I Know I Know!

It's only my second week of blogging and I'm already behind in my posts! Don't worry, I have some unscheduled time tomorrow that I can catch up! See you all then!

Fun Food Friday *Basil & Tomato Pasta*

This is a recipe that I have had since college. One of my housemates, Brooke would make this pasta for us. It smells SO good while it is cooking. It tastes like you really spent a lot of time, but it is a meal that I can whip up in 15 minutes flat!

Basil & Tomato Pasta

• 2 cans of Italian stewed tomatoes
• one whole garlic bulb (minced)
• 3 Tbs. olive oil
• small bunch of fresh basil
• 1 pint heavy whipping cream

• options (add cooked shrimp or chicken chunks for variety) shrimp is VERY good in this!

Saute garlic and olive oil in a frying pan until lighly browned. (only a few min.) Add stewed tomatoes and basil. Let simmer on med heat while you cook angel hair pasta. (cook pasta according to directions on pkg.) Add whipping cream to tomato mixture. Only cook long enough to heat whipping cream. Remove from heat. Drain pasta and toss with tomato sauce together. See.....easy!

Serve with some yummy crusty bread from the Olive Mill and you're set! Enjoy!

Thursday Happy Thoughts *Favorite Things*

I have this secret dream that someday I'll be in the audience at an Oprah taping, and of course it would be an "Oprah's Favorite Things" episode where she gives away all the cool loot.

While of course that would be totally amazing, I started to think of the things that have brougt joy to my life. There is too many to name, but I thought I would at least try to pick a few:

• Perfect weather and green grass. Ok, I know, the weather here is lovely, but finding a really nice patch of greeness on a perfect day is very rare. I love laying on my back, pointing out shapes in the clouds with my kids and running my fingers through the cool blades. I long to roll down a hill or run barefoot through a park.

• All the 'firsts' of motherhood. The first pregnancy where you can't stop thinking of the miracle that is forming inside of you. The first minutes with your new baby in your arms, and you really understand what love is. The first real smile. The first laugh. The first tooth, first word, first step....

• Desserts. You could proably talk me into doing anything you wanted with the promise of a warm, super fudgy brownie, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Of course gourmet cheescake would be even better. Ya, I'm that easy.

• The little things. Your favorite song on your drive to work. A card or email from a friend that says exactly what you needed to hear that day. An entire day that the house stays clean. A nice neighbor taking the time to clear the snow off your driveway or sidewalk. A long walk with someone you love.

• Quality time with my family. It doesn't matter if we are on vacation, playing games, or watching movies. Just taking the time to relax and have fun together is great. One of my favorite childhood memories was helping my parents in the garden with the whole family. I had some of the best talks with my dad in that garden.

It's easy for me to get caught up worrying if my kids have all they want or need, and wonder if we are all missing out on the 'cool loot' that is available. I need to keep this list close and try to remember that it's our experiences that will always be with us when all of the other things are gone.

Though, come to think of it, a new NikonD80 would be so cool!

Juicy Tidbit Tuesday *B Button*

Well, you can probably guess from the title what my little secret is. Now remember, because you come here to visit my blog, you get to see a little more about the crazy things I have done. And maybe some things I continue to do!

The spring after I graduated from high school, I thought it would be a great idea to get my belly button pierced. I had wanted to do this for a long time, and thought because I was in college I could do whatever I wanted. Yes, I was a tad rebellious back then. Of course I'm not anything like this anymore!

I had taken my best friend Mary to get her's done in Las Vegas by some creepy old guy at this 'beauty salon' that also did permanant makeup and whatnot. I would've gotten mine pierced at the same time, but I was poor that weekend so I just went along for the ride. Mary was a little woozy on the way home, so I drove her car back to Cedar City and got my first speeding ticket. (but that's a totally different post) I still don't think my parents know about that!

After seeing that Mary didn't get some gross infection in the following weeks I got up the courage to do mine too. Back then you had to go to a tatoo parlor to have it done. I'm sure you could walk into Target or anywhere now, but this was a long time ago when this was a new thing. Yes, I'm kind of old.

I went to State Street, found the 'nicest' looking tatoo parlor and held my breath. I don't remember much except that the tech. used some sort of nitrogen spray to numb my stomach and then grabbed this HUGE curved needle and. . .OUCH! Done. It must have been really long ago because I swore my sister was with me but I just talked to her and she said it wasn't her. I think she is trying to claim ignorance on this one. Come one Keri, mom and dad weren't that mad!

I don't really know why I got it done. I never showed it off because I didn't want my parents to find out (they found out 2 years later), and I kind of forgot about it until I was pregnant with Maddy. It didn't look so cute showing through my shirts when my belly started to really stick out, so I decided to take it out, and then I just never put it back. Now you know.

The End.

Ask Me Monday *Snowflakes*

My mother-in-law asked me how to make these, so I guess that can count for my "Ask Me" day. Try them out and let me know what you think!

The librarian at Maddy's school taught us how to make these cool snowflakes, and they are actually quite simple. I've added photos to help with the construction because I don't think I would be able to explain the process properly.

1) Ok, first start with 6 squares of paper, all the same size. Then fold each one into a triangle, and fold again, making a smaller triangle like this:



2) Next, make four cuts along the longest end of the triangle, taking care not to cut the fold. Do this to all 6 triangles:



3) Now, unfold the triangle, and it should look like this:



4) Take the very middle piece of paper and roll the ends together and tape.



5) Do the same thing with the next 'ring' but fold it BACKWARD. The next one is FORWARD again, and you alternate until it looks like this:



6)Now do that to all of the 6 pieces and then you will attach the SIDES of 3 papers you have rolled. Like this:



7) Take the ends of the three now hooked together and staple all three together at the bottom .



8)Repeat step 4 and 5 with the remaining pieces, and then staple the two sides together in the middle and. . . you're done!



These are so easy to make and you could easily add some 'bling' with glitter, or use sparkly paper. Maddy and Miranda both love to make snowflakes and these ones don't require picking up millions of paper scraps when you're done!