About Last Night...

I was in the mood for cooking!

I've been wanting to expand my cooking resume for awhile now, but haven't found inspiration in this summer heat.

Thankfully, Mike set up a trio of fans in the kitchen yesterday so I wouldn't die from heat exhaustion and I rewarded him with the prefect summer dinner/dessert combo.

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas and...

Lemon Cream Pie

Both dishes were so light and flavorful...perfect for the hot summer nights we have here in Southern California!! Plus, my kitchen stayed pretty clean when making these dishes, so that is always a plus in my mind.

I owe all credit to Just Cook Already blog and the MADE blog since that is where I found the recipes.

You can find the recipe for the Enchiladas here and the recipe for the Lemon Cream Pie here.

Now, onto my next conquest...

I hope you all are staying cool this summer! xoxo

Updates & Desires

So this post will be a smorgasbord of thoughts and updates.

First, Mike finished his semester with 4 A's and one B+ in Advanced Physics. I married a hard-working genius! Mike has a little bit of a break before his next semester starts, but he will be filling his time manning the computer store while his boss in out of town. No rest for him...

I am thrilled to announce to the blogging world that Mike officially has 2 semesters left of school and then we graduate!!

I know, I know...I've already graduated from college (it will be 5 years in May! Eeek! Getting old!) but I really feel like I am back in school with the late night papers and prepping for final projects and exams! I might not be the one physically taking the tests, but I am right there with Mike emotionally-speaking. Plus, I get to be on the other side of this equation... paying the tuition! So I get a glimpse into what my parents went through for me!
Not that much fun.

For all of my followers who want to know the "Bottom Line" for this post...here it is.
I'm cutting to the chase...this means in February
(which just happens to coincide with our 3 year anniversary)
we will be starting fresh and moving out of our little bungalow in Lomita, CA.

Where will we go?

Good question...I have no idea!! And for me not to know where we will end up is torture! But I keep hearing my Dad's voice in my head repeating the words he told me when I was 12...
"Moving is an adventure...you can either face it and find the excitement or you can pout and moan and miss out on all the fun"

I choose fun!

So, I would love to hear what you all think...Where do you think we will end up? And for those who need a refresher course...Mike is graduating in Computer Engineering, so basically we can move anywhere.

My Mom & Dad are voting for San Francisco area. Mike's parents are voting for LA area. Adam & Marci are hoping we are East Coast bound and my BFF Holly is wishing for Northern California

(and I'm secretly hoping we can move to Italy and buy a villa and spend our days watching the sunset and riding bikes through the small town near us...)

Hey...a girl can dream! But in all seriousness, I am pulling for San Francisco area but in case that doesn't work out, I have to go on the record saying that I'm happy with whatever.

Now, since this post is labeled Updates & Desires...here is the desires section of my ranting - besides the Italy blurb...

When we get the luxury of no longer having to pay tuition, I've casually mentioned a few additions to Mike that I would LOVE to make as soon as our budget will allow. Take a look at these beautiful pieces from Pottery Barn...

I swoon over amazing furniture and perfectly designed rooms...

I love this bed frame with white curtains draped on either sides

I adore these sheets! And I've already received Mike's blessing since I thought they might be too girly for him. Shhh...don't tell him if they are, he hasn't seemed to notice yet!

Lastly, I love trunks!! I have one in my living room as we speak, acting as an end table for my Reading Chair. But this trunk is fabulous and it comes in 2 sizes...

Oh Pottery Barn...you are such a tease!

Well, some people may think I'm crazy...but these little gems will get me through the next 8 months of saving all my pennies for tuition!

And then saving more pennies to pay for the gems! Haha!!

My Mom...

My Mom is awesome!

She is the strongest person I know & she taught me to believe in myself and help me see that I can conquer any obstacle.

My mom is a genius. She helps people that can't help themselves and helps them find peace.

My Mom is my hero because her life is a perfect example of how I want to be.

So, I just have to say:

I love you Mom! Happy Mothers Day!

Thank you for dancing in the living room with me, for making me Minnie Mouse-shaped pancakes every Saturday morning, for singing me to sleep every night, for curling my hair Sunday mornings, for teaching me how to apply make-up, for standing on the rail during a horse show to coach me and calm me down, for hanging your heels with me on the stairs, for those little hand massages you give during Sacrament Meeting, for spending hours listening to me talk about nothing, for prompting me to bear my testimony, for teaching me to overcome my fears, for wiping away my tears, for understanding that my bratty teenager phase would end, for doing the silly dance with me when I knew Mike was the one, for helping me plan my wedding and a billion other little things you have done for me.

I love you!

Onesie Banner "How To"

For the Onesie Banner I made for the Sip & See here is the tutorial I found on the cute blog
"Crap I've Made"

http://crapivemade.blogspot.com/2009/03/appliqued-tie-onesie.html

Here is my attempt:

I did the bow-tie ones myself...no tutorial for that one, but it is all the same.

Once you finish the Onesie, get twine and clothes pins and...TaDAA!!

Have fun and post any questions you have!

My Random Husband

I was searching through my camera's memory card and found some interesting pictures.

About 7 months ago, our washing machine started making crazy sounds...almost like it was going to launch itself into orbit.

Since Mike is such an amazing handyman
(one of the many reason why I love him so much)
he took the machine apart and tried to fix our little "astronaut" of an appliance.

While trying to fix our machine...apparently he and our friend Sean had a little fun of their own.

Yup...your eyes are not tricking you. That is my husband and it looks like he is locked inside our washing machine.

Before anyone freaks out, Mike disassembled the machine and kept the front part intact. He is just hiding behind the door.

Ever since I was a little girl...I wanted my future husband to have a sense of humor.

My wish came true...

Rach's Sip & See

One of my very good friends, Rachelle, just had her fourth child, Quinton and since I love any reason to plan a party...we had a Sip & See.

A Sip & See is a "fancy" name for a Baby Shower for a friend that has just had her second, third or fourth child.

Apparently it's taboo to throw a Baby Shower for someone who is not having their first-born.
So, change the name and....BAM, you have a Sip & See.

Our Sip & See was "Tea-Party" themed and we asked all the girls to wear cute hats and join us for brunch to Sip on refreshments and See the new baby.

The event was a hit and it was so much fun to see all our friends and get together with just the girls...and to dress-up. I never realized how many hats I had until I loaned out 5 (yes, 5)
hats to friends....plus one for myself.

Here are some pictures of the party. Take a look and let me know what you think...

The Onsie Banner - I added a little pizazz to the onsies so Quinton could
attend church in style.

The Gift Table...

The food table - I love making party food and desserts!
So, I made yummy Spinach/Artichoke Puffs; an amazing Brownie & Chocolate Trifle and these to-die-for Oreo Truffles thanks to Jana's blog!

The lovely ladies that attended to party

More of the food table spread

For party favors, I made Chocolate Facials for each of our attendees
and packaged them in Sippy Cups

More pictures

And {drum-roll please} the man of the hour, Quinton Hutchinson in
an adorable tuxedo his grandma made for him.

Overall, the event was a smashing success and I am seriously considering changing my career to Event Planning. Who wants to be my next victim...I mean, client?

If I could have my way...

I would be back in Paris right now...but this time with Mike.

The architecture, the food...the Nutella-filled crepes!!

The romantic vibe, the water-taxi...

Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower...

these are a few of my favorite thing in Paris.

(sigh) ... one day I will make it back there and drag Mike with me.

But next time I will wear more comfortable shoes.

Hold your breathe Paris, we will be together again...one day