5 things again

my sister over at moments and milestones tagged me, and even though this is similar to what i tagged her on ages ago i figure i better comply, because she's new to this whole blogging world.

5 Things I was Doing 10 Years Ago: (hmmm…I’d be 15...)
1) hanging out at chaffey high school
2) breaking all the boys hearts
3) going to youth dances every saturday
4) tormenting my siblings
5) wishing i could date

5 Things on my To-Do List:
1) do the dishes -- seriously one of my least favorite things to do
2) plan out christmas presents
3) do another run of jocole shirts, revamp website, start advertising again
4) go through some of the boxes in the garage and give it all to D.I.
5) make some friends in our new ward -- invite some people over for a game night

5 Things I Would Do If I Were A Millionaire:
1) buy the house that is still up for sale next to the andersons
2) take a year off and travel the world
3) invest for our future
4) expand my business jocole
5) pay off all of our debt

5 Things I Would Never Wear Again:
1) bikini -- dang stretch marks ... and a little thing called "modesty"
2) anything "acid-washed" or "tapered"
3) short shorts/shirts
4) anything oversized
5) size 2 -- sigh

5 Favorite Toys:
1) my hubby
2) my son
3) my laptop
4) my dvr
5) my ipod

5 People to Tag:
if you read this blog consider yourself tagged, unless you've already done it.

couch climbing

on november 16th aidan figured out he can climb on top of the couch and the coffee table. he was very proud of his new accomplishment. needless to say he now climbs up whenever he gets the chance, the only problem is he hasn't figured out how to get down yet!

i love technology

i love technology. i love that in this ever changing and evolving world i have a religion that has adapted to technology. the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints has a wonderful website that is beyond helpful.
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my new favorite find on the website is you can download mp3s of all your favorite conference talks, the scriptures, hymns, the ensign. it's amazing. seriously ... you should check it out.
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to download:
1. place the cursor over the mp3 icon.
2. click the right mouse button.
3. select "save target as..." from the menu.
4. rename and save the file.
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to listen:
click the mp3 icon.
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did you know that you can also download free in mp3 format from BYU Broadcasting. Under "find a talk," type in the speaker's name and do a search. A list of talks by that speaker will be displayed, plus the various formats in which each talk is available. If you see the "speaker" icon, showing a talk is available in mp3 format--left click on the icon to listen to the talk over your computer--or right click and a menu will appear. Choose "save link target as" and choose the location on your hard drive where you want the talk saved.
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some of my favorites include: John Bytheway:"Righteous Warriors: Lessons from the War Chapters in the Book of Mormon" "The Best 3 Hours of the Week: Getting the Most From Your Sunday Meetings." and "Gospel Values for Youth"
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now go and fill up your ipods and computers with conference, hymns and things from education week! huzzah!

birthday buddies

robby's sister susie finally had her baby ... and she had her on my birthday -- november 20th.

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here is jolee marie and her mommy.

here is jolee marie -- look at all that dark black hair!

and here i am holding jolee marie ... we're birthday buddies now!

aidan's trying to walk

this is aidan's other newest trick, he is trying to walk -- no wait scratch that, he's trying to RUN. he holds onto the couch, turns around and runs at me until he falls flat on his face -- it's hillarious. (please excuse my behind which keeps getting in the way of the camera, i'm sorry!) also, please note after he spots the camera, and then is more interested in the camera instead of momma. crazy kid. he's been doing this for about 2 weeks now. the funny thing is he doesn't want help (you know how kids like to learn to walk while holding their parents' hands) nope, not this kid. he's independent, he'll pull himself up on anything, turn around and let go. and when he does he smiles so big. he's completely loving that he's getting to be a big boy. i think the most steps he's taken so far is around 6 or 7 ... but he's getting better.

pushing daisies

it's about time i wrote about my absolute new favorite show: pushing daisies.

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here is the synopsis from abc.com

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Grown up Ned (Lee Pace) puts his talent to good use by touching dead fruit and making it ripe with everlasting flavor. He opens a pie shop. But his gift leaves him wary of becoming close to anyone, as beautiful waitress Olive Snook (Kristin Chenoweth) finds out. His life as a pie maker gets more complicated when private investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride) finds out about Ned's secret. Emerson convinces the cash-strapped Ned to help him solve murder cases (and collect the hefty reward fees) by raising the dead and getting them to name their killers.

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Then Ned is handed the case that changes his life forever. His childhood sweetheart, Charlotte "Chuck" Charles (Anna Friel), is murdered on a cruise ship under strange circumstances. Her death brings him back to his hometown of Coeur d' Coeurs to bring Chuck back to life, albeit briefly, and solve the crime. But once reunited with Chuck, Ned can't bring himself to send her back. He helps her escape after her grieving aunts, Lily and Vivian (Swoosie Kurtz, Ellen Greene), former synchronized swimmers Darling Mermaid Darlings, think they've buried her forever.

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Chuck becomes the third partner in Ned and Emerson's PI enterprise, but she encourages them to use their skills for good, not just for profit. Ned is overjoyed to be reunited with Chuck, the only girl he's ever loved. Life would be perfect, except for one cruel twist -- if he ever touches her again, she'll go back to being dead, this time for good.

ned

chuck

olive

emerson

seriously, i LOVE this show. it quirky and really well written. it airs on wednesday nights, or you could always watch it online. i love how colorful and arty it is. love love love it. watch an episode and i bet you'll be hooked as well.

aidan's new funny face

this is aidan's newest smiley face, it cracks me up every single time he does it. it reminds me of the scrunched-nose faces of the vampires on buffy.

recipe wednesday - sweet potato baby food

Yams/Sweet Potato (4)6 months+

Vitamins: A (24,877 mg ), C, Folate

Minerals: Potassium, Sodium, Selenium, Phosphorous, Magnesium, Calcium

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Directions:

1. Wash and poke holes in sweet potato with fork then wrap sweet potatoes in tin foil - do not peel for baking/microwaving. (you can also do this in the microwave - only use plastic wrap and cook for 8 minutes on high or until tender)

2. Place in a 400 degree oven and bake for 30 minutes or until soft

3. OR

4. Peel sweet potatoes and cut into small chunks

5. Place chunks into a pan with just enough water to slightly cover potato

6. "Steam" boil until tender, be sure to check on the water level.

7. Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the sweet potatoes

8. If you have baked your sweet potato, remove skins and use liquid from your preferred source

9. Place sweet potato into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing.

10. Add the reserved water or other liquid as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin consistency

Freezing Homemade Baby Food - The Ice Cube Tray/Freezer Bag Method:
Using this method, you spoon or pour your purees into regular ice cube trays and then cover with plastic wrap. Prior to using your ice cube trays, you want to thoroughly cleanse them with warm soapy water and/or run them through the dishwasher on the sanitize setting.

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The ice cube tray method offers you many advantages.
-- Each cube is approximately 1+ ounces, allowing you to have an idea of the amount of food your baby is consuming.
-- There is minimal waste as you use only 1 cube at a time and will not have to toss away much food; such as you toss away when using commercial foods.

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You may transfer the baby food cubes into freezer bags, freeing up your trays for the next batch of food as well as freeing up some freezer space. If using the freezer bag method for your food cubes, be sure to label the bags with the type of food and also date the bags. This will help you to quickly grab a cube from a bag of veggie and a bag of fruit without having to guess what you have in the bags. It also allows you to keep track of the length of time the food cubes have been in the freezer.

aidan's new trick

this is aidan's newest trick, he can take the lid off of the apple cinnamon puff container. he uses his teeth for leverage -- which is up to three now. his third tooth (the top right one) broke through yesterday.

recipe wednesday - dill potatoes

dill potatoes
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ingredients:
6 medium russet potatoes
2 cloves garlic - minced
1 stick butter
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
1 tsp celery salt
2 tsp dill
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directions:
slice unpeeled, scrubbed potatoes in 3/4" slices and then quarter. boil potatoes until soft, drain well. melt butter in a large frying pan. saute garlic then add potatoes and seasonings. pan fry until lightly brown.

recipe wednesday - balsamic pork chops

balsamic pork chops

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ingredients:

pork chops

1 tablespoon olive oil per pork chop

1 tablespoon lemon juice per pork chop

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar per pork chops

salt and pepper

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directions:

arrange pork chops in a dish and generously salt and pepper each side of each chop. pour olive oil, lemon juice and balsamic vinegar over each chop, and turn to coat. marinate and allow to sit at room temperature for at least a half hour. turning periodically. saute chops over medium high heat for 7 minutes on the first side, add remaining marinade and saute chops for 4 minutes on the other side.

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i made these the other night and totally winged the recipe, my mom had just given me some balsamic vinegar and i wanted to find something to use it for. honestly the best pork chops i've ever had -- EVER!!!