Craving Green...

I'm am so eager for spring and summer right now. I don't want to wish my year away... but I am in need of some greenery in my life! Luckily as I walk through my yard and look at my flower beds I'm seeing signs of spring. I've got tulips and crocus starting to grow. My columbine and Poppies are starting to peak out. Plus my helleborus is budding up and I can't wait for it to bloom!

At work in the greenhouse I love the thick, lush baby tears that cover the floor. It helps with my 'winter blues'.

Yesterday I had the morning off. I headed to Yoga at 8. It's the perfect way to start my day. I find that it helps calm my mind and body and I am able to manage my days better. Once I got home I made my favorite breakfast - Eggs in a basket with avocado. YUM!! Vacuumed and tidied the house some. Did the dishes and put dinner in the crock pot. Mitch and I fell in love with a recipe I found on Pinterest - Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken . It's amazing!!! We've made it twice already and the second time was even better. My two favorite herbs have to be Basil and Cilantro. So when I made it the second time I couldn't resist adding EXTRA cilantro :) Plus I set some aside to add on top when serving. I also had some fresh corn I froze last summer and thought it would be a great addition... which it was! I also made smoothies for lunch. Left one for Mitch in the fridge with a love note on it. I will definitely have to fresh double the amount of raspberries I did this year. {25 cups was definitely not enough}. 

Since it was Friday we made it a fabulous date night. We headed to Costco to pick up a Ninja blender. HOORAY! My little blender just wasn't cutting it for making smoothies anymore. I can't wait to smoothie it up at our house. I'm especially in love with green smoothies lately. {any good recipes?? send them my way please}. Then we headed to the gym to get our cardio on. I can jog almost 2 miles straight now. I feel accomplished. And then did some weights. Dinner was ready when we got home. It was delicious. {You seriously need to click the recipe link above and make it this coming week!} And for the most exciting news of the whole month.... KISSING is back one. Holla!! Since Mitch seems to finally be fighting mono, he gave in to kissing me :) I'm in heaven. Best Friday night in the last month for sure!!

Now if only I was able to take a super long nap today.... Maybe I'll be in luck tomorrow - Sunday.

random tidbits...

I really love my new Kitchen-aid!!! I've used it 3 times in two weeks! I'm dreaming of all the really scrumptious things I can make with it. Thank you Pinterest. My hubby is truly the best!! He knows how to spoil me ;)

Today was a really good day. It's refreshing to have a good day paired with energy. Gladly I never hit my 'wall'. Here's to hoping that I have similar days in my coming week!

My sister Abby says she's going to pixi cut her hair {well... pretty close to pixi}. I admire her!! I love her long hair! I think she is brave to go so bold :) Abby you are absolutely incredible and I love you from the bottom of my heart!! Thank you for being an inspiration to me lately! xoxoxo {BUT I will keep my hair ;) thank you}

Tomorrow is date night for the Mister and I. We are going to the car show at the Expo center. I'm so  excited!! It is something we have done for 4 years now {I believe}. I love looking at all the new models, dreaming of which car will be ours next..... It's the highlight of our January's. To top it off... Dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and peaking into the new H&M. :) Hooray for date night!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm enjoying the feeling of not feeling bored and scrolling through Facebook and Twitter. It's nice to focus more on things in the moment.... not silly apps. I feel I've been able to focus on my importants better :)

Urge to make homemade cards. I think a trip to Hobbylobby is in order. Yay for feeling creative!

Last but not least.... I am so incredibly grateful for my dear sweet loving husband!! He does so much for me! and even though he may have areas to improve in {lets face it... I am trying to catch up with him... he by far surpasses me by being the most incredible spouse to ever exist!!......} he is by far the most perfect man for me! I'm truly blessed to have someone who tries so hard for me, to support me, and to be everything I need!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart and more for everything honey!! I love you to the moon and back!

PS. I almost cried when I thought I had wrecked my sourdough starter from my grandpa!! I almost didn't call him, but my poppy told me it was okay to call and talk to him. My grandpa told me I was just fine and said to just 'start' it again. Hoping the morning doesn't disappoint!! I'd be heart broken if my starter died! It's the last of the one I grew up with... its older than I dunno... 40+. I grew up with it. Please pray for my starter! {It's even in the crock I grew up with.}

Tomato soup: My Favorite ever

I grew up with homemade tomato soup.

It really was the best.

Campbells soup?! NO THANK YOU.

{Yucky}

Recently I 'perfected' it though :)

And I'm dying to share the goodness!

It's super easy.

 INGREDIENTS:

1 quart canned tomatoes

1 pint half and half

4 oz cream cheese

Blend tomatoes until they are super smooth

Pour into sauce pan

Add lots of half and half.

{I usually use 3/4 of the pint}

and 4oz of cream cheese

Warm.

You will want to whisk the it until everything is smooth

Enjoy!

With delicious grilled cheese of course :)

Happy December

Hooray for December

Christmas is in the air

unfortunately the weather doesn't seem to care.

last night on the news we had major warnings for winter weather -- wind and possible snow.

Luckily for us... we didn't experience the 'hurricane' winds.

I feel horrible for everyone in northern Utah,

and all the tipped over semi trucks.

At work we are trying to finish decorating for the holidays.

Sanna is dwarfed by the GIANT tree.

She is an amazing tree fluff-er :)

Our Poinsettias are phenomenal this year!!

BIG, gorgeous, full

15 colors to  choose from

Come check us out!

Vineyard Garden Center 

Thanksgiving: Dayley edition

 Mitch's place... with love from Ashley lol

 My turkey vs. Mitch's turkey

 Ashley made the most incredible, delicious pumpkin cheesecake ever!!!

Mitch even ate a little slice!! 

{he hates pumpkin}

It was that amazing!!!

 Raspberry Pomegranate Jello Salad..... Best dish ever!! YUMMY

 Kennedy trying to put her dolly in the dishwasher :)

 Piling up the plates

Dinner was so delicious

Ashley had this darling idea to cover the table with paper 

and we could draw, or list the things we are grateful for.

{Pork Barbacoa}

BEST RECIPE EVER! Mitch and I loved this recipe!! We gave it a 10 for a home cooked meal! Don't get me wrong -- we enjoy ourselves some Cafe Rio... but this comes pretty darn close for a homemade meal!! {It cost us maybe $15 too}

{Pork Barbacoa Burrito}

4lbs boneless pork roast (we ended up buying a bone in pork roast -- lots cheaper and worked just as good)

5 - 8oz tomato sauce

1/2 brown sugar

4 cups Dr Pepper

3 tsp garlic powder

4 tsp cumin

sour cream

molasses (we didn't have any and couldn't justify buying it -- subbed with syrup :) lol)

lettuce

- mix 3 tsp garlic powder, 4 tsp cumin, 3 tsp molasses, 1/2 cup brown sugar (I recall Mitch added a bit more for sweetness) 5 cans tomato sauce and 4 cups Dr. Pepper in a large bowl.

- pour misture over pork roast and cook in crock pot on low for 6-7 hours.

- shred meat, return to crock pot and cook 1 hour in the sauce on low.

- keep warm until ready to serve.

- garnish with shredded cheese, lettuce and sour cream.

Mitch and I wanted to make this as close to Cafe Rio as we could, so we cooked up some rice and warmed some black beans. We also picked up uncooked tortillas and cooked them and melted cheese on them. We took some of the sauce and added some chili pepper to it to help spice it up.

Then we filled the tortillas with the rice, beans and pork, rolled it up and smoothered it with sauch and cheese. Warmed it in the oven (microwave works too) and put some lettuce on the side. It was wonderful!!! They were filling and made great left overs as well!! When we had them for left overs I couldn't finish my burrito so I covered it and reheated it the next day for lunch. Still great! The tortilla wasn't super soggy either :)

PS it seems to get sweeter as it sits in the fridge! Golly I'm hungry just from thinking about it! Definitely one of our favorite recipes!!

A lazy morning

I remember as I was growing up, my mom loved her peace and quiet.... even if it meant the kids were making a mess. This morning I've enjoyed sleeping in til 8, watching the Good Wife off the DVR, I'm on my 2nd Vanilla coke already and just like my mom - I've enjoyed the quiet at the expense of this mess. LOL. I think its time for me to find them some new toys :)

I'm proud to say though that I have been doing well with my goals. I've managed to cook the last few days :) Last night I came home and put some bacon in the oven to cook {I hate cooking it in a pan, Mitch is the only one who will cook it that way} and then made my favorite waffles! YUMMY!!! As for my other goals... I'm working on 'em.

Recipe:

Hart Oh Boy Waffles

2 1/4 sifted flour

4 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 T sugar

2 beaten eggs

2 1/4 C. Milk

3/4 C salad oil

Combine and enjoy!

Last nights dinner

So here is the recipe I tried out last night. We'd give it 3 1/2 stars. I didn't have any hot pepper and I really think that would have given it the extra boost that I was looking for. I did however saute some diced roma tomatoes with the garlic and onions. I'd definitely try it again and see if I couldn't play it up more :) I would recommend it to try for sure though! Let me know what you think! Oh and I also didn't know if I was supposed to drain the fat and oil from cooking the bacon, I left it in the pan. Next time I will drain it and add extra oil olive :)


Spaghetti with Garlic, Onion and Pancetta: Spaghetti alla Gricia
Recipe copyright 2000, Mario Batali. All rights reserved.
Prep Time:
20 min
Inactive Prep Time:
--
Cook Time:
20 min
Level:
--
Serves:
4 servings

Ingredients
1 tablespoon plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 small piece dried chile pepper, crushed
1/2 pound guanciale, may substitute bacon or pancetta, diced
1small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 pound spaghetti
Salt and pepper
Pecorino Romano, for grating
Directions
In a 12 to 14-inch saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over high heat. Add the chile pepper and pancetta and render the fat from the pork. Remove the pancetta, reserving on a plate lined with paper towels. Add the remaining oil, onion and garlic and cook gently until golden brown, discarding the chile. Return the pancetta to the pan and keep warm.
Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons salt. Cook the spaghetti in the boiling water until tender yet al dente. Drain the pasta and add to the saute pan with the pancetta. Grate the pecorino over, toss over high heat 1 minute, and serve, divided evenly among 4 warmed pasta bowls.