I know this post comes a little late, but I still wanted to share this "sweet" Holiday gift idea. Two of my girlfriends and I decided to have a baking day to create delicious treats for our neighbors and friends before Christmas. Each of us came prepared to make 3 different goodies. After a full and fun day of baking, sampling, and a great lunch, we ended up with some really yummy stuff. It was a great way to spend time together as friends ( a highlight for me since we all are so busy around the Holidays and don't have much "girlfriend" time.) It also was fun to have an assortment of treats to give, not just the usual plate of cookies ( no offense cookie givers, I love a good cookie and I plan on serving "Lofthouse's" at my funeral, love em'.) All together we made Baklava, caramels, key lime fudge, pecan bars, chocolate cherry mice, peanut butter buckeyes, and last but not least, marshmellows coated in caramel and rice crispies. Divine!

This is Adrienne's Baklava, it was the best I've ever had. I shipped some to the motherland and Coco said it was the best she's ever had... this coming from a women who would drag her 7 children ( o.k. maybe not all of us) to the SLC Greek Festival every year.

I wish I had a picture of our plates all wrapped up. They looked to pretty!

And finally, drum roll please, Crispy, caramel coated marshmellows! These were suprisingly delicious. I can't wait for an opprotunity to make them. Thanks Meg and Ade!

My sister Amberlee sent this to me and it was too fantastic not to pass along~

Thanks Amb!

A POEM ABOUT OUR GIRLFRIENDS

Someone will always be prettier.
Someone will always be smarter.
Some of their houses will be bigger.
Some will drive a better car.
Their children will do better in school.
And their husband will fix more things around the house.
So let it go, and love you and your circumstances.
Think about it!
The prettiest woman in the world can have hell in her heart.
And the most highly favored
woman on your job may be unable to have children.
And the richest woman you know,
she's got the car, the house, the clothes~~~~
might be lonely.
And the word says, "If I have not Love, I am no thing."
So, again, love you.
Love who you are.
Look in the mirror in the morning and smile and say,
"I am too Blessed to be Stressed and too Anointed, to be Disappointed!"
"Winners make things happen~~
Losers let things happen."
Be "Blessed" Ladies~~~~~
and pass this on to encourage another woman.
"To the world you might be one person,
but to the one person you just sent this to,
it could mean so much."
SEND THIS TO YOUR FAVORITE WOMEN ~~
I JUST D I D!

Aprons!

Just wanted to post some of the fun aprons I made for Christmas. Can't say it was much fun making all of them, all 24 of them, but happy to say I'm done. I know most my friends have seen these, but my Mom & sisters haven't, so enjoy!

I finally got our new camera up and running and am now able to upload some of our fun pictures from the last couple months. Coco (my Mom) made these adorable nightgowns for the girls over Thanksgiving when she came to visit. I saw the fabric at Joann's and just had to make something with it. I came home with a pattern, fabric, and good intentions. After too many distractions, Coco took over and finished the gowns with nothing less than exactness, patience, and an eye for perfection. She's a great seamstress! I let the girls wear their nightgowns home from Carole's on Christmas Eve. They loved them and continue to wear them whenever they're clean:)

Thanks MOM!

#1 Tip on doing "Less!"

I couldn't resist. I know this isn't the best picture but it's all I could get (Meg where were you?!) If you have read my previous post and have decided to "do less" my first suggestion is finding a helping hand, maybe even your husband. I do have to say that Brett has always been a good helper around the house... until recently. Of course he's not sitting in a Lazy Boy watching sports, he just seems to have so many other things that have to be done, ie; work, church, horses... Anyways, despite his unavailability as of late, this guy is much in need of some credit from his wife. I have to say he's always trying to do the best he can, even if that means bringing home flowers and doing the dishes even when he's tired and really just wants to relax. So kudos to you Brett! Putting up with me isn't easy for any man. You are an awesome husband and father. Thanks for all you do for me... and for the flowers!

A New Year "doing less!"

To spare you all my New Year's resolutions I thought I'd just post this quote that has hung on my fridge for the last 3 months. As I thought about the changes I would make this coming year, this quote seemed to encompass so much of what I'd like to improve upon. Of course, there are the usual, healthy eating, weight loss, consistent FHE... but the task that weighs on my mind the most is mothering. Sis. Julie Beck shared this thought in October 2007 Conference. Her comments caused quite a stirring among some members of the church. Some found her talk old-fashioned and suppressing. I did not. I have to say many times I have left church meetings feeling riddled with guilt and despair, but surprisingly I found her words motivating, inspiring, and spot on for all mothers today.

" Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world's goods in order to spend more time with their children- more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, ore time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. "

- Sis. Julie B. Beck

Of course Brett loves the part where Sis. Beck said "mother's who are willing to live on less." Yeah, can't say I'm asking for a pay cut:) If you read the talk it doesn't say be barefoot and pregnant all the time, uneducated, and poor. I think Sis. Beck's intent was simply to help us remember what's most important!

New Year's with the Lemmons

We spent New Year's with the Lemmons in good ol' Yuma. What a great time we all had. The girls played nonstop. Visiting with Bobby and Sabra was just like old times... sitting out in the drive way, wishing, dreaming, and maybe even coveting to our hearts content. Brett finally admitted he really missed the place, especially seeing all the green. You wouldn't think Yuma's that green, but all the irrigation makes it beautiful. At least they have irrigation.

Poor Prescott:( A big thanks to the Lemmons for hosting us, they're the best!!!