New Years Eve Pictures

I found a few pictures from New Years Eve. I am bummed I didn't take more. It was so much fun. :)

Out with the old, in with the new

HAPPY NEW YEAR! It is truly amazing how time flies. It seems like just last week we were living in Maryland close to Chris' family. It has been a great year, and we have high hopes that 2008 will be even better. I wanted to take a few minutes and reflect back on 2007 and remember all the wonderful things that happened...

1. Chris got accepted to law school.
2. We got to go to Ohio for Marissa's swim meet.
3. I finally got my long awaited nose job.
4. We got to go to Disney World for our 1-year anniversary.
5. I got to go to Kauai for a week in September.
6. We moved to Michigan.
7. Amanda, Courtney, and Mikelle all got to visit us.
8. Curt (Chris' brother) got engaged.
9. We got to spend the holidays with our families.

We are very blessed to have such great families, and although it is hard to leave them we know that we will see them very soon. We are very grateful for the friends we have made out here, and just want to thank you for helping us feel welcome out here. We had a blast ringing in the new year with all of you.

Save 40 Cents!

Yesterday while Chris was cramming for his last final I decided to get all of his coupons organized. If you know Chris you know that he LOVES coupons. He buys the paper weekly and keeps all the coupons. He had some dated back to when we were first married. So I decided to make him a coupon organizer. I thought it was a pretty clever idea. He loved it! I color coordinated it and decorated it with coupons we would never use. Hopefully he will be able to keep them a little bit more orderly now.




Side View

Double Peppermint Bark

Here is the recipe for the always delicious peppermint bark. I made this last week and everyone loved it, and wanted the recipe so here it is. The recipe is also on the back of the Peppermint Extract box as well. It is very simple.

1 package (12oz) white baking chips

1 tsp. Pure Peppermint Extract

8-10 drops Red or Green Food Color

1/2 Cup Peppermint candies or candy canes.

(I just used the new Andes Peppermint white chocolate chips, and didn't need to add candy canes or food coloring.)

Microwave chips in a large bowl on HIGH for 1 1/2 to 2 min or until almost melted. Add Extract; stir until chips are completely melted and mixture is smooth.

Spread on foil-lined baking sheet to 1/4 inch in thickness. Add food color, drop by drop and then swirl with a spoon throughout bark. Sprinkle crushed candy canes, pressing lightly into bark with spatula.

Refrigerate 10 min or until set. Break into irregular pieces to serve. Store in covered container at cool room temperature.

Makes about 32 pieces.


(In the picture below I used a bag of the regular Andes mint chocolate chips and half a bag of semi sweet chocolate chips. I also substituted the crushed candy canes for chopped peanuts. It has a great minty taste, and is very yummy.)

I have been TAGGED!

The rules are:
1) Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2) Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself.
3) Tag 7 people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
4) Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

I was tagged by Laura! :)

1: I am paranoid about germs. I carry around a purse size bottle of hand sanitizer and use it quite frequently throughout the day. I wash my hands all the time, and I even make my husband sterilize everything along with me.

2: I have done some modeling. In Washington DC I had the opportunity to be the cover girl for their Metro (subway) newspaper. It was a lot harder then I thought it would be.

3: I have an obsession with Barbies and The Wizard of Oz. I have boxes and boxes of collectibles in our basement. I have the entire collection of Barbie movies, and Life Size Barbie is coming home with me on the airplane from Idaho. :)

4: I hate driving, it gives me anxiety. I didn't get my license until my junior year of high school, and I didn't have a car for two years while in DC. I was petrified of driving on the freeways out there, and Chris was scared to have me drive as well. I jokily call Chris and I "Driving Miss Daisy".

5: I love theatre and was a true thespian all through High School. I guess you could call me a drama freak. I was the lead in many plays, and also the villain in a bunch as well.

6: I played the drums in Junior High.

7: I had a nose job last May.

I NOW TAG: Nathan, Kipley, and Lauren

Ho Ho Ho

Santa Claus came early this year for Chris and I. We decided instead of getting a bunch of individual gifts we would get a Leadsinger Karaoke machine instead. There are over 2,000 songs on this thing. I had a blast testing out some of the songs. We are very excited to take it to family and break it in, and then again for New Years Eve.

Today I bought Chris' final gifts, he is so difficult to shop for. We decided to give ourselves a budget this year, that way we wouldn't end up broke for the New Year. So far I have stayed in the budget, I am very proud of myself.

Only 12 days until we leave for Idaho. I can hardly stand the wait. I wish we were leaving tomorrow. :)

Chris has been studying like mad this past weekend and is currently taking his first ever law school final even as we speak. I know that all of his hard work and studying will pay off. He is the hardest worker I know. He never wastes study time, and has taken law school very seriously. I have been so blessed to have such an amazing husband. I wish everyone taking finals the very best.

I volunteered to bake a ham for the ward Christmas party. It turned out perfect!



Our gift from Santa!

Husbands....Gotta love em

My friend Amanda sent this to me and I thought It was hilarious. Thought i'd share.