Queen Bee Market

I'm so excited that I'm going to be a part of the Queen Bee Market this year!

It's at Thanksgiving Point on April 20 and 21st.

I'm a little stressed out trying to get everything ready, but I'm really excited!

If you live around here, make sure to stop by and say hi :)

Outlander

For the last few weeks, I have been spending every waking (available) moment reading.

I read while I'm making lunch.

I read while I'm waiting for Saxon to get out of school.

I read into all hours of the night.

I am sooo hooked on my latest book:

My grandma was reading it and got my mom to read it and she couldn't put it down.

She recommended it to me and now I can't put it down.

Here's the gist of it:

A WWII nurse is having a second honeymoon in Scotland with her husband who she hasn't seen in 8 years.  They were newly weds when the war started and he became a solider and her a nurse.  While touring around Scotland, she decides to visit one of the Stone Circles.  When she touches the stones, she falls back through time, 202 years...

The main characters have become one of my favorite fictional couples of all time!  I am 75% done with the last book.  I can't wait to finish because I want to find out what happens, but I am so sad to be almost done because I look forward to picking up my kindle at every opportunity.

This is a historical novel, so it follows actual events in history but tells the story from the point of view of fictional characters.  I have learned a lot from reading it and I keep looking up the actual historical events.  I've becomes so attached to that time period that I want to know more :)

And, here's my disclaimer:

My aunt gave her book to a friend to read.  The friend gave it back and said that it was too inappropriate.  I didn't think so.  It does have graphic scenes (it talks a lot about war).  It does have sex (although it's not written like a romance novel).  I didn't think it was offensive, but it you are a G-rated only reader, it might be a little intense.

And...book 8 doesn't come out until next year!  I don't know how I'm going to wait that long!  

What I Wore...coral shoes

My mom flew into town from CA last week and we had a blast hanging out, and running errands, and seeing the Hunger Games, etc.

Back in January when I went to CA, I fell in love with these coral peep toe flats from Target, but they didn't have my size.  I checked our Target in Utah, but they didn't have their spring shoes in yet.  Last week when my mom was here, we stopped by Target and guess what...coral shoes!

My mom bought them for me and I've worn them every day since :)

Aren't they fun?

I am so excited that it's started to feel like spring lately!!!

And speaking of fun...has anyone else updated to the new Picasa 3.9?

I just did and I LOVE it!

So many new features.

I edited these pictures using the 1960 effect.

What do you think?

Spinach and Berry Salad Recipe

Spinach and Berry Salad Recipe

Last night for dinner, we made tri-tip.

I never make beef because I don't eat it, but every once in a great while I make it for my family.  Since we were having beef, I figured I had better come up with something good to go with it that I could eat :)

I decided on one of my favorite salads...Spinach and Berry Salad.

-Spinach

-Romaine lettuce

-Granny Smith Apple

-Strawberries

-Blackberries

-Candied Pecans

-Feta Cheese

We made the candied pecans ourselves by adding pecans sprinkled with sugar into a skillet.  The heat will melt the sugar and caramelize it onto the pecans.  Yum...I kept picking them off the salad to snack on before dinner :)

For dressing we had the option of Brianna's Blush Wine Vinaigrette, or Pomegranate Balsamic Vinegar mixed with Persian Lime Olive Oil.

This is one of my favorite summer salad recipes, and since it is starting to feel like spring around here, I couldn't resist :)

The Birthday Box

I saw an idea on Pinterest a while back to fill a box with balloons and send it to someone on their birthday.  

Since today is my little sister BROOKIE's Birthday, we decided to send her one.

It should be arriving today :)

We went to Target and bought a bunch of stuff that could possibly fit into a balloon.  We didn't know what would work, but figured that if something didn't fit, we could always take it back.

We bought candy, a bikini, nail polish, eye shadow, chapstick, advil, markers, and socks.

We let the boys pick most of the gifts for her (like Skittles-flavored-chapstick).

Below:

A pair of Easter socks squeezed into a balloon.

We figured out that the best way to do this was to scrunch down the neck of the balloon, a then stretch it open.  Once the gift was inside the balloon, just blow it up and tie it off like a regular balloon.

Putting a bikini into a balloon was a joke at first.  Then we bought it just to try.  To our surprise, it worked!  So, I guess Brookie gets a neon yellow bikini for her birthday (receipt included LOL...it's hard to pick a bathing suit for someone else...).  Nate had to hold open the balloon while I tried to jam the bikini in...

We thought of filling a few with confetti, but ended up getting nerds instead.  Hopefully it will have the same effect :)

And here it is!

We didn't blow the balloons up very big because we wanted them to have room to expand or contract with the changing pressure and temperatures on the way to Hawaii.

Since they aren't blown up very big, they also aren't see-through.

So each time she pops a balloon to get her gift, it will be a surprise.

Every single balloon (almost 30) has something inside.

Saxon wrote his own little note on the box:

Ready to ship:

We sent it parcel post and it was only $13 which is really good because the box was HUGE.  It was about 20X20X20.

Happy 19th Birthday Brookie!!!!

We LOVE you sooooo much!!!

Weekend Plans

Weekend plans?  Going to see HUNGER GAMES!!!

I have to wait until Saturday because I don't want to bring my kids.

So, Nate will watch my kids and I'm going with my mom and sister-in-law.

I'm sooooo excited!

Anyone else going to the movie this weekend?