.life as we know it.

Guess what we are bringing home.....

2012-02-13T21:32:00.000-07:00

6 baby chicks!!

Including..... a SILKIE!!!

I am sooooo excited.

They are the cutest sweetest littles

my husband, in pins

2012-02-10T23:15:00.000-07:00

sometimes while i'm wasting my time away on pinterest, i'll pin something that reminds me of brock.

so here you have it,

my husband, in pins:

sources

Recipe: Lion House Rolls

2012-02-01T13:35:00.001-07:00

There is a little story behind these rolls. Brock lived with his uncle Dave for a couple years, up until we got married. Every Sunday at uncle Daves, there would be these rolls, and Brock LOVED them. So I decided when we got married that I needed to find out how to make them. I googled the recipe and found out that you can also order these pre made and just freeze them! Not gonna lie, I was pretty tempted to just do that! But I printed out the recipe, and finally 4 months later, I gave them a go.

They were delish. Not the prettiest, but good! I’m still trying to perfect my roll presentation. They don’t look as good as they should, but they taste the same!

And I have had no problems getting these bad boys to rise. Which sadly isn’t the case with my attempts with cinnamon rolls!

This looks like it might be a complicated recipe but when you start, it’s not. If I can do it, YOU can too. Seriously.

This recipe does take some time because the rolls have to rise twice, so this is a good weekend recipe for me.

{I’ve made my own notes in red}

Lion House Rolls

2 cups warm water (110-115 degrees)

2/3 cup nonfat dry milk (instant)

2 tbs dry yeast

¼ cup sugar

2 tsp salt

1/3 cup shortening (butter or margarine)

1 egg

5-5 ½ cups flour , all purpose (bread flour can be used if you have it on hand) I have used both and they both work great

Directions:

In the large bowl of an electric mixer (I use my hand mixer since I don’t have a stand mixer yet), combine the water and the milk powder and stir so the milk dissolves. Add the yeast to this mixture then the sugar, salt, shortening, egg and 2 cups of the flour. Mix on low speed of mixer until ingredients are wet (since I am using a hand mixer, I do this part by hand then move onto the mixer for the next step) Then turn to medium speed and mix for 2 minutes (I’m mixing on low with the hand mixer).

Stop the mixer and add 2 more cups of flour, them mix on low speed until the ingredients are wet (again, if using the hand mixer, I just do this by hand). Then turn mixer on medium speed and mix for 2 minutes. (I use low with the hand mixer). The dough will be getting stiff and you may need to remove the bowl from the mixer and mix in the remaining flour by hand. (I do this last part by hand like it suggests, and I always need more flour than it calls for. I don’t measure it out, I just add flour till it is the consistency of dough; soft, not overly sticky, and not stiff.) Scrape the dough off the sides of the bowl and pour approximately one tablespoon vegetable oil all around the sides of the bowl. (I usually put this in a completely different bowl) Turn the dough over in the bowl so it is covered with the oil. (This helps prevent the dough from drying out.) Cover with plastic and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in size.

Sprinkle a cutting board or counter with flour and put the dough on the flour. It is now ready to roll out and cut into desired shape and size of rolls ( I roll it out into a circle and use my pizza cutter to cut them into pie pieces, I then roll them from biggest end to smallest like croissant rolls-this is the part I’m still trying to perfect..making them look decent).

Place on greased (or parchment lined) baking pans. Let ruse in a warm place until the rolls are double in size (approx. 1-1 ½ hours). Bake in a 375 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until they are browned to your satisfaction. (we brush on some melted butter when they come out of the oven)

ENJOY!!

Facelift

2012-02-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

For those of you who read blogs through google reader (like I do)

You probably won't notice/care that my blog got a little makeover.

It looks a lot better.

We'll see how long it takes for me to want to change it again.

Goats and Silkies

2012-01-30T22:18:00.001-07:00

As Brock got into bed tonight this is what our nightly discussion included:

Me telling Brock that I want a silkie chicken

(since we are planning on getting chickens...this is the kind I want).

I then proceeded to show him what they look like online.

I'm in love. And I think he is too even though he won't admit it.

Then goats came up in the discussion

(not cause we want to get goats. they just happen to come up in our convo)

and Brock told me:

"Goats have scary eyes. Google it."

It was THE most random thing I think I have ever heard him say!

Needless to say, it made me laugh. A lot!

And he was right!

Google goat eyes. They are kinda scary.

And while you are at it, Google "silkie chickens"

oh.my.gosh.

They are by far the cutest things I have ever seen!

I need to figure out ~~how~~ where to get mine!

Our (free!)chicken coop is in our back yard chicken-less.

We need to start filling it!

It's a soft white puff with a beak.

p.s. we now have internet =( ...... long story short: there was a pervert at the library and now I don't want to go back. and with allll online classes, internet is a short term necessity. I'm hating it already. (Except for being able to google goat eyes while I'm in be with my husb. Oh and being able to blog in the comfort of my bed.)

Brock's Birthday

2012-01-27T13:40:00.001-07:00

I never really got around to blogging about Brock's bday.

Probably because I didn't really take any pics.

We had his family over for dinner. Yummy Enchiladas. I also tried a new dessert recipe. Chubby Hubby Bars.

I'll have to post the recipe.

We had to work on Brock's birthday, so I sent him to work loaded with presents to open.

I found this cute idea on Pinterest and gave it my own twist.

I asked his mom what time he was born and from that hour, every hour, I had a present for him to open.

For the next couple months I'll only be a year older than him (26 and 27...till I turn 28...yikes)

Recipe: Chilis Salsa

2012-01-26T10:28:00.002-07:00

This is another recipe that I got out of my “Americas Most Wanted Recipes” recipe book. This book has tons of restaurant recipes that are delish.

This is where I got the delish zuppa toscana recipe that I use regularly..

I always have a batch of this stuff made, sitting in the fridge. It’s so good on everything! Even mac and cheese! Yes, Brock and I eat this on our mac and cheese. It’s really good on enchiladas (which I will be posting our fav recipe of soon) It’s good for chips and salsa, and much more. YUMMM!

I usually just have it in a plastic juice pitcher. It’s easy to just pour on whatever, and they hold a lot, if you want to double the recipe! I usually do

{I have made my own notes in red}

Chili’s Salsa

4 tsp fresh or canned (not pickled) diced jalapeno pepper ( I can’t wait till we have our garden so we can use fresh ones! But for now I use the sliced one that come in a jar)

½ cup diced onion

One 14 oz can tomatoes and green chilis

One 14 oz can whole peeled tomatoes, with juice (I use diced peeled tomatoes with juice cause we have like 2 cases, same diff)

½ tsp garlic salt or to taste

½ teaspoon cumin or more to taste

¼ tsp sugar, or to taste

Directions:

Place the jalapeno and onion in a food processor ( or blender, if you don’t have a food processor. It works just as good); pulse for just a few seconds

Add both cans of tomatoes and the garlic salt, cumin, and sugar

Process all the ingredients until well blended, but do not puree. You want the salsa to be kinda chunky.

Serve immediately or refrigerate.

The Sign Stays!

2012-01-25T13:27:00.000-07:00

As I wrote last week, I made this sign that I have been debating keeping up

(since the boys brought to my attention that is sounds like I am implying alot of innuendo)

I really liked the sign and thought it was clear that I was saying that we don't care to waste time making the bed, because we would rather use that time to make memories....doing other things (not in the bed)

annnyways,

I asked for everyones opinions and got a mixed review. Some people understood what I was going for and liked it, some people said ya it sounds like thaaat (innuendo)

So I was still kinda torn but decided to leave it up because

1. I like it

2. I know what I was thinking when I made it and how I wanted it to come across

3. No one will really be in our bedroom anyways and we both know what it means

Then yesterday I read a post from a blog I follow and love, and she was talking about her design style and to own what you love.

read it here

THE SIGN STAYS!!!

Sometimes all you gotta do is ask!

2012-01-24T11:11:00.001-07:00

Remember yesterday when I posted some pics and complained about not having a digital camera and having crappy phone pics, well I got to thinking and thought about how many people just use their iphones (or other smart phones) for pics these days. Why carry around a camera if you don't have to right?

I decided to post on facebook to see if anyone had a digital camera lying around that wasn't being used and wanted to go to a place where it would get lots of use.

Sure enough......

Aubry Bennion to my rescue!

....and now I can effortlessly keep my 2012 goal of taking more pictures!

weekend recap

2012-01-23T12:49:00.000-07:00

We had a very nice productive weekend.

Mainly consisting of a date DAY! As opposed to a date night, ours lasted all day, and I loved every second of it!

Friday it took me over an hour to get home. Traffic....grr.

But, Brock had gotten a load of laundry in, got the grocery shopping done (the chore I utterly despise) and had dinner nearly finished by the time I got home.

Oh, and he had a rose waiting for me!

Seriously, I have the best husband.

We had some dinner and cuddled up to a Friday night movie.

Saturday was our date DAY.

We started off by attending the Bountiful temple bright and early. Actually it was still dark, so dark and early, for a sealing session.

I just love being in the temple. I feel like it is all still pretty new to me, being newly endowed, but Brock and I go at least once a month, so I am slowly starting to feel so much more comfortable in the temple performing these sacred and amazing ordinances. It really feels like home. It is MY temple and even though I may not know EVERYTHING about all the ordinances that are done there, I know that I am able to feel my Heavenly Fathers love there and the meaning of life and eternal families just resonates through me. It's a pretty great feeling. Not to mention the work that is being done for people that can not do it for themselves. It is amazing.

After the temple we headed back home for a couple hours, Brock watched some of his Star Craft Videos, while I took a glorious nap. Seriously, it was one of THOSE naps....perfectly warm and content and relaxed in my bed. Waking up feeling rested and relaxed. It was sooooo nice!

After nap time, we headed out for massages!

Neither of us have had massages before and we got these for Christmas.

Unfortunately it was not what we were expecting.
It was more of an adjustment that it was a massage. So we will need to try the massage thing again... somewhere else.

After our massages we headed to Olive Garden for lunch!

YUMMM!

After lunch we ran a couple errands and headed home.

For dinner we met up with Kyle & Krissie. They have been telling us about this place they like called Meditrina

It was fun to try something new!

And while we were there I realized that was the first date we had been on with other people since we have been married!

Here are some CRAPPY pics from our stupid phone.
We don't have a digital camera so this is what we get till we get one cause I refuse to lug around the SLR and pull that honkin thing out to ask people to take pics of us!

It doesn't help that it was really dark in there either but here they are.

After dinner we cuddled up in bed and watched Mission Impossible III on the laptop.
I hadn't ever seen any of the Mission Impossible movies and all I have to say is
they are stressful!!
I was tense and stressed the whole time! Then after the movie I just had a bazillion questions.
But it was pretty good.
I think I need to watch the first one now, then go see the new one.
Seriously though, I think I might need to take a Xanax before hand!

Sunday was nice and relaxing. We have 1:00 church now so we have lots of time before church.
We both got new callings so we will be release from scouts and primary.
I'll miss our sweet little kids but I wasn't too attached to either calling so it wasn't too big of a deal.
(is that bad?)
I got called to be the new Gospel Doctrine teacher. Yikes.
Brock is going to be the 12 year old scout master.
He will be really great at that. He has a way with relating to these young boys and they will be really lucky to have him.
We got home juuuust in time to see the Ravens miss the last second kick (that was painful to watch) and then headed to Bountiful for Sunday dinner and some more football (homework for me).

It was a fantastic weekend and we are not ready for it to be over!

Shooting

2012-01-23T12:28:00.000-07:00

I tagged along with the boys a couple weekends ago to go shooting.

Brock, Andrew, Kyle Lincoln and me.

It was a lot of fun. They were nice to let me come along!

this is MY kind of assignment!

2012-01-19T09:20:00.000-07:00

source

My latest assignment in my writing class:

"All writers procrastinate occasionally-some just procrastinate more effectively than others. After brainstorming or free writing about your favorite ways of procrastinating, write a humorous or serious essay on procrastination."

I think I can handle that, since I am the BIGGEST procrastinator ever.

Don't rush me! I'm waiting till the last minute!

Source

I wish all my assignments were this easy....and personally relate-able!

P.s We are getting chickens!

I just need a good scream

2012-01-18T09:08:00.000-07:00

source

seriously, I just need a good scream

and some cafe rio.

I need your input...Yes that means YOU!

2012-01-17T08:26:00.002-07:00

I need your help.

Don't worry about my feelings, I can take it.

I made this sign for our bedroom.

Kinda like the little sayings people have in their house like..

"please excuse the mess, the kids are making memories"

It's supposed to be like that.

Buuut my brother in laws were over on Saturday and they said that it has a lot of innuendo.

Like, no time to make the bed, we are busy doing ottttthhher stuff. Get it?

That is NOT what this is supposed to suggest!

It is supposed to be cute and meaningful, saying we don't care if the bed isn't made, we would rather be making memories together. (not in the bed!)

I never would have thought that in a million years that it was suggestive, but of course the boys pointed that out and now I am self conscious about it! I don't want people thinking we don't make our bed cause we are too busy gettin busy! noooo!

So I need your opinions!! PLEASE

Do you think it is suggestive?

What do you initially think when reading/seeing it?

pleaseandthankyou

p.s. that's our headboard which I am in love with. I haven't really posted any pics of it yet. So here it is!

One day at a time..

2012-01-13T13:35:00.000-07:00

This is how I am currently living my life.

Otherwise I might crumble.

The last little bit has been very busy for me. The new year, starting school, trying to finish bedroom projects, trying to get back on a normal sleeping schedule after the holidays and all the days off that we enjoyed of being lazy and sleeping in.

I've had two issues lately. number one, starting school.

It feels overwhelming when I think about allll that i need to do for school. But the second I realize I can just take it day by day, it seems easy and definitely an accomplish-able task (if accomplish-able wasn't a word before, it is now!)

the other daunting issue I have is weight loss goals.

When I think about where I want to be vs where I am, it feels impossible.

But again, when I think about it on a day to day basis, not a HUGE goal that I neeed to reach by a certain time, it is do-able! It feels like something I can tackle.

so...

current life motto:

ONE DAY AT A TIME

ok on to the next.

my aimless ramblings:

Happy Friday the 13th! oooOoH

We have the new Planet of the Apes on reserve for tonight.

Do you think that will be a scary enough movie for our Friday the 13th celebrations?

Tomorrow we are going shooting.

I'm pretty excited AND definitely nervous about that. Hopefully getting familiar with guns and shooting will eliminate the fear I have of them.

I got an invitation to a girls night in the other day and oooooh and I excited!!

It is a musical theme, which I loooooove!

We get to pick a character from a musical and dress up like them and we need to bring a treat that goes along with our character/musical!

I immediately knew what I was going to be and after about 10 minutes of thought, came up with the perfect treat! But its a secret till the time comes because there will be a guessing game where we guess who each other is!

What a fun idea right?!

It has been a while since I have had a girls night so it will be super fun.

That leads me to my next ramble....

A couple of things in the past couple days have led me to recognize some personality/characteristic changes that I have had since being married.

Keep reading, and tell me if any of you have had this happen.

Before I got married I was pretty social. I liked being in social situations, I liked hosting game nights in my tiny little apartment, I liked making new friends. And I felt like I became pretty good at it (which has not always been the case, but developed over my yearrrrrs if singledom). I enjoyed it and it didn't feel forced. Like I never felt like ohh I better go to this party or this gathering or this activity cause I am single and I have nothing better to do and maybe HE (my future husb) will be there. I just went because I enjoyed to.

Annnnyways, I am the opposite now.

I don't love being social.

If I could choose to go out with a bunch of people all the time or spend the night in with my husband, I would choose the night in with my husband EVERY time, in a heartbeat.

I feel like making (couples) friends in our ward to hang out with is pointless, because I hardly see the friends I currently have, why add more to that that will take even more time away from the people that are currently in my life.

Some advice I have gotten before and since being married is to make sure you have girls time, or time out with others. Maybe it is because I am still a 'newlywed' but I'd still rather just be with my boy.

I do agree with the advice of spend some time away from each other, but I'd rather spend that away time as ME time.

Now don't get me wrong, I love being with others, I love having family over and friends over. I love looking forward to fun themed girls nights out. It's great. But for the most part I just want to soak up all the time I get with Brock.

I have mixed feelings about this characteristic change.

I like it because it is where I feel most comfortable in my current situation.
I don't like it because it takes any social-ness out of me. And I know that Brock enjoys being social and making new friends.

Anyways, did any of you go through this when you got married?

Changes in your personality or characteristics?

Maybe this specific one?

This is a long boring post. Sorry. Just needed to get some things out there in my little corner of the world.

debbie downer

2012-01-10T13:06:00.000-07:00

Warning:

If you are having a good day, don't read this post!

I'm a total downer today for wishing I was things I am not.

I wish I was the pretty/sexy/skinny/perfect little wife.

I wish I was more motivated with school, and could handle it like everyone else

I wish I lived somewhere warm.

I wish I could travel more.

I wish I could/would do all the projects I want to do.

I wish I wish I wish.

Now, let me just say, it is hardly ever that I actually feel this way.

But some days it's like the self esteem bus crashes and I just feel very inadequate....

Even though I know that my husband loves me the way I am.

Even though I know not everyone handles school well or wants to go, or even excels at it.

Even though I know I shouldn't be comparing myself to people I see on facebook and blogs.

Luckily I know today will pass and tomorrow I will feel fine.

But right now...booo!

I guess it doesn't help that I haven't put any makeup on for 2 days and have come to work in my workout clothes and look like a homeless person!

date night!

2012-01-06T12:49:00.000-07:00

tonight i have a date with my hotty husb that will include the following:

AND

more than likely some good cuddling!

I love nights in with my boy.

They are cherished times that I fear losing to school, babies, callings, and all of life's other responsibilities.

But for now, I will soak up allllll the alone time I get with my best friend and take advantage of the time I get him all to myself!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

happy new year!

2011-12-30T10:57:00.002-07:00

1 day

37 hours

2243 minutes

134629 seconds

we are having a little get together at our house for new years. family and a few friends for games and yummy food and ringing in the new year! wooo!

it's the perfect time to make the appetizers and hors devours (weirdest word ever btw)

that i have been wanting to make but haven't had an excuse!

a glimpse into the menu:

warm artichoke shrimp dip

source

clam cheese ball

courtesy of brock's grandmothers recipe!

pita break crisps

for dipping of course

Antipasto Sausage Skewers

and we need something sweet, so....

no bake oreo truffles

source

yummmmm!

im getting hungry

it's going to be a Paaaartay

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Obama Budget Cuts Visualization

2011-12-28T08:33:00.000-07:00

technology...electronics....kids

2011-12-28T07:43:00.000-07:00

this post will certainly not be the most popular, or well received, but i am interested in other peoples thoughts on this, and would like to share my own.

we all have our opinions and i hope that this does not offend anyone.

kids and electronics.....

i think this is a controversial subject, but is probably becoming less of one because it is becoming more common

i used to think it was so ridiculous to see 8 year olds with cell phones.

while i still think it is ridiculous, the issue is becoming worse!

constantly i am seeing kids under 5 using their parents iphones, ipads, computers.

i am baffled by this!

i don't feel like i am technically challenged in any way but these kids know how to use these items better than i do!

it is seriously sickening to me!

i don't want an iphone to stick in front of my kid to shut them up during sacrament.

i don't want an ipad to keep them occupied while i am getting things done around the house.

these things are addicting as is are for adults.

now we are sticking our kids on them?!

i can't imagine raising a child on a phone or computer and what they will need/expect in regards to electronics when they are older.

my views on electronics has changed dramatically in the last couple of years.

it started with cable tv.

then cell phone.

i am to the point that i can live without it all

we don't have cable. we don't have internet. we have a cell phone for calls and texts only.

we use the internet at the library when we need it

we are surviving, and we have time to get things done!

again, as technology increases in availability and convenience, this opinion is wildly unpopular.

i am ok with that.

don't get me wrong......i KNOW that theses can all be used for such great things with kids.

for example my sweet little nephew has some sensory 'delays' and these things are great for helping out with that. that is just one example so i know they are there.

i'm just baffled by the use of these electronics by small kids.

i have seen it become an expectation.

kids see their parents with the phone and they start screaming for it!

i'm sure these are good for learning and even coordination, stuff like that. there are definitely benefits. but sticking a phone in front of a kid to keep them quiet or occupied when they don't really know what they are doing to begin with, just pushing buttons or swiping the screen, that's where my frustration comes in.

what are your thoughts?

i'm open to them all

(and am prepared for most to be opposing to mine...which is just fine!)

This year will go down in history...

2011-12-27T12:05:00.000-07:00

source

every year, as the year comes to a close, i like to reflect on the things that happened and the things that i experienced.

2009/2010

each year there are big milestones, new friends, new travels, and this year was no different.

there is one thing that sums up the year and that is our wedding day!

all the things that i have experienced through the years have led me to this sacred milestone in 2011

2011 will certainly go down in history as the year that we started our eternal family.

it has been a great year and i can't wait to see what is in store for us in 2012!

bring it on!

Happy Friday to Us!

2011-12-22T14:15:00.000-07:00

today is the beginning our our lonnnnng weekend.

it's a full one but it will be alot of fun.

Tonight we are heading to the Wray family Christmas party. There will definitely be singing and story time by grandpa! Love it!

Tomorrow we are up bright and early to head for vegas. Wedding/Sealing at 2. Dinner at 5 then play time with Stacie and Matt! can't wait to see them!

Then its home for the annual christmas eve chinese dinner with the sibs. (siblings)

and some "little people, big world"

yep thats the tradition and we love it!

Christmas will be filled with wray's and nortons.

Then temple square date and hot choc on monday.

Now we just need to pray for clear roads to and from vegas.

Last weekend we were in cali, blog post to come.

I think we will be all wedding/road tripped out by this time next week.

I am so excited to spend my first Christmas with my husb and start our own holiday traditions in our own little family!

Adventures in Brock's sleeping stories

2011-12-21T10:41:00.000-07:00

as you may well know by now, brock is a crazy sleeper

proof here and here

well last night brock professed his love for me in his sleep.

at 1:49 a.m. i am laying in bed and here him say this:

"ashlee norton, i love you. you are the only one for me. always and forever"

how sweet is that! lol

i definitely fell back to sleep with a smile on my face!

i love my crazy little sleeper! and would much rather take that each night then being mistaken for a terrorist and being attacked in bed in the middle of the night!

More home projects

2011-12-20T07:24:00.000-07:00

we have done so many projects since we bought our house that I haven't had time to blog them all.

These are some that we did in the summer:

new curtains!

I bought curtains from ikea ( i can't remember if they were 20 per panel or 20 for both but either way they were cheap)

we hung them with 1" conduit.

Have you looked at prices of curtain rods!? they are not cheap!

so we ghetto rigged ours.

i thought about spray painting the conduit a rubbed bronze color but never did that.

I think the conduit ran us a couple bucks.

And we had to borrow our brothers hack saw. (thanks Link!)

they turned out pretty good, but there are some spots that i should have been more careful with! If I ever do these again I will be more careful with the dark paint color around the white!

People are shocked when they find out that they are painted!

I didn't do this on these, but if you use regular wall paint (which I did) there is an additive you can buy that makes them washable and takes the stiffness our of the paint.

I would probably do that next time too!

We have really high ceilings so I put the rod up above the window about a foot to show the height more.

Fence

We also ripped out the fence that was in the front of our house.

let me tell you, that was hard work!

thank goodness i have a hard working husband, we knocked this out at in a few hours

Before:

After:

Now we just need to work on getting some landscaping in!

Cement Pad:

We have 2 random cement pads in our back yard. We decided to take one of them out and left the other for our shed someday.

This was another big project and Brock knocked it right out.

Seriously, he is such a hard worker and just gets stuff done!!

I unfortunately am the opposite, so he is perfect to have around!

Things are slowly coming together.....

2011-12-19T19:17:00.000-07:00

We have finished the headboard for our bedroom makeover and I am IN LOVE with it.

It turned out exactly how I wanted.

I don't have any good pics of it, cause I don't have any bedding yet but here is a little sneak peak

and a pic of one of our side table lamps, which I am also in love with.

I scored it for $2 bucks at a yard sale this summer!

I still need to work on the curtains and the quilt.

Somewhere I will find the motivation to start those!

Homemade Christmas!

2011-12-19T19:05:00.000-07:00

I've been making decorations this year, and thought i would share some simple CHEAP ideas!

reclaimed wood

Christmas sign:
paint or stencil and I added some gliter and twine

Anthro copycat Christmas garland:
so easy, i used brown packaging paper, old book pages and spray painted some card stock to match the color scheme, cut out a bunch of circles (i did 3 sizes) then sewed them all together with the sewing machine.

Salt dough ornaments:
salt dough recipe:
2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, cold water. Mix until has consistency of play dough. bake at 250 for 2 hours, then cool and paint.
I used a star cookie cutter. i forgot to poke a hole in the tops for the string to hang them so after they were baked and painted my smart husband pulled out the drill and our smallest drill bit and we drilled the holes in. i used some silver glitter and modge podge after the paint dried.

Spray Painted Cardboard Christmas Trees:

cut out some Christmas trees from some leftover cardboard and spray painted them silver and added string

Paper ornaments:

template found here
used old book pages and twin for hanging

and of course a little glitter:
gold glitter, which can be found at dollar tree and sticks from your back yard!
spray painted the sticks then covered with modge podge and rolled in glitter!
these are so glittery and pretty!

and more glitter.
4" styrofoam balls from dollar tree (everywhere else they are $4 and up!)
roll in modge podge then in glitter. let dry and hang them from a branch with ribbon!
sorry this isn't a very good pic but you get the idea

when you are living on a budget saving for bigger, better things, homemade is the way to go.
thank you pinterest for cheap ideas that i can alter into my own!

Recipe: Pizza Dough

2011-12-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

Another Norton Household fav:

This is a delish recipe that we use alot for pizza dough.

I got this recipe from a website called Annies-Eats.com
I usually make a couple batches and freeze it all until we are ready to use it.

{I’ve made some of my own notes in red}

Basic Pizza Dough

½ cup warm water

2 ¼ tsp instant yeast

4 cups (22oz) bread flour, plus more for dusting

1 ½ tsp salt

1 ¼ cup water, at room temp

2 tbs extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

Measure the warm water into a 2-cup liquid measuring cup. Sprinkle the yeast over the top. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the bread flour and salt, mixing briefly to blend. (I don’t have a stand mixer just yet, so I use my hand mixer. Works out just fine). Measure the room temperature water into the measuring cup with the yeast-water mixture. With the mixer on low speed, pour in the yeast-water mixture as well as the olive oil. Mix until a cohesive dough is formed. Switch to the dough hook. Knead on low speed until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a lightly oiled bowl, turning once to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in size, 1 ½-2 hours.

Press down the dough to deflate it. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces. Form each piece of dough unto a smooth round ball. (If freezing the dough, wrap each ball in tightly sealed plastic wrap then place in freezer bag and freeze at this point). Cover with a damp cloth. Let the dough relax for at least 10 minutes but no longer than 30 minutes.

To bake, preheat the oven and pizza stone to 500 degrees for at least 30 minutes. (we don’t have a pizza oven or stone, darn it. But a pizza pan works just fine!) Transfer the dough to your shaping surface, lightly sprinkle with corn meal. Shape the dough with lightly floured hands. Brush the outer edge lightly with olive oil. Top as desired. Bake until crust is golden brown, and cheese is bubbling, 8-12 minutes.

** If you froze it, just take it out of the freezer in the morning and place in refrigerator the day you plan to use it.

craft hands

2011-12-09T14:09:00.000-07:00

i have craft hands.

you know, warn blistered, rough, paint stained chipped nails...all of the above

I've been crafting away and loving every second of it.

last night Brock went over to his brothers and left me alone to my crafting madness.

It's kinda nice to have a night alone to my projects (although he is always missed)

I'm trying to get some of the bedroom projects done. All the big stuff is done...except the quilt

Painting...check, headboard...check,

i need to post pics but am debating weather i wait till the whole room is done or just post along the way!

oh i also need to do my curtains.

what I want cost more than my total room budget so I am of course making them.

dying fabric and all.

we'll see how they turn out, but I have high hopes!!

the weekends are going to be busy for us the rest of the year!

tonight we are having our single friends over! can't wait! I love them

tomorrow is bachelor party time for the norton boys and my sis in law is coming over for a beginner sewing lesson! not that i know very much but i do know some stuff!

next weekend our brother is getting married so we are off to cali for the weekend

the weekend after that we are off to vegas for brock's childhood friends wedding

the weekend after that we are watching nephew cole.

whew.

busy busy busy.

somewhere in there i need to finish my Christmas shopping.

and try to finish all the projects around the house.

slowly they are gettin checked off, one by one.

it's a good thing i have Brock. He keeps me focused on projects and getting them done, rather than starting them and then slowly finishing & dragging them out or never finishing! that's one thing im really good at! he keeps me going!

btw, people think im crazy for the things im doing, and don't see things like i do.

they use words like "interesting" or "it's definitely unique"

that's ok though cause thats what i want. things that are unique and things that i can be proud of cause i worked hard.

but maybe just a little sometimes i wish people just understood my visions and liked them like i do!

oh well.

happy friday!!

Christmas Time is Here Again!

2011-12-06T13:12:00.000-07:00

Goodbye Fall Decor.....

HELLO CHRISTMAS!!!

We plan on having a Happy, Homemade Christmas.

Recipe: Zuppa Toscana

2011-12-06T12:17:00.001-07:00

I have had some people ask me for recipes that I have tried, so I decided to just post them on here so I don't have to email them multiple times.

This is a favorite recipe at our house.

It warms your soul. Promise!

I got this recipe out if a cookbook I have had for a few years called America’s most wanted recipes. This is from Olive Garden (MY FAV!)

{I've made some of my own notes in red}

Yuuuum!! Tastes just like the real thing... if not better! For reals though.

Zuppa Toscana Soup

1 Pound Italian Sausage ( I tried this recipe once with the spicy Italian sausage and it was just too hot. Stick with the regular Italian sausage)

8 Oz smoked bacon chopped ( I nix this in ours cause I don’t eat bacon)

4 cups water

Two 14.5 oz cans chicken broth

2 large russet potatoes (we do 3)

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 medium onion

2 Cups chopped kale or swiss chard (I haven’t tried this with the chard but the kale is SO yum. Add the whole bunch even if it’s more than 2cups! It’s good stuff)

1 cup heavy cream

Salt & Pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a skillet over medium heat, brown the sausage (don’t forget to remove the casing!) into small pieces; drain and set aside

2. In a separate skillet fry the bacon until brown, drain and set aside (again, I nix this step)

3. Combine the water, broth, potatoes, garlic, and onion in a pot; simmer over medium heat until the potatoes are tender. About 10-15 minutes

4. Add the sausage and bacon; simmer for 10 minutes

5. Add the kale and cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste and simmer until the soup is heated through. Do not allow to boil

This makes about 4 servings. It’s perfect for brock and I cause we have lunch and dinner the next day and it’s just as good as leftovers!

Enjoy!

adventures in brock's sleeping stories

2011-12-03T14:10:00.002-07:00

Here is another one for the books.

this one happened on our honeymoon.

i was somewhat aware that brock had sleeping issues before we got married, but i had no idea what i was getting into till the honeymoon.

one night we turned the tv on before going to bed.

there was a show called swamp wars on

they were hunting giant snakes in the swamps.

well we go to bed and im woken in the middle of the night to brock kicking. jumping. flailing his arms at the corner of the bottom of the bed.

he then JUMPS off the bed as i'm screaming "BROCK!" trying to wake him up.

he gets off the bed and says "man those snakes are dangerous!"

The secret to having it all:

2011-12-01T09:39:00.000-07:00

moroni 7:33

And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do
whatsoever thing is expedient in me.

Stupid Cat

2011-11-30T13:35:00.000-07:00

So my sisters and my dad got a kitten at the end of the summer.

I'm not a cat lover by anymeans

but kittens, they are a different story..

they are just so small and cute and cuddly.

so i loved the little kitty,

but now the little kitty is growing bigger

i'm trying to be friends with the cat but guess what,

the cat HATES me.

its hilarious. no one knows why.

when i try to hold it it literally claws and hisses and tries to run away.

if i hand it to someone else, it's fine. it's passed back to me and immediately starts clawing and hissing!!!

wtf

now its starting to hate brock too.

hahahaha its so funny.

weekend recap

2011-11-29T12:12:00.000-07:00

brock and i didn't technically get a "long weekend" cause we had to work on Friday, but we did manage to get off at noon so our weekend started a few hours early.

I loved everything about this weekend.

We got tons done, including working on our headboard and getting our Christmas decorations up!

I had been looking forward to decorating the whole week.

And what better way to end a full day projects/decorating....

pizza and a movie by christmas tree light! (christmas vacation. a must for decorating day!)

I also got my heating blanket and oh.my.gosh

its heaven.

it keeps me nice and toasty warm in bed, while my husb likes it cold and crisp.

now we both win!

It's seriously good.

I have lots of posts to come.

We decided live on a weekly cash budget to save more mulah so there isn't alot left over for buying extra 'things' so those things get hand made. But i'm loving the handmade DIY feel of everything i've done. I can't wait till we have kids and we can start traditions of hand made ornaments and decorations where they can help and make cherished memories all at the same time!

This weekend there was lots of crafting/homemaking going on.

Including but not limited to homemade Christmas ornaments. delish homemade lion house rolls, our headboard, the list goes on and on

so blog posts are to come when i can get over to the library for some internet usage.

The Christmas shopping has begun, and I am counting down the days till we can sneak away for a few days to attend Brock's brothers wedding in Cali (16 days).

oh. thanksgiving was good to.

i didn't really have to lift a finger except to make the rolls.

that was nice for once!

Last year i was a grinch. no tree, not really feeling the spirit of the season, but this year, i just can't get enough! I'm soaking it all in.

Gratitude, Day 23

2011-11-23T09:32:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for creative inspiration.

I like making things and creating things and I always have.

That has been taken to a whole new level since Pinterest came along, and since I have been a blogger, landing upon such creative blogs.

I LOVE a good creative blog find. (maybe a little too much)

As I am planning out our bedroom makeover (sneak peak), im trying to make the ideas in my head a reality, and searching through pinterest and these bogs has turned the creativity up a few notches!

Here are some of the things I have recently came across that have inspired some of our bedroom makeover ideas.

I LOVE everything about this:

I am going branch hunting tonight....

Source

Love this silver plate rack:

Source

Gratitude, Day 21

2011-11-21T12:16:00.000-07:00

WEEKENDS!

don't you love the kind of weekends where there is nothing scheduled,

you get alot done but also had a very relaxing weekend?

thats what our weekend was.

all this was accomplished at our house:

made a jewlery holder (for a whopping 75 cents..post to come) which forced me to organize my jewlery

started on our headboard (post to come)

made 2 gallons liquid soap for 50 cents! (post to come)

started and finished a video game (this one was the husb)

made successfull lion house rolls (practice run for the thanksgiving roll assignment)

made a not so successful turkey meatloaf.

church

cleaned up and rearanged the bedroom

made it to olive garden and to a comedy show

got the grocery shopping done (the task i despise the most, that and laundry, which also got done)

hit up the thrift store. (post to come!)

and made a home depot run.

oh and got the ironing done!

whew thats alot.

and now i realize i have alot of blog posts to do!

I Live for Weekends.
I love every second of them.
(except for the sudden stomach flu symptoms)

gratitude, day 19

2011-11-19T12:35:00.000-07:00

i'm gratefull that i don't have to hide my weirdness from my husband.

he loves me even with all the weirdness!

just a few things

2011-11-18T09:37:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about my bedroom makeover! I am feeling antsy to get started!

First year of being married calls for sending out a family Christmas card right?! I have (what i think is) a cute idea for ours this year! Now i just need it to snow so I can carry out my plan!

I was feeling crafty last night so I made a cute little "Merry Christmas" sign for our Christmas pics. I also made myself some sweater leg warmers. you know how those are the thing right now. I've got some cute new boots sitting in my closet that they will go perfect with.
Easiest/cheapest thing ever! I used the sleeves off a sweater that i got at a yard sale this summer that i have yet to wear. It was a bit frumpy and "grandma-ish" in the words of my boy. So i took the scissors to it. Now i have a cute pair of legwarmers for free and i actually like the sweater more now! I tried it on as a little sweater vest and kinda liked it!

Im getting more and more excited for Christmas. Im pretty ready for it to just be thanksgiving so i can start decorating!
One of my most favorite things is getting the tree up and everything done, then turning off all the lights axcept the tree, turning up the Christmas music and cuddling up in a warm blanket and taking it all in. It's one of the most peacefull things! Someday ill be able to add a roaring fire to that scenario.

I have been listening to Christmas music now, and it does something to me. I cant NOT sing. no matter what. I think my husband has seen a side of me that he didn't expect? I BELT it. and don't care if im off key or dont know the words. its just great!

I think elf said it best:

I don't know if I am actually spreading cheer with my singing or just calling all the stray dogs but it makes me happy!

Gratitude, Day 18

2011-11-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful for the beauty of the earth that surrounds us.

On July 1, 2011 I received my endowments.

As I sat through the session, I was completely overcome with gratitude that our Father in Heaven would create such a beautiful place to send us to.

I've always loved being out doors and just soaking in the beauty, but that day it really hit me that he created this beauty for US.

Just this morning as I was driving in to work, there was the most gorgeous sunrise.

It looked like there was a smokey fire in the sky, set back behind the clouds.

We have it lucky here in such a beautiful place.

I need to take more opportunities to recognize that.

Gratitude, Day 17

2011-11-17T13:49:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for music.

Sneak Peak

2011-11-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

Even though i can't work on my bedroom makeover yet,

(still have to finish up a couple other projects, but i finally did get my recipes organized!)

I am gathering and shopping for things i need for the room.

Here is a sneak peak of a couple of the accessories.

i'm in love!

I have wanted one of these old vintage fans forever

I splurged a little on this one i found on KSL:

$30

I found this amazing light at a yard sale this summer.

This is where the inspiration of the room is coming from

I love it!!

cost me a whole

more to come!

I can't wait till i can actually start working on the room.

It will be some work but worth the savings!!

Gratitude, Day 15

2011-11-15T13:12:00.001-07:00

Today I am grateful for electricity, and my husband who ordered me an electric blanket!!

No more sleeping with literally 5 HUGE blankets and a heating pad at my feet anymore!!

(well after the 29th, which is when it will come)

...UPDATE:
oops. guess i wasn't supposed to know about the blanket lol.
just got an email from the husb that said " you weren't supposed to know about that"
guess i ruined the surprise.

but im still really really gratefull ;)

Nice Little Reminder for Myself

2011-11-15T11:42:00.002-07:00

Gratitude, Day 14

2011-11-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

today I am grateful for a job that has no dress code!

this morning it was too cold to even think about changing out of my sweats into cold stiff jeans.

sooooooo

i didn't! i came to work in my SWEATS.

don't judge.

Gratitude day 13

2011-11-14T09:05:00.000-07:00

Since I don't have internet at home, I have to leave the weekend posts till Monday

Today I am grateful for :

per·spec·tive [per-spek-tiv] :

the state of one's ideas, the facts known to one, etc., in having a meaningful interrelationship

namely with the gospel and life.
it is so easy to get caught up in trying to be perfect, or nearly perfect or to portray that our lives are so.
to try to take the best dessert to the game night you were invited to.
to try to have the cutest outfit,
or the best stories,
or the best whatever it may be.
we all want to impress others, but when it really comes down to it, if we have the right perspective,
we really only need to impress our Father in Heaven.
we really just need to have the right perspective of why we are here.
to help others, to be Christlike, to obey the commandments, and be good examples along the way.
when you have the right perspective, life doesn't seem as hard.
The key is just keeping the right perspective.
when we get down to the basics, and the fundamentals of the gospel, and we live those,
this is where we gain perspective.

Gratitude Day 12

2011-11-14T08:52:00.001-07:00

I am grateful for the temple.

We are sooooo lucky to live so close to so many temples.

I literally drive past or can see 4 temples on my way to work.

Brock and I were able to make it to the temple on Saturday to do sealings for the first time since we were sealed on July 2, 2011.

It was a great experience and I am so grateful for the blessings that the temple brings.

They may be small (...or large) but they are there, we just need to recognize them.

What a beautiful place, inside and out.

Gratitude, Day 11

2011-11-11T23:11:00.001-07:00

I am grateful to live in America.

I'm grateful for my freedom and safety.

I am grateful that i can worship how i want.

I'm grateful that i don't have to worry about things that so many countries in the world have to fear.

11/11/11 @ 11:11 AM

2011-11-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

MAKE A WISH!!!

11/11/11 @ 11:11

Bedroom Makeover on a Budget

2011-11-11T10:08:00.000-07:00

since we bought our house completely re-done, we haven't had to do much to it, besides decorate and add our own personal touches.

we have pretty much done every room except the one we spend the most time in.

the bedroom.

its bare.

not one thing hung on the wall.

no nice bedding.

no curtains.

no headboard.

nothing.

which means its a huge empty canvas

so we are going to start on it.

soon.

i tend to start projects that i either never finish, or just stop working on,

which was brought to my attention by my love.

soooo my commitment is to finish those projects (organize my recipes and make a jewlery thingy)

thennnnnn i get to start on the bedroom!

it's going to be a challenge.

im limiting myself to a budget of $200.00

thats it.

for paint, bedding, wall decor, lighting, everything

200.00 bucks.

i'll post as i go, but till then here is a little sneak peak.

(thanks to pinterest for inspiration!)

im in love with this blanket and you bet i will be making it

i have a collection of fabric that needs to be used

annnnnd i found a sweet old lady selling her old fabric on KSL

and bought fabric last night for

drum rollllll please....

5 cents a YARD!!!!

thanyouverymuch

that is how this makeover will get done.

handmade, thiifted, recycled,

i can't wait!

stay tuned!!!

then when the makeover is done....

i'll be doing a little giveaway on my blog to help YOU start your little (or big)

DIY projects!

gratitude day 10

2011-11-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

I was going to leave this one for closer to the end because I realize that all the things I am grateful for are because of my Heavenly Father and my brother Jesus Christ.

Today I am thankful for my Savior.

I am grateful for his sacrifice and the opportunity I have to make my very imperfect self, clean and repent every single day.

I am grateful for the constant companionship of my Savior when I am feeling most alone.

He is always there.

the ugly truth

2011-11-10T09:30:00.000-07:00

birth control:

not only does it control birth it also controls you.

a couple weeks before i got married i started birth control.

i had no previous experience with it before so i didn't know what to expect other than the possible weight gain.

that was the only thing i really heard about as a possible side affect.

i only wish i had known that i would have the side effects that i ended up having.

after we got married i started noticing changes in my moods, in my demeanor, in my attitudes, in my over all personality.

i was short with my sweet new husband.

in arguments i would storm out. (which i have never done before ever)

i would start arguments out of sheer frustration over the smallest things.

i was a big B word for the first two months of our marriage. to put it lightly

i had no idea where this was coming from.

i didn't feel like myself.

i cried myself to sleep multiple times a week.

i started questioning my position in my marriage and if i could even handle marriage.

this was all shocking and very painful to experience.

i started feeling depressed (which is a word i hate and avoid using)

but here i was really starting to feel that.

i chalked this jumble of emotion up as

having a hard time to adjusting to marriage.

which didn't feel right because i have never had a hard time adjusting to anything.

i adapt to things and situations in life very easy.

but for some reason this wasn't so easy.

all the while i had the most understanding husband.

he was so caring and sweet and when i would burst into tears for no reason he was there to hug me.

he would say " it's ok i understand people need a good cry every now and then"

he was understanding even when i didn't understand what was going on with me.

i felt isolated and felt alone even with an amazing husband by my side. and was worried about the person i was becoming and why this was happening.

one day on a blog post i mentioned something to the effect that i was having mood swings and that i was having a hard time adjusting to marriage.

someone commented on my blog and said are you on birth control? maybe that's the problem.

immediately a light went off.

that HAD to be it, i thought.

so i started doing some research.

i was quickly astonished and relieved when i found forum after forum about birth control that had women talking about and saying the exact same things i had been feeling and experiencing.

i suddenly didn't feel isolated or alone.

i had an answer and a reason to this madness.

i immediately called my doctor, who couldn't see me for another MONTH!

so i'd have to wait.

but i couldn't wait. i was so sick of the way i was feeling, that i decided to stop using my birth control.

not to have babies, but to start to feel normal again, i couldn't wait until i saw my dr.

the change was literally like night and day. once my hormones balanced back out, i was back. i felt like i could breath again. i felt like a huge cloud had been lifted.

i was happy again.

the only problem was, now i was not on any birth control, and i felt like i had lost the first two months of my marriage.

sad, but true.

i felt like our marriage started off on a bitter note because of the way i was feeling.

but things definitely turned around.

i went and saw the dr and she told me that it was more than likely the estrogen that was making me feel crazy.

she recommended an estrogen free method which was either an IUD or what is called Implanon, which is placed in your arm under the skin.

I opted for the latter and now have a small rod in my arm that acts as birth control.

There are still similar side effects, and i have started having slight mood swings, after being on it for a couple weeks, but NOTHING like what it was before. hopefully it stays that way.

i hope that this is the method for me, and that it works for my body and my hormones.

it's the last thing to try to if it doesn't work, then i guess its time to start having babies!

which is a whole new bundle of crazy hormone problems that i don't think we are quite ready to experience.

gratitude day 8 & 9

2011-11-09T13:53:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for a good hair and makeup day.

It's a wonder how much better you feel about yourself on these days!

Another thing i'm grateful for is when an outfit comes together beautifully.

That's also another confidence booster.

It's the best when you get a couple new peices, like a new skirt and new boots and suddenly that one cardigan you don't wear that often, and that one shirt from the back of your closet all work with this one or two new pieces.

It's like you got a whole new outfit! Not to mention the jewelry that you hardly wear now matches something!

(this happened to me on sunday =). )

Gratitude Day 6 & 7

2011-11-07T09:58:00.000-07:00

I am gratefull for

weekends will my husb and family and perfect naps.

I'm also gratefull for my job.

Even though i hate waking up in the morning to go sit at a desk all day,

I'm gratefull to have a job and to have had a job since i was 15 years old.

The finacial security it gives and the learning experience that a job is, is what i am grateful for.

Product Post:

2011-11-06T11:32:00.002-07:00

dont really ever do this, blog about products, cause i dont have many favorite products that i use all the time, but i do have a few:

Xbalm

extreme ice

chapstick

this stuff makes your lips feel icy and smooth and smells good too!

johnson & johnson lotion
melt away stress
body lotion

this stuff is great. i hate lotion that makes your palms feel greesy. i used to have to put lotion on the tops of my hands and rub only the tops together cause i hated the way lotion felt on my palms, till i started using this stuff. its good. and smells amazinnnnnng!
i dont know if it actually "melts away stress" but its good stuff.
i have a carry size in my car, my purse, my makeup bag, my office. i like it THAT much.

Loreal Double Extend
Mascara

I really like this becuase it comes off in clumps. if your face gets wet, you dont have black tears running down your face. it jsut clumps off.
it also really does make your lashes look a bit longer.
good stuff

now i need some recommendations for face/wrinkle cream.
i think its past time i start using it.
anyone???

gratitude day 5

2011-11-05T15:35:00.002-06:00

i am grateful for my health.

im so lucky to be free from disease, pain (aside from my back and migraines) and sickness...

my body has so many abilities. i can run, hike, swim, see,

our bodies are so amazing and i am gratefull that i have a healthy one.

p.s

2011-11-04T09:15:00.002-06:00

my husb is a little blogger now!

check out his blog here

his emphasis is on finance. so if your interested in that stuff, this might just be your cup of tea!

my favorite moment

2011-11-04T08:52:00.000-06:00

since i have been doing the daily gratituide for the month of november,

i haven't been doing my favorite moment, cause it's kinda the same thing.

but today (its only 8:50 am) and i have a favorite moment already.

this random email from my sweet little husb:

"I love you cause you're spunky and just dang cute. I thought you looked good this morning even though you maybe didn't think so."

i just can't get enough of that boy.

Gratitude Day 4

2011-11-04T08:50:00.001-06:00

i am grateful for (and addicted to) pinterest!!

sad but true

i love it.

it provides awesome ideas that i would never come up with myself!

awesome recipes, home decor, clothes and much more!

if it weren't for pinterest i wouldn't have two pair of boots sitting in my closet that i am in love with

i wouldn't have some DIY striped curtains hanging on my living room window

i wouldn't have decided to start making my own laundry detergent....saving lots of money

our lives would sadly be lived without these and these

its pretty inspiring and makes me feel like i could do/cook/design/make almost anything!!

its just a great place

fall pics

2011-11-03T17:45:00.000-06:00

i mentioned before that brock and i had our pics done.

we were going to have some "wedding shots" done, even though we have been married for almost 4 months.

you remember......this unfortunate sitch

well here they are

jen from Simply Sublime Photography did a great job

here are a few of our favs

thanks again jen!!!!!

Gratitude Day 3

2011-11-03T10:59:00.000-06:00

I know I ~~write~~ gush about my husband on here alot but its my blog and i'll gush if i want to!

Im so grateful for a loving and understading husband.

One who strives to live the gospel and be a good person and good example to those around him.

Adventures of Brocks Sleeping Stories....

2011-11-02T14:42:00.000-06:00

so my husband is a cRaZZZZy sleeper.

like for reals.

i have seen him run, jump, scream, laugh and talk, all while asleep.

he gets a kick out of the stories i tell him in the monring of what he did during the night.

sometimes he remembers waking up to that and sometimes he has no clue what has gone on.

so im going to start posting some of the craziness.

the other night he woke up

walked over to the light switch

said "this is going to suck" and proceeded to blind us both by turning on the light.

he then said " i saw a huge...." and started looking around on the floor, by the bed, on the nightstand.

i had no idea what he thought he saw, or what he thought he was looking for.

i usually try to be nice and understanding when these things happen, even though he is waking me from my precious hours of sleep, because he has no idea what he is doing! and tell him to come back to bed.

(im not always as succesfull as i would like to be when being understanding. sometimes in the moment im a grump and just want to go back to un-interupted sleep!)

come to find, the next day when i asked him if he remembered doing that, he said he was looking for spiders!

haha! i guess in his dreams he saw huge spiders so he had to look for them!

Gratitude Day 2

2011-11-02T08:54:00.002-06:00

I am so grateful for my grandma (nana).

She has seriously gotten me through so much and she has sacraficed herself soooo much to help her children and grand children.

I honestly don't know what I would do without her help and example.

She is what i want to be someday.

annnnd she is by far the cutest grandma around.

I love her so much and will always cherish her and the life that she has lived and the family that her and my grandpa have created.

The Month of Gratitude

2011-11-01T08:45:00.000-06:00

Last year i got an idea from a blog, and i decided to do myself.

Im going to do it again this year.

Since November is the month of Thanksgiving, and we are more aware of the things that we are grateful for, im going to blog my gratitude each day with something that I am grateful for.

Today I am grateful for the fact that i dont have to drive anywhere near Utah County

and im also grateful that i miss rush hour too and from work!

source

My favorite moment from the weekend

2011-10-31T13:38:00.000-06:00

was sleeping in all weekend AND two naps!

thats unheard of around here but it happened and it was glorious.

and i already know what my favorite moment will be for tomorrows post: bread bowls and chili for Halloween!

yuuum. its a running tradition that i started and plan on keeping!

life is all about enjoying the small things.

what was your favorite moment from the weekend?!

Happy Halloween!!

2011-10-31T10:13:00.000-06:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

**artist: my bosses adorable son David,

he drew these scarrrry skeletons for me!

my favorite moment

2011-10-28T11:09:00.000-06:00

my favorite moment from yesterday was shipping with my jill!

then meeting up with my sisters and shopping with them!

friend plus sisters plus shopping makes for a good day!

many hair phases

2011-10-27T13:46:00.001-06:00

i am constantly changing my hair

i guess i get bored easy.

dark. light. short. long.

what next?!

bangs? naah i dont think i could pull off bangs.

maybe i will just let it be for a while.

thats a change!

My Favorite Moment

2011-10-27T10:41:00.000-06:00

My favorite moment from yesterday was

free cafe rio lunch on the boss!

yummm

steak salad, no beans-extra rice, shredded lettuce, add salsa fresca, house dressing.

everytime.

soooo good.

what was YOUR favorite moment from yesterday?

lets all take a moment to recognize and enjoy the small things of daily life!

I just got these in the mail:

2011-10-27T08:17:00.000-06:00

and i lovvve them!

found here

Bring on the snow.

(if you must. but now im ready)

about the author:

2011-10-26T08:40:00.000-06:00

me having too much fun on the teacups in disneyland

a.k.a me

a.k.a ashlee 

Me, Myself I.......

i think could live off mac and cheese

i hate using punctuation. these (")and these (') and caps and these (.) if you read my blog and wonder if i ever received formal education cause i dont use punctuation. caps, complete sentences or spell words wrong. i did, im just lazy. and cant spell.

i love summer, like fall, and HATE winter

i abbreviate words that normal people dont abbreviate.
examples:
    sitch (situation).
    calc (calculator).
    husb (husband).
    porfa (porfavor- thank you in spanish).
those are just a few examples. the other day i got an email from brock that said this: "this morning i said I scratched my knucks, short for knuckles, and my coworkers were like, ' what the eff??' Anywho your use of cutting words short is rubbing off on me"

i cant bake *sad face

i cant stand nail polish on my fingernails.

i also cant stand pretzels. gag

i dont remember the last time i had my natural hair color. ive been close but its been years

i think birthdays should be a big deal.

real christmas tree only!

my bed is one of my favorite places. so mornings arent on the list of likes

according to my husband, when ive got an opinion, it takes some time to change it

i HATE doing laundry, getting gas & grocery shopping (how am i ever going to handle being a mother!?)

just the sheer thought of school gives me immediate anxiety

i used to think that i was a creative person..... till pinterest came along.

ONE WORD: coke

i love to travel and can't wait till i get to do it more.

i dont like it when blogs have playlists on them. no offense

allergies: none. that i know of. except when the husb sings reeeeallly loudly and annoyingly. i think i might be allergic to that.

im a shawty at 5'2"

i love mary poppins

The End

fall drive

2011-10-25T19:34:00.060-06:00

we took a nice drive up the canyon to see the beautiful fall leaves this weekend.

it was so beautiful and relaxing.

we are so lucky to have such beautiful seasons.
(minus winter of course)

on our way home we stopped at the park where we got engaged

this is the exact spot it took place!

we also 'borrowed' some apples while we were there

they were perfectly crisp and delish.

Happy Birthday!

2011-10-24T09:56:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday Babae!

I love you very much and hope you have a wonderful birthday!

You are an amazing, funny, smart and sexy husband and im glad you were born!

A Friend Is:

2011-10-22T09:12:00.000-06:00

me ashley michelle

She is going to totally kill me for doing this, but oh well

(since my blog is basically my journal, and scrapbook and life all wrapped up in one on the www here it is!)

Ashley is the epitome of the word friend.

She is loving, loyal, fun, nice, caring, giving, selfless, funny, goofy, she tells great stories and always has such pretty teeth and toes! plus we have the same name!. And thats just the begining of her list of amazing qualities.

Ashley and I went to highschool together.

We were not friends back then, just knew who eachother was.

Our friendship began nearly 10 years later when she showed up at my singles ward.

I went up and talked to her, seeing a new face, i went to introduce myself in releif society and realize i knew her! We chatted for a second and she said she was thinking about joining the ward.

which she did.

and that was that.

I was serving in the RS presidency at the time and we were about to re organize the presidency.

I knew (well, i had a feeling) that i would be staying in the presidency and just getting a change from second councelor to first councelor. so we needed a second councelor.

i obviously had no part in this descision seeing as how that falls on the president, so i had no idea who would be called, and didnt really think about it.

the day that we got reorganized, i had this very distinct impression that our councelor would be ashley.

this was a little crazy though cause she literally had JUST joined the ward.

but, thats what happened!

she was called and we were abe to serve together. and that is where our friendship began.

we immediately hit it off. we were alike in many ways and very different in many ways. i wondered how we hadnt been friends all along.

it was that kind of thing. just immediate friends.

that was exactly a year ago this month and since then,

we have shared our deepest secrets, we have laughed laughed laughed, she has been there from the verrrry begining of me and brock. she was the first and only person to find out that we were dating, and knew the whole month long when we kept it a secret from everyone else.

when we got engaged, when we got married and im sure she will be here when we start having kids.

she is that friend.

i love her dearly.

she has been there for the MOST special times of my life, literally BY MY SIDE.

she threw me an amazing bridal shower.

she was my escort when i received my endowments. She was my escort on my wedding day, right there up until i could be with my sweetheart.

she stayed with me the whole day of my wedding,

during pictures she literally fanned us, kept us hydrated, was prepared with things i didnt even think to have.

she was and is amazing!

everyone deserves a friend like ashley.

im so blessed to have her in my life.

I love you ash!

My Favorite Moment.

2011-10-21T09:04:00.001-06:00

My Favorite moment of yesterday was

spending the evening with the girls.

Catching up, chatting and eating yummy food.

I love the girls from my old singles ward and feel blessed to have made such special friendships there.

Pics to come.

Its always nice to have a girls night here and there.

Talking about boys (in my case. boy), excersize/dieting, cooking, memories, all that jazz.

And its even better when you get to go home to a husband afterwards!

not aaaass fun when he is already zonked out by the time you get home. but still good ;)

what was YOUR favorite moment of the day?!

Grumpy!

2011-10-21T08:55:00.000-06:00

today i definitely woke up on the wrong side of the bed. i was annoyed from the moment i stepped foot out of my bed and it hasnt left. boo.

at least its friday. and i can sleep in tomorrow.

ive got to turn this day around somehow.

not even my morning coke is doing the trick.

this is serious!

any suggestions? send em' my way!

My Favorite Moment

2011-10-20T11:14:00.000-06:00

My favorite moment from yesterday

was getting our 5 month home food storage supply.

what a relief to have that done!

If you are interested let me know and i will give the guy your name and number to give you a call.We went through Daily Bread.

What was YOUR favorite moment from yesterday?!

my favorite moment

2011-10-18T15:00:00.000-06:00

my favorite moment of yesterday was

hours of watching

Modern Family

cuddled on the couch with the husb.

i think we got through a whole disk in one sitting!

umm modern family is my new addiction.

i dont know how i have been living without this show in my life!

its too funny!

thanks to my boy for introducing us!

what was YOUR favorite moment from yesterday?!

christmas wish list 2011

2011-10-18T09:18:00.002-06:00

Here is my christmas list. It's pretty early but here it is.
with links!

blog book

new camera

kitchen aid

massage

new perfuume

this candle

in "campfire" or "lavender" yuuum!

new makup brush

2009

2010

fact

2011-10-14T12:16:00.000-06:00

today is my 10,080th

day of life.

thats:

241,920 hours

14,515,200 minutes

and

870,912,000 seconds

(yes, i got ~~bored~~ sidetracked at work)

National Debt Clock.

2011-10-13T09:55:00.002-06:00

wanna see something CRAZY?

check out the national debt clock. it is in real time.

it is a little sickening if you ask me.

check it out here

My Favorite Moment

2011-10-13T08:45:00.000-06:00

my favorite moment of yesterday was

SHOPPING!

i got in some real good shopping.

i found a coat that i love for only $32

and got our pictures outfits. that sounds rediculous.... i dont like the word outfits. almost like we are having out class pictures done and we needed new outfits. but we did need new clothes so thats what i did!

another favorite moment was emailing back and forth with my (outta state) mother in law.

she is so sweet and pretty spunky! i lucked out in the in law department that for sure.

and got a good pumpkin cookie recipe that im going to try out tonight to take to some new neighbors.

yuum!

what was YOUR favorite moment of the day?

Photography

2011-10-12T10:26:00.000-06:00

brock and i are having our pictures done this weekend.

im really excited.

our photographer is literally the sweetest.

she had me in tears the other day as we went back and forth through facebook emails.

she is offering to do our pictures for free because of our wedding pics mosfortune.

seriously how nice is that.

she said

my gift to you, i just seriously feel sick about what happened to you and although it wasn't my fault i want to help you in any way i can and i can do that by giving you both great photos

seriously. so so sweet. i don't think she will ever know how much it means.

she does amazing stuff.

check her out here and here

its all so fresh and vibrant and she has a great eye.

can't wait!

just gotta figure out what we are wearing!

i was going to try to recreate some of our wedding pics, and rerent my dress, but i started having second thoughts about that becuase of the emotion of trying to recreate those irreplacable moments.

trying to portray the feelings and the emotions that we felt and shared that day would be impossible.

so we changed the plan.

Jen has been so amazingly understanding as i change my mind and its made this alot easier

now if i could just learn how to be photogenic and cute before friday!

My Favorite Moment

2011-10-10T11:01:00.000-06:00

Yesterday my favorite moment was playing with my sisters new baby kitty

It was so sweet!

It's nice when others have pets, cause you can play with them and you dont have to take them home with you.

They are like babies....

They are fun to play with when you know you don't have to take them home!

I had alot more favorite moments yesterday, like

laughing lauging lauging during the weekly wray fam volleyball game. so fun!

and cuddling up with the husb to a movie, and trying a new recipe for sunday dinner, and having a sing fest on our drive home. making up words to phantom of the opera songs! and playing cashflow, just the two of us, and sleeping in.

Weekends are just heaven.

Molly, Sadie, Courtney.......This one's for You!!

2011-10-08T10:31:00.000-06:00

My Favorite Moment

2011-10-07T10:04:00.000-06:00

Waking up to a cold rainy day and being able to go right back to sleep

3 big comfy warm blankets made for a nice cozy morning.

i WISH i could do that every day!

What was YOUR favorite moment of the day?!

My Favorite Moment

2011-10-06T13:57:00.001-06:00

Coming home from work on a rainy day to home made soup (which im going to post the recipe cause its so dang good!) and my husband.

Cuddling up to watch phantom of the opera before our dinner guest arrived.

perfect cold rainy day.....cuddling, movie and soup!

What was Your favorite moment of the day?!

My Favorite Moment

2011-10-06T13:51:00.000-06:00

I'm adding a little feature to my blog and im calling it

"My Favorite Moment"

Each day I will pick my favorite moment from the day before.

I think this will help me really take in life and recognize special little moments that cause some sort of emotion that i want to remember.

I may not be able to blog my favorite moment every day, but will when i can.

(the downside of no internet at home, bogging is not easily accessible all the time)

So, yesterday (which is now 2 days ago since i forgot to post this after i wrote it. ya im cool),
my favorite moment was:

Laying in bed last night with my husband, each of us consumed in the books we are reading,

brock reached over just to touch my arm, letting me know he was there, and even though he was totally consumed in his book, that small gesture let me know he still knows im right next to him and he wanted to let me know.

One of my favorite things is when brock is occupied with something/someone else, but takes a moment to touch me, or look at me, or send a wink my way to let me know he still recognizes that im right next to him, always.

side note: i have a feeling that most of "my favorite moments" will be at that time of day, when brock and i have conveined to our beds for the night. this is where most of our talking, lots of lauging, and reading happen. its the perfect end to every single day.

what was YOUR favorite moment of the day?

a funny for you...

2011-10-06T13:30:00.000-06:00

weekend recap

2011-10-03T12:38:00.000-06:00

i had a verrry relaxing weekend.

dont beleive me..... keep reading.

friday:

came home from work to a studying husband.

i had an abundance of energy so a little rock session with the husb to some new itunes tunes was a must

after that, i was still full of energy so brock made some suggestions for friday night activities:

tennis,

basketball,

grocery shipping...

none of which i felt like doing cause i was feeling lazy. even though they would definitely all help with the excess of energy.

instead we stayed in and hung out. just the two of us. (a personal fav)

i have been waaaaiting for ths time of year for ONE reason and one reason only

(besides the good cuddling):

PUMPKIN ICE CREAM

from here.

They got a new location, still in the avenues, so we went to check it out, with one thing in mind. the ice cream. it is soooooooo GOOD. i made just one mistake, and that was to let my ice cream lovin husband get his grimey little paws on it. lets just say i bought a pint of it and ate much much less than that! that little bugger!

we rented "something borrowed" which i hated. it was about cheating. and tried to make it look fun and glamerous. STUPID movie. oh well

bed by 10.

Saturday:

woke up at 6 to make my boy breakfast before his big test and pack him some snacks.

sent him off then went back to bed for a few hours.

woke up and watched "how to lose a guy in 10 days."

then spent the afternoon in the kitchen.

I attempted bagels and cinnamon rolls.

the bagels turned out. kind of. and the cinnamon rolls once again, were a disgrace. im close to giving up on baked goods. but with a husband who is slightly obsessed with baked goods, i dont think thats an option. so try try again, i will.

then some lounging while listening to general conference.

im soo excited for the temple in paris. france is my all time favorite place. i was only there for a matter of hours and i instantly fell in love and want to go back sooooo bad. thats saying alot because i always want to go to places i have never been before so to want to go back to somewhere i have already been is big. and now there is just one more amazing reason to get back there. not to mention that is where brocks grandma was from (which i just learned).

[source]

after 4 hours of lounging through conference, while my husband was a preisthood, i had the dreadfull assignment to go grocery shopping. (i hate this chore more than most)

but...instead, i went to sleep! from 6-9!

it was soooooo good.

you know when you get a good nap and the sleep is perfect. yep.

then we watched

gullivers travels.

that was a cute/funny movie.

then bed.

sunday:

slept in. if you can call 8:30 sleeping in.

made some yumy muffins.

watched conference.

did eye spy

napped

more conference

made oatmeal choc chip cookies, which turned into one BIG cookie stuck to the pan.

another reason i want to give up on baking. (nothing ever turns out right)

steak dinner with the fam

volleyball.

then bed.

so basicalllly my weekend consisted of:

sleeping

conference

movies

sleeping

family

eating

baking

and more sleeping.

it was divine!!

randoms...

2011-09-29T14:54:00.000-06:00

another randoms post...

thoughts...

i already have my christmas list constructed, i post it here every year but im going to wait a bit incase i need to make some additions. its still a little early
the husb has a birthday coming up and im exciiiiited!
conference this weekend. CANT WAIT! i plan on bunkering down all weekend in the comfort of my cozy house to listen (since no tv in the norton household) to it. (except sunday afternoon cause we are going to go to the conference center to see the prophet and apostles live in living color!) brock is taking the gmat on saturday morning so while i listen to the cherished words of our church leaders ill be making sweet cinnamon rolls to have warm and waiting when he returns.
we have been cell phone-less for a couple weeks. and i have to admit, its kinda nice. i never would have imagined, me, the "crackberry addict" would be ok without a phone! i dont think i could do it for much longer but its physically possible to live without a cell phone (and tv and internet) and im living proof! i do miss a few things though, like having my calandar at hand, i forget everything and my phone would hold everything that i needed to remember. for example, the dinner appt we I made to have the missionaries over and forgot about. OOPS. and the camera at hand, and making notes on my phone.
last night brock and i went to a real estate club meeting and there was a wedding reception going on down the hall and i had a mini emotional melt down when i let the fact that i have no wedding pics get to me. as much as i am trying to just move on and get over it, every now and then the though and reminder come back to prick me. like when my friends all post their wedding pics on facebook, or when i see the empty frame hanging on my wall that i was going to fill with wedding pics. yes i have yet to take it down, or put 'alternate' pictures in it. (*#$^&*()*&^%$ stupid stupid photographer.
i have been learning more about the economy, past present and future, and it makes me hate our govt. its a joke what they are doing and getting away with. its time that we have to take things into our own little hands and protect ourselves and our familes and prepare for the worst, which is coming. its quite shocking actually. ive never really paid attention to what was happening in our govt, and now that i am, im peeved!
what a lovely fall we have had so far! still super warm!
i ditched my birth control. (not ready for kids yet so we are taking alternate measures) i may do a post all by itself about this but i have never felt better. i have a dr appt on the 5th and im praying that she has a better alternative to what i was on. it was hell. (bless my husband for putting up with me while i was on it. seriously.)
i have had the sweetest offer from a good friends sister, that i grew up with. she has offered to take some pics of brock and i since we didnt get any pics from our wedding day. i am going to re rent my dress and have her do some pics for us! seriously, how generous is that. i'll be doing another post on that once it actually happens. she does awesome stuff! im excited
LIFE IS GOOD!!

bragging rights

2011-09-26T07:56:00.000-06:00

since this is MY blog, i can say what i want, and you can choose to read it... or not read it.

i am going to take this opportunity to brag a little.

{disclaimer}: in no way shape or form is my life perfect, nor do i think it is. my husband is not perfect and neither is our relationship. im not going to EVER pretend it is. but i do have a pretty dang good husband and and way blessed to have him.

so here is it.

my husband is the best and i love him so much.

i get a kiss on the cheek and an "i love you" everynight.

a hug and kiss send me off to conquer the day.

when i come home from conquering the day, dinner is ready and waiting.

ummm HELLLLLO! he makes dinner almost every night!

he packs my toothbrush for me when we go out of town

(which is something i almost always forget to pack)

he is working so hard to get into grad school so that he can provide for his family.

he is way more undersatnding than i deserve

not to mention he rocks a beard!

and those dimples......oh my word.

i know i have said it before but im just so lucky and blessed.

i really do love him a little more every single day.
it sounds so cliche, but it's true!

stupid winter

2011-09-20T11:41:00.000-06:00

as me and the husb,

(thats wht i have been calling him lately and he laughs every time becuase of how rediculous it sounds and i agree but i shorten everything. its fun. so husb it is.)

annnyways, as we left for work this morning i stopped at the end of the porch while he locked the door behind us.

he made a perfectly accurate assumption by saying the following:

"i can just imagine you walking out here every morning in the winter with this face on."

he then showed me my 'mad face'

and he is absolutely RIGHT.

i told him im already pissed about it and its not even here

im dreading it already. trudging through the stupid freezing snow to get to my freezing car.

scraping the windsheild of frozen ice.

white knuckles as i drive to work in the stupid stuff.

arriving to work with the bottom of my pants soaking wet.

having to wear fingerless gloves at work cause my hands never seem to warm up when they are needed at the keyboard all day.

having a blanket shoved in my desk drawer to try and warm myself up, even though the heater is on and im wering my coat. INSIDE.

im NOT excited. not one single bit.

i can only hope to just get snowed in all winter

all i can do to get through it is....

hope that someday i live somewhere that i can wear flip flops year round.

and, day dream about my garden next spring/summer

and, take advantage of the perfect cuddling conditions

and, eat lots of hot soup.

its coming all to quickly.

i feel bad for fall because i hardly have time to enjoy its beauty before i start fretting about the snow that is soon to follow and diagnosing myself with seasonal depression!

source

Neurofibromatosis

2011-09-19T10:49:00.000-06:00

i have a very good friend who has Neurofibromatosis

Her name is Meleea, and she is definitely one of the more selfless, friendly people i know.

Meleea is ALWAYS trying to include everyone around her in whatever is going on.

She is such a wonderful friend and I am grateful for her friendship and her example.

She does not let this bring her down. Beside the physical evidence of this disease, you wouldn't know anything was wrong because she is so positive and puts others before herself.

See Meleea's story here

There is an NF walk on Oct 1st and you can donate here

If you are able, please support the cause and Meleea in helping to find a cure for this disease.

For Sale!!

2011-09-17T16:19:00.002-06:00

FOR SALE:

PHILIPS DLA2265 SILICONE CASE WITH BATTERIES FOR IPOD TOUCH 2G

$10.00 EACH

(THESE RETAIL FOR $45.00)

QTY AVAIL: 11

~~SONY PLAYSTATION 3 SLIM 160 GB NEW & SEALED!!~~

~~$275 OBO $250.00 price reduced!~~

SOLD

BLUEANT T1 BLUETOOTH HEADSET

$60.00 EACH

QTY AVAIL: 2

EMAIL ME OR COMMENT IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS INTERESTED.

THANKS!!

all i have to say is:

2011-09-15T10:36:00.000-06:00

I'D RATHER BE IN MY BED,

EATING MAC & CHEESE.

date night drive in

2011-09-10T08:53:00.000-06:00

finally friday!!

2011-09-09T16:18:00.000-06:00

ya for friday!

do you have any fun plans this weekend?!

we are babysitting nephew cole till tomorrow morning, then driving to jackson hole to support brother kyle who is doing the lotoja 2011 race. its 206 miles in one day. WTF?! ya crazy.

its going to be a alot of driving but should be fun.

any road trip suggestions?

or suggestions of what we do while we are there?

i've never been there before.

what do i NEED to see/do/eat while im there?

happy weekend everyone!

.....stay tuned for my first ever blog giveaway!!

9-11-2001

2011-09-09T11:29:00.000-06:00

As I am listening to all my talk radio programs this morning

(97.1 morning zoo podcast, X96 radio from hell morning show and KSL news radio)

they are allllll talking about the 10th anniversary of Sept 11.

Blog posts and facebook statuses and news reports released audio tapes and pics and and and... will start flooding the internet.

Where were you on September 11 will be the topic of conversation this weekend. The country will be on alert for anniversary attacks.

All I have to say about it is, it's still SO hard to hear all this.

I had to force myself to listen to people I don't know, call in to these radio stations, recalling their memory of that single day that changed our country. I, along with the rest of America will never forget where they were or what they were doing or what feelings that they had when this happened.

We are lucky to live in the country that we do, and we are lucky that there are brave men and women here to defend it.

wedding pics

2011-09-09T08:15:00.002-06:00

since i don't have any wedding pics from my lame photographer, i have gone though ones people at our wedding took. there are a few good ones so here they are...

long weekend

2011-09-08T06:11:00.000-06:00

friday was our 2 month anniversary so we went out to dinner.

he hit up cafe trio which was yUmmy.

perfect evening for some patio dining.

followed by a romantic grocery shopping session and a movie night.

saturday i woke up bright and early to hit up some yard sales with the sisters. which is one of my favorite things to do.

i found some great stuff and the inspiration for my bedroom makeover/design. i forgot to take pics so i'll post them later. then some errands, and an afternoon movie with my boy. we watched "another year" i can honestly say it was THE dumbest movie i have ever seen. i don't know how it was even released to DVD, no joke.

we also hid our first ever geocache! we did it near the spot that we got engaged!

if you're a cacher, go find ours!!

here we are at the bench where my sweetheart proposed.

sunday was nothing special.

monday we slept in a bit then worked on the yard.

there is a cement pad in our back yard that we got rid of.

that was some hard work. luckily my husband is a hard worker!

i spent most of my day in the kitchen making home made pizza dough, home made salsa, and spaghetti salad.

i wish i could spend more days like that. just cooking in the kitchen.

then we had a little house warming party for my side of the family to come see our new house.

it was an over all success.

then some volleyball with the fam.

it is sooo nice to have a long weekend!

we have been lucky enough to have 2 in a row!

last weekend we went to Aspen Grove with the Norton side and had lots of fun in the beautiful mountains playing lots of volleyball, swimming, pingpong, and racket ball.

sadly i didnt really get any pictures.

on our way back we dropped off rachel to BYU. she is a freshmen this year and off on a new big adventure.

her roomates were so nice and welcoming so i had to get a pic.

i think that just about does it for our little weekend... and last.