Allie... doing big girl things...

ha. Not really. And I really love my other children, I just seem to blog more about Allie lately? I just downloaded all my iPhone pics and had to share a few... Allie's chubby feet barely fit in shoes! But she is wearing them now a lot- fun!

Allie LOVES all the oranges, grapefruits and lemons we pick... loves to hold them... and say "WOW!" when we put them in her car.

Allie is feeding herself these days... trying to! Spoon backwards and big disaster and all. ;-)

Meeting the girlies for lunch at their school! All the girls friends are so cute with her.

She LOVES popsicles. I have the molds that I make homemade yogurt and fruit ones for her but this was her first non-homemade popsicle.... a Big Stick! YUM! She loved it and cried when it was gone... even though she was a sticky wet mess.

So big she is dressing up with brother! Colby seriously is hilarious. He loves his super heroes and sports, but has a soft spot in his heart for bunnies. He found these costumes and insisted Allie put one on too. So funny.

LOVES this car. She dives into it everytime we are in the garage. She also will cling tightly to the steering wheel with both hands and not let us pull her out when it's time to be done!

Is so big she is combing her own hair...

Woah- loves ripping toilet paper or paper or whatever she can get her little hands on! She had a blast ripping and ripping the toilet paper into tiny pieces.

Anyways! More pics coming... And more vday ideas- my head is spinning with them but I can't even keep up with laundry and dishes around here let alone do fun projects and baking! BAH! But more soon...

Paper straws? Check!

I posted about Bakerella years ago... and am still loving her ideas! Just got these straws- too cute. I have seen them used for a few projects but really loved how she used them in these Strawberry Milkshake Cupcakes!

I picked up some silicone baking cups in the shape of hearts... and am excited to make these with the following recipes. (Usually I make Bakerella's Sprite Cake Mix with cupcakes but wanted to give this Cupcake recipe a try I found on Heather Bailey's website! YUM!)

Easy Gourmet Cupcakes

1 box cake mix (Strawberry in this case)
1 small box pudding mix
4 eggs
1 C. sour cream
1/2 C. water
1/2 C. oil

Choose a cake mix and a pudding mix with compatible flavors. Mix this stuff all together and bake as instructed -- till toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack, then add frosting. Easy peasy.

Spread the frosting. Spread the word. Spread the love.

Chocolate Ganache
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate morsels
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
6 Tbsp butter

• In a small saucepan, heat cream and butter until just before the boiling stage.
• Pour over the chocolate morsels.
• Let stand about 20 seconds and stir until smooth.

Easy Buttercream Frosting

1 cup (2 sticks) butter (room temperature)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1b. 10X powdered sugar
1-3 teaspoons milk, half and half or cream

• Using a mixer, cream softened butter and vanilla until smooth.
• Add sugar gradually, allowing butter and sugar to cream together before adding more.
• If you want your frosting a little creamier, add a teaspoon of milk at a time and beat on high until you get the right texture.
• Then, just use icing colorsto tint the frosting the color of your choice.

YuMmY!!

Just had to share my new love- ha!

Ger let the kiddos choose whatever little pint of ice cream they wanted the other day... Mia and Colby both came home with Phish Food and LOVED it. I let them get some more at the store the other day (such a pushover, seriously) and saw that it came in Frozen Yogurt. Now I know that it's still not low calorie or anything, but it just makes me feel less guilty somehow and justify eating it! Plus I LOVE frozen yogurt so had to give it a try...

It's Chocolate Frozen Yogurt with gooey marshmallow, caramel swirls, and fudge fish... Heavenly! Really. If it had nut chunks it would be perfection... but I just finished it off just now and had to share. ;-) Very chocolatey, tasty, phishy crunchy, fabulous.

What's your favorite ice cream?!? I would love to try it!

Homemade Oreos Baked with LoVE!

I've seen the cupcake or cookie stencils you can buy in the store but never gotten them... I had a little wooden heart that I placed on top of my oreos and then sprinkled them with a shaker of powdered sugar and LOVED the results. A stencil can be easily made or just find the object you want to have imprinted!

I am LOVING my I-phone so these pics aren't great, but are the only ones I got before the cookies were gobbled up or taken out to friends and neighbors.

Have the oreo recipe? If not here it is- super easy and the kids LOVE help make them... mixing the ingredients, rolling the balls, helping frost and sticking the cookies together, and even doing the powdered sugar! FUN! ;-)

Homemade Oreos

2 boxes Devi's Food cake mix

1 1/2 cup shortening (love the pre-packaged kind!)

1 tsp vanilla

4 eggs

Frosting:

8 oz cream cheese

1 cube margarine/butter

4 to 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Mix together and then roll into small balls. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 6-7 minutes... but don't overcook! They should look moist and soft. Cool and then frost!

(NOTE: Mini oreos can be made by measuring out batter with a tsp- then roll in balls. Cook time is 4-5 minutes. These oreos were made with a TBS and took 6 minutes. I think the easiest way to frost is in sandwich bag! Load with frosting and cut corner off- less mess, looks better, and super quick!)

Life...

...

"In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."

Gordon B. Hinckley

"Cultivate an attitude of happiness. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine." Gordon B. Hinckley

"Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great purpose in heart." Gordon B. Hinckley

Hope your week is off to a great and happy start! ;-)

Sweet and Sour...

Wow- I was shocked last night when all the kiddos LOVED the Sweet and Sour Pork recipe I made. I usually just fix their rice with butter and cheese and had re-heated some Grilled BBQ chicken for them... but they wanted what we were having! Syd didn't like the veggies, but Colby and Mia loved the peppers and carrots and onions. YAY! This recipe is a fav from my Aunt Geri. Love her. Super fun, funny, talented lady that is so great to be around.

It's a relatively healthy stirfry and easy to make- the hardest part is chopping up all the veggies and meat.... which doesn't take long at all really. You can use chicken or pork- I had a pork tenderloin in my fridge from Costco (usually make Cafe Rio Pork with it...) but it was amazingly flavorful in this recipe too.

These pics are from my phone so not great but you get the idea- YUMMY! Give it a try!

Sweet and Sour Chicken/Pork

2 TBS Vegetable Oil

15 oz. boneless, skinless chicken

1 C thinly sliced carrots

1 cup peppers, cut in strips (can do 1/2 red and 1/2 green if you have both)

1/2 onion, cut in strips (Optional)

1 cup pineapple chunks

2 TBS brown sugar

2 tsp ginger

4 cloves garlic (use the bottled fresh minced garlic- so much easier! In produce section...)

1/2 C pineapple juice

6 TBS white vinegar

4 TBS soy sauce

2 TBS cornstarch

2-3 cups cooked rice

Cube or slice meat and brown in vegetable oil. Remove from pan. Cook veggies for 5-10 minutes. Combine sauce ingredients in bowl- brown sugar, ginger, garlic, pineapple juice, vinegar, soy sauce, and cornstarch. Add meat back to pan with pineapple and sauce. Simmer until sauce is thick, just a minute or two. Serve over rice!

Cupcake Fondue!

Who doesn't love frosting?!? Loved this take on doing fondue... with warmed frosting... and mini cupcakes!

My kiddos LOVE decorating cupcakes and LOVE fondue so we will be trying this out very soon. Yum. ;-) It could be a super fun treat for Valentines day too... pink frosting of course. Colby's favorite.

For the icing recipe... tips and ideas go to http://www.pintsizesocial.com/diy-with-vips/amanda-krueger-from-bake-it-pretty-3/

Yet a few more treats for vday...

A few sweet ideas for special Valentine’s Day treats, courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens! I am going to try the whoopie pies I think- yum!

1. Chocolate cherry stack cake

2. Red velvet whoopie pies with peppermint filling

3. Red velvet cupcakes (I love how these are decorated!)

4. Cherry baby cakes

Some kiddos valentines ideas coming soon... ;-)

A-WoW!

That's Allie's latest word... and very fitting... "A-WOW! I am 9 months!!!"

We really feel blessed... she is the happiest little baby...

9 months... and crawling everywhere... superfast... we are quickly childproofing! She's learning a lot... like, "A-wow... this is my tummy!" ha.

And 9 months brings... teeth... lots of teeth. Like all 4 top ones all at the same time. BAH! Poor girl!

9 months brings... Hair! More of it! Yay! It's growing fast... we still haven't determined for sure what color. Some days we thing blonde... other days strawberry blonde... and some days it looks like a sandy brown!

9 months brings lots of new expressions... lots of giggles... lots of eating every little thing on the floor... lots of trying to figure things out... lots of standing up and letting go to see how long she can stand... lots of pulling herself up and walking along furniture... lots of reading and singing... lots of eating new big girl foods like pancakes... lots of bath-time which is so fun (between messy eating and big poops baths are frequent!)... lots of playing... including swinging on her little swing in the backyard and sliding down slides at the park! So many new exciting things at every stage... We love Allie to pieces and she is such a joy!

(THANKS AUNT MEGHAN FOR THIS BOW AND

ALL MY OTHER NEW BOWS- I AM LOVING THEM!!!)

Adorable Wreath...

YAY! My sister Becky just made this adorable vday wreath and I had to share. ;-) I thought it turned out so dang cute- love how she added the black and white polka dot ribbon to hang it. The tuturial is in a post below... or you can head to her blog for more info too!

Need something cute to frame with your vday decor? Head over to Becky Higgins website for the prints below. Nothing fancy but just cute and fun... Hobby Lobby has great frames- like the white scrolly one below. When they have them half off they are a steal! http://www.beckyhiggins.com/freestuff/

Just a quick "Why" I decorate! My kids LOVE it... it gets them excited for them upcoming holiday... and it mixes things up in your house to keep things festive and not the same old. ;-) SO give it a try if you haven't before... it will instantly boost your mood!

Valentines 2011 ;-)

Getting started on my decor... need some tulle and more red and pink? Asked my friend to come and help put things together cute! Anyways, here are a few more vday decor ideas!

http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SparklePower?ref=seller_info

http://yarner.blogspot.com/2011/01/paper-rose-wreath.html

http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2009/12/rolled-flower-gift-toppers.html

http://diaryofacraftaholic.blogspot.com/

Just around the Corner... Valentines Day!

Valentines Day will be here before you know it... start decorating and picking out or making those special gifts... and cooking now! Ha. Ok I still need to take my Christmas tree and stockings down but have already been scheming of what fun treats... decor... and gifts I will do this year... (Here are a few ideas from last year:

http://fabdoverlife.blogspot.com/2010/01/valentines-day-decor.html

Bakerella made these tasty looking Red Velvet Homemade Oreos last year... I think my kiddos would definitely go for these... They would love to make them too! http://www.bakerella.com/easy-and-easier-valentine-treats/

Crate and Barrel always has great cupcake papers- the grease doesn't seep through like the cheapo ones at the grocery store so the wrappers still look cute when they are cooked...Yummo- made these brownie bites last year and can't wait to make them again!

A simple way to decorate your kitchen/living area is to hang hearts from your lights/chandelier. I did this last year with some shabby chic tin hearts but feel like they need to be blingier (is that a word!?!) and sassy this year! We will see if I switch them out... Hang them with fun ribbon, yarn, or even fishing wire!

I love this idea of a Valentine Bunting! So cute... I found this idea at http://fortandfield.blogspot.com/2010/01/valentine-bunting.html... This would make a great decoration for any party as well.

Gotta love Target. From wrapping paper to treats and decor they have reasonably priced fabulous Valentine Finds! Love these bowls... and way cheaper than Pottery Barn Kids!

Made this last year... Directions at http://kamibuchanan.blogspot.com/2010/01/valentine-tulle-wreath.html.

Found these yummilicious heart whoopies at Williams Sonoma... Could easily be remade in those silicone pans you see at the Craft Stores.

Here's a fun Valentine Centerpiece... Whimisical and fun even as a gift idea! Link for creating this here:http://fortandfield.blogspot.com/2010/01/valentine-centerpiece.html.

Every year for Ger I do a "Year Full of Reasons We LOVE You" Calendar. I don't know if I will get around to it this year... but it is a great gift idea!

Cupcakes are always a hit... http://fabdoverlife.blogspot.com/2009/02/cupcakes.html

Year before last year I went a little crazy over valentines... check out the post here for more ideas!

http://fabdoverlife.blogspot.com/2009/02/valetines-gift-ideas.html

or scroll down for more ideas through Feb 2009 Archives!

http://fabdoverlife.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html

Send along any fab ideas you have! I would love to be inspired!

THIS got us to Utah for Christmas this year...

Zach, my youngest brother was married December 28th! And wow- do we LOVE Roxy. Seriously, Zach is one lucky guy because she is not only gorgeous but totally down to earth, talented, fun, smart, loves doing all the same outdoorsy stuff he loves, patient with him... just perfect for him. We are so glad she is a part of our fam. It was an incredible day to be in the temple with my parents, both set of grandparents and all six of my siblings with their spouses. It made all the headache of traveling over christmas and everyone getting sick worth it... just to be there for that. My parents are amazing examples to me and I am so grateful for them!

Mia was super sick the days just before the wedding and we found out she had strep throat just the day before- bah! So she looks so tired and sick in this pic... but it was a really nice reception at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Crazy run around but fabulous day. And with a baby I just don't take pics these days but did snap a few!

The kids had an absolute blast with all their cousins- SO FUN! There are a dozen of them in all on my side... 6 girls and 6 boys. Allie has 3 cousins just her age in fact!

We did Benihana's one night- so fun and yummy!

Drove up to Park City in a blizzard and snowmobiled, tubed, built snow forts, and played in the snow until the kiddos were about frozen! So fun to have James, Grandpa and Grandma, and Chris and Abby with us!

Christmas Day was special- spent with all of my fam and even my grandparents and my dad's extended fam!

My mom got the kids these remote control cars for CHristmas that flipped over and so Christmas day was pretty crazy with all of the kids and cars running through the house. ;-)

My parents and siblings... except for Chris!

We got together Christmas Eve with Ger's family. THANKS SOOO MUCH MEGHAN! She put the party together and it was so much fun- the kiddos loved every second. We made gingerbread houses, had lunch, played football outside, watched Tangled, chatted, and just enjoyed time together!

We ended our trip at the Grand America- an AMAZINGLY beautiful and fabulous place to stay. We had a blast- from the beautiful decorated Christmas windows throughout the building, to gingerbread houses throughout, to the new candy shop La Bonne Vie, to swimming and hot tubbing.. chocolate on our beds... etc! The kids all were great... though it was a bummer to all end up sick! But so special to have so much wonderful time with family. There's just nothing like it. More Christmas photos soon!