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!