It's the Simple Things

Okay, so this post is supposed to be about my canning adventures...but it isn't. I have all the tools and ingredients which are not collecting dust or mold sitting on my counter. I got beginners jitters and gave in and ordered the "canning bible". I will fulfill this self promise as soon as it arrives with its wonderful pages full of step by step pictures and tutorials.

In the mean time I have realized that it is the simple things in life that make me happy...

• Dave having a steady and flexible job. Although he still likes to tap on my veins to see if I have any "good ones." 
• Dave only has less than a month until he graduates! He has worked so hard this semester and only falls asleep doing homework half of the time...which he thinks I don't notice:)
• Having reliable friends to talk to.
• My parents who not only predict my daily phone calls, but look forward to them! Little do they know how boring their lives would be with me!
• We now get one more channel and it is in English.
• Pointless job interviews. I am now confident enough with my answers that I don't say UM every other word. Still no job, but at least I am getting practice.
• Teaching my Sunday School class. It is a great group and as soon as I learn not to procrastinate til Saturday night in preparing Dave will be a lot happier.
• Maintenance workers...my complex has such friendly workers and even though they only speak one key phrase that I can understand it is still nice to know they are there. Especially when Dave tries to rewire the light switches...
• Reading...can't get enough of it. I joined a book club last week and it was fabulous. I realize I used to make fun of my mom for being in one and now I am eating my words:)
• Cooking good food. We have really found some great recipes lately!  Although our kitchen looks like a tornado after and I have used all of our utensils in the process. 
• Dave. I don't want to make his ego any larger than it already is, but he is so good to me. 
• Patience...seems like I am learning to use it more and more.
• Family...even though I favor my niece:) I appreciate all of them!
• Last but not least I am learning to stick up for myself. Never saw it as a lacking quality until I hit the "real world"!

I usually never write that much, but this has been a week of reflection and realizing what I am grateful for.

Now for some highlights...

Dave's mom gave us a gift card to the Olive Garden...yummy! 

*Dave is always embarrassed to take pictures...hence the crossed arms and half smile:)

 He would die if he saw this...good thing he never gets on here!

I made absolutely the best strawberry sauce/syrup. We poured it over french toast and ate in silence we were loving it so much!

Where did I put all the jars I made...

That's right folks I am excited about a brand new FREEZER! What my life is becoming:)

I finally finished the "welcome packets" for my ward!

Had to post this. Dave has faithfully been doing P90X. Even though he works out instead of helping with dinner I can't wait for the results:)

Dave has the next five days off! That means I can expect a few breakfasts in bed and foot rubs right?:)

HELLO...Carbs!

I think that the past week I accomplished more with my time than I did during the past four years(probably because none of it included taking a nap)! I have been determined to learn the classic motherly skills that I admire my mom for. Dave has enjoyed the benefits of my newly acquired skills, but our refrigerator, counter space and freezer are bursting now!

First on my list was BREAD... boy did I make bread!

Caraway Seed Pretzels...Dave was not a fan which just meant more for ME!

 

Banana Bread...I used wheat flour so they were flat, but you couldn't even tell. Or I should say picky Dave couldn't:)

Mashed Potato Wheat Bread...WOW. That is all I can say.

 

Old Fashioned Wheat Bread. My neighbor and I tackled this one. It was a definite success.

You might be thinking what are they doing with all that bread over there? There was only one solution...

Macaroni Grill's Dipping Mix. Delicious!

Second on my list was to SEW. I have never been awful at it I just have always had my mom nearby to finish my projects:) I wanted to make my little niece something fun and this is what I came up with...

 

 

Don't you think she will love it!

Took all day...my poor neighbor who had to deal with me has the patience of a saint and helped me carry it out. Big thanks to her!

Next on my list is to CAN. I almost laugh at the thought of me actually wanting to do this. All the years my mom tried to teach me are coming back to bite me! I am going to try and do pasta sauce. Hopefully that will be on my next post!

Last weekend Dave and I went to Albuquerque to go to the temple. It was a long day making the trip all in one day, but it was beautiful weather!

I went to a baby shower and and pulled out a little bit of creativity as well.

I must say that the highlight of the week was when we went to go get gelato. For those of you who are not familiar it is Italian ice cream that comes in small scoops. This was a problem for Dave from the second we walked in (he goes for the largest size at coldstone). I order my scoop and go sit down. Dave is taking forever and then I see him walk over with literally a boat of ice cream! Everyone was looking of course and how someone could even want that much. Also with gelato comes a small spoon that was not going to work for Dave either. We would have been there the whole night. The owner came over and gave him a large spoon.

I think that it was a first for everyone that night!

 

Whatever makes him happy right!?

We topped everything off with a caramel crepe...must say my dad's were much better, but this was a close second.

Dave worked everyday this week picking up extra shifts so I surprised him with flowers! I think I will stick to man things for him next time he was not very thrilled:) 

It is OFFICIAL! I have my diploma...finally!

Well, that is all we have been up to. The weather is starting to really warm up here and I think "winter" is over for us!

p.s. We are headed to Idaho in exactly one month for a whole week! I never thought the day would come when I would look forward to going back to Idaho:)

We Have Been Busy!

Dave was able to pick up some overtime at work and that left me with a lot of free time. The job search is still a work in progress unfortunately. I thought I had a great preschool teaching job...it was a flop. I can't complain though, much to Dave's amazement I still find ways to fill my days...

Home cooked meals. This is a new thing for Dave & I. We are enjoying this little game and it seems to still be going strong after almost 3 months! 

In case you were wondering this masterpiece is Taco Pizza. Delicious.

Taco Pizza

• Pizza dough-I used a refrigerated package...for you overachievers go ahead make your own:)
• 1 can refried beans
• Salsa
• Ground beef mixed w/taco seasoning packet
• Cheddar cheese
• Diced tomatoes
• Sliced avocados
• Iceburg lettuce
• Sliced olives
• Ranch

Bake dough at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile mix can of beans with about 1 cup salsa. Spread over cooled dough. Brown meat and mix in seasoning packet. Sprinkle over top of bean/salsa spread. Next, sprinkle cheese. Bake for another 10 minutes or until crust looks golden. Let cool and top with chopped lettuce and other taco toppings. Drizzle ranch dressing on top.

Another craft. My laundry room area was bare so I found some paper with my favorite design and made a little sign. I thought it turned out pretty cute...Dave wants to know if I will ever branch out from black and red. It isn't looking promising! 

Dear Hobby Lobby...you make me so happy and you drive my husband insane:) They had an 80% off sale on home decor. YES I said 80%!! I found fun things that were of course under the category of need in the budget. Thank you again because now my desk corner is no longer bare...

  and I was also able to finish my guest bathroom. It is so pretty now:)

Oh and one last BIG thank you for this pretty pot for $8!

It was a good weekend redecorating and crafting. Although those events were enjoyable they didn't exactly do it for me. I had to go and do this...

GROSS!!!! I got a huge steam burn from draining spaghetti. We were having the missionaries over for dinner and I was in fast mode. My skin literally melted. Nurse Dave is fascinated by it. I woke up to him trying to touch it! Naughty boy!

Dave has four days off this week and we are Albuquerque bound to go to the temple. I am very happy hopefully my finger doesn't get the best of me until then!!

I Love Valentine's Day...

My Valentine was extra sweet to me this year. Dave and I were full of so much love that our celebration lasted almost the whole week!

I am known for never waiting until the actually holiday to give Dave his gifts. That said I started off Wednesday morning by sending Dave on a Valentine's Treasure Hunt. He was able to figure out my cheesy clues and met me at the end at Cracker Barrel for a delicious breakfast:)

We Left Thursday for a little getaway to Ruidoso, New Mexico. Dave planned the whole trip (I was so impressed), but deep down this was an act of love on my part to go. Dave wanted to go skiing and he convinced me to try out the sport... 

 

I survived, Dave was very patient and I wore enough layers for both of us!

I stuck to the bunny hill with all of the 3 year olds zooming past me.

 Dave is a pro. He would call me from the top of the mountain and wave his pole at me as I sat and watched in awe.

The view was beautiful! It was hard to think that 2 hours away it was 60 degrees!

This is what Dave wore under his ski clothes? A true Idaho boy...wearing shorts in the snow:)

Note his sweet socks as well and he thinks I have weird fashion taste!

We walked around the little town and had a lot of fun. 

 We headed home both sore and tired Friday night and Dave told me to hurry up and change into something nice...

I thought we were going out to eat, but was so SURPRISED to walk around the corner and see this! Yes, my Valentine took me to Riverdance! It was an amazing show and I absolutely loved it.

 

It really was an act of love. We went home and wanted to try out all of the sweet dance moves we saw!

The weekend ended on Valentine's Day with a traditional fondue dinner.

We hope everyone had a special Valentine's Day and we love and miss everyone!

Oh and by the way we snacked on these little guys all week!

Chocolate dipped gummy bears. Still need to work out the kinks but really fun to make!

Our Attempt at Being Cultured...

Dave and I have been trying to support each other's interests. I went shooting with Dave and so he took me to a museum! I was so happy:) We went to the El Paso Museum of History. They had a Di Vinci Machines exhibit there on loan from Italy. They took his sketches and made large models out of them. Most of them were hands on which was a lot of  fun!

We took our friend's the Andersen's. Here is Dave and their little boy Reve putting together a bridge.

This is probably the closest I will get to Florence, Italy for a long time!

I wanted Dave to dip me, but this is what I had to settle for:)

My favorite painting.

Dave just picked one so I would be happy.

We are learning to really like El Paso and everything it has to offer.Not to mention we are really enjoying the 60 degree weather!

Time Consuming Craft...

Dave worked 3 nights in a row this week and I needed something to keep me busy. I look at all these crafty blogs and want to make everything they do! I then realize I don't have the patience for it and settle for something smaller:) I mostly took this idea from The Idea Room. After cutting what felt like a 1000 circles and using almost all my fabric this is what I came up with!

A giant ball! Ha ha Dave wasn't too impressed, but if you knew that it took me about 5 hours you need to be impressed that I finished!

 

I had wanted to make three to put in a bowl, but settled for just one hanging:)

Not to bad, huh!

Happy Crafting days!