Potpourri

This is post of a few different things! 3 posts in 1 day?! I know, I'm nuts!  I'm going to go ahead and call this one Potpourri - or Poperee as I like to spell it. :)

First I'd like to take a minute to share with you about my co-worker and friend, Ruth. She taught me how to knit, she was my favorite thing, and I love her! I wanted to brag about her new shop on Etsy! She is selling beautiful homemade Christmas ornaments. If you are looking for a different and meaningful kind of gift this Christmas, and one that will last a lifetime, please see her shop here :)

Second, I've been tagged by Amanda at Just an Average Girl and Sarah at This Writer's Journey in their lists of four. I highly suggest you check out their blogs, both are GREAT girls with fun blogs :) Now let me make this list, and check it twice:

1. Four shows that you watch:

- Gilmore Girls (on DVD of course since it's not on regularly anymore-tear)

- ANYTHING on the Food Network

- Glee

- Grey's Anatomy

2. Four things you are passionate about:

- Family

- My husband

- Helping others any way I can

- Being a positive light in someone's life. I try to make sure I always walk in the room the right way :)

3. Four phrases you say a lot:

- "Ohmylanta!"

- "Shut up..."

- "I love you :)"

- "That's fine."

4. Four things you've learned from the past:

- The one thing that will stay with you if you let it is your pride. Sometimes you've got to let it go, it might surprise you how much better you are without it.

- If I don't do the laundry today, there will be TWICE as much tomorrow.

- Love with all your heart, and don't ever let telling someone you love them pass you by.

- Everything happens for a reason. Word.

5. Four places you would like to go:

- Granny's for Christmas... SO jealous my mom and siblings are going.

- Disneyworld! And Universal Studios to visit Hogwarts of course :)

- Shopping... does that count?

- Greece - someday...

6. Four things you did yesterday:

-  Watched Glee and The Sing Off when Bryan got home from work :) I <3 our new DVR

-  Was in a funky mood, but snapped out of it by the end of the day

-  Attended a staff meeting

- Thought about Christmas gifts I still need to buy.

7. Four things you are looking forward to:

- Short term: Hello!!! CHRISTMAS!!!!! :)

- Short term: Making sugar cookies with my sissy :) Hanner Bananner!

- Long term: Owning our own house... ah yes, that sounds wonderful.

- Long term: Being a mommy - my ultimate goal :)

8. Four things you love about Winter:

- Well up until November snow... I guess I'm still excited for that if it doesn't get crazy again!

- Hello!!! CHRISTMAS!!!! ;) Obviously I should have put I'm also  passionate about Christmas...

- Wearing warm clothes, I love jackets, zip ups, scarves... Yes!

- Spending more time with family


9. Four other great girls and blogs you should checkity check out:
Listen, I can't pick just four, I have so many great girls and blogs I follow, so if you are reading this and you have the time, would you include this fun little survey in your next blog and leave me a comment letting me know? I would love it :)




Third - if anyone asks what I want for Christmas, just tell them this dog, or one that looks just like it. That's all. 

(Shelty-Pomeranian mix aka cutest dog EVER!)

Cupcakes, Tag post, pictures, OH my!

This is hardly a Wordless Wednesday, it's pretty much the exact opposite, but I've got lots to share! So you're in for a long one! :)

First of all, I was tagged over at walkinginhighcotton by my blogging buddy Jamie! Here are my answers: (Thanks Jamie, these were fun questions!)

1. What is your favorite thing about your house?

-At the present moment, I don’t have an actual house, but I do have a home. Bryan and I live in an apartment currently (looking to hopefully move into a duplex or find a house for rent by the end of January) But if I had to choose what my favorite part was? It’s probably the fact that it’s where we share meals, secrets and endless laughs with each other. It may not have a backyard or a garage, or very much privacy for that matter, but our home is wherever we are.

2. If you could change anything about your life right now, what would it be?
-Our living situation. Bryan said when we get into a house with more than one bedroom, we can start trying for babies, color me happy!

3. Where would your dream vacation be?
-In the US; I would LOVE to visit Manhattan in New York, preferably in the fall. All the hustle and bustle would be exhilarating, and an experience I hear is like nothing else. I would visit the Empire State building, eat a delicious hot dog in Central Park, and stay at the Plaza hotel. Outside of the US: Austria. Hands down. One of my all time favorite movies is The Sound of Music, and the scenery in that movie is breathtaking. I can only imagine! 

4. What is one thing you have done that you wish you could take back?

-These questions are hard because I feel like everything you’ve been through has shaped the person you are today. But if I had to pick one, it would be I wish I didn’t try so hard to grow up so fast. I wish I would have listened to my parents and savored being a kid and having no responsibilities. Ah, woulda, coulda, shoulda.

5. What is your favorite thing about blogging?

-Ooh, I like this one! I <3 blogging because it is an outlet for me. It’s a way to share stories with my friends and family of the happenings in our daily lives. It’s a great way to meet new friends! It’s a wonderful way to get new ideas for recipes and tips for my home. I love finding new blogs that make me smile!

6. What is one thing that could turn your bad day into a great day?
-I really can’t just pick one, so I’ll give you three. One, my husband, he is the funniest person I know, hands down. If he can’t get me laughing when I’m down, there must be something really wrong. Two, music. There are so many different songs and albums I refer to when I’m down, but some of my faves are Journey “Don’t Stop Believin”, Natasha Beddingfield “Unwritten”, anything by Yellowcard, The Eagles, and if I’m really feeling down, Christmas music :) And three, love. Whether it’s I see a couple holding hands and kanoodling, one of my sappy chick flicks, or a really good love story in a book. I just LOVE love. There’s nothing better.

I also wanted to share a SUPER cute cupcake recipe with you! I made them to practice for a party I'm attending! I think they turned out pretty dang cute if I do say so myself! 

Tropical Teddy Graham Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 box of your choice cake mix (I used funfetti of course! :)

1 pkg of graham crackers

1 box of teddy grahams

1 bag gummy life savers

1 12oz jar of frosting (I used the whipped kind)

1 pkg of cupcake holders
1 pkg paper umbrellas toothpick thingy's (You know, the kind that they put in really fruity drinks? Those.)
Blue food coloring

Directions &

My Two Cents (I just went by the picture that I found online)

1. Bake cupcakes according to the directions on the box, set aside to cool before frosting.

2. While cupcakes are in the oven:

3. Add four drops of blue food coloring to about 4 big spoonfuls of frosting in a separate 

bowl. 

4. Put each teddy graham in his own life raft - aka - gummy life saver

5. Make sure each umbrella is "open" and will provide 

adequate shade to each teddy

6. Crush up a couple graham crackers into itsy bitsy pieces, the smaller the better. If you

don't want to buy teddy grahams and graham crackers, I'm sure crushed up teddy grahams 

will work just fine too.

7. When the cupcakes have cooled down, it's time to assemble! Your result should look like these! Great for pool parties, luau's, or just for having cute cupcakes :)

Happy Wednesday and happy baking! These little guys put a 

smile on my face! I hope they do for you too! :)

PS - see my quest to document a year in pictures by clicking on the 

"How do YOU Measure a Year" tab at the top of the page:)

TAG - You're it! :)

Good morning! Last night I saw that I was tagged in one of Lindsi's posts from The Hancocks blog, she's a sweet girl with real southern charm! Love her!

Alright, here goes nothing!

Lindsi: "How 'bout a good 'ol game of MASH?! Remember that one?

Hehe--list your ideal MASH answers."

1) HUSBAND

If the question is who is my ideal husband, you mean besides my prince charming?! :)

2) CITY

My ideal city to live in would be somewhere in northern California. I grew up in the Sacramento area until I was 12, and I miss that California sunshine! However, I could NEVER live anywhere without the entire family, I'm a little co-dependent on them.. And Washington has become my home.

3)  YOUR JOB

I have two!

1. Cook/Chef/Pastry master - all of the above? That would be just fabulous, thanks! :)

2. Photographer - I absolutely love taking photos [if you haven't noticed by now] I wish I had even just a little bit of professional training. I love capturing those moments that words just can't describe.
[A picture I took looking down the walkway by our house]

4) HUSBAND'S JOB
My husband - let me tell you - is an AMAZING artist. Don't let him tell you otherwise. I wish that he was able to go to school and pursue his artistic ability further... but it's just not in our financial cards at the moment. Never the less, I think he's awesome. It would be ideal if he worked as a graphic designer for someone like Pixar! PS Toy Story 3 comes out today! :)

5) YOUR CAR

I just want a mommy car :)

6) HUSBAND'S CAR

Oh, don't even get HIM started!
He wants a BMW M3, Range Rover, 1970 Chevy Chevelle... You name it, he probably has thought about it. He <3's cars like I <3 Christmas!
[Our cars now :)]

 7) NUMBER OF CHILDREN

Originally I wanted a lot, so I could have a huge family with lots of babies and grandbabies at holiday gatherings, but with a little more careful consideration, we landed on two. Hahaha

8) Random Question: Who is your favorite Golden Girl?

DUH! Betty White! :) And speaking of Golden girls, look at this picture a friend of mine put on her facebook a while back, I HAD to save it!

Now I think we've come to the part in the program where I get to tag YOU and ask you some of my own questions! :)!

1. What is your ALL time favorite song and why? None of this "Well I like everything." If you had to pick one, which would it be?

2. What's was the most memorable part of your wedding day and or first date if you aren't married yet ;)

3. What do you want to be when you grow up?

4. Why do you blog?

5. What is your favorite attribute about yourself and why?

6. What's on your Christmas list this year?

7. What is your "signature drink"? It could be homemade, your daily Starbucks drink, or what you always order when you go out. If it is homemade, will you include the recipe? :)

OK ladies, GO! I understand if you don't have time, it's just for fun :) I'd just like to get to know you all better! :)

Mountain Mum 

I'm a Wife now? 

I Kiss Better than I Cook

The Tarr Pit 

The Wife Life

The Crowley Party

Daily E Day