Pinterest success and faliures

I thought I'd share with you a few of the inspirations I found on Pinterest that I copied and actually did. 

Some of them have worked out, and some of them...not so much. 

Let's start with the positive ones shall we?

First up is this great teacher gift:

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Scored some major brown noser points with this one!

So much so that I didn't even feel bad when I didn't volunteer to help with the Halloween party. 

Did I take it too far? Possibly. 

Second is this garbage can for your car:

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Loooove it! My car will never stay clean for more than a day, but this at least keeps the larger pieces of trash cleaned up. Now I just need a miracle for all those goldfish crumbs. 

I totally copied this image and had it printed in a 14x20 out at Costco for a whopping 3 dollars:

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It's now on my gallery wall and looks like I paid 200 bucks for it! SCORE!

I'm a huge fan of southwestern flavored soups:

This one hit the spot with me. 

Not so much with my kids, but they don't like anything these days. 

There was no source, but the recipe:

Super easy super yummy crock pot soup: can of rotel, can of corn, can of black beans (drained & rinsed), 2 frozen chicken breasts, 8 oz cream cheese, 1 packet dry ranch dressing, 1 tablespoon cumin, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon chili powder. Put all ingredients in crock pot and cook 6-8 hours. Shred chicken, and enjoy!

Now, sadly we must discuss the failures of Pinterest. 


This recipe seemed like a no fail, that's da' bomb, kinda deal:

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Not so my friends. 

For me - the mixture turned into glue. Though it tasted like Oreo's, the texture was beyond gross. 

Like an Oreo cookie fruit snack. 

Now, the sock bun curls everyone talking about must do some good for some people:

{source}

Obviously. 

For the life of me, I can't get my hair to look like that. 

I think my hair needs to be longer, but it's pretty dang long. 

Here is the best result I got from the sock bun:

Bad lighting, bad angle, horrible shirt color, I get it. 

But all you need to see is the curl. 

Definitely does NOT look like blonde girls curls. 

Last, but not least is washing "poo" free with baking soda:

{source}

This was the image that came with the link.
Um, I am always up for something natural to replace chemicals in my shelf, but I used only baking soda for two weeks and my hair was NOT clean. I tried.
It was yucky. I couldn't take it any more.

I'm sure that all of these "failures" were due to my own inabilities.
Tips are welcome.
Just trying to give you another side to the story if any of these were on your "to do" list.  

This boy...

This boy is now 3 years old. 

This boy says he wants to marry his mommy. 

And I'm completely okay with that. 

This boy is obsessed with our neighbor "Joseph's house". 

This boy loves puzzles, trains, cars, and Little Einsteins. 

This boy gives me lots of kisses. 

This boy has stolen my heart. 

In grievance of his continued growth I've been listening to these two songs on repeat:

Taylor Swift - Never Grow Up

Mindy Gledhill - Hourglass

Have a baby growing up? Take a listen and cry a bit. 

I'm beginning to feel a bit like this woman:

Have you ever watched Everybody Loves Raymond?

While Marie is made to be the villain of the family, I am feeling a LOT of sympathy for her these days. 

Heaven help my poor son. 

Happy Birthday dear, Henry boy!

Exploring our community: Cahokia Mounds

To celebrate Columbus day we thought we'd do something educational. 

Though, this has nothing to do with Columbus, we did converse about how this Native American community was thriving, and then fizzled out roughly two hundred years before Columbus sailed the ocean blue. 

I had never heard about this place. 

Ever. 

*Begin instructional lecture*

The Cahokia Mounds are a place where the largest ancient community north of Mexico City is, and is preserved. The Native American's built mounds of different shapes and sizes and each  had a different job. The rounded mounds were burial grounds. The pointed mounds were markers of the cities boundaries, etc.  The most famous mound, Monk Mound, is huge and it's suspected that the Chief lived in a large building at the top of the mound and there was probably several religious buildings as well. Archaeologists venture to say that it took roughly 170 years to build the Monk Mound. 

This major community thrived from roughly 7-900 AD until 1200 AD. At the time it was more populated than London and was home to more than 20,000 people. 

Okay teacher, do I get an "A" on my report? 

First we mosied our way around the museum and our favorite part was the wax, life like, scenes. 

Scott was uncomfortable at all the bare chested - life like - women and suggested that they really don't know if the women didn't wear clothes and should have erred on the side of modesty. 

{reason # 6,043 why I love him}

 It was a glorious day for a walk.

That's the Monk Mound... from way far away. 

This is me where I begin to think,

"I already almost died on my run this morning. I wasn't prepared for all these stairs. Ay crap."

I almost didn't make it to the top and Henry had to pull me up the last three stairs. It was quite a dramatic scene. 

 There was an awesome view of St. Louis from the top:

As you can see, Autumn is just barely beginning to make it's mark here in Illinois. 

 I'm ready for crisp temperatures, blankets, jackets, boots, and comfort food!

Our trip to the Cahokia Mounds was great. It's right off of both I-64 and I-70, so if you're driving through I definitely recommend the stop. It's free! 

The Barbie Doll Dilemma

Up until a week ago my daughters had roughly 23 Barbie dolls between the two of them. 

Hoarders?

Maybe. 

I secretly thew away the old and "dying" dolls and managed to leave only 5 dolls. 

As I was clearing this mess I had a thought come to me that there may be a better toy out there for my girls to play with. 

Then I read this blog post

and the thought of ridding our home of Barbie's completely has been constantly on my mind. 

I happen to agree with everything she says both from observation and personal experience as a child. 

Several months ago I realized how much my girls enjoy playing with Calico Critters:

And so yesterday I bought them each a family of fuzzy animals. 

I made them give me a Barbie in payment for the critters. 

They didn't hesitate for a split second. 

3 Barbies left. 

My observations of the girls playing Barbie vs. the Calico Critters are this:

When they play Barbies, the dolls have attitudes (usually) and they're usually have a fantasy kind of life. (The witch captured her and she must be rescued, etc.)

When they play Calico Critters the animals take care of each other. They are teachers, or cleaning house, you know normal life stuff. 

I don't think it's a bad thing for the girls to play fantasy life, but I like that they role play motherhood and real life even more. 

Go read this article and come back and tell me what you think!

Am I being looney and over dramatic or loving and taking advantage of a great turning point here?

Maannn catchin' {chicken}

{name that movie}

:) 

A while back I got an email from my friend with a recipe for 

"engagement chicken"

It's darn good. 

Here's a pic of what ya get when you're done:

And here's the "man catchin'" story:

First comes chicken, then comes marriage? Be skeptical if you must, but this recipe may be charmed. It all began 26 years ago, when then-Glamour fashion editor Kim Bonnell gave the recipe to her assistant, Kathy Suder, who made the chicken for her boyfriend, who, a month later, asked her to marry him. “It’s a meal your wife would make. It got me thinking,” says Jon Suder, who now has three children with Kathy. Details of the simple dish passed from assistant to assistant like a culinary chain letter. When Bonnell heard that her recipe had inspired three weddings, she dubbed it Engagement Chicken.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken (approximately 4 pounds)
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, plus 3 whole lemons—including 1 sliced for garnish
• 1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• Fresh herbs for garnish (4 rosemary sprigs, 4 sage sprigs, 8 thyme sprigs, and 1 bunch fl at-leaf parsley)

1. Position an oven rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F. Remove the giblets from the chicken, wash the chicken inside and out with cold water, then let the chicken drain, cavity down, in a colander for 2 minutes.
2. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Place the chicken breast-side down in a medium roasting pan fi tted with a rack and pour the lemon juice all over the chicken, both inside and out. Season the chicken all over with salt and pepper inside and out.
3. Prick 2 whole lemons three times each in three different places with a fork and place them deep inside the cavity. Chicken cavity size may vary, so if one lemon is partly sticking out, that’s fine. (Tip: If the lemons are stiff, roll them on the countertop with your palm before pricking to get the juices flowing.)
4. Put the chicken in the oven, lower the oven temperature to 350°F, and roast, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
5. Remove the roasting pan from the oven. Using tongs or two wooden spoons, turn the chicken breast- side up. Insert a meat thermometer in the thigh, and return the chicken to the oven and roast for about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the meat thermometer reads 180°F and the juices run clear when the thigh is pricked with a fork. Continue roasting if necessary. Keep in mind that cooking times in different ovens vary; roasting a chicken at 350°F takes approximately 18-20 minutes per pound, plus an additional 15 minutes.
6. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving. And here’s the secret: Pour the juices from the roasting pan on top of the sliced chicken— this is the “marry me juice.” Garnish with fresh herbs and lemon slices.

Don't forget to tear that chicken apart and freeze the extra meet! 

It makes the BEST cold sandwiches and is awesome for recipes like tacos or soup.

Now ladies, if you're trying to get a ring... make it.

If you already got a ring, but want to go shopping...make it!

I am not kidding when I say that after we ate dinner, my eight year old was a delight and she cleared the table AND washed the dishes herself. This stuff is like a magic potion I tell you!

You wanna come in?

Just in case you're interested, 

I took a few pictures of the parts of my house that are mostly done. 

Nothing is ever completely done, right?

Just agree with me. 

Nothing of Chablis' is ever completely done is probably a more appropriate statement. 

Suggestions welcome. 

Just know that:

1. I will not paint this house. If we are leaving in one year, it's not worth my effort. 

2. I've already spent too much money so unless your suggestion has the cost of a can of spray paint, it's not really welcome. 

The wall of pictures. 

My mom thinks it's cluttery. 

I had a look I was going for that is much more difficult to achieve than I planned. 

Luckily most everything on this wall is hung by the awesome command sticky strips so a massive redo is only the cost of my effort and time. (which costs A LOT mind you)

Henry and Chuggington add a special touch to the room. 

My poor piano got beat up in the move. 

sniff...

sniff...

A closer look a the wall of clutter pictures.

I spy my gorgeous grandma Trinnaman and the amazing gr8, gr8 grandma Sarah Suzanna Stone Lloyd.

The wall is not complete until I get a picture of my in laws, but I have lost my discs. 

I shall find a picture somehow. 

See that empty 8x10? That's for you Ron & Judy!

The kitchen.

Blah. 

Whatevah.

I need a chandelier and a rug of awesomeness...someday.

(and curtains, and a barn wood table, and)

This is not worth seeing, but I'll show you anyway because it has caused me great angst. 

The office/computer area. 

I hate it. 

It's in the kitchen. 

We need a desk. 

Plus, I let you see a peek of my room of doom, aka junk room.
You're welcome. 

A post about nothing

Random thoughts and facts:

* Through some major misfortune and horrible customer service we bought a washing machine that was brand new, but doesn't work.  The company doesn't care. It's been 3 weeks since I've had a working washing machine. Welcome to my new life:

(laundromat)

Do you feel bad for me? 

You should. 

I feel sorry for myself. You should see the looks I get when I lug in 5 hampers stuffed with clothing.

* My neighbor is adorable and today she told me she's known lots of "Mormons" and she's never known one she didn't absolutely adore. 

...here's to praying I don't screw up our score.

* Said neighbor took care of Zeusapoos for us while we traveled to Ohio for Scott's marathon. I bought her a candle to say thank you at this cute little shoppe along I-70 in Indiana, Warm Glow Candle Outlet.

*Of course I had to buy one for me too and I love the way it looks and burns. It's been burning practically since the moment we got home. 

* Scott ran an awesome marathon. Inspite of our horror movie replica of a hotel room the night before. 

Do I have pictures? No. 

One hour away from our house I pull out the camera to find the battery is dead. 

Flat lined. 

No pictures.

* I'm soooooooo close to being done with my house. I'm pretty sure I can't completely finish until I have a working washing machine. Scott has promised to threaten a law suit tomorrow. Exciting, right? I hope it doesn't come to fruition. 

Last minute photo opp

Because my brain works slowly, at the last minute I had the genius idea to have my dear and talented friend take our family photos before we left Utah. Because she's so sweet, she worked us in to her busy life. 

We were totally unprepared, yet somehow Michelle still managed to create some gems. 

I don't have all the proofs yet, but my sister does and so she emailed me a few of her favorites. 

9 1/2 years baby! 

This will probably be our Christmas card, so don't be dissappointed to see it twice. 

Thank you for gracing us with your talents, dear Michelle!!

Our first family outing in the mid-west

I'm back online people! 

(don't expect too much of me yet. Though the house is unpacked, putting up all the decor seems to be where the real work is and I'm struggling!)

So, one of the first things we did here in Illinois was visit the great St. Louis Arch:

It was gorgeous weather.

We ate a Panera Bread picnic on the grass and it was real fun folks!

(that's mid-western talk-I'm learning fast)

This face is irresistible, even smothered with peanut butter.

A few views from the top of the Arch:

Gracie and I were the only ones brave enough to make our way to the top. 

It's really claustrophobic, but the view makes up for that. 

Our trip via phone camera

Because our laptop is ancient, I can't plug our camera into it to download our pictures from the last several weeks. So, I emailed a few pictures from my phone to myself and here is a rundown from the last few weeks:

While in Calgary, Canada Gracie had an accident. 

I was a mean momma and told her to suck it up. 

Two weeks later it was still swollen and extremely painful for her. 

So I took her to a walk-in clinic where they took x-rays and sure enough, her foot is broken. 

Oh sad, sad day. 

Luckily her "boot" is stylish, she get's to wear it for 6 weeks:

Our pit stop in Utah was great. 

Lot's of family time. 

Shopping. 

Playing with old friends. 

Slip n' Slides:

(photo's and collage courtesy of my sister, Gentri)

And we were off:

 Driving 80 on I-80, my hot husband at the wheel, Rio playing in the back seat,

that's what road trips are made of. 

We made a stop at Cabela's in Sydney, NE to stock up on the essentials.

Chocolate covered cinnamon bears and rainbow trout. 

Cabela's candy is THE  best. 

 We spent a night in Kearny, NE and found this amazing park. 

I could not take a picture to do it justice. This is only an 1/8 of the gorgeousness of this park. 

Think 3 awesome playgrounds, 2 splash pads, swan paddle boats, a serenity garden, and more. 

I love this park. 

So much so that I would agree to live in this "nowhere" place just so I could come to this park every day. 

Another highlight of Kearny is the great Archway:

This is more than meets the eye my friends. 

Inside that great archway is a Disney-esque historical documentation of the growth of the western United States. Life size scenes starting with the Mormon pioneers and native Americans illustrate how "the West was Won". It was very patriotic and entertaining. A definite MUST for anyone traveling I-80. 

We spent a night in Kansas City and made it a priority to visit the historical Liberty Jail. 

A place we Mormons have a special connection with. 

Click HERE to read more about it. 

This is us in front of the recreated prison. 

A phone camera + inexperienced random person acting as photographer = creepy picture. 

And at last:

St. Louis

We are 20 miles east of the city. 

I keep catching myself scan the horizon for a silhouette of mountains. 

I wonder how long it will take my subconscious to realize there are none. 

We move into our new home this weekend. 

I feel grateful that we have a "house" to live in while we wait. I at least can feel a sense of normalcy this way. 

The kids have their own bedrooms to sleep in.Which they are doing quite well. It's practically 9 am and there is no sign of life from their rooms. 

While I am missing Alaska desperately, I have a sense of contentment. I know this is where we are supposed to be and I have a feeling it's going to be a good life here in Illinois. 

Goodbye Alaska

We were sad to leave this place behind:

However, our trip through Canada was quite amazing!

We had many adventures and ssaw so many gorgeous things.

We are visiting family in Utah for the moment, and will be heading out to the mid-west the last week in August.

I haven't been much of a blogger on this trip, and I don't see any improvement in the near future.

For a recap on our drive you can check out my sister's blog...again.

Ha! I love that I can cop out and send you to her!

When we move away I won't be able to do that any more, so I'll make the most of it while I can.