They're Back!

If you know me you know, me loves my TV shows! Two of our, and I saw our because Tim likes these shows as much as I do :), are back!!!

Project Runway

(Lifetime)

Flipping Out

(Brovo)

these shows have been a lifesaver this week, we've all been sick and it all started with Izzie, which means I had a couple sleepless nights first, then it all got better when Tim got sick and then it moved on to me. Be happy I haven't blogged in awhile, I'm not a very nice sick person. I have had these shows to look forward to, and recommend them to you all. I have been shocked at how many men love project runway (only because their wives make them watch it :) hee hee yah right) and Flipping Out has a very dry humor to it. Hope everyone is enjoying the rest of their summers, school has already started here in Utah, you can tell cause all the moms are dancing in the streets!

Family Ties

I saw this in a magazine and thought it was just the cutest idea! What a sweet way to display your late father or grandfathers old ties. You can also place a picture of them wearing a particular tie inside the frame. I just thought this was a neat idea, and wanted to share it.

Homemade Pickles

This morning I made a batch of Homemade Pickles. Karen gave us two big, gorgeous cucumbers from her garden that I didn't know what to do with. I started looking over the recipes at Prudence Pennywise (your can find her button on my sidebar too) and found one! I didn't have 10 cucumbers like her recipe called for so I cut it down to this recipe with a few changes of my own.

Refrigerator Dill Pickles

2 large cucumbers

3 cloves of garlic, sliced

fresh dill

3 cups of water

1 cup white vinegar

1/8 cup kosher salt

1/2 T. sugar

black pepper

black peppercorns

Using my 2 glass jars, I layered cucumbers, onions, black pepper, a few sprigs of fresh dill, a few peppercorns, and garlic. I did about three layers per jar. Or until jar was filled to the top. Now I didn't say how much dill or pepper to use because I think the amount depends on the person. we used a lot, we like strong pickles :)

After layers were complete in a 4 cup glass measuring cup I added 3 cups water, 1 cup white vinegar, salt, and sugar. I heated this to a boil in my microwave. After it comes to a boil take the measuring cup out and let it rest for 5 minutes. Then pour into your jars. The recipe said to refrigerate for a week before serving.

Ok I know I'm bad, but i have a good excuse :)

I know it's been awhile, but I've just been so busy. Does anyone else get this panic moment at the end of July like I did this past week, when you realize summer is almost over? It's now officially August, which is almost September which means it's almost FALL!! I get this little bit of mommy guilt, did I do enough with Iz this summer? Did she play outside enough? Did we hit enough water parks? Oh the guilt! So that is why these past few weeks I have been trying to cram little day trips in before it starts to cool off here in Utah. I know I'm crazy, Tim thinks so too. So this past weekend we went to Thanksgiving Point. It's a huge "family event center" here in Utah. They have huge beautiful gardens, a farm, the largest dinosaur museum in the world (no really they do), a movie theater, a place for cooking classes (I've taken one with my friend Tiffany) a movie theater (went with my bro-in-law Ryan and Tim once) and a little water park for the kiddies, that's where we took Izzie this past Saturday she had lots of fun! This kid LOVES the water!

The theme there is Noah's Ark

She'd climb on the rocks and say Hi to people, (okay I'm going to stop right here and ask you people something, why when a cute little girl says hi and waves at you, do people not wave back or even acknowledge her? How rude! they look right at her, I know they heard her. All they do is look away and keep on walking, it makes me want to throw something at the back of their heads! Okay thanks for letting me vent :)

We had lots of fun, and I was able to check one more thing off my list of things I wanted to do with Iz this summer.

Thanksgiving Point CHECK!

Another thing we did this past month was visit the Tracy Aviary on Pioneer Day

(yes we have a Pioneer Day here in Utah, it's a state holiday everyone gets the day off!)

Now I know your thinking, hey dosen't she have a deep rooted fear of birds? And the answer is YES, but it was FREE, what can i say I'm a sucker for free:)

We went with Karen Dean and her kids. Izzie has a little baby crush on Clayton, he tells her stories and plays peekaboo with her and Iz just loves it!

The Aviary was okay it could have been better, but there were a few cool birds and it got us out of the house and hey I'll say it again it was free.

Izzie stopping to smell the flowers.

Not that it was on my list of things to do this summer, but I'm putting it on there so I can check it off. (it makes me feel better)

Tracy Aviary CHECK!

Post on blog CHECK!

(I'm on a roll, somebody stop me!)

Now go out and do something fun today, so you can check something off your list!

Dinner With Danny

Wednesday was our 9th wedding anniversary and that morning I woke up to these on the dining room table. I was so shocked that scrapped to top of my foot on our metal baby gate (ouch!). As I looked closer I saw that Tim also got some pastries for us to share (Yum!) We had a very relaxed morning with Iz eating our goodies (I think she was more excited about the pastries than me) and watching a little Food network.

That night the three of us went to Bucca's for dinner (one of Tim's favorites) and when we walked in the door Danny was there to greet us! Izzie was so excited :)

After dinner we headed to the drive in theater! It was soooo much fun. We took the mustang so we could sit under the stars. It was the first time we've been together. We didn't know how Izzie would be sitting in her car seat for that long, but she was perfect! She absolutely loved the movie Up! She was laughing and screaming and having a great time. At this drive in, they show a kids movie first and then a movie for adults right afterwards, so It's two movies for the price of one, can't beat that.

In this picture she's getting mad at me for interrupting her movie with my bright flash, but you know me always have to get a picture! Tim just kept telling me, "that flash is really bright", "hey honey that flash is super bright".... oh well. MUST GET PICTURES! :)

We had so much fun, I think that a drive in movie with your family is a must this summer! Even if you have to drive a little bit further than you normally would, it is an experience that is just to good to pass up. Pack up a dinner and some snacks, load the kids in the car and head off to the movies you won't be sorry you did I promise!

Getting to know me...

I just got tagged on Facebook this morning and thought that I would post my responses here as my post for the day, lets call it a getting to know me day :)

1 What time did you get up this morning? 7:30 Izzie let me sleep in!!!

2. How do you like your steak? Medium rare

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? I can't remember it's been that long

4.what is your favorite TV show? Bones, NCIS, Flipping Out (new season starts in August Yeah!) and the list goes on....

5.If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Europe would be fun for a bit, but I like Utah right now.

6. What did you have for breakfast today? egg beaters with spinach, ham, tomatoes and a little cheese thanks Tim :)

7. What is your favorite cuisine? CHEESEBURGER ( a good one!)

8. What foods do you dislike? Fish, celery raw onions.

9. Favorite Place to Eat? Really depends on what I'm in the mood for..

10. Favorite salad dressing? A really good blue cheese or Ranch

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive? Ford Expedition 

12. What are your favorite clothes? Comfy jeans and a black shirt.

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Ireland 

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? Depends on what kinda day I'm having

15. Where would you want to retire? Somewhere with a beach!

16. Favorite time of day? Evening 

17. Where were you born? Whittier California 

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?  NONE!!!

19. Who do you think will not tag you back? ???

20. Person you expect to tag you back first? Don't know

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? All of them

22. Bird watcher? No I hate birds, I watch to make sure they won't peck me to death!!!

23. Are you a morning person or a night person? morning

24. Do you have any pets? Yes, 2 Boxers Stuart and Stella 

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? No (SAD)

26. What did you want to be when you were little? Teacher

27. What is your best childhood memory? Don't know that I have a favorite, but the one Christmas my mom hid our presents and sent us on a scavenger hunt christmas morning was fun. And camping at Camp James with the family growing up was nice, family picnics with the whole family, horseback riding with the cousins won't forget that, it's when I learned why the cowboys walk the way they do!!

28. Are you a cat or dog person? Dog

29. Are you married? Yes 9 years tomorrow!!!

30. Always wear your seat belt? Yes!

Kickback, enjoy the ride!

I was having a little bit of trouble trying to decide what to write about tonight. Does anyone out there really want to hear that I went to another class on how to use my new and often complicated sewing machine? I am seriously intimidated by it, still! Or how I went to the the dermatologist this week and had some spots removed, 4 of them to be exact, and now I feel like a chicken has pecked tiny deep painful holes all over my body? No, I don't think so. Or maybe you would like to hear about how I think my body is trying to get sick, and my mind is saying I don't have time for this right now! I can't find the energy to do anything! Not even read a book, that would require me moving my eyes back and forth. Can't interest you in that either? 

Hum?

I came downstairs and started looking through my pictures in iphoto for some inspiration and found this.....

I started laughing as I remembered the day I took this picture on my cellphone. It was at the end of a very long day and I took Izzie out front to kill some time before it was time for her bath. She played for awhile but then, just ran out of steam! She kicked back on her bike and watched the other kids play. As a Mom I find that I push myself all day to get things done that "NEED" to be done. Sometimes I make myself, I'm going to say it CRAZY! And for what? Who says I have to get it ALL done NOW? I'm going to take a lesson for my daughter and kickback for a little bit, hey they don't call them the lazy days of summer for nothing right?  

At the end of the day your kids aren't going to remember a messy house, they're going to remember the great day they had with their mom!

GO HAVE SOME FUN!

I give you permission :)