our top 10 moments in 2010

Favorite parts of our MERRY CHRISTMAS

Venezuela trip 2010 highlights

I love my family... all of them (my own and cruz's)!! It was so nice to finally meet them, and get to spend time with all of them. They are super nice, and made our trip wonderful.

The beaches were amazing. It rained a lot... and yet we still got time to go to the beach rain or shine, we went. :) Any time it was sunny we literally went to the beach.

We went snorkeling, it was a first for me. This was a HUGE star fish.

We tried to enjoy everyday we could out in the sunshine. We went to a little island off of the island Cruz's family lives on... and spent the day there. It was stunning.

Not only did his family share so many yummy meals with us (Cruz's Mom is an amazing cook) but we got to share a few traditions together as well. Cruz and I brought this gingerbread house kit for them to try. We usually make these little houses in the USA but they'd never made them before. It was fun to share a little Christmas tradition with them. 

I loved meeting Cruz's nieces, as well as his little cousins. They would talk to me in Spanish all day long... even though I had no idea what they were saying! LOL. 

The food was completely amazing, and all the yummy fruit drinks were to die for. We ate a lot! Cruz was stuffing in all the Venezuelan food he could get in before we left. 

Cruz has so many friends and such a large family. It was so nice to meet them! We wish we could have spent more time with everyone. 

I loved going to Venezuela. I loved meeting my new family. It was such a good time. In 17 days we did a lot of stuff... and had such a blast. I can't wait until we go back. I loved having 17 full days to spend with Cruz, and it was good to see where he grew up. Cruz posted most of the pics on facebook... so i only put a few here... but we took a ton. A trip I will never forget.

gratitude 11.17.2010

So today i am thankful for:

1. wednesday: so much nicer than monday.
2. v.t.'ing: doing our last visiting teaching appointment today. it's been nice to have a companion that enjoys going. love getting to know the ward better. 
3. sky: this morning when arriving at work, we saw such a pretty sky with a purple/pink stripe.
4. chap-stick: it saves my dry lips. i like the minty kind best.
5. family: helpful. nice. and always willing to do what ever they can for you. i am blessed for sure.

Gratitude 11.16.2010

So today i am thankful for:

1. orange juice: haven't had it for a while. tasted SO yummy today.
2. warnings: it is nice to have a little second before something is going to happen no matter what big or small. 
3. kids: watched little em last night. she was completely adorable. she gave us good laughs.
4. sanitizer: hand sanitizer that sits at my desk, just may be my best friend during the sick season.
5. health: overall i have been super blessed in the health department during my life, and i know i don't thank it enough. so today i eat health to say thank you body for not having some flu or awful thing.  

Gratitude 11.15.2010

So today i am thankful for:

1. finished: i have had a goal I've been working at and I did it! i finished it. i didn't give up. it was hard, but i completed it.
2. dad: he is the best. needed to steel his car today to get around, he didn't mind.
3. movies: a great way to relax and rest while it is cold outside.
4. work: it is always satisfying when you work hard and accomplish much.
5. water: i need it. it is good for me. refreshing. 

Gratitude 11.11.2010

So today i am thankful for:

1. veterans: thank you for all of your service. thank you for risking your life so that i can live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
2. friendship: i am so impressed how once a friend always a friend. even if you don't get to see each other that much or at all.
3. excitement: cruz is like a little kids waiting for christmas. he is so excited for our trip to venezuela... it is adorable. ;)
4. laughter: always good after a long day. well, actually it's good just about any time.
5. energy: i have had more lately. i like it. (though today i was wide awake in the morning, and now i am planning a little nap after work. tee heee. he.) 

Gratitude 11.10.2010

So today i am thankful for:

1. half way: i am working on something, it's a challenge and today I am half way! so happy! excited to do the next half.
2. phones: i love that my love, can call me whenever and we can chat. (i don't know why, but lately i am in a super lovey dovey mood. i just love my hubs.)
3. trust: i trust in heavenly father's plan. it makes all the difference.
4. hot water: love washing my hands in super hot water when it's cold out.
5. kindness: a little kindness goes a long way. it can change people. it can make yourself be a better person. 

Gratitude 11.09.10

Today i am thankful for:

1. heating: i've been super cold today! i closed my office door and cranked up the heater. it's perfect.
2. mom: my mom is the best. were going to be gone for thanksgiving and cruz asked if she'd make some stuffing for him before we go. she said YES. 
3. awards: i have a goal. if i make it i am going to give myself an award. :) cruz said it was a good idea.
4. lotion: helps my dry and itchy skin.
5. news: i like to watch the news. it is interesting. it keeps me up-to-date.  

I would love to hear what you are thankful for... please leave a comment.

Gratitude 11.08.2010

Today i am thankful for:

1. will power: it really is amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it.
2. love: i got up extra early for work today, cruz came and checked on me to see if I was ok. i was, i just couldn't really sleep that well... so i just got up.
3. prayer: it  is answered.
4. day light: when i went to work it wasn't completely dark, yeah!
5. music: i've been really enjoying Mindy Gledhill. Check out her website here. oh, and get a free down load too. (I have been listening to it non-stop.)

Reflecting Gratitude 11.05.2010

Today i am thankful for:

1. friday: it is the start to the lovely weekend, where i get to spend more time w/ the hub.
2. date night: cruz has asked me on a date tonight, were going to park city.
3. deals: love it when you find something for a good deal that you needed.
4. gum: helps me not to eat junk food.
5. naps: planning one after work today, i am super tired. 

Not sure this posting thing will be done over the weekend, but I will still do my best to have gratitude in my heart. :) I think for the weekends I will have a needed break from the computer. I plan to spend it with the husband. Sounds just about perfect don't ya think?


I would love to hear what you are thankful for... please leave a comment.

Gratitude 11.04.2010

Today i am thankful for:

1. lunch breaks: gives me time to blog. but today, i am really thankful that Cruz was home when he was for lunch. Someone randomly opened our garage door. The person used the key pad. (We hadn't changed it since we moved in.) They opened the door, then closed it. I guess when they saw that it wasn't the model home anymore... they figured they had the wrong place. Cruz heard the door open and close. Only to see that they drove away. Nothing was taken. But the door key code was changed!!! Lucky he was home.
2. mascara: silly, i know. it makes me look awake. i like it.
3. presents: i like them. i like to give them. got to buy some for cruz's family yesterday. i hope they fit, and that they like them.
4. flats: i have wimpy feet, and they don't love heels... so flats are my friends.
5. pantone book: a book filled with swatches of color, a designers best friend. 

I would love to hear what you are thankful for... please leave a comment.

Gratitude 11.03.2010

Today i am thankful for:

1. forgiveness: i need it. makes me better.
2. knowledge: like they say... it's power. i find that true.
3. technology: we just got all our adobe software upgraded to CS5 at work. in love.
4. husband: he loves me. he wants me to be happy.
5. time: sometimes i just need a little time. time to relax, time to play, time to think, and time to find myself. 

I would love to hear what you are thankful for... please leave a comment.

Gratitude 11.02.2010

Today i am thankful for:

1. planning: getting things ready a little early means i don't have to stress later.
2. job: i love working. i love creating pretty things.
3. friends: yesterday i got to chat with 2 of my good friends, it was bliss.
4. patio chairs: brought them inside for the winter, they've been handy for guests.
5. curly hair: when you are in a hurry it is fast, and still looks good. 

I would love to hear what you are thankful for... please give a comment.

NOVEMBER reminds me to have gratitude!

It is NOVEMBER (already!) and I started to think about how quickly time goes by. I started to think about the holidays that are coming. AND I've been thinking I want to be more thankful for  all the blessings in my life. I got thinking about President Monson's talk from General Conference. So, I am going to blog this month about things I am thankful for. (i'll probably blog about other stuff too.)  I hope that I can do it often, and I hope it gets me ready for THANKSGIVING... even though I will spend thanksgiving day in an airport (going to meet my family in VENEZUELA...YAY!)—it is still my favorite holiday.


So today i am thankful for:

1. family: We had a great time together for halloween, i was impressed with all the costumes. We ate yummy food, and had a good time just being together.
2. cruz: i love him. he is the best. he calls me at lunch just to see how my day is going.
3. kathy j.: she is our lifesaver. she drives me to work, even though it isn't really on her way. she is nice. she tells great stories.
4. blankets: my best friend in the coolness of the season. cuddly and warm.
5. our home: it is new. we live inside it. it has open space so our family and friends can visit and gather together. it is pretty. 

Grapefruit+Breakfast=YUM

When I was a little kid, my Mom made us breakfast all the time, every morning. We ate breakfast together as a family before school, and before my Dad went to work. (I know, my Mom is fantastic.) We sat at the kitchen table and ate as a family. Today I had a grapefruit for breakfast and as I was cutting it I remembered how we often had them for breakfast as kids at our house. I remember that my Dad, Mom and  Brothers ate theirs out of the peel, and my Mom usually cute mine and put it in a bowl. Probably because I was too little to get it out of the peel on my own. Though I won't have said that today's grapefruit was the best that I have ever had, it was still really good. . . and the best part was the memories that went with it.

How to pick out a tasty grapefruit?

The fruits should be heavy for their size as this usually indicates that they feature thin skins and therefore a higher concentration of juicier flesh. Those that have overly rough or wrinkled skin usually tend to be thick skinned and should be avoided.
Grapefruits should be firm, yet slightly springy when gentle pressure is applied. While chilled grapefruits do not have an apparent fragrance, those kept at room temperature should have a subtly sweet aroma. Grapefruits can be purchased throughout the year although the height of the season ranges from winter through early spring.

Our First Home

I think most of you know that we bought a home, this is an over due post for sure. We love it. Wanted to say thanks to all those that helped in the process. People ask me all the time "how did you decide on which home to buy?" Well for me it came down to this...
We liked this home, and looked about 20 other homes. We just kept thinking of this one. But it felt the most like the "RIGHT" place when we were able to go over to the home on a Sunday without the sales people there, and it was just our family. We met my brother Alan and Lisa over there. They were on their way home from a St. George trip. So, with their little family we went into the house. My Mom and Dad came too. Cruz and the boys were all down stairs looking things over, meanwhile; Lisa, my Mom, Jessica (Lisa's twin) and little Em, were all sitting in the family room chatting and talking. Little Em was crawling all around. It was then that it felt like My Home. I thought to myself, this is how it would be. It made me realize that this was the house to get. It was actually a pretty great experience. I am so grateful to have a place of our own.

mmm. . . chocolate!

My latest design project has hit the shelves! I am super excited to announce . . .

Chocolate Never Faileth 

by Annette Lyon and designed by ME!

You can pick up your copy here or here!
Not that I have tired all the recipes yet. . .
but these are my top 4 favorites, thus far.

1. chocolate pavlova p. 193 . . .  I had never had pavlova before, and it turns out that it is yummy and good. The raspberries are a perfect touch to this yummy goodness. (PS. . . I made the one in the picture on page 192. It was the first try, and it turned out great!)
2. classic chocolate chip cookies p.51 . . . but those are my weakness. 
3. easy chocolate pudding p.87 . . . I was surprised how good and rich this pudding was.
4. zebra/tiger tails . . . creative, and tasty; really a win, win.

Things I loved about this project are:

1. I got to set up photo-shoots, and pick out display pieces. (I fell in love with all the cute dishes.)
2. Love the scalloped pages. (You'll have to see them in person, they are cute!)
3. Love the red coil spiral binding on the inside.
4. Love all the little birds that are throughout the book.

enjoy!

Smoothie

Lately I have been having a smoothie for lunch. It is healthy, and sometimes it is just what I need.
Today had this...
1/8 c. Orange Juice
1/2 c. Baby Spinach
1 Small Peach
3 Baby Carrots (this is a new fav. to add a smoothie)
1/8 c. Mixed Berries
3 Ice Cubes
1/4 c. Protein Powder (Vanilla)

All blended together in my magic bullet. (I really do love the magic bullet.)

And the other day I had this...
2 tablespoons Orange Juice
4-5 Baby Carrots
3 Frozen Strawberries
1/2 Banana (We freeze bananas, already cut and peeled; ready to toss in.)

3 Ice Cubes

1/4 c. Protein Powder (Vanilla) 

A little water to top it off

Currently our magic bullet has been living at my work since when living at my parent's house we used theirs, and didn't need ours. Now that we have our own house, I am thinking that we may have to get another one so I can have smoothies at home and at work. Though, we do have a blender at home... it's just nosey and not quite as nice. 

What is your favorite thing to put in a smoothie?

i am happy: 09.23.2010 edition

Today I wrote an email to a friend who asked me what have I been eating? Cruz and I have been trying to eat really healthy the last year and we have had our challenges, good days and bad days. (And you know the months that you just forget all about it.) Overall we are doing better than before, which is good. I am happy. It is true. I think eating healthy does make me feel better. But I also know that LOVING YOURSELF is the true key to being happy. Then all that other stuff of eating right, working out, staying on top of your life are more likely to fall into place. So, today I have been thinking... What do you love about yourself and the life you live?

Wedding Anniversary #2!

It is true, we are so happy together. We have had such a fantastic first 2 years. It was good to have a chance to celebrate eachother.

This year was different than last year, because we were closing on our house at the end of the week we decided to not go anywhere overnight, and we tried to keep the cost down. Yet, we wanted to celebrate. So, we said that we wouldn't spend anything on gifts, and we'd just go to dinner. I followed the rules, Cruz however did not—but that is OK because he bought me a really fantastic shirt. (The one that I am wearing in these pictures.) He gave once again the traditional gift... the second year wedding anniversary gift is COTTON. I love the shirt and it was something that I needed. I too had a gift for him, one that I made. I made some coupons! (Included: Get out of doing a job/chore, 2 Get what I want and bring it back to me, A back massage, Lazy Night= Dinner of his choice...with no clean-up, as well as something of His choice.) I was worried that he would think they were too silly... but actually he really liked them. Yeah! Two thumbs up for sure.

We went to the cheesecake factory (Cruz's favorite) for dessert. Beforehand we had gone to the Olive Garden (My favorite) for dinner. We were thinking of where to go for dinner... thought about trying some new places, but decided not to so that we could eat at places that we knew we'd love the food. It ended up being so yummy.

So much fun to celebrate our love together. I am seriously so lucky (ie. blessed) to be married to such a wonderful, kind and handsome husband. We have so much fun together, just the two of us—happy as can be. Thank you Cruz for always being fantastic. I love being loved by you. I can't wait to celebrate next year.

Happy Birthday August 2010

In our family we have a lot of birthdays in August. This year we celebrated with one big party. We went up to South Fork Park in Provo Canyon; enjoyed a BBQ and each other's company. :) We gathered for the celebration on our Mom's actual birthday, which was nice... so we could all wish her Happy Birthday in person. The food was good, the cakes were fancy and overall it was a success. I love my family.

Swimming 08.28.2010

Finally we went swimming this summer.... (I was beginning to think we wouldn't go swimming in 2010.) Such a great time. Thanks Camie and Nate! So fun, and even a little fancy.

{click pictures to see them bigger}

Tin Foil Dinners 08.20.2010

This is the kind of math I can enjoy!! :)

We had such a great time. I love the mountains. It felt nice to get together with friends. I am so glad that we were able to gather. Joel had to come a little later, but he made it in time for some good pictures and a lot of chatting. These are some of the best friends that I could ask for.