a lot of other great features like message boards and healthy recipes, and the best part is that it's all free! So give it a try!

I'd love some tips on what more I could be doing, or what I could be doing better!