breakfast for dinner

I love having breakfast for dinner!  There's no way I'm waking up early enough to make this stuff on a week day!  Plus it's such an easy go-to when I can't come up with any ideas!  My mom-in-law has a cookbook made up of family recipes that she gave us and it's wonderful!  I use her waffle recipe and it's so yummy!  I'll post the recipe but first I'm going to tell you about the first time I ever made these.  :)
We'd only been married a couple months when I made these waffles.  It was my first time making waffles from scratch, first time ever.  Of course as a newlywed I was still nervous about making yummy meals for my man, so I was overly excited when I took my first bite and these waffles were just amazing!  I needed praise asap.  So I asked:
me: Aren't these the BEST waffles you've ever had!?
e: (shrugs his shoulders) Yeah, they're good.
me: No way!!  These are the BEST waffles ever!  Especially since this is the first time I've ever made them from scratch, right?!
e:  I said they're good.  I'm used to having them made from scratch though.  That's how my mom always cooks.
me:  (I'm thinking to myself, oh no he DIDN'T!)  Yeah, but these are the B E S T waffles you've ever had right?!  Just say YES!
e:  DO YOU WANT ME TO TELL YOU THEY'RE BETTER THAN MY MOM'S?!  CAUSE THEY'RE NOT!
That was not the answer I was going for.  I just wanted him to tell me those were the best waffles he'd ever had, the first time I asked.  Needless to say, any meal Eric wanted that came out of mom's cook book, he had to cook it.  Hahaha.  He learned his lesson.  It took me awhile, but I'm back to cooking meals out of that cook book :)

How does Eric like my waffles now?  Here I'll translate: " Babe....these are the best waffles I've ever had!  (in creepy voice from Date Night) Now get in my belly!" Please tell me you've seen Date Night and know what creepy voice I'm talking about?!

best waffles ever

2 cups flour

2 cups milk

2 eggs

1 tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp vinegar

1/4 cup shortening

Mix first 3 ingredients until smooth.  Add the next 5 ingredients, mix until blended.  Last but not least, mix in the shortening.  Mixture will not be smooth once the shortening is added, but it will be delicious once baked :)  Enjoy!



weekend recap. it really was better than it sounds :)

Hahaha!  10 points if you can guess who the crazy eyed woman is in this picture.. we may or may not be related.  Scared? :)

We got to spend the weekend in sunny St George!!  Ok... it poured rain for most of the day Saturday, but Sunday was gorgeous.  Of course.  The day we had to go home to the freazing cold, and SNOW.  I'm so sick of snow, let me just tell you!  Anyway.... we had such a GREAT weekend!

Saturday we got to go to the temple and had the most amazing experience.  Going to the temple is always amazing, and usually just what we need.  But this time we got to witness the sealing of the sweet MacPherson family!  What a comfort, miracle, and joy knowing that we can be with our family forever!  Ash, I love you and am so happy for you!!  I just have on question.... WHY didn't we get a picture together?!  Seriously guys.  I really need to be better about taking picutres.  I usually forget about my camera, or Eric does not cooperate.  *Sigh...

The rest of our day was spent relaxing, eating lots of yummy food, movie, and spending time with friends and family!  It was so fun being there with Eric.  Sometime's I really miss living there!  But I am so thankful to all of my clients who keep me busy enough to come spend a week every month with them!  And I can't wait for the weekends we get to spend at the lake :)  Thank goodness for sunny St George!

Sorry for posting that picture mom.  And making it large for everyone to see.  Hahaha it just makes me laugh and I had to do it!  I have no doubt that everyone can tell from that picture how beautiful you are and that you're not crazy eyed ;) 

Mesa Verde 2009

 After talking about my grandparents I had to post about this trip!  We spent Thanksgiving 2009 at my grandparent's home in Colorado. 

    

My grandparent's live like 30 minutes away from Mesa Verde so we had to spend the day there!  I can't believe I'd never seen this before... amazing!

Most of the time sometime's Eric doesn't like his picture taken.

We're inside!

It is truly amazing to see history in real life!  It's intersting to see how people used their resources to live their lives, to make a home.  I am so grateful to live in our time, to have so much technology and conveniences right at my finger tips.  And I'm especially grateful for my comfortable bed I sleep in each night and the heater that keeps me toasty and warm :) When we go back to visit my grandparent's I'm hoping to spend one day exploring Mesa Verde again!

grandparents

I grudgingly rolled out of bed at 6 am to go pack Eric's lunch (like I do every morning for him.  Such a good wifey.  Ha!  Kidding... this is how I get him to eat his fruits and veggies!) and realized I was smelling eggs and bacon!  The ONLY time I smell eggs and bacon that early in the morning (ok... it's more like 7 in the morning but still!  So early!) is at grandma and grandad's.  Can I tell you just how badly I wished I really was at their home?!  I have never craved my grandparent's like this before.  That sounds really weird but I just don't know how else to explain it haha.  My sweet grandparent's are 95 and 96 years old!

They hate having their picture taken, haha they've had over 90 years of this!

I have the best memories of visiting them!  My favorite memories are eating tons of good food and playing canasta and zilch (you probably know this game as farkle) all night long!!  The only times I've heard my grandma swear was while playing canasta, it's cause my family cheats :)  But not me.  Never me! ;)  When I was little I'd snuggle with my grandad in the recliner listening to everyone play canasta, I couldn't wait til I was old enough to play!  Oh I miss them so much!

I wish I would've visited them more!  I hate how adult responsibilities, jobs, time, money (as in gas prices...gah!!  Who else is fed up with gas prices?!) get in the way of playing!  I'm still learning how to find balance with all these adult responsibilities but I think family is such an important one to throw into the balance.  I'm hoping we can plan a trip to visit grandma and grandad in the next few months or I know I'll regret not going.  While we're at it, we'll plan a visit to my other grandparen'ts who live 40 minutes away.  Oh yes, I'm horrible!  But like I said, I'm learning to balance.  I will be better about this!  And I just have to say, I'm blessed to have the most amazing family!  I love everyone SO much! :)

what's another word for indecisive? weather.

This is my reality.  It's oh so cold. 

This is what I'm day dreaming of.  Someday it might warm up enough to wear a swim suit?

But aren't I just the luckiest girl that this hunky man is not just one I daydream about... he is my reality.

I can handle the cold, and everything else life throws at me.. with him by my side!

Anyway, I know you guys love cheesy {insert sarcasm} but I have a serious question to ask.  Does spring exist in northern Utah?!?!  Today it's been snowing.  While the sun is  shining.  How is that even possible?!  I think I'm going to go put on my swim suit, snuggle up with Eric under a warm blanket and watch a movie until the weather makes up it's mind  ;)

One last question, what songs do you LOVE to listen to while working out?!  I want to put together the BEST playlists out there, so please help me out!  Tell me what motivates you to get moving while you're working out!! :)

Oh and P.S.  Thank you for the sweetest, nicest comments ever!  You guys REALLY know how to make a girl feel better about herself :)  Seriously though, I'm so grateful for each of you and am loving the friend's I'm making here in bloggy world.  (I guess I should say I hope we're friends? Ha!)

am I going to let a tiny storm rain on my parade?

Yesterday was such a great day except for one tiny conversation that just completely threw me off guard.  This is the first time that I've cried about it since I wrote this post. 
 A woman that I just met, and will never see again took it upon herself to pull me aside and ask what I am using on my face.  I believe she truly meant no harm but...c'mon!  My good friends, people that know me don't ask me such a personal, sensitive question...let alone strangers!  And I realize it's sensitive because I make it so, but let me tell you the rest of the conversation...
 I stuttered and stumbled over my answer (because I was shocked and so caught off guard with the question) and tried to explain to her that I'm taking care of my face, it's a hormone imbalance so it hasn't been easy, and it really is getting better.  "Oh but you're not using acutane right?  Cause that's bad stuff."  Great...so my face looks bad enough I should be on acutane?!  I told her no.  Then she proceeded to ask me to guess her age, cause I'd never believe how old she is.  To humor her I guessed 40 (I really thought she was older than that but why put my foot in my mouth when she's doing such a good job for the both of us?!)  "No I'm 52, I know you're shocked cause my face looks so great!  People think I'm in my 40's all the time and it's cause I've got such amazing skin!"  Gah!!  Can I just punch you right in your amazing face?!  Seriously! 
Then she tried to sell me her product.  Word to the wise: the next person that tries to sell me their product... I will punch you in the face.  Haha ok, I'm kidding.  I'm open to suggestions but PLEASE go about it in a much nicer way (and when you're not looking to make some money off of me ha)!  Anyway.... I cried driving home.  I'm really proud of myself that this is the first time I've let my skin really bother me since that post (which is easier to do because it really is getting better!) but so frustrated at the same time.  I was so mad that I could let such a silly, clueless lady let me feel ugly!  It's so easy to get down on ourselves but I believe that women have the right to feel pretty!!  No matter our age, weight, skin condition, whatever!  We are daughter's of God and are entitled to feeling beautiful, like a princess, etc.  Please allow yourselves to feel good about you!  I'm going to try my hardest, even when someone unintentionally puts me down :)

On a much happier note..... say hello to northern Utah's newest spin instructor!!  :)  Yesterday I took the course to get certified and I get to start making calls this week about teaching!  I can't wait! 
And I just have to give a shout out to my husband... Eric, thanks so much for supporting me 100%!  You don't tease me for how silly I am to want to teach spin, instead you buy me new spin shoes, sign me up for the course, and give me a big kiss as I run out the door to accomplish one of my goals!  And thank you for making me feel beautiful in a weak moment, I love you for it!  I am the luckiest wifey ever :)

life is a dance, from one stage to the next

I am sick.  Bleh.  Send some loves and get better vibes my way pretty please?!  I needed some cheering up and something to take my mind off of feeling yucky so I'm going to tell a story.  Hopefully this one will put a smile on all of our faces :)
The first time your boyfriend takes you home to meet your potential in-laws is a mixture of excitement and anxiety right?!  It can be completely amazing, or completely awkward.  Right?!  Well the first time Eric took me home, I experienced a little of both :) 
Eric comes from a very small town in the middle of no where, to be exact!  So, not only did I have to impress his family when he took me home, I had to impress the whole town.  One of Eric's best friends had his wedding open house the weekend we decided to go.  This was the way to meet everyone in one night!
Eric and I had been dating for just under 2 months at this point so we were all sorts of giddy about eachother still, lovey dovey eyed, nauseating to be around, all of that ridiculously romantic stuff.  Oh wait... we still are?  Good! :)  Anyway I picked out the cutest outfit (of course I have NO pictures :(  stupid computer crashing.  It was my favorite skirt though) and made sure I looked perfect for the open house.  I was really excited to go meet everyone because earlier in the day we had met up with one of Eric's oldest friends and his wife (Daren and Shayla) and we were instant friends.  I was ready to hangout with them, and everyone else!  
Once we got to the open house we were shuffling around visiting with everyone.  In the mean time I was making mental notes of things I wanted at our wedding ;)  Once the music started playing Eric and I ran out to the floor to dance.  Of course, we were the only ones.  I suspect people were watching us making sure I was good enough for Eric?  Anyway... we're dancing away in our own little love sick world when the song was coming to an end.... I told Eric to dip me.... and..... he dipped me.  Then he proceeded to drop me.  Flat on my back.  And then.... he fell on top of me.  Oh yes.  He did.  And then he was back on his feet in the blink of an eye!  As if he had tummy flopped on a trampoline then shot right back up.  Hahahaha.  Oh this totally happened.  And remember..we're the only ones dancing... so everyone saw this.  I just laid there praying that my skirt was still around my waist, not my ankles.  When I started to sit up I caught Shayla out of the corner of my eye doubled over in laughter, I lost it!  I laughed so hard I almost peed a little!  Poor Eric was so mortified he went straight outside where I had to go tell him it really was ok!  He's lucky he's with a girl that can laugh at herself huh?!  That was one amazing night ;)

I had to post a picture of us dancing even though I don't have one from that night right?!

I'm so glad, and so lucky everyone accepted me... despite all my down falls ;)  I love my in-laws and I sure as heck love my Eric!  I'll have to share my awkward story with you another night.  (You thought this was the awkward one huh?   Stay tuned... cause you'll be in for a real treat!  Make that an awkward treat :)  

Tease takes on Vegas

I forgot to post about Vegas with the salon girls!  That was the funnest get away and I can't wait for more!  Preferably this summer?  So that I can be at the pool all day long!  (Can you tell I'm craving warm weather?! *Sigh..)

We started the day out right with: shopping!  Who loves shopping with a group of crazy's!?  I do!  And I got my make up done at MAC... vegas style ;)  The girl doing the make up may have been living too long in Vegas.. crazzzzy!  Then we went back to the room and got ready!  A bunch of hairstylists getting ready together was actually alot of fun!  Makes me wish I had sisters!  And there were no bathroom hogs.  Score!

Tease girls

We ate dinner at Maggiano's.  So YUM!  I don't think I ate enough that night ;)

Maggiano's has the best lemon cookies ever!  Yay for my birthday and Latisha's! :) Yes I know how scary these pictures are!

Making our way down the Strip to Margarita Ville!

Margarita Ville had a little balcony that I spent a good hour on just people watching on the strip!  I could've stayed there all night... seriously.  There are some funny people out there.  I'm sure that's what everyone though of us Tease girls ;)  We ordered nacho's and Dr pepper's and made ourselves right at home!

furrrr real!

We danced to classic rock and had so much fun together.  We started to get a little crazy at 3 am :)

Vegas totally caters to lazy, drunk (maybe people thought we were drunk?) people!  Flat escalators?

Thanks so much for the amazing time girls!  I can't wait for more!  Oh and... I was serious about going this summer!  I'll seriously roll my tired body out of bed as soon as that pool opens and go sleep under the sun ;)

I'll update with more pictures as the girl's post them.. I bought a new memory card just for this trip then totally forgot to take my camera.  Gaaah!