And if you look to your right...

Hey guys...just doing a little construction work on the old blog and have added a cool new feature. I'll try to post my "What's for dinner" section each week with recipe links so check it out!

Don't know about you but coming up with dinner ideas can get to be challenging so I have to motivate myself to stay on top of it!!!

Feel free to send me a recipe and i'll feature it in the upcoming "Recipe of the Week" section!!!!

Happy eating!

something I've been meaning to do...

I've put this off mainly because there's been a lot to share but I can't put it off any longer! The majority of you all know that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saint! Many of you all share the same values and beliefs as I do.I have one very special friend who I love dearly who has known me for ever and visits my blog regularly that I have yet to share my feelings and my thoughts on being a member of this church I love!

Anie, I have felt the need to share my testimony, or my thoughts, with you lately for whatever reason, and it's just important to share with all of you as well because my religion and my beliefs are so important to me!! I hope you don't mind that I take this time to share my thought!

I strongly believe that we lived with a loving Heavenly Father before we came to this earth to live. I often refer to God as my Heavenly Father almost to reverence the name and draw attention to that fact that he is the Father. I believe that before I was born I knew all to well the challenges and trials I would be dealt but gladly signed up to take them on because of my faith in my Heavenly Fathers guidance and love to see me through the hardest of times!

I have been blessed to know that I am a daughter of God. I feel that he knows me personally and cares so strongly for me that he sent His son Jesus Christ to prepare a way for me to some day return to live with him again. Jesus Christ is my Savior! He bleed and died for me and lived a life that set the perfect example to follow. A charitable, loving and forgiving life.

I am never alone. I can always find guidance and strength from above as I pray and all to often I feel the loving arms of a Father in heaven as I pray for comfort or express my gratitude for all the many blessing I enjoy each day! I truly feel I have a relationship with God.

My membership in my church has given me so much. To often non members are only aware of the "limitations" of our church. One of the first and for most gospel principles taught to us is that WE have Free agency. We can chose rather to follow the teaching that have been given or not. I have only found that when I follow the teachings or guidelines I am blessed beyond measure! I do not see the "rules" of our church as limitations. I see them as growth promoting, healthy and a rewarding lifestyle to live by.

I believe that life here on earth is only a step in our progression. I know I will live in heaven with my Heavenly father again. I know that my earthly ties to family and loved ones will extend beyond the grave. We believe that we can be together for the eternities and the bonds of marriage don't last till death. To me that is the strongest comfort ... to know that my sweet family will me mine forever!

I feel unbelievably happy. I know that is largely to do with my relationship to my Heavenly father and Jesus Christ. I would never deny these feelings. I would gladly stand up for what I believe in only because I have prayerfully searched for this knowledge and felt the confirmation in my heart that I was looking for.

It's hard for me to separate myself and my beliefs. I never want anyone to question me and wonder.. "What does she stand for? Who is she?" I only hope That I live a life that draws questions like " Why does she do the things she does? Why is she happy?" Hopefully that is the life I am living.

I feel very vulnerable having shared this important part of me with you but I felt strongly that I needed to and even remind myself why I do what I do. It's not meant to convert anyone or to sound like I know everything. It was simply meant to explane a little bit more about who I am.

Anie, I have always felt like you have always loved your friends so unconditionally. You are the greatest example of love and dedication when it comes to friendships. You have shown me so much about yourself by keeping in touch and making the effort. I will forever be grateful for our friendship and I hope you don't me sharing my thoughts!

Tag I'm it!!! This ones good!!!

What I was doing 10 Years ago....

hmmm...I was 18 just starting my first year of college at Ricks! I was probably on the phone with Mike who was at BYU! I was loving college life, my roommates and being on my own. At this point I was still doing good in school...It was my second year I let my grades go down the toilet!!

What I was doing 5 years ago.....

I was living the fun newlywed life in our basement apartment in Provo only paying $330 a month can you believe it!!I was working at UCCU as a loan officer and Mike and I didn't have a tv which everyone things is so funny! We loved not having a tv!!!! WE spent do much more quality time together and I read and watched documentaries and biography's I would check out at the library. we did have a tv/vcr but it didn't get regular reception.

Our typical date nights would include working at the temple then going to dinner at Jacintos and going to the cheap movies!!! Ahhh!!!Those were the days!



What I was doing 1 year ago.......

Last year today I was making Macy here 3rd Birthday Castle cake! It was her birthday and we had a party with friends and neighbors!!!! We were living in Huntington beach loving our lives!


What I was doing yesterday.....
If you read my blog you know what I was doing yesterday... let's not relive that day can we?


5 places I'd rather be....

I don't think I'd rather be anywhere right now!


5 treats/snacks I love............

rice crispy treats!
donuts
jamba juice
Taco time Cherry Empanada
key lime pie

What I would do with 100 million dollars...
Save... probably finish decorating my house and save some more...But man would it be nice to just go shopping and not feel it for once!

5 favorite TV shows

Little House on the Prairie ... Don't laugh but I just love this show and tape it.
Office...Pam and Jim are bound to get together! If not I'm out!!!
Grays
Bachlore... yes new session!!! Woo Hoo!!!
Americas Next top Model!


5 people to tag....
I tag anyone that listed on my links! HaHa you are all victims of my madness!

AHHHHH!!!

If you see a post tomorrow with my hair pulled out you will understand why! They say pictures speak louder then words but in this case they may not becasue all I want to do is YELLLLL!!!! Here is what I have been dealing with all day...



Started this morning with me finding this in my bathroom along with my shower being graffitied! I was CLEANING my girls closet at the time!!!!

Then I found this lovely display if creativity!




Lovely huh? I couldn't bring myself to take a picture of the carpet that was also trying to fight plack and gingivitis! Let's just say I was fuming at this point! At least my bathroom won't have cavity's! Oh and please note I was making beds at this point!

Then less then an hour later while I am still cleaning I find my girls eating and mashing my crafting chalks on the carpet in the living room. I had no patients left at this point so the camera stayed put!

And this was what happened last week when Blue found a marker buried in the garbage...



That's what it looked like AFTER I cleaned it off! Fun Huh!

Did you all notice I was anxiously engaged in the good of my home while all this was happening!! Each time I came across one of these disasters I was in the middle of cleaning. AHHHH!!!How on earth am I going to make it through these years!!!! How and why do I clean! This is such a joke!!!!!!

Oh and to add insult to injury I still had to take the girls with me grocery shopping! Now doesn't that sound like a walk in the park! Just what I needed to finish an oh so lovely day already!!!!

So here I sit post child tornadoes, post grocery store nightmare and now we're off to dance! Will this day ever end!!!!!


Side note...

Thanks all you blog stalkers for coming out of the closet! I love having fun visitors like you! I apologize to some of you for not visiting you in return... Those of you I have known about and tried to jump on your blogs, I have found that they are private or I can't see them so sorry! Also feel free to comment whenever! Sadly you are sometimes my only Adult Conversation each day!!!!

For those of you wondering MC or mormonchic is a site that I frequent that has a message board! That's where I met many of my amazing blogging friends. It's a site that has wonderful tips on FHE, family, budgeting, crafts, and anything else that puts a smile on my face! Just so you know!!!!

And isn't it crazy how long I've known some of you!!!!! Totally cool!!!!

Who knows who...

.. and how do you know me?

I love how the blogging world has opened up the lines of communication to lost friends, and friends of a friends and I just found you from another blog friend! It's all gotten pretty cloudy to me on how and when we all got connected this way!

And do I have blog stalkers?... oh that sounds so funny... ok let me put it differently...Are there people out there that just check my blog out and never make themselves knows! That's cool too! I always wonder who's out there!

So come out come out where ever you are all my wall flower blog buddies and friends alike!

Tell me how I know you or how we became acquainted! I have a wide variety of friends!


Oh and how funny is it to link surf on someone else's blog and find old friends or people you know you know but can't remember from where!!!!

Bargain Shopping 101

So anyone who knows me pretty much is aware of my killer Bargain Shopping radar I have! I NEVER pay full price and I always am on the hunt. This mentality covers basically every aspect of life! I have picked up some amazing things at incredible prices based on this keen 6th sence I have!

Today I put my shopping to the test once again after being tipped off by a friend that Albertsons was to be my next target! They were having their 10 for $15 sale on cereals, oatmeals, bars and endless other items. The added bonus was when you buy 10 the price gets dropped to 10 for $10!

So there I was binding my way through the aisles.Post cereal was also marked to 5 for $7 with a free gallon of milk then upon check out they presented my with a $2 off coupon for my next Post purchase. So back I went for 5 more boxes and another free milk!

All in a good days work! Here's what I loaded up for $55...



There are a ton of great tips for shopping smart. I always get ask how I do it or what's my secret. First of all, I always share my finds like this because half the battle is knowing when and where to shop.

Also when deals like this come along I stock up. I didn't buy one thing we don't use and love! I feel into the habit of buying things, especially food, that I had a coupon for even if we never ate it before... chances were we never did eat it!!!!FREE is another story... I may on occasion get something if it's free...hence Walgreens trips!!!

Anyway... It helps to just keep your eyes and ears open to leads from others. Watch ads and make sure you have the space for the things you do buy!

I tend to buy more food when it's a deal more so then cloths, house hold stuff and other things that take up long term space. Food you consume, other items sit and take up room and stare at you with that tag still attached taunting you saying " ha ha!!! I don't even fit and now look at your closet!!!!!"

Know what you love and shop it out! Don't be afraid to take things back. Buyers remorse is a feeling we get for a reason... it's like a grace period for us to change our minds and give ourselves a reality check. Leave all the tags on and save all your receipts!Check return policy's and if you find that your item is damage complain or take it back. If it's something you can live with ask for a discount.

I'd love to hear some of your favorite shopping tips and deals you have gotten. I can't think of my best deal ever to share..I have a lot of good deal stories!!! Share some of yours!!!!!

It's freakin' FALL Baby!!!!!

So this is for sure my favorite time of year! Halloween is my favorite holiday! Call me crazy but I love it more then any holiday! I just can't get enough of it. I love the change in the weather, the colors, the smells and the kidlets all dressed up!!!

Isn't it funny that I have my fall decor up already and really no furniture! Ha ha ha!!!! I couldn't resist! I can not wait 'till the after fall sales when I'll load up on decor!!! Now that I have room to store all my " Crap" , like Mike likes to call it, I ain't holding back!!!!

Here's a little fall preview...








I also had my piano moved into my living room!!!I am loving it in there and I can't wait to get it all decorated.



That a wreath I have hanging on it just in case you can't tell. But I love how it pulls the red out of the carpet like I wanted.

Just above the piano on that wall is a ledge that I finally got put together. The first picture is the view from the piano room. The next picture is the view from the family room. Can you see my favorite vintage CA license plate we found on ebay!!!! There is a lot of meaningful treasure up there. I have my grandmothers little green chair that was hers as a little girl, some antiques from my husbands grandfathers shop and a set of leather books Mikes grandfather sent me on WWII. And an American flag because I just stinkin love this country!




I'll change that up a bit over the year adding more holiday garb and maybe editing it but for now I at least feel like it's a little much needed progress!!!

Post please!

Let's be honest... my blog was beggin' for a new post!


Oh it's Monday! I love the start of a new week! I have the chance to start over if you will... This week I vowed to be more organized and stay focused! This morning on my walk I was looking forward to the week ahead with this new attitude! I have my meals planned for the week, a cleaning schedule and a few things planned! Today my piano gets moved to my living room!Yee Haaa!!!! So I have to clean out that room that has become the catch all for all my decor that has yet to find a home!

I am running to Taiwan today to do a little shopping! Apparently it's like a Shinodas, or a wholesale importing store So I have my fingers crossed it's what I think it's like!

The girls got their new bed and I have been so disappointed in how it looks and the bedding that I have scratched my plans for the bedding I have and I am just going to make it for them. I am desperate to get something right in that room. So I am off to the fabric store AGAIN to tackle that! The bed itself it cute but the room has a horrible layout for beds and it just feels wrong in there! I must have a fung shue radar somewhere deep inside and man is it sending signals!!!ABORT ABORT!!! But honestly there is no other solution. I am hoping that once I get it all decorated and done it will not torment me in my sleep!!!!

The chairs we ordered and the entry table are falling short in my expectation department! The entry table came cracked and assembled poorly so we have to take that back but on a good note... I love where it's going to end up so hopefully it's just a fluke. The chairs are a little to red for my taste... the wood tone that is! My solution of course it so paint the seats but Mike's vetoing that one! Oh and the bed has a big crack on it too... Ugggggg! Seriously folks! are they trying to piss me off!!! So I have some calls to make to try to get this all worked out! I swear we must have a magnet for defective things!

But yes... my new attitude! Like water off a ducks back I just need to get over it all! Is it really that big of a deal!!! let's talk about something else...good news if you will!

So this weekend I found some great deals... yes at a yard sale! I picked up two more pencil Christmas tress for a total of $5! Score! Oh and last Thursday I found an amazing 6 foot tree on ksl for $10!!!! Also got a shelf and a magnet board for dirt cheap as well. I am most excited about the trees and can't wait for Christmas!

So I better get the ball moving! Hope you all have great weeks! Remember last year when I was on a super organizational kick and was so motivated to get so much done... well I feel one of those coming on!!!! Keep your fingers crossed that it lasts a while!

here's my weeks menu...

Meatball subs
Chicken Florentine
Beef Burrito Skillet
Chicken Broccoli casserole
Homemade Beef Mac and cheese

The Magic Cream 411...

Ok girls... was hoping I wouldn't have to share the details of the famous Magic Cream but here we go... Let me just give a little history. I got Brave one day and got a Brazilian Wax... I know!!! I must have been on drugs, well actually drugs may have helped but it was a once in a life time experience... meaning I'll only do it once in my life time!!!! It was horrible and I was left dying! I vowed never to do it again.

When i was warning other never to have it done it was suggested that I try this amazing product called Magic cream. It's basically a cream that works like Nair. Oh here are those details I so wanted to avoid....It's sold and marketed to Black men for beard removal. Some one , don't know who, bravely tried it " down there" and had great success!

Anyway... That's all I am able to share on my blog at this time! Let's just say it's changed some peoples lives. If you have more questions just email me!


Oh I can't wait to blog about something else soon so this isn't the first thing staring at me when I open my blog!!!!!!

Know anyone with a RED Piano?

Well you do know!!Check it out!!!!! I bought a piano off ksl.com, which by the way is my new craiglist!!!, this week and of course what do I do to it!PAINT IT!!! I have forever wanted a piano in my home and now that I have a home....ta da! Now I know many of you are asking yourselves that same pressing question! "Does Becca Play the piano?" Technically no!!!Mike called it my new piece of furniture! But don't you all count me out too soon! I did take lessons for three months before Blue was born and I really loved it so I see lessons for me again in the near future! So let's just call it an inspiring piece of furniture at this point!

Before and afters...




So thrilled at how it turned out! I am in love with a piece of furniture!!!It was a labor of love!


Yesterday I had a girlfriend that I grew up with come for a visit! Regina lives about 20 min. away and we haven't seen each other in 4 years! I just adore that girls. We both got caught up on the all the latest and talked about the good old days! Let's just say we had plenty to talk about that could embarrass the both of us!!!!

I just got home from Bunco! Talk about the highlight of the month! Picture 14 girls, amazing food, endless stories and great advice! Last month was my first time and they were all too willing to send me shopping to all the greatest places here in SLC!!! I don't know how it happened tonight but "Magic Cream" was divulged! Hey ... everyone's got ta know right! Hopefully I'm not baned from the get togethers once the husband get treated to this new phenomenon! It's like uncaging the beast! Once their out they hard to control! I swear the sales in Magic Cream have sky rocketed in the last 2 year don't you think largely because of Young Mormon white mothers looking for something in the ethnic skin care aisle! Wouldn't we love to send a representative to their next board meeting when they discuss their latest spike in sales in Utah of all places!

Enough...So I won the " Loser" prize!!! An adorable trick or treat board! Winning feels pretty good even on the losing side when the gifts are this incredible!

So to all my new blog visitors from the bunco bunch...WELCOME!!! Hopefully you'll get a few laughs, ideas and reality checks while visiting my blog! I have a great group of blogging friends that have wonderful ideas and talents! Feel free to roam!

And the winners are....

Melissa
Caitlin
Boo

Congratulations!!!! I can't wait to send you a little something!!!Can you all please email me your addresses and I'll get going on this!!! Thanks everyone!

"Pay it Forward"

What a great idea!!! My friend had posted this idea on her blog and I just loved the idea! How fun would it be to pass on some joy! I appreciate all my blogging family here that has been such an inspiration and joy in my life! I can't thank you all enough for the support, advice and encouragement I feel from your comments and friendships! I have been blogging for over a year now and have been blessed so much! I am grateful for this outlet.

Thanks for listening to my rants and raves, my triumphs and tragedies! I know I can ramble. Hopefully it's been a form of entertainment and a reality check at times! It's nice to know that someone out there is a little crazier then yourself!! Glad I could be that special crazy gal in all your lives!!!!

So here's my plan...To pay it forward I would like to send a little something special to a few friends! The only way I can think to do it is just draw a few names! So if you'd like to be considered for my fun surprise "Pay it forward " mail give a way please leave a comment! In doing so you agree to do your own " Pay it forward" post and continue the chain of gratitude!!!

I'll Draw my names on Tuesday evening so anyone reading this after Tuesday evening SORRY, ( but know I still love ya!!!)

Ok gals!!!Pay it forward!!!


Totally different topic...


So today Mike and I taught our Sunday School Gospel Doctrine Class! It went so well!!!!Tons of group participation's and we had such a great time! It was a huge class!!! The average age was probably 50 so talk about intimidating! They so knew way more then we did! But They were all so welcoming and I really loved teaching! I have never taught in Church before!

And that's the perfect segway into my next announcement!!I got a calling! I was called to teach in Sunday School! I have the 14-15 year old youth class! How freakin cool is that! I can't tell you how excited I am! I always wondered why I never had a teaching calling! Would I totally suck! I really feel confident that this is the perfect calling for me! I have always wanted to work with the youth! That too I have never done! So there you have it! My new calling! I am so Stoked!

Peace out!!!

Saturday is a special day!

I feel like I've gotten so much done and it's only 3:40! I am really taking to heart the primary song today! I was in the kitchen for 2 houres just cooking and cleaning! I saw on a posting a cool new site that talks about cooking in bulk and freezing meals for the month. It also just had some great frugal tips!

For one it talked about buying chicken breasts with the rib bones still attached. I found some for 99 cents a pound so I pucked up 10 pounds. I learned how to debone the meat and separate the breast from the tender mean and make my own chicken broth! So I dove right into it today! I got about 7 meals out of all the chicken goodness!

Right away I seasoned and cooked the chicken tenders and cut that all up and made two yummy chicken pot pies and froze them. then with the broth I made enough broth for two big batches of chicken noodle soup. I finished the soup and now have 4 meals ready to go.

I really liked cooking like this. I want to get more organized and try to cook double frozen batches more often. The girl on the web site cooks for two days and gets meals for an entire month all made! For sure a crazy Mormon sister we all drop our jaws at... but hey it's working for her!

here's the site!!!
http://www.christysclipart.com/oamc2.html

She list recipes and even has videos... that's how I learned how to debone the chicken! Cool gal!!!

Smiths was also having some crazy sales so we stocked up for our food storage. Cambells Selects soups were only 60 cents along with Prego spaghetti sauce! Of course they were out of the sauce so I just filled up on 36 cans of soup!Slowly but surely we are stock piling some great food storage!

Mike and I get to teach Gospel Doctrine tomorrow! Excited? Not really! I'm worried that people won't participate! And hello! It's me!!! Mrs. I don't even know what book 1 Corinthians is in! Ok... I do now but man am I a dummy in the scriptures at times and especially when I have to teach people who have been around a lot longer them myself and really know their stuff! Wish me luck!

Just to toot my own horn for a second! I walked a total of 16 miles this week! I am really loving getting up to walk with my neighbors! We do 4 miles a day and It's getting easier and easier to get up and not feel tired all day long! This is really my only form of excersize ... sad huh! Oh well! But I love how it has made a difference. For the last year I've been feeling my heart flutter and it makes me loose my breath. I have had 2 EKG's and they find nothing! For the past two weeks that I have been walking They have totally stopped! Hopefully being more active was all I needed! I have even stared looking forward to walking...as if I need it every day to survive! And on that note I think I'll go for a walk right now!

Have a great weekend !

I'm all fired up!!!

So tonight I had the chance to go to a city council meeting. I've never done that before. There is a new development going in just across from me that will increase traffic in our neighborhood that is already poorly planned in some cases...exits being one of them. I didn't expect to get so fired up about it but I felt an obligation to speak up and have my opinion heard! I was able to express my thought well and drive home my concerns. There were quite of few of my neighbors there and it felt so good to stand up for something I really believed in. Who knows what will happen! I feel at times they have those town meetings just to save face and make us feel like they are going about things in a way that involves the opinions of the people when in reality they make the final all regardless! It seems like such a no brainier to me and all of the residence. Why on earth would they go through with their plans to make more cars access this street!!!

See there I go again!!! All bothered and up in arms!!

I love this country! I love the fact that I have the right to be heard! I really felt empowered being there speaking in front of the city council. It almost made me want to run for office or something! I think I'll be more in tuned to the happenings of my environment from now on...There are so many things worth fighting for!

You got it Enquiring minds...

We found all the Furniture so far on line at JCPenny.com. The shipping was going to be like $300, ouch, but you can avoid most of the shipping cost if you have it delivered to your local store and you pick it up yourself! So if you ever order furniture like we just did call the on line order number and have them place your order and have it delivered to your store to save a lot of dough. The shipping went from $300 to $50 doing it that way!

Also at JcPenny on line there is an outlet section... that place always have incredible deals! My gal pal BBM, Christina turned me onto JcPenny.com a few years back!!! Thanks Christina!!!! It's paying off!!! That entry table was only $125!!!! Everything else was a great deal too!

Furniture... it's finally happening!

Well we did!!We made our first furniture purchase for the house! I know it's been a month but we finally found some stuff we both liked and was a good deal!

Her is the girls bed.It's a trundel which I didn't want but am ok with the idea...



Dinning room Chairs... yes we will finally all be able to sit down together!!!



And either our entry table or a table for the kitchen... need to see where it looks best!


On top of all that... if that wasn't enough!!!, Mike finally found his dream big screen and placed that order too! Now we really need to get the basement furnished!!!! So all in all it was a VERY successful furniture weekend! We still need tons more so it feels like it never ends!

Last Thursday evening Robert's Craft store was having a crazy sale! basically 50% off your entire purchase. Talk about a frenzy! Women were going crazy in that store. Besides all the great things I bought, I ran into an old friend from Ricks and her family! I haven't seen Renay since her wedding more then 7 years ago! I just loved that we ran into each other like that!I think about her often and hope we can stay in touch!See you can find a lot more then scrapbook supplies and fake flowers at Robert's!!!