Our Sweet Hermana

One of my best, and dearest friends, Marissa McDaniel, is now serving a mission, currently at the MTC, and in 5 weeks, she will go to Dallas, Texas, speaking Spanish! I am so unbelievably proud of her, and for the choices she has made. She is so spunky, and she's going to be the greatest ever!

We received her first letter today, her P-Day, and it just made me realize how awesome she is! I can't wait to get an email every week, because she makes me laugh!

I went home for the 3-day weekend for literally 24 hours, just for her farewell, I would have never missed it. She did awesome! Love that chick.

A New Fav

The clearance section by the beauty area in Target=awesome. I've gotten eyeliner there before, and always looked.. But this time I found nail polish! Rimmel London in "French rose". I think it was like $1.79!! After the wedding, when I had acrylics, I immediately kept doing gels. And my nails never recovered. I'm now taking overloads of vitamins, and decided to take a break from gel and shellac. So, this color is beautiful and so natural, and I did about 4 thin colors!! I love it. I think it was a fab find!

L O V E <3

Valentines day was the best one yet. We didn't exchange gifts, but we went to a lovely nice dinner at La Jolla Groves at the Riverwoods, saw Safe Haven (can't remember the last time we saw a movie we paid for) ps, that's my favorite movie right now, came home, and had some delicious made from scratch carrot cake! I was impressed with myself to say the least.

Friday night, we went on a temple date at mt. Timpanogas temple, and it was absolutely gorgeous. Man, they all are, but I love going to new utah temples! We then went to Fashion Place for a little returns, and to CPK for dinner, and they had a valentines special! Appetizer, two entrees, and dessert for $30! Score!!

Saturday, we cleaned, took clothes to platos closet, and spent the day together, before I flew home to AZ.

Our valentines lasted the whole weeken d and it was my favorite. I love my man. So much, he's my best friend.

Chef Boyardee

Tonight, we had our good friends over, Madeline & Andrew. They were friends with Tanner Freshman year, ended up getting married!, and I love that I can be included in the friendship now! We love them!!

I made Pasta Fagioli, just like at Olive Garden's (I swear!), some cornbread, and a delicious Peach Cobbler for dessert. Though, I won't be giving out that secret family recipe :)

I found this recipe on Pinterest, from here, and I changed mine up a little bit. I have made it before, and this time I added a little too much pasta noodles, but it was still delish! I think anything you stick in a Crock Pot never fails.. I love Crock Pot recipes. Old & new, I love them, and I'm glad Tanner loves them, because I can stick them in before Work, and come back, and dinner is hassle free!

I made my cornbread with almond milk, because we aren't milk lovers, it it still turned out great! 

Olive Garden Crock Pot Pasta e Fagioli

2 lb. ground beef (I usually use Turkey)
1 onion, chopped (I use about 1/4, because I hate onion breath, I onion smell on my hands, I literally cut the onion with ziplocs on my hands, and thats it. Well, I'll an onion if it's deep fried :) but who wouldn't..)
3 carrots, chopped (Sometimes I add more, because I love veggies, especially in soup
4 stalks celery, chopped
2 (28-oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (16-oz.) red kidney beans, drained
1 (16-oz.) white kidney beans, drained
3 (10-oz.) beef stock
3 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. pepper
5 tsp. parsley (I never measure, just chop, and throw in)
1 tsp. Tabasco sauce
1 20-oz. jar spaghetti sauce

Pasta "ditalini" Don't remember if that's the name, but they're the small circles, usually in bags. 

Brown ground beef in a skillet.  Drain fat from ground beef and add to a large crock pot with everything except the tortellini.  Cook in a crock pot on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.

During the last 30 minutes on high or 1 hour on low, add pasta (adding it sooner will cause pasta to get mushy).  Cook until pasta is heated through.

Try it! You won't be disappointed! OH! And it makes a lot....as you can tell my whole crock pot is full!

Just a lil DIY

I made this yarn letter for our gallery wall that I was envisioning. And one day I came home from work, and started nailin, and hangin. Tanner came home, and I was finishing up, with just a pencil in hand.. No ruler. From a daughter of a builder, and a sister of a designer, I should know not to do that. But I was getting impatient. And I loveeee how it all turned out! But.. Next time I might not be so lucky!:)

I bought the letter and yarn at Michaels, and I love them, because you can alwayssss and I mean always get a discount. Download the app, and BAM. So, it wasn't too pricey! I just went in layers upon layers, so the cardboard wouldn't be seen, and until I liked how I looked! I may have gotten a few burns on my fingers because the yarn wouldn't stay how I wanted it! Those darn edges get hard! A simple and easy touch to our home!

iPhone pics, and iPhone posting, so not too great of quality. Don't mind the hubs in the last pic.. He's just studyin away!