Quite the evening...

So here's some pics from our evening together with Saudrey and Danash & Jaydawg too...

We had dinner and dessert and sat around talkin and playin games... What a life!

We sure love it when people come here to visit us...Yeah for Saudrey comin to Utah!

Yeah for NICKELMAN!!!

Let's have a shout out for Nicholas!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! :)

(sorry this post is late, it was a busy day)

Happy Birthday Jared!

Woot Woot for Jared from Auntie Allie and Uncle "Sandbox" Micah!!!

Maybe mom and dad will give you some ketchup to go with your bday cake... hehe :)

From 52 Weeks of Proven Recipes for Picky Kids by Jill McKenzie

So I bought this little recipe book at the BYU bookstore while the Women's Conference was going on. The author was there personally promoting her book, and I thought it was just a wonderful little recipe book. So I decided to get it, and she even signed it for me and recommended some of her favorites.
So far, I have loved it! The Creamy Potato Soup recipe I was talking about on an earlier blog is from it. So at Mike's request I thought I would share it.
CREAMY POTATO SOUP
3 14oz cans beef broth (I use vegetable broth instead, for food combining purposes and better digestion, but thats totally up to you. It is a little more expensive, but worth it I think.)
1 cup minced onion
1 cup chopped celery
5 potatoes, peeled and diced
2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
4 cups cream or milk
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (I use unbleached)
1/4 cup white cooking wine (I used water here, since I didn't have this)
2 teaspoons seasoned salt
1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley (I didnt have fresh so I used about half as much dried)
Grated Parmesan or Cheddar cheese, for garnish

In a large soup pot, bring broth to a boil over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, potatoes, and carrots. Boil, covered, for about 10 minutes, until vegetables are tender. Stir in the cream or milk. In a separate bowl, melt butter in the microwave on high. Add flour and stir to make a roux. Once roux is mixed well, add slowly to hot soup, stirring vigorously with a wire whisk until roux is gone. Bring to a slow rolling boil over medium heat. Soup will thicken to a nice creamy texture. Add cooking wine (or water), seasoned salt, and parsley. Let simmer for about 20 minutes. Garnish with grated cheese.
Serves 8 to 10.
Tip: When cooking just for two, half the recipe turned out to be a good amount. We still had a good portion of leftovers for another day or that could be frozen and stored, for up to 4 months.
Cooking for Kids Tip: Also, in the book, Jill suggests serving this soup in french bread bowls. That is the way to get kids interested in it. You can buy these big rolls/ round loaves of bread that work great. You just cut off the top and hallow out the inside, or there is a recipe to make them from scratch in the book. If anyone wants that recipe I'll put it on here too...ENJOY!!!!

Here is the new me...

BEFORE:

Here is a pic of my frumpy, too long, and lacking that fresh touch hair...

AFTER:

And there we have it! Its funny how much just a little bangs can do for your face.

I LOVE IT!!! YEAH !!! Its about two inches shorter, less layers, and the fun choppy bangs... Whoever said I couldn't do the bangs...oh wait that was me. Wow was I wrong! Thanks everyone for giving your feedback and for talking me into what I wouldn't initially pick... Kudos to you all!

Drum Roll Please....

So Choppy Fringe Bangs It Is!!!

If anyone has any objections, speak now

or forever hold your peace...

(Or at least till the bangs grow out... ;) right)

Check out these pics and vote again!

At Audrey's Request and compliments of Annie, I now have three pics of hairstyles on me with my hair color for you all to vote on now....

The Poll is up Saturday morning at 8:30, so let's hear it....

Enjoy these pics...They really made me laugh!

Thanks Annie! :)

#1

#2

#3

A Sample Meal Plan for a Month

At Annie's Request, I am sharing Micah and I's Meal Plan from January...
Actually we are just gonna make one up for the next month now cuz we just had it written on our dry erase calendar board. So it is long gone... But here is what we do...
1. First we made a big list of foods that we enjoy...this becomes your Food Bank...
2. Then Start with special occasion meals where you know you will be making a big meal, or no meal.
3. Then look at the days where you know you will both be tired, or work late, or lazy, etc.
4. Then figure out what nights you may go on a date.
5. When you have that all figured out, start puttin in meals.
6. Remember every couple days or so to plan leftovers, or after meals where you know you will have bigger portions.
So here's our sample...
May 14th- Bean Burritos
May 15th- Eat out!
May 16th- Micah's Meal
May 17th- Veggie Pizza and Salad
May 18th- Carrot and Cilantro Soup
May 19th- Leftovers
May 20th- Spaghetti and Garlic Bread *Blueberry Muffins*
May 21st- Hashbrowns
May 22nd- Eat out!
May 23rd- Baked Baja Chicken
May 24th- Chicken Crepes and Fruit Pizza
May 25th- BBQ
May 26th- Veggie Burgers & Fries
May 27th- Leftovers
May 28th- Pancakes
May 29th- Eat out!
May 30th- Chili & Cornbread
May 31st- Teriyaki Chicken and Oven Roasted Veggies
June 1st- Veggie Stirfry
June 2nd- Waffles
June 3rd- Hamburgers & Salad *Blueberry Muffins*
June 4th- Del Taco Night
June 5th- Eat out!
June 6th- Chicken Salad
June 7th- Christiansen Family Dinner
June 8th- Potato Bar
June 9th- Leftover Potato Patties
June 10th- Stuffed Peppers
June 11th- Pasta & Veggies
June 12th- Eat out!
June 13th- Cheesy Sausage Omelettes

So there you have it...Our Dinners for the next month!
You'll notice that we will eat out once a week, thats because we have scuba from 6-10 every friday, so we grab something quick right before that. Also because I am in a Food Prep class, I make foods and eat in lab every tuesday and thursday. So those meals are always very low maintenance like waffles, pancakes, smoothies, hashbrowns, etc. Usually I am just fixing it for Micah. And it looks like we have three special occasions, the day Audrey and Sam are here, Memorial Day, and the first Sunday of the month is always Christiansen Family Dinner. Anyways, Hope you enjoy it! I love cooking! And we love food! :)

NEED HELP WITH MY HAIR....

bAnGs Or No BaNgS....mOrE lAyErS oR lEsS???

Hey so I need some advice for my hair.... I am getting it cut on Saturday morning cuz it is ridiculously long and damaged. The past 3 or 4 haircuts I have done nothing new just a trim and I think that I am ready for a change. I am thinking about taking 3-4 inches off. Micah's only stipulation was that it still has to touch my shoulder. So what suggestions do you guys have for me.... Should I keep my little side bangs? Or grow them out? Should I add more layers and volume up top? Or just a simple straighter one length style?

Here are some pics of cuts I thought were cute...What do you guys think?

These three are similar....

#1 #2 #3

These ones don't have as many bangs.... And I wear my hair curly about once a week like this one...

#4 #5

This one has long alilttle more feathery layers...

#6

And this one has less layers, and could be with or without the bangs...

#7

WHAT'S YOUR VOTE????

Late Tribute to Mom...

So I had some really good thoughts about mom yesterday while I was sitting in church... Then I never got the chance to blog after church since we stopped by Micah's parents house to wish Mom Christiansen Happy Mother's day and then spent the rest of the night making dinner and dessert and for Ashley's bday and had Ashley, Daniel, and Jaden over to our house. So even though it is a day late...I want to still post my thoughts and tribute to mom....

One of the things I shared with mom in her card, was how she was the perfect example for me of the new Young Women's value of virtue. Then while I was sitting in church I was reflecting on the many other things I think of when I think of mom... so here goes...

When I think of MOM I think of faith, purity, patience, optimism, and virtue.

I can't recall ever hearing un inappropriate word come from her mouth.

She always sees the good in others.

She never talks about someone in a negative way.

She always exhibits faith in the Savior and in Heavenly Father's plan.

Nothing seems to ever throw her off, because for her everything has its purpose, and nothing will discourage her.

She sees others as the Savior would and strives to always treat them with the greatest amount of kindness and respect they deserve.

She will encourage and support you, without pushing her own way or opinion on you.

Her prayers for you are felt constantly and sustain you daily.

Her caring heart brings warmth to a lowly day.

Her creative hands bring color, enlightenment, and joy to a dull world.

Her sacrifices are always needed and felt, but rarely acknowledged.

She gives her life and strength to her family first in building a home of refuge, order, and peace.

She puts up with every mood, attitude, & fickle personality with a patient and forgiving nature.

She listens to your feelings and experiences, withholding all judgement and criticism.

Her tender heart softens with every kind act and joyfilled experience.

She brings compassion to a hardened world through her testimony and Christ-like service.

What would we do without her?

What would we be without her?

This Virtuous Mother truly has changed the world, our world!

Love you tons and tons.... -AL