Card Swaps

Today was our card swap, and I felt pretty good about my cards this time. Of course, everyone has such cute cards always, but I'm always so down on my own cards, like I think they need to be works of art or something, oy. But here are mine this time:

 The only criteria for this card was for it to be blue and white, it's so hard to plan a card with just the colors, I don't know why it's a struggle for me!

The only criteria here was to have it be a girl birthday card, easy enough!

I like the way these turned out, and I have high spirits for next month, let's keep this good cards coming!

Darth and Gecko

These little fellas are too much, you guys. With the hot heat of the summer, these jokers spend some of their days in the nude (these guys have to deal with having no AC in their house, oy vey) and I just love their tiny bodies, they're so small!

 He likes to chew on his own arm.

 Literally all the time.

He is working his eyes for every picture now, they're always so wide.

Double Manicures

I was babysitting my niece E-Money tonight, and we decided to have some pedicures. I painted her nails, and then she wanted to paint mine. She did a bang up job, of course, at her young age.

She chose pink for our nails. After we were done, I had Husband take a picture of us, thinking it would be a nice memory, until I saw E's face in it. 

This literally looks like I've kidnapped a child and tried to make it seem like we're having a good time. I even had told her to smile for it, but no, this look was the winning look. Despite what this picture says, we did have a good time, and after getting our nails done, we played in the park and then watched Frozen, what a fun night for everyone.

Miscellaneous Monday

Happy Pioneer Day! Yes, I know it was yesterday, but today I get the day off from school (first Pioneer day off ever, how exciting!) and so it's a special holiday. Now, did I spend this holiday studying because I have a test in a day? Yes, but still, that was nice not to have school interfere with studying for it. Ugh, tests. I still have so many in the next couple of weeks, oh man.

Because I had no school today, I was able to run the Temple to Temple 5K Run from the old Provo temple to Provo City Center temple. It was my first year doing it, and I was jazzed. I've heard its a great course, so I was really jonesing for a new PR. Oh, also speaking of, we had to run 1.5 miles in health class last week, on treadmills. He kept telling us to push ourselves while we were going, so I just kept pushing up on the intensity. I ended up running it in 11:49! I would never imagine running it so fast, I was so glad! But then that leads to today. I ran the 5K in 22:22! PR! PR! PR! I can't believe it, I've never run one that fast in my whole life! I was just so happy afterwards, I did a happy jig in my heart while my body was dying from running that fast.

We celebrated our Pioneer Day fireworks on Saturday night, since our family was in town then, and wouldn't be on Monday. We lit fireworks for a couple of hours, ate, chatted, etc. It was actually really difficult for me, because my brain decided that today would be the best day to get the worst migraine I've ever had in my life. I couldn't move earlier in the afternoon, but after some migraine medicine I could get up and get going. I kept having to head in the house to avoid the loud noises, but I think the night was worth it, fireworks, food, family and friends is always a great combination. I hope everyone had a great holiday!

Darth and Gecko

I like babies in that you can manipulate them to do stuff and they can't do a dang thing about that. Today was Gecko's turn.

 I got these snapchats, and oh man, I was dying.

When we tried to do this stuff with Darth as a baby, he hated it, but Gecko is so chill, he doesn't even care. 

This guy is just excited in life lately. He really digs cameras.

A Darth Birthday

Basically everyone that I know has a birthday this month. Literally, like Christmas, this is a hard month for my bank account in terms of presents, ha ha. Today is Darth's birthday, this joker is 2! I can't believe it's only been 2 short years since this great guy came into our lives. He sings songs to us now, knows us by name, and is talking up a storm. I can't wait to see what else he gets into in his life.

I made this amazing collage to celebrate the birthday. Happy birthday, buddy.

Cookies and Cream Brownies

Guys! I finally had enough forethought to take pictures of the treats I was making to finally post on here. These are amazing. Eat them. Here's how:
First of all, make a 9x13 pan of brownies. I just did a store bought, because I think the flavor is not important, it doesn't have to be a spectacular brownie, the added stuff is the star. BUT!!! Before baking, after you pour the batter into the pan, place 15 Oreos on top of the batter and push in slightly.

Then you bake like normal, according to box. All right, let it cool completely. Like, hours after its out of the oven, make the frosting.

For the frosting:
8 tablespoons vegetable shortening (Crisco)
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup marshmallow creme (such as Fluff)
3 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar
Beat shortening and butter in a stand mixer with the paddle attached (or a hand mixer). Mix in marshmallow creme and vanilla. Slowly mix in powdered sugar. Spread frosting evenly over top of the brownies. Top evenly with mini Oreos.

For the rest:
About 1 1/4 cups (or more) Oreo Mini Cookies
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 teaspoons very hot water
Melt the butter and corn syrup in a small saucepan. Turn off the heat and stir in the chocolate chips, then stir in the water to thin. Drizzle over the top of the frosting. Chill the frosted brownies for at least 1 hour until the frosting and topping sets. Enjoy.

These are so dang good. The frosting is nice, and isn't too marshmallowy (I don't really like the flavor of a marshmallow) and oh man, the topping is good. Recommended.

Darth and Gecko

I can't wait until this jokers and I live near each other, in a few years should it happen. I'm just glad for modern technology so I can see them all the time. 

 Basically, every time this guy is in his holder, he just chews on the handle the whole time. Yummy.

 This is Darth after my sister was going to the bathroom, she opened up to see this.

This smile! Those cheeks! That belly!

Miscellaneous Monday

I will agree, my blog posts have been scant lately. And you know, it usually seems to be, but this summer has been insane. Since school has started, things are crazy. Both of my classes this semester are cramming an entire semester's worth of school into the six weeks we have. That means there's a lot of homework all the time, there's a lot of tests every other week, and there's so much reading and class time. I'm trying my best to stay on top of it, but with both work, school, and other responsibilities (house, church calling, etc...) something has to suffer and right now, it's blogging. Luckily finals are in 2 weeks, and while I have a billion tests and assignments between now and then, I look forward to the sweet release of that week off before the next semester starts.

One of my classes is a health class, and we have weekly workouts we have to do in class, and they are HARD. The first time we did, we did 104 (EACH!) of leg lifts, jumping jacks, squats, and pushups. My chest hurt for a week afterwards. Luckily the soreness has gotten better each class, as I'm betting I'm getting just a hair stronger, so that's nice. The trick will be trying to keep up this exercise even after class, so that these days weren't just a big waste, and I went through this toughness and soreness for nothing. Wish me luck.

Recently, we got rid of our satellite service, and switched to a new one for half the price. At first it was really jarring, because the systems are different, but now that I've figured it all out, and now I know how much space I have on this new DVR, I accidentally went a little overboard, and just started to record any movie I saw on any channel that I ever had a remote interest in. Now, am I going to watch these movies? It seems very unlikely, but still, I like knowing that they're there, in case I ever get an inkling.

Sister's Birthday

Today is my baby sister's birthday, she is turning the big 3-0! I just wanted to celebrate by posting an old photo of us.

Man, we are some good looking kids.

Darth and Gecko

Ok these tykes get cuter every time I see them!

 His little napping face is too much.

 This is a hat I got Darth when he was born, and I'm glad to see it's being passed down. Gecko looks amazing here,

His little sly face here is killing me, I want to snuggle him.

Happy Birthday Husband!

Today is Husband's birthday, how fun! Sadly I spent the morning at school and then doing homework, but then we partied hard. Ok, not really. First we had a slightly fancy dinner, going to La Jolla, and snapped a pic on our way in:

And then after that, we had cake with his family, and I made the cake, which I'm ever so proud of:

I wish it would have been a more exotic flavor, but vanilla on vanilla is what he requested, and who am I to say no to the birthday boy? Anyway, then the night dissolved into a water gun fight, which I avoided by staying in the house, where it was safe. 

Happy Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July! I started off the morning with my usual race, the Provo Freedom Run.

 This was the first year I had to run the race by myself, which was sad, but also, I did the best I ever have - I finished in 53 minutes, which isn't too bad at all. I was so hot and sweaty by the end, holy cow. But still fun! Then the day was just spent chilling and that night, we had fireworks, yes, so soon after Canada Day. We had a great time, and then at the end of the night, when we were done, we saw some smoke coming up from the street behind ours. A few of my neighbors and I hopped into one of their cars, and took off towards it. There was a house that had a wood pile behind the house, and an errant firework went in there and set it on fire. I snapped some pics, it was kind of cool.

Luckily they got it all out and under control quickly, thank goodness. I'm glad no one was hurt, but at least we had a safe 4th, I hope you all did too!

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day everyone! With the Husband's family being from Canada, we celebrate it every year, and this year was no exception. We had some snacks and lit off fireworks and had a good time.

This is me explaining to my nieces how to use snap fireworks. The blue shirt girlie understood, but the white shirt girlie didn't have quite the arm power to get them to go off, but hopefully soon. It was a great night, and I do love the extra celebration every year!