Wedding season has begun ...

Check out the latest shoot on my photo blog!

Nothing but blue skies ...

This past Saturday Jason and I went up to the cabin with my parents, sisters and Carlie's friend Melanie. We had a great time sledding and snowboarding. The weather was absolutly perfect, sunny and warm with bright blue skies!

And while I was taking a break from flying down the mountain, I grabbed a couple random pictures around the cabin.

Fox Hollow Way

It seems there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Jason and I have been looking at houses for about a year now. We've made a couple offers, including the offer we made on this house this past May. The offer was accepted in October, but the bank selling the house (IndyMac) had trouble on their end sending over the required paperwork. So after 4 months of waiting, we moved on ... and this is what we found. It's a charming house in the Winter Haven subdivision of Traverse Mountain in Lehi. If things go according to planned, we close a week from Friday.


A big beautiful kitchen with no appliances to buy - very rare and very much appreciated. It also has a walk-in pantry, woot! 

This is the cute front room. See those shelves on the left?? I'm trying to convince Jason that they need these:

Beautifully bound classics designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith. But the financially wise man I married says he wants to go into closing with as much money in our bank account as possible. I know he's right, so Universe, please let them still be available after next Friday!! 

And you are all just going to have to wait for more pictures, my flash died.

GNO! (aka, girls night out)

Photo shamlessly stollen from Kathy

Last weekend the gals in my extended family (aunts, cousins, in-laws etc.) had a girls night out with a baked potato bar for dinner, mint brownies for dessert and plenty of laughing to burn it all off. Here are a few gems that were said that night, thanks to the great documentation of Kathy.

"I hope she told him he didn't have any balls!"
"My mom's bum is voluptuous."
"Who would want to name their kid DIESEL???" "Um, me?""I had brain therapy."
"Oh, I plan on having orgasmic labors."
"Hey, pregnant lady."
"I love to cuddle with people. But not my husband. But their feet have to be clean."
"Friends that are women just suck the life out of you."
"All pets should be named Fluffy, Spot, or Rover."
"I hate you more than Cami!"
"So, my mom tells us that we're going to Nauvoo. With Aunt Opal pooping in a bucket in the back of the car."
"I don't have gypsy blood."
"When the Parade of Homes was in our neighborhood, my mom would run out and convince people to come see our house."
"It's a 'cabin.' It's the 'Elder Family Lodge'."
"It doesn't matter. I'm not the jealous type."
"She's just friendly and she's hot. She's 50 and she's hot."
"I jiggle my dad's belly. He has no bum."
"Did you take your nerd pills today?"
"Lindsey, have you had your butt kicked today?"
"My dad wants us to move in the polygamist house. So, I guess we'd be the new polygamist family."
"You are cool. Like Debbie."
"He was so Russell-like."
"And then, 25 years later, she starts lashing out against cheese pizza."
"I'm going to force my kids to have fun my way."
"I love my feet. They're sexy, actually."
"As a matter of fact, I am! I'm amazing. I have beautiful wrists. If you like my wrists, you should see my feet."
"One of the things I like about myself is that I'm humble." "I'm humble! I left it out!"
"I taught him in my shake-it class."
"Was he living off government cheese in a van down by the river?"
"Whatever! She said 'balls' first!"
"I like my firm foundation. My bottom's not firm."
"I like that I'm my mom's favorite."
"Your wedding. That was such a sad day."
"Let's close with a prayer."

The Bread Spread

As requested, here is the recipe. Next month in enrichment, we are being taught a wheat bread recipe, so I'll have to pass that one along as well. And for those who inquired, yes, I do believe this is going to save me quite a bit of money in the long run.

Bread Making 101, by Lori Fleischer (credit where credit is due, always)

Now, these recipes depend on what kind of a mixer you are using. If you have a giant mixer like a Bosche, the 5 loaves recipe is for you. If you operate with a KitchenAid Mixer (like me!) you'll be using the 3 loaves recipe.

5 Loaves

2 heaping Tablespoons yeast

2/3 cup sugar

5 cups warm water (105-110 degrees)

5 teaspoons salt

2/3 cup shortening

2/3 cup powdered milk (non-instant)

bread flour

3 Loaves

1 1/2 Tablespoons yeast

1/2 cup sugar

3 cups warm water

1 Tablespoon salt

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup powdered milk (non-instant)

bread flour

(save 1 cup water and add the powdered milk and whisk well. Then add to yeast mixture with salt, shortening and flour.)

Put yeast and sugar in mixing bowl. Pour warm water over. Proof for 5 minutes.

Add: salt, shorting and powdered milk. Mix on medium speed. Gradually add enough flour to make a batter. (Same consistency of a cake batter.) Continue to mix about five to seven minutes until the flour is completely incorporated and the batter is smooth. This is an important step as it develops the gluten. Gradually add enough flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing well each time, until the dough leaves the side of the bowl. Continue to mix (on about speed 5 ish) for about 5 to 7 minutes. Put dough in a Pam sprayed bowl and cover to raise until double in bulk, about 1 hour. If you are using a KitchenAid, you can leave the dough in the mixing bowl.

Punch dough down.

Divide into 5 (3) pieces.

Form into loaves

place in greased 8x4x2 pans seam side down. Let rise until double - about 30 minutes.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place loaves on low rack so that the tops of the pans are in center of oven. Pans should not touch each other or sides of the oven. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until deep golden brown and loaves sound hollow when tapped. Remove from pans. Let completely cool on rack before storing in plastic bag. Loaves can be frozen.

I made bread

For Mia Maids, we had a self-proclamed "bread snob" teach us how to make homemade white bread. She gave us great step-by-step instructions, so I went home and decided to make my own. It was a lot of fun, and I think it turned out really well. So well, in fact, that I've decided I don't ever want to buy bread again. I'll just make it instead! I'll let you know if I stick to that ...