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