Hello Motivation

I'm in love. I decided that I would set a goal, of course a fitness goal, and if I reached it I would allow myself to indulge in a new swimsuit this summer. Why do I love it, could be the rouching (if that's even how you spell it) or that its actually tulle on the outside layer. I don't even know if it will look good on me, but for now its just the motivation I need. Cost...is ridicously or else I probably already would have bought it. I haven't quite decided what my actual goal should be. I did buy a new ACURATE scale with a Amazon gift card and there's a 5k or 10k coming up in May. Maybe I should make goals for both, I guess we will see.

Wouldn't you like to know...

What I am going to make for my birthday? If you don't appreciate chocolate then this post won't interest you, but its called Chocolate Mousse Crunch Cake. You may be thinking isn't her birthday in May and your right it is. So what? I can dream until then.

Chocolate cake, chocolate mouse, ganache, and chocolate covered toffee. Oh yeah.

Random: FLOWERS

I got flowers last month from some of the worlds best people. I also got cards which equally make me happy, although I didn't post a picture of them. I save cards, sometimes I scrap book them or I just keep them around until I feel I don't need the comfort that they lend. Anway I got these flowers all about the same week while I was babysitting the Ashton kids. They were starting to wonder what was wrong with me. My sister sent the tulips from Cali and when I came home with a huge box to arrange them the 6 yr old, who also got flowers from her vacationing Dad that day, said hey why did you get flowers, it's not your birthday. Funny.I guess I didn't get alot of flowers growing up so they really mean something to me. I love flowers that is all. (Hint hint Jon that memo is to be burned into your brain)

Friends come to visit

Our family friends came into town for a quick visit on Sunday and we had lots of fun trying to entertain them. I tried to make danish pasteries again and they flopped but it's a tricky recipe. Maddie and Hinder were giggling in no time and apparently climbed into her crib together. I wish Jon would have gotten a picture of that! Destry and I were able to catch up and have some good laughs. Here's some pictures I caught at the end of the visit. The best snapshot of all the hugging going on. Hinder looks like such a little man here.

I thought this was a really good picture of our friends, not so much of me and Maddie. She was playing with some gum she found, yuck. Hinder is so cute and so is Destry who looked like she walked right off of Downeast's spring catalogue.

This was a long hug that started in the middle of the room and ended with Hinder tackeling Maddie on the couch. So funny. I can't wait for them to play again when they can communicate really well, or maybe just when Maddie can :)

The bunch of us, minus Jon who was taking the picture. Destry has been my friend since 3rd grade? So many memories, anyway I love this picture with the two of us and our kids so close in age.

Cookie Oreos

So they turned out ok, well at least they look really good. I used pure vanilla so I thought they had a strong vanilla taste, but my only advice is to NOT eat while hot. Otherwise its all mush inside. I did at least the maximum amount of time it called for. But it was deffinetly fun to try out. Cookie batter makes well mounded cookies not very chewy. For the recipe see previous post. Recipe from picky-palate.com.

Oreos, Oreos, Oreos

A COOKIE INSIDE A COOKIE, why didn't I think of that?

I love Oreos and I make alot of desserts that contain Oreos. I like to make Home Made Oreo Cookies (actually these don't include oreos but they are in the name) and Oreo Truffles. But I have found something new to add to my TO DO list.

OREO Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 sticks softened butter

3/4 C packed light brown sugar

1 C granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 Tbsp pure vanilla

3 1/2 C all purpose flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

10 oz. bag chocolate chips

1 bag Oreo cookies (can use double stuff)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In mixer cream butter and sugars until well combined. Add in eggs and vanilla until well combined.

In a seperate bowl mix the flour, salt, and baking soda. Slowly add to wet ingredients along with chocolate chips until just combined. Using a cookie/ice cream scoop take one scoop of cookie dough and place on top of an Oreo cookie. Take another scoop of dough and place on bottom of Oreo cookie. Seal edges together by pressing and cupping in hand until Oreo cookie is enclosed with dough. Place onto a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet and bake cookies 9-13 minutes or until cookies are baked to your liking. Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack. Serve with a tall glass of milk, enjoy!

Makes about 2 dozen VERY LARGE cookies.

I got this recipe from A Mamma's B blog who linked Picky-palate.com. Yum I'm excited.

President's Day Weekend

Last month during Presidents Day weekend we went to Priest Lake ID to my Uncle's cabin with my family. It was fun and I even rode a snowmobile. You have to understand I pretty much grew up on snowmobiles, but I always wrecked or got stuck or fell off and so I didn't completely appreciate them. Now I'm older and we have much nicer sleds that are much easier to manuever. Anyway it was actually fun and I'm glad I went on a ride with my Dad and Jon. Jody came up from BYU and spent some time with us. It's always fun to have her around. These are some pictures to commemorate the weekend.