This Week's Goodness

This week was back to reality after the wonderful and relaxing October break. 

By the end of the week I was exhausted as usual and very excited to work a half day on Friday since I have been covering for people the past 4 fridays in a row! But then on Thursday I found out I had to work all day, 7AM-6PM, on Friday because my boss was going to be gone and we needed extra help. 

I was a little bummed but the extra money is always an incentive.  To say the least it was a hard day for a number of reasons and I just wanted to be home playing with Jess cuz he got a half day that day. Once I got off work I warned Jess that I was not the happiest but would try not to be cranky when i got home.

When I walked in the door the kitchen and living room were SPOTLESS, and there was a big bouquet of red roses and pink gerbera daisies on the counter. 

Any crankiness I had immediately went away and I, of course, shed a tear because it was just a long day :)

I feel so blessed in my life right now. 

I could go on and on about how blessed I feel but most of all this week I am so thankful for Jess.

He brings so much joy and laughter to my life and he amazes me with how hard he works at his job and school and around our house. Thank you Jess for the "No Reason At All" Flowers.

Those are the best kind :)

I also had the fun opportunity to do my little sister Kourtney's hair and makeup for Homecoming on Saturday. She is growing up too fast and amazes me how beautiful and smart she is.

Also on Saturday night, Jess's brother Joel had an awesome halloween get together. It's so fun to hang out with family. After the halloween bash, we went to Jesters with Jheri, Megan, and their husbands. After Jesters we enjoyed some delicious yogurtland! It was such a fun and busy Saturday!

October Break

October Break = BRILLIANT IDEA!

Thank you whoever you are for making october break a whole week long. This week I had no dance classes to teach and I can not believe how much free time that gave me. With 7 classes, driving time, and time spent choreographing at home, I feel like I'm dancing non-stop all week. 

So this week I finally got around to decorating my house a little. "One thing at a time" is what I have to keep telling myself but my house seems so bare and boring without anything on the walls!

My sister Kristen made an adorable WELCOME sign for her house using

 this "House of 3" Welcome Banner Printable Kit

I saw it and HAD to make one myself

Jess has been a serious handyman lately and he has been ordering and installing blinds in our house. We had the oh so ugly vertical blinds that looked all beat up. I can't believe how much the new blinds make a difference. Feels so much cleaner! I love them! 

 new Pretty Blinds!!!

 can't tell much difference from the pictures but they are truly a big improvement.

Also on my to-do-list this week was plant a small garden. My dad has become quite the little gardener and got me excited about it. So he was kind enough to build me my own garden box and I went and bought some herbs and veggies and soil that smelt HORRIBLY of manure. Jess, again, was kind enough to pour the soil in and help me plant!

I'm so excited for our garden! I really hope they don't all die.. I'll feel like a failure. 

My last fun thing I did this week was make my own halloween decoration. I'm really on a Do It Yourself streak and found THIS cute project and decided to try it out. 

 It's a homemade candy jar made from terra pots and a glass bowl. Super simple. Super cheap. And you can change the content and the ribbon for each holiday and season! Love it. I made Kristen one and her excitement level when she saw it was so intense she turned it upside down and shattered the lid. So funny. Gotta make a new one :)

I also got to visit with my long lost friend AFTON for about 3 hours this week! She came over and we had fun catching up. Amongst our random conversations she informed me that her doctor said the reason you gain weight when you get married is that your psyche knows you have found the person you are supposed to be with and your metabolism slows down....

I was APPALLED!

Hey Psyche, Just because I don't have to worry about being in tip top shape to find a spouse doesn't mean I can get fat now. 

NOT... COOL... :(

Baby Shower Invite

Amongst the craziness of moving into our house this week,

(yes we got our house!!! Pictures to come)

I had the privilege of designing a baby shower invitation for someone!

Thank you Chanteal for spreading the word!

She had a gorgeous idea in mind and we expanded on it to make it a 5x7 print. 

Here is the final design

I had so much fun designing this for her! Thanks Brittany!

 

Kate's CUSTOMIZED silhouette Invitations

This Precious Thing is going to Be ONE year old on Tuesday

So Kristen had me design her birthday invitations

First we created a custom silhouette of her.

We took this picture of her as we were taunting her with food (mean!)

and then added the balloon in digitally to create the perfect birthday silhouette!

and here is her invite!

I also made her an 8x10 personalized print to display at her birthday and later use as room decor!

(excuse the photo quality.. they were taken with my phone)

I am ALWAYS open to designing ANYTHING and EVERYTHING for anyone who is in need of their own personalized invites, birth announcements, baby shower invites, bridal shower invites, wedding invites, birthday invites, room decor, etc. If you are interested email me at kjdesign12@gmail.com.

 

Baking FRESH Goodies!

My sister Kristen has become QUITE the chef when it comes to baking with fresh ground whole wheat flour. Most say, "WHOLE WHEAT?! SICK!"

But there is something MAGICAL about FRESH GROUND whole wheat,

it doesn't have the overwhelming wheaty taste!

And its ridiculously delicious!

So this morning all us sisters went to Kristen's and baked whole wheat cinnamon rolls and bread.

Getting Ready to BAKE!

First we ground the wheat

Prego Kelli mixes the dough!

Olivia helped sprinkle the cinnamon and brown sugar on the rolls.

She was also super pumped about her own cinnamon roll she got to construct.

Kourt was the official roll cutter

MMMMmmmmm!!!!!

Kristen and i focused on the Bread.

The Final Product! We frosted them with an orange buttercream glaze and wow were they DELICIOUS!

Amazing Healthy Cookie Recipe

Hello everyone! It's been so long since I have posted anything. I'll try to quickly summarize what has been going on in life lately.

1. House Hunting

Jess and I finally found a house we love after searching ENDLESS hours on the internet and seeing way too many crappy homes in person. We feel so blessed to have found this house and the way everything worked out was awesome. We put our offer on it and are just waiting for the AWESOME bank to get back with us about it. They love to take their sweet time :)

2. Enjoying Summer/Not Really Cuz We Are Falling Apart

Hurray for summer but not really cuz it's hot outside and that makes life very uncomfortable. Jess and I try ridiculously hard to be healthy but despite our constant efforts Jess has had a sinus infection/his head is going to explode for about 3 weeks now. I have developed an ever growing disease that is undiagnosable i just get random bug bite looking bumps all over my arms! GRRR! I'm so tired of being itchy. Oh and to add some more fun into the mix I've had crippling back spasms for a week now and i feel as if I am 85 years old. So yes summer is going great :)

3. Awesome Church Calling

Jess and I got called to teach the 10 year olds in our ward and its been a really fun experience so far. Atleast for me it has. I really enjoy teaching the kids and preparing the lessons. Jess hates sitting in primary :)

4. Goodness I HAVE to share

So remember when i said I try daily to be healthy? Well its kind of a lose lose situation. Once you REALIZE what is healthy and what isn't, you still don't eat what you SHOULD and now you feel guilty when you still eat what you SHOULDN'T.

BUT! How exciting when something healthy actually tastes edible and delicious. 

This recipe makes me happy. I have made these cookies twice and they completely satisfy the sugar craving but after I eat two I don't feel like I'm going to die!

MAKE THESE ASAP. If you don't have some of the ingredients, go to Sprouts and get them. It's worth it.

CHOCOLATE- SPIKED OATMEAL COOKIES

Makes 16

 INGREDIENTS:
• Olive oil cooking spray
• 1 1/4 cups quick-cook old-fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
• 2 tsp flaxseed meal (ground flax)
• 1 tsp cinnamon, ground
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 cup agave nectar (you can use organic honey also, I've done both and the agave tastes yummier to me. Agave nectar is WAY cheaper at costco.)
• 1 large egg white
• 2 tsp unsalted almond butter (at sprouts you can buy $1 packets of almond butter that work great!)
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup dark bittersweet chocolate chips (I use semi sweet and of course I put in a little more than 1/4 cup)
 
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly spray 2 baking sheets with cooking spray.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, flour, flaxseed meal, cinnamon, baking powder and salt.
3. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together agave, egg white, almond butter and vanilla.
4. Add egg mixture to dry ingredients all at once and combine. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Divide batter equally into 16 mounds (about 1 rounded tbsp in size) and arrange evenly spaced on prepared baking sheets. Using the back of a slightly dampened spoon, flatten each mound into 2 1/2-inch circles. Bake 9 to 10 minutes, until golden. Cool on sheets for an additional 10 minutes before transferring to racks to cool completely. Stored in an airtight container, cookies will keep fresh for 2 to 3 days.
 
NOTE: Substitute the chocolate chips with raisins, shredded coconut, dried cranberries or other dried fruit to give these cookies a new identity every time you make them.
NUTRIENTS per 2 cookie:
CALORIES: 170
TOTAL FAT: 3.5 g
SAT. FAT: 1 g
CARBS: 35 g
FIBER: 3 g
SUGARS: 18 g
PROTEIN: 3 g
SODIUM: 75 mg
CHOLESTEROL: 0 mg

That's all for now!

What's New

Our new additions to the house

our table from Cortate Furniture! 

my grandma gave us these end tables. Jess immediately got busy on refinishing them.

TADA!

 We love our apartment... but would like a house even more :) 

Can't wait for summer to be here!