NYE 2013

New Years Eve was perfect this year. It was a perfect way to end the year. My roommate Gracie and I got all dolled up & went to dinner at La Jolla Groves in the Riverwoods. I like how many beautiful lights they have up this time of year. We actually ran into one of my best friends and her husband and got seated right next to them, it was pretty funny! I ordered their chicken Marsala and was very pleased. Then it was back home to get in sweats and watch Rockin New Years Eve. It isn't NYE without watching it! It's fun to drink sparking cider, listen to amazing performers & just relax. This is my favorite time of year for new beginnings. It's a clean slate with a fresh new start. I have decided to only have 3 main goals for this year and in each of those goals I have smaller goals to help me achieve them! It's going to be a wonderful year, my year! Here's to a healthy & happy new year. Let's do this, 2014!  

Christmas festivities.

Christmas time this year was full of so many wonderful friend parties, ward parties & family parties. I spent Christmas Eve with my parents and my mom & I watched our traditional Little Women and stayed up chatting into the wee hours of the morning. Christmas Day my mom always makes her homemade wheat waffles and then we open presents. Santa was good to me and got me a new camera bag! I am in love with it and am excited to put it to good use! This time of year is so wonderful to reflect on the the life of our Savior and his life and ministry.

"To catch the real meaning of the 'Spirit of Christmas' we need to drop the last syllable and it becomes 'the spirit of Christ." -Thomas S. Monson

Thanksgiving 2013

 

Thanksgiving was wonderful with the family. It was so nice to have everyone at my parents home.  My siblings all rotate every other year so it was nice and loud this year compared to last year with just my parents :) I love the feeling of holidays and there is nothing better than being surrounded by family. 

"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues" (Thomas S. Monson, "An Attitude of Gratitude," Ensign, May 1992, 54).

easter 2013

 

    easter weekend was spent well with my those i love. friday the roomies and i went up to city creek for dinner and shopping. when i was little i would always get a new sunday outfit for easter and so i have continued that tradition now as an adult. plus, it's an excuse to go shopping! i will most definitely carry on this when i have children. saturday i tried black sheep cafe with my sis. and then that night i went to noah's for a 'les miserables' party (pictures to come) at noah's that emilee had planned. i hadn't watched it since the theater so i was really excited to see it on a big screen. sunday was a wonderful day at church. after my ward i went with my mom to hear my dad speak at a ward conference. later that day i went over to my parents to dye easter eggs with my mom. my favorite ting as a little girl was to draw designs and names with a white crayon! i still love doing that. before dinner emilee wanted me to snap some pictures of she and jeff and it reminded me of when we were little taking pictures each easter. (pictured above easter 1992). this year it was just my parents and i for dinner- it's times like those i feel like an only child. mom made the best strawberry pie as well! easter weekend was wonderful reflecting on the life of my savior, jesus christ. i am so thankful for his life and ministry.      

v day

yupp, it was a good one.

nye

this new years eve was perfect.

nice and low key.

take out.

movies.

laughing.

sparkling cider.

watching the ball drop

setting goals

and

best friends.

i wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

cheese-balls

One of my favorite holiday snacks is a cheese-ball. {guilty!} I had a food assignment for a party to bring some. I decided to go with two of my favorite recipes. 

Lion House Cheese Ball:

2-8 oz. cream cheese

2 C grated sharp cheese

2 T. finely chopped green onions

2 t. Worcester sauce

1 t. lemon juice

1/2 t lemon pepper

1 C chopped pecans

make sure your cream cheese is softened. add in all the ingredients and WA la!  then roll in pecans.

Pineapple Cheese Ball:

1 (20 oz) Pineapple-drained

2-8 oz pkgs cream cheese

1/4 C green peppers chopped

1 pkg good seasons Italian salad dressing mix dry

(*original recipe called for 1 t seasonal salt but i use the Italian dressing dry mix)

mix all together and shape into 2 balls, put each into sandwich baggie-chill- then roll in finely chopped walnuts or pecans-chill-enjoy!

the finished products!

they both are so incredibly easy and delicious. 

let me know if any of you try them :)

oh & if you haven't yet, go ENTER in the Shabby Apple giveaway. 

xoxo

when Anastasia comes to town..

we go get pedi's & lunch

then we do hair and makeup.

and..this describes our relationships perfectly.

Make a gif

we take family pictures.

isn't her daughter a beauty?

and other pictures.

and we celebrate the holidays with the old gang we grew up with.

we had a fun time doing the white elephant exchange. and i ended up with a hot dog rotisserie. if anyone wants one i am willing to give it away ;)  ha. then we played JUST DANCE.. my my my was it fun. we all got a little competitive. and it was such a wonderful evening.

oh, and i made a new friend. how adorable is camper?

needless to say i love when Anastasia comes to town!