Forgive me Weight Watchers, for I have sinned.

I have always wanted to know how to make yummy cinnamon rolls, I think I did it =)

New Recipe Sunday

Following are what we had, recipes and our personal reviews. (Reviews come from Dawn, my sister-in-law who went to Scottsdale Culinary Institute and is a fabulous cook and pastry chef, my mom who loves to cook, has the best stocked kitchen in America and makes even the simplest dish taste extra special. Eating at my mom's is one of my favorite indulgences and finally me, I don't consider myself half the cook Dawn and mom are, but I sure am good at eating and reviewing. I like to read cookbooks, cooking blogs and looking for new recipes to try.
First up, Corn Salsa Salad:

This came from my friend Bobby, and we all gave it 5 out of 5 stars, so fresh and tasty. We did add a can of green chilies to the original recipe. This is my new staple to take to summer picnics and barbeques. It is fresh and healthy.

2 cups cooked corn (we used fresh corn on the cob)1 avacado
2 cups cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 small can mild green chilies
Dressing:
2 Tbs. Olive oil
1 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp lime zest
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

Mix together and serve as a salad or salsa.

Parmesan Roasted Asparagus

This is an Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa) Recipe. Definately 5 out of 5 stars, I could eat this alone for dinner and be very satisfied. I will be making this to compliment many family dinners to come.

2 1/2 pounds fresh asparagus (about 30 large)

2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lay asparagus in a single layer on a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 to 20 minuites, until tender. Sprinkle with th eParmesan and return to the oven for another minute. Serve with lemon wedges.

French Bread Rolls I found this recipe on a cooking blog and it was so easy and, DELISH! I was proud of myself for making yummy bread, I have made rolls maybe twice in my life and for some reason have always been intimitaded by bread making. We all gave these 5 out of 5 stars (Dawn even gave them 6 out of 5!) Click here for the recipe.

Divine Breadsticks

I thought these were just so-so (2 1/2 to 3 stars) My oven was turned off after baking the rolls and so the time and temp got all messed up, that may have had something to do with them not being "Divine" in my mind. Click here for recipe. I might give them one more chance someday.

Garlic Chicken Farfalle Pasta

This one also got average reviews (3 stars), I really liked it, I just didn't die over it and don't know if I will think to make it again. It is VERY flavorful and spicy. If you want to try it, click here for the recipe.

Icebox Oreo Cheesecake

This was our dessert, if I remember right, it got 3 to 4 stars. We will post the recipe on Dawn's cooking blog soon. If you like cheesecake, you would probably like this one. Dawn said she would make it again, in a different size spring form pan and sprinkle more oreos on top

Overall, dinner was great. I love new recipe Sunday.

Football

Yesterday was the last football game of the season, this boy was THE defensive champ. I am pretty sure he pulled more flags by far than any other player (I could be a little off, afterall, I AM his mom) He got five or six touchdowns and loved every minute of every game. We look forward to many more football seasons to come.

Anniversary

+

5 moves
2 states
2 college degrees
5 jobs
4 kids
happy times
sad times
30 pounds (or so, damn it)
lots of fun, laughter & love
the world's most patient husband
Nine Years
(and much, much more)
=A very happy couple

Pair-adise

Happiness is. . .
being a mother AND an aunt of twins

Just the girls

Cousins, Friends

(missing you Jolie & Leah)

Aloha

Tonight we had a family Luau, complete with yummy food, hula dancing, music and the limbo. the kids had such a blast, thanks Grandma Susan! (the only thing missing was two cousins, an aunt and a couple of uncles)

Happy Birthday Reed!

Tonight we got to attend my nephew's 1st Birthday Party.
Yes, the cookie monster is his cake. Isn't he handsome?

If you are interested in making the day of a very cute 7 year old,

click here and leave a comment on his blog.

His mom would really appreciate it.

Where did THAT come from?

This is Julia, she is the sweetest girl. She is quiet and very shy in public.

I think she has a wild streak in her. Tonight my brother Jeff came over for (his family in in AZ)and in the middle of dinner Julia said (and sang),

"Uncle Jeff, Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?"

It was completely out of the blue.



A few weeks ago during airblow matress friday our movie was over and it was time for the kids to go to sleep. We turned off all the lights in the house and Aaron and I laid down with them. It was quiet and I started in by saying each person's name one by one and said goodnight to them and they would say it back, one at a time. After I was done James did it then Aaron. It was Julia's turn and it went like this:

Julia: "Mom"
Me: "What"
Julia: "Goodnight"
Me: "Goodnight"
Julia: "Dad "
Aaron: "What"
Julia: "Goodnight"
Aaron: "Goodnight"
Julia: "James"
James: "What "
Julia: "Whaz up bad boy?"

We died laughing.

Running Playlist

I need to kick up my workouts a notch (or ten notches) to get ready for summer. Nothing does that better than buying some new songs for my iPod. I have been running to the same playlist for way too long and I am getting bored with it. Tonight I created a new running playlist and am setting my alarm for 6:30 to run to these:

Leona Lewis: Better in time, Bleeding love & Yesterday

Jessica Simpson:Angels

One Republic: Apologize

Jonas Brothers: When you look me in the eyes

Kelly Clarkson: Behind these hazel eyes

Gnarls Barkley: Crazy

Daughtry: Home

Fergie: Clumsy

Chris Brown: With You

Five for Fighting: The Riddle

Justin Timberlake: Sexyback

Madonna: 4 minutes

Natasha Beddingfield: Love like this

I am always trying to think of some good running songs, any suggestions?

What are your favorite songs to work out to? Thanks!

Fresh Haircut

I took the girls to Cookie Cutters for a fresh new spring cut. It was the cutest place, they loved it. They got to sit in a pink cadillac, watch elmo, go down a slide and got a sucker and balloon. I love their clean, short new do.

Funny Adalie

At 20 months I we already know that Addie Jo will be the family comedian. She is also a drama queen. She cracks us up and knows she is cute, funny and dramatic. I love how you can see someone's personality at such a young little age. She is so silly. When she wants to make us laugh, she goes cross eyed. She will do it if you ask her to also. It is quite funny. And quite adorable. Here are a couple pictures of her being silly.

Did anyone else cry while watching this?
It is so sad to see little babies and children living the way they do.
It made me want to help.
It also reminded me just how rich and blessed I am.

americanidol.com

Quote

When my mom had three teenage girls she found a Reebok ad with a quote that she hung up on our bathroom mirror that we saw everyday as we got ready. It read:

I believe . . .
when you look in the mirror and see what is right instead of what is wrong, that is the true mark of a healthy individual.

I thought that was a great thing to do for teenage girls.

Thanks mom!

Now, If I ever look like this and think I look like that,
please give me a new quote to hang on my mirror

(Thanks for the picture Laura, I like the email)

Want it

My friend Alisha has the cutest house! She recently redecorated her girls rooms and added these vinyl flowers. I think they are so cute. I am getting tired of the same old vinyl you see in every house you go into. But this stuff, it is different and so cute. Her sister-in-law makes them along with some very cute organizing labels. Check them out at her etsy store here. Excuse me now while I go make plans to redecorate Julia's room again.

(Thanks Alisha for the pictures, I hope you don't mind me sharing them)

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning

But anyone can start today and make a new ending

-Maria Robinson

What's for dinner

We LOVE Hawaiian Haystcks at our house, we could eat them once a week and be very happy. They taste so fresh and healthy. Click here for our favorite recipe. We had them last night and - - yummy!

What a deal day tip:

Prescriptions

Almost every time I get a prescription, new or refill I get a $10 to $30 gift card for the store I fill it at. Here is how: Pharmacies have coupons good for new and/or transferred prescriptions, they will give you a gift card just for filling yourprescription with them. Several pharmacies accept competitor coupons. So, next time you have to fill a prescription, print our a coupon (click here for a Rite Aid one) and take it with you.

Also, most pharmacies will match competitor prices. Aaron got a new job so we were without insurance for three months until the new one started. I had a prescription to fill and called Costco, it was $7.00 for the month. I wanted to fill my prescription at Smiths or Albertsons since they were closer but when I called they were $69 and $76 dollars for the same one! I ended up going to Smiths, told them that Costco was only $7.00, they verified it, matched it for $7.00 AND I gave them a Rite Aid coupon (which was $30.00 at the time) and got a gift card for groceries. KMart and Smith's will both take competitor coupons and match other pharmacies, ask your pharmacy their policy on this.

If you are without insurance or your insurance doesn't cover a certain drug, make sure you call around, I couldn't believe there was an almost $70.00 difference between Albertson's and Costco.

I have been doing this for a couple of years now and often times end up getting paid to take my precriptions. If your doctor gives you a new prescription and the coupon is only good for transferred, not new, drop the prescription off at a pharmacy, leave, call another pharmacy that takes competitor coupons, have it transferred there. Works like a charm!

Keep your eyes out for pharmacy coupons, Rite aid often has them in their circular and occasionally Target will have them.

This is my friend Lisa with her hubby Russ, I got to host a baby shower for her a couple of weeks ago. They are our next door neighbors and aren't we lucky!

I have been wanting a chocolate fountain and found this the perfect excuse to treat myself to one. My favorite things to dip were the pound cake, cheesecake bites, rice krispiy treats and, of course, cinnamon bears. Everything was pink and brown to match her oh-so adorable nursery. I hope she will put photos on her blog of the finished product for all to see. Here are a few of the pretty guests: