R.I.P Ben Breedlove

Today I heard about a boy who passed away on Christmas Day. It is a very sad story that has touched many lives including mine. Ben reminds us that life is short and precious and that we need to focus on the good in life. I have been so negative lately because my life has not at all been how I've wanted it to be lately, but Ben makes me want to rethink and relook how my life is going. It's the least I can do to make sure his messages and death were not in vein. Please watch the following videos and let Ben touch your life as well.

Part 1

Part 2

In Memory of Ben Breedlove

What I've Found To Be True

I saw this quote today: "Love me when I least deserve it because that is when I really need it." -Swedish Proverb
I have found this to be true the older I get and the more mistakes I make. And I realize I need to be there and still love those who maybe I feel don't deserve it at the time because it's what I would want from them.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas because mine has been amazing so far and I hope the best for everyone out there. Remember it's not about the gifts, it's about family and our savior.

Christmas Eve

I hope you all have a great Christmas Eve and enjoy the time with your friends and families and remember the true meaning of Christmas. The night our brother and savior was born. Lets also hope for a white Christmas tomorrow!

I thought this was funny, and it's so true!

Love This Quote

I find the best quotes on pintrest, but this one by far is one of my very favorites.

Don't Learn The Hard Way

Today I saw this quote and it kind of scared me. It says:

I have never been brave enough to do this but I know I would never want to see the person I loved be loved by someone else. It would kill me inside. Sometimes the right things are the hard and uncomfortable things. So good luck to you all who may be in this situation and good luck to me.

For A Good Cause

Today I am starting to donate plasma again. I did it all summer twice a week. Although it's not the most fun thing sitting around with a huge needle in your arm pumping out blood, it is for a good cause plus you get paid pretty decently for it. I recommend it to everyone that is eligible!

So I Missed A Day...

Sooooo I missed yesterday but that is because my family had a HUGE Christmas party and today my sister and I had an ugly sweater party. SO I have been cooking for like three days the things we cooked include but aren't limited to:

• Veggie Tray with dip
• Fruit tray with dip
• 4 kinds of cookies
• 2 kinds of brownies
• Cheese ball
• Cheese tray with lots of different kinds of crackers and bread
• Hot chocolate
• Apple-Grape Juice
• Water (obviously)
• Broccoli and cauliflower salad
• Bean salad
• Pulled pork with rolls
• Meatballs in a cranberry wine sauce
• Asparagus wrapped in ham topped with Parmesan cheese
• Quiche 
• Cupcakes
• And lots of candy and toffee and peppermint bark etc

As you can see I do have an excuse for not blogging yesterday. I'll post pictures later!

What I Believe In

Aren't We Lucky

Aren't we lucky to have a loving Heavenly Father who is always there for us and who will forgive us every time we fall even if it may be many times?

Party Week

This next week is going to be great! Family, Food, Christmas, Music etc. My mom is hosting a Christmas party on Monday and I can't wait to cook and bake for it. But then on Tuesday my sister and I and some friends are hosting an ugly sweater party, two parties in a row! I can tell it's going to be a good week! Happy Holidays!

Beautiful

This is such a beautiful song. Chris Medina's finance got a serious brain injury in an accident right before their wedding. What a lucky girl to find a man who loves her so much that even though their lives are completely different he will still be there for her forever. I hope I can find myself a man like this someday.

Pumpkin Cookies

Yes I know it's almost Christmas and the pumpkin pie/bread/cookies are an October through November treat. But the semester is ending and I am getting ready to head home and so I've been trying to use up my food so I don't have to throw it away, and I had leftover pumpkin, so I made these delicious pumpkin cookies for my friends and I to eat while we study for our finals.

Ingredients & Directions:


Cream together:
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter, softened

Then add:
1 cup pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg

Sift together dry ingredients then add to above wet mixture.
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp salt
Add 1 cup milk chocolate chips.

The dough we be very wet still. Bake cookies at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes depending how large your cookies are. I cook all my cookies on parchment paper. Allow to cool then frost.

Icing:
3 T butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. milk
2 c. powdered sugar

Icing:
In saucepan, heat butter and brown sugar over medium to med-high heat until bubbling and thick. Cool 10 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup milk. Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth.


source: http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com

Check It Out

One of my best friends Madie just re-created her blog and it is so cute. She just started it yesterday so there aren't very many posts. But go check it out anyway and follow her at http://sunshinebabe-madie.blogspot.com/

A Soft Cookie

A few weeks ago my sister asked me to make her a treat, more specifically snickerdoodles. So I made the dough then cooked the cookies and when I opened the oven door...they were melted. Like completely melted I wish I had a picture to show you but it didn't cross my mind. So basically it was an ultimate fail. But then I found a new recipe on pintrest... of course. So I had to try it. And let me tell you they turned out AMAZING.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

For rolling:

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars with
an electric mixer on high speed. Add the egg and vanilla and
beat until smooth.

2. In another bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, and
cream of tartar.

3. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix well.

4. Preheat oven to 300 degrees while you let the dough rest for
30 to 60 minutes in the refrigerator.

5. In a small bowl, combine the sugar with the cinnamon for the
topping.

6. Take about 2 1/2 tablespoons of the dough and roll it into a
ball. Roll this dough in the cinnamon/sugar mixture and press it
onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Repeat for the remaining cookies.

7. Bake the cookies for 12 to 14 minutes and no more. The cookies
may seem undercooked, but will continue to develop after they are
removed from the oven. When the cookies have cooled they should be
soft and chewy in the middle.



Source: Pintrest
http://www.lovintheoven.com

Do you NEED that? or do you WANT that?

Just a little something to thing about while making your Christmas list. Let's remember to give to others as well and not over do it for ourselves.

SO EXCITED!!!

So yesterday I was at the movie theater waiting for my movie to start, and the preview for Titanic came on; I was confused, I was thinking to myself "is the year 1997?" But then the best news happened...Titanic is coming back to theaters on April 6th. You can't even imagine how happy I was. Titanic is my most favorite movie of all time, but I never got to experience it on the big screen because when it was out in the theaters for the first time I was only 7 years old. Even though I own this movie you can bet I will be seeing it when it comes back to theaters, because seeing it on the big screen will be like seeing it for the first time!

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels

I found this recipe on Pintrest and I had to try it, so I did, and it was a hit with me and my friends...beware they're addicting.

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels

1(16oz) bag pretzel twits (I only used half this much)
2/3 cup vegetable oil (I used a little less than 2/3)
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Pour pretzels into a roasting pan. In a medium sized bowl mix together vegetable oil, cinnamon and sugar. Pour over pretzels and stir to coat. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes (I only did 20), removing twice to stir.

Source: Pintrest and originally http://lifestooshorttoskipdessert.blogspot.com

WATCH THIS!

Things We All Do

I ran across this page on Tumblr called "Things we all do" and it was pretty funny. If you want to check it our for yourself here is this link http://thingswealldo.tumblr.com. I found somethings on this list that I have definitely done, here they are:

• Text my friends to let them know I'm at their house instead of knocking.
• Thought we had something special till I saw you talking to everyone like that.
• That awkward moment when you realize you're in love with your best friend but you can't say anything because you know it would ruin everything.
• I yell someone's name, and when they don't hear me I feel stupid
• When you hear a phone vibrate and you hope it's yours, then get very sad when you realize it was your friends phone.
• When people ask for candy I give them the flavor I don't like.
• Dear life, when I said "Can this day get any worse" it was a rhetorical question, not a challege
• Using the work etc. to make people think you know more than you actually do.
• Trying to explain something to that one friend who never understands anything.
• Seeing your picture from 3rd grade and thinking "what the heck was I wearing!"
• Using your phone very strategically when it hits "low battery"
• When you I wont tell anyone.... my best friend doesn't count
• Noticing someone in class tapping their foot and not being able to ignore it
• Telling you're head one thing, when your heart is thinking another
• No matter how early I prepare myself, I'm still never on time
• When I was younger I would pour "mini-shots" into my water bottle cap.

Just My Luck

Just my luck that I'd be sick this week, the week before finals. I have two presentations due this week and a 25 page paper due as well. Next week I have another paper due, one test and a portfolio due. Yes this week, to me, is worse than the actual finals week and yes I get to be sick. Life is not fair. But to all the other college students out there stressing about their finals, may your luck be better than mine!

Do You Pintrest?

If you don't pintrest you should. Awhile back I tried it, and I didn't like it. I have a friend who was the same way. Now I pintrest like crazy and she still doesn't, but don't worry I'm still working on her. Whats so great about pintresting? Uh I now have a dream house, so many cute crafts that I AM gonna make. And so many recipes to try I don't even know where to begin. There is also fashion inspirations, quotes, fitness ideas and wedding planning ideas. Basically everything you need! SO get an account and Happy Pinning :)

Hawaiian Haystacks

Ingredients 

• 1 1/2 cups cooked rice
• 1 cup chunky chicken gravy (recipe below)
• 1/2 cup chow mein noodles 

Directions
Cook rice according to directions. Place a scoop of rice on plate and pour gravy on top. Sprinkle with chow mein noodles and choice of toppings: shredded cheese, chopped onions, peppers, celery, tomatoes, olives, peas, pineapple chunks, nuts, mandarin oranges, and coconut.


Chunky Chicken Gravy Recipe

• 1 large chicken breast
• 1 chicken bouillon cube
• paprika
• 3 Tbsp. butter
• 3 Tbsp. flour
• 2 cups milk

Directions

Place 1" water in saucepan. Dissolve bouillon in water. Place chicken in water and sprinkle paprika, salt and pepper over chicken. Cover and let simmer on medium-low heat for 30-40 minutes or until chicken is tender. Remove pan from heat. Leaving chicken in the water, cut chicken into small pieces. Sprinkle flour over chicken and stir well. Add butter and milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until butter melts. Continue stirring and cooking until gravy boils and thickens. Remove from heat. 

Just be yourself

Lately I realized that due to some certain circumstances I haven't really been able to be myself. But I realized I can't live that way. And I deserve to be able to be myself no matter who I am with. If people don't like who I am then they are not my friends. "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."

Can't say I wasn't warned...

I'm almost always late, I don't know how I do it, it's like a talent; it doesn't matter if I decided to wake up ten minutes earlier so that I can be ready ten minutes earlier to make it to school time, I'll still be late. My mom always told me "Rachel, you need to figure out how to be on time, because you can't just show up late to things."

Well the past little while I decided almost everything in life is based on timing. Timing is EVERYTHING! And I feel like I was just late for something big. I don't mean like late for an appointment, or late by the time on the watch but I mean late by the timing of life and I just became late for an event in my life. An event that would've changed things; but the timing was wrong. And because of that I'm gonna miss out on something huge that I wish I could've had. Like I said I'm always late, but having to miss out on this event in my life makes me never want to be late to anything ever again. Can't say my mother didn't warn me.

A Terrible, Terrible Thing

Being a sociology major is so interesting, you learn so much about why the world is how it is. Culture, Society, Class etc. Some of it is great and other things we learn are horrible. Things that make me cringe, things I wish I didn't know; but at the same time I'm glad I'm I learn the things I do so that I'm aware and I can maybe do something to make a change.

The thing I learned this week that was horrible is about some orphanages in third world countries. Some orphanages give out pedophile tours. This is where people from Europe, the US and other countries can come to these orphanages and do what ever they want with the kids (obviously inappropriate things) and then they give the orphanage money to buy food and stuff like that when they're done. HOW SICK IS THIS?! What sick person does that? As if these kids don't already have it bad enough...

Another thing that is so sad is that in some orphanages in some countries if the boys are not adopted by the time they're eight, and the girls by the time they're 12 they get sold into slavery! I had no idea that this was happening it makes me sick; and at the same time grateful for the major I chose. No change can ever happen until people are aware, the more that people are aware the better.

Oh Marilyn

"A wise girl kisses but doesn't love, listens but doesn't believe, and leaves before she is left" -Marilyn Monroe

I don't believe this quote applies to everything in life but I definitely thinks that there is truth to this quote.

Can You Plank?

Yesterday while my family (extended included) and I were at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (previously known as The Wild Animal Park) I came up with this awesome idea to start planking things.We were sitting around waiting for everyone to catch up so it seemed like a fun way to pass the time. Here are a few of my mine and my sister attempts:

A New Holiday

Now that Thanksgiving is officially passed it's time to focus on a new Holiday... CHRISTMAS! In just a few hours stores will be opening and Black Friday will begin. I am skipping out on it this year. I am happy and sad about it. I refuse to listen to Christmas music until Thanksgiving is over. Well since it's now over I just downloaded the Justin Bieber Christmas album "Under the  Mistletoe" and so far I am liking it. I also started a little Christmas countdown on my blog (check the bottom of my page) just to add a little excitement!

P.S. I realize that when I post this post it will say that it's still Nov. 24th and that is 11:38 pm. But that's only because I'm in California right now. But where I'm from (Utah) it's 12:38 am which means its Friday and no longer Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving

So once in every year we throng
Upon a day apart,
To praise the Lord with feast and song
In thankfulness of heart

-Arthur Guiterman


I am thankful for everything the Lord has given me, my strengths to help others grow and my weaknesses to help myself grow.

My Dream Car

Since I probably won't be getting this for Christmas I'll just have to wait until the day that I become a responsible, successful adult that is smart with their money. Until that day I'll just DREAM ON!

Range Rover Interior 

Range Rover

I am thankful for books and this will sound dumb but I am thankful for movies too.

Two Songs I am LOVING Lately... Enjoy

You're the Voice

By: John Farnham

Where I heard it: Hot Rod

Sweet Child o Mine

By: Taken By Trees

Where I heard it: Life as we Know it

I am Thankful for Music

Be a Better Person

I am who I am because of what happened yesterday. But I'll be better tomorrow, because of what happens today.




I am thankful for:

• mistakes that make us grow
• people who try to make a change for the better in the world
• memories
• family road trips (being trapped with the family and there is nothing you can do about it!)

My First Batch of Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Bread

4 egg yolk
1 cup oil
2/3 cup water
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree ( I used my own pumpkin, cooked it and stuck it in the blender to make my own puree)
3 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp baking soda
3 1/2 cup flour

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°

Mix together egg yolk, oil, water and puree together

Add sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and flour. Mix well

Pour into three medium bread pans (greased) bake for 50-60 minutes.

Enjoy!

Source: http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/


I'm thankful for the Holiday seasons

Homemade Mac n Cheese

Homemade Mac n Cheese

1 pkg. elbow macaroni (2 cups)
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp ground mustard (dry)
1/4 tsp worcestershire sauce
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

Heat over to 350 degrees. Grease 2-quart casserole. Cook and drain macaroni as directed on package.

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, mustard and worcestershire sauce.
Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Gradually stir in milk. Heat to boiling. Stir constantly. Boil and and stir 1 minute.

Stir in cheese until melted. Stir in macaroni until well coated. Spoon into casserole.

Bake uncovered 20-25 minutes or until hot in center

Enjoy

source: Betty Crocker

As weird as this may sound I am thankful for my pets.

Sometimes I Read This To Help Me Get Through My Day

FOOTPRINTS

One night I dreamed I was

walking along the beach with the

Lord. Many scenes from my life

flashed across the sky. In each

scene I noticed footprints in the

sand. Sometimes there were two

sets of footprints. Other times

there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed

that during the low periods of my 

life when I was suffering from

anguish, sorrow, or defeat, I could

see that only one set of footprints. 

So I said to the Lord, "You

promised me. Lord, that if I

followed You, You would walk with

me always. But I noticed that

during the most trying periods of 

my life there have only been one set

of prints in the sand. Why when I

have needed You most You have

not been there for me?" The

Lord replied my precious child, I

love you and  I would never leave

you. During your times of trial

and suffering, when you see only

one set of footprints it was then

that I carried You.

I'm thankful for the opportunity I've had to travel the world

Yummy Crockpot Chicken

Yummy Crockpot Chicken

1 lb chicken breast
1 can dices tomatoes (drained)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp southwest spice blend

Directions

Mix tomatoes and brown sugar and spice blend in a bowl.

Place chicken in a crockpot

Pour tomatoes, brown sugar and spice mixture over the chicken

Cook on high about 4 hours or on low about 6 or until chicken  is fully cooked

Serve over rice

I am thankful for my good health and the opportunity I have to live with my sister while away at college

Veterans Day

IT IS THE SOLDIER

It is the Soldier, not the minister

Who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the Soldier, not the reporter

Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet

Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer

Who has given us freedom to protest.

It is the Soldier, not the lawyer

Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the Soldier, not the politician

Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,

Who serves beneath the flag,

And whose coffin is draped by the flag,

Who allows the protester to burn the flag

-Charles M. Province

I am thankful for our troops

Thankful

It's the month of thanksgiving and I know I have much to be thankful for, so for the whole month I am going to be thankful for something everyday. I am 10 days behind so here goes

• My family
• The Gospel (LDS)
• This beautiful country I live in
• Education
• Food
• Shelter
• Good friends
• My job
• Technology
• This beautiful season

Lasagna Cupcakes?

Lasagna Cupcakes

1 cup marinara sauce

3/4 lb ground beef

12 wonton wrappers

8oz shredded mozzarella cheese

3oz Parmesan cheese

4oz Ricotta cheese

Basil for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees, spray muffin tin with cooking spray

2. Brown beef and season with salt and pepper, drain

3. Cut wonton wrappers into circle shapes using a biscuit cutter or the top of a drinking glass. 

4. Reserve 6 Tbs Parmesan cheese and 6 Tbs mozzarella for the top of your cupcakes. Start layering your lasagna cupcakes. Begin with a wonton wrapper and press it into the bottom of each muffin tin. Sprinkle a little Parmesan cheese, Ricotta cheese, and mozzarella cheese. Top with a little meat and marinara sauce. use around 1-2 tsp of all the ingredients depending on your personal preference.

5. Repeat layers ending with marinara sauce. Top with reserved Parmesan and mozzarella cheese.

6. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until edges are brown. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. To remove use a knife to loosen the edges then pop each lasagna cupcake out.

7. Garnish with basil and serve.

Source: http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well. —-Virginia Woolf

Dinner and Dessert last night, to die for!

Homemade chicken pot pie
(Recipe below)

Homemade midnight chocolate cheesecake cookie cups
Recipe can be found at http://thesweettoothbooth.blogspot.com/

Chicken Pot Pie

1 pkg. Puff Pastry Shells

1 Tbs vegetable oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 can condensed cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup milk

1 pkg. frozen peas and carrots

2 cups cubed cooked chicken

Directions

Bake, cool and remove tops of pastry shells according to the package directions

Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until tender

Add soup, milk, peas and carrots in skillet and heat to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add chicken to the mixture and cook until mixture is hot and bubbling.

Serve in pastry shells. Enjoy!

What the World has Come to

We Celebrated Hallah's Birthday

Just some treats I quickly whipped up for the very busy day

Homemade owl cupcake
because well, she LOVES
owls!

18!

The funny jack o lantern
pizza!

And then there was the family party, and again I was busy whipping up some more treats. If you would like the recipe to some of these recipes please check out our baking blog at http://thesweettoothbooth.blogspot.com/

Homemade German Chocolate Cake

Homemade vanilla cupcakes
with homemade
cream cheese butter cream
frosting

Homemade Mini carrot cake
cupcakes with homemade
cream cheese frosting

HOMESICK

I've been so homesick for New York City lately, hopefully these images help you understand why.