Is that you...

Steven Astle are you out there??? You still have to send me my picture. I haven't forgotten and I never will!!!!!! Send it, PLEASE!

My Fall Inspirations

I just want this heat to end. Seriously it just drains me of all my energy and makes me irritable. I hate going outside because I hate to sweat. Probably another reason I can't stand to work out. The only thoughts that keep me going are knowing that Fall is just around the corner. The cool days and brisk evenings. Trips to Apple Hill. Fall festivals and craft fairs. Making caramel apples or just waiting for Joy to bring me one. Fresh apple pie. Wearing jeans and sweatshirts. Decorating the house for Halloween. My annual Halloween Trunk-or-Treat, maybe. The tree's changing colors. Fall for me is the begging of the Holiday season. This is my favorite time of the year and I'm ready for all it's chaos!

From left to right. Top row. Coconut cake, Williams-Sonoma chocolate covered apple(well worth the $20), linen ribbon.

Second row. Apple cider drink station (I just loved the setup), apple orchard, pie buffet courtesy of The Knot magazine.

Third row. Chocolate covered fruit in buckets for party favors, Caramel Apple cupcakes, cute fall flower bouquet.

BTW, I only post this cupcake recipe because if I ever make them for anyone I want it know how much time and effort went into them. You know it's like that super cute pair of shoes that kills your feet. You endure the pain in the sake of fashion. That's how I'm going to feel about these cupcakes. They look and hopefully taste heavenly but the effort to make them is going to be painful. I know it's totally a selfish thought! But hey at least I can admit it.

Caramel Apple Cupcakes

9 regular cupcakes / 350 degree oven

2-3 apples, granny smith

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon ginger

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1/2 cup oil

1/4 cup apple juice1 teaspoon vanilla
1. Rinse and core the apples. Place them on an ovenproof pan or baking sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes until soft.

2. Remove the apples from the oven, let cool slightly, then remove peel and mush the apple with the back of a fork. Measure out 1 cup of apple mush and set aside to cool.

3. Combine flour, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt in a medium sized bowl and whisk to combine.

4. Crack the eggs into a separate, medium sized bowl and beat with a form to break up. Add the oil, apple juice, vanilla, and cooled apple mush and mix to combine.

5. Combine the wet and dry ingredients until all ingredients come together.

6. Scoop into cupcake papers about 3/4 full so cupcakes will have a significant dome. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-22 minutes, rotating the pan after 15 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cream Cheese Filling
4 ounces Philly cream cheese

1/4 stick butter

2 cups sifted powdered sugar1 teaspoon vanilla
1. Be sure to bring the butter to room temperature by letting it sit out for 1 or 2 hours. Then beat the butter vigorously with an electric mixer.

2. Scrape the bowl and add the cream cheese and beat until combine.

3. Add the sifted powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until smooth.

Fill Cupcakes

1. Cut out a cone from each cupcake. Flip the cone and cut off the excess. Set the top aside.

2. Fill each cavity with the cream cheese filling.

3. Replace each top.

Thick Caramel
1/2 cup butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

6 ounces sweetened condensed milk

1 tablespoon heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla1/2 teaspoon salt
1. Bring the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and sweetened condensed milk to a boil over medium-high heat stirring to combine.

2. With a wooden spoon, stir all ingredients together and then slowly add the heavy cream.

3. Continue to stir for about 20 minutes until the caramel reached 248 degrees. It is important to continuously stir the mixture and to allow it to reach temperature.

4. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and salt. Transfer to a bowl and continue to stir for 2-3 minutes allowing the caramel to cool slightly.

Final Assembly
1. Using a small offset spatula, frost each cupcake with the caramel.

2. If desired sprinkle warm caramel with any number of toppings, like coconut or crushed nuts.

3. Transfer the cupcake into the freezer to allow the caramel to set without dripping over the edge of the cupcake paper.

4. Continue frosting and topping the cupcakes and try to work fast. As the caramel cools, it becomes less spreadable. If possible work in pairs and let your helper top the cupcakes and transfer them to the freezer. By the time you reach the last few cupcakes, you will not longer need to freeze them and you can take all the cupcakes out and transfer them to the counter.

5. Top off each cupcake with a popsicle or craft stick to finish off the look.

Torture

Seriously I have never understood how people can say that they LOVE to workout. Somehow it's suppose to make you feel better, relieve stress, make you want to eat healthier, give you self confidence, help you loose weight, boost your metabolism, sleep better, live a longer life, build strength and endurance, make your brain function better, improve your immune system and the list goes on and on. OK well maybe it does lead to that but before all that can happen for me I have to get off my not so small butt! I hate to workout. Really it's like torture. First I have to get up early, which leads to less sleep and poor brain function. Then I have to put on this super tight sports bra causes me to loose a few breaths. I guess I could go and buy a bigger size but I refuse to give into the fact that 'maybe' it doesn't fit anymore. Next I have to endure the humiliation of going to they gym and passing all skinny people running on the treadmills like it's 'no big deal'. While I hop on mine and can hardly take up a jog without puking up a lung. To top it off all the treadmills are in a row and really the only open treadmills are the ones in the front so I have to endure the embarrassment of the three rows of people behind me noticing that I really am only walking and not jogging. Not because I don't want to jog but because my legs won't let me. Then when I finally finish my short but exhausting WALK I get off and my legs feel like jello. And guess what...all I want to do is eat!!! That's right not healthy food but junk food. I stop at the nearest gas station for my daily diet coke fix. I know, I know hack up a lung and wash it down with diet coke. Oh well that's my life. This whole thing about exercise supposedly helping me sleep better. That's true because all I want to do is go home and crash, oh but wait I can't because I have errands to run, a house to clean, a three year old and a one year old, breakfast, lunch and dinner's to make, vinyl projects to complete and this list goes on to. So this all just makes me moody because I'm tired and just want a nap. Strength and endurance, when does that come? Because right now my legs ache every time I have to walk up the stairs and I know tomorrow I won't last much longer on that demon treadmill than I did today. It's TORTURE and it's only day three of my personal goal to work out everyday!

Grilled Chicken and Pesto Farfalle

I get so bored with recipes and I am always looking for flavorful and EASY recipes. Once again my monthly issue of CookingLight has provided me with dozens of yummy recipes. This one was so simple and the whole family loved it. I really have to mix up the pasta recipes because it's really the only think Lukie will eat. Good for him not good for my hips! It comes from the CookingLight magazine but as you will so it's not so 'light.' Well, well worth it. Enjoy! Oh and if you don't subscribe to the magazine, you should.

Grilled Chicken and Pesto Farfalle

This dish comes together quickly if one person grills chicken while another cooks the pasta and sauce. Garnish with basil sprigs, if desired. If you serve wine, a chardonnay complements the creamy sauce.

Ingredients
1 3/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 teaspoon salt, divided
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
Cooking spray
20 ounces uncooked farfalle (bow tie pasta)
1 tablespoon butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups 1% low-fat milk, divided (I used whole milk, GO-BIG!)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 (3.5-ounce) jar commercial pesto (about 1/3 cup)
3/4 cup half-and-half (I used heavy cream, what's the point of 1/2 and 1/2 if I already used whole milk???)
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded fresh Parmesan cheese, divided
4 cups halved grape tomatoes (about 2 pints)
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

Preparation
1. Prepare grill to medium-high heat.
2. Sprinkle chicken evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place chicken on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 10 minutes or until done, turning after 6 minutes. Remove from grill; let stand 5 minutes. Cut chicken into 1/2-inch pieces; keep warm.
3. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain in colander over a bowl, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid. Place pasta in large bowl.
4. Heat butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic to pan; cook 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Combine 1/2 cup milk and flour in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add milk mixture to pan, stirring constantly with a whisk. Stir in pesto. Gradually add remaining 1 cup milk and half-and-half, stirring constantly with a whisk. Cook 8 minutes or until sauce thickens, stirring frequently. Add 1/4 cup reserved cooking liquid, remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1 cup cheese; stir until cheese melts.
5. Add chicken and sauce to pasta, tossing well to coat. Add tomatoes and basil; toss gently. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese. Serve immediately.

There's a Wocket in my Pocket

Since she was a baby Anna has loved books. She could sit and let us read to her for hours. This particular Dr. Seuss book I have been reading to her for about a year. Usually once a day sometime less often. Well last week as I was reading to her and it surprised me when she started reciting the words before I could read them. Hooray for Anna, now she can read to me. I am constantly amazed at the things she does. Her preschool teachers tell me that although she is the youngest she sits so still and loves to learn and listen to the lessons. We are so proud of our baby girl.

Miss You...

Just wanted to tell you that I LOVE you both very much. I know you both think I'm the 'queen bee' but I only tell you what to do because I know more than you. Just Kidding. Really all my lectures and questions and phone calls and emails are only out of love. I believe in both of you and only want the very best that life can offer. Please always live up to your potential and know that you have a big sister that cares for you more than you know. I always look forward to the time that we spend together, although it is never enough. I hope someday that your paths will lead you back to CA so that Anna and Lukie can be closer to their uncles. Miss you guys, so so so much!!!!!

****Aaron please show Ryan this post.*****

Yummmm...ice cream

Saw it.

Love it.

Gotta buy it.

Reminds me of my childhood and .35 scoops at Thrifty. Chocolate Malted Crunch and Coconut Pineapple. Need I say more.

First Day of Preschool

I can't believe it's here and gone. I can't believe I was up so early and I'm still awake. But really this post is not about me. It's about Anna and her first day of Preschool. It was only three years ago we had this newborn baby and I just wanted to hold her in my arms everyday, never did I imagine this day would come so soon. But again I have to admit it was kind of nice to have the house to myself. With the exception of Lukie. Even with him I was able to get so much done around the house. All those 'won't' from last night I worked on this morning. Oh ya back to Anna. She was not ready to wake up this morning. She even asked if she could relax in her bed for one more second.

Once she was out of bed the rest of the morning went smoothly, washing face, brushing teeth, brushing hair, getting dressed and eating breakfast. Then it was off to school. My mom came with us, which Anna loved.

She was a bit apprehensive when she arrived at school. The chaos of children and parents coming and going. It was new to her to have to "pick a job" and then sit on a carpet square. She didn't quite get what was going on. What did relax her was seeing all her church friends. We are lucky that Anna attends a preschool taught by Miss Shelby who used to be in our ward and Leah, Jake and Mia are all in our ward now. So her best friends were all there to greet her. Leah came up and gave Anna a huge hug.

I was sad to leave her but I knew she would love it.

I picked her up after school but as soon as she saw me she had a little melt down. "Hold me, hold me" she cried. I'm thinking she was tired and hungry because after we got in the car and she'd calmed down I asked her if she liked school and wanted to go back tomorrow and she said yes.

Anna wanted nothing to do with getting her picture taken after school.

I couldn't get Anna to wear her crown that she made at school but Lukie was sure willing!

Anna's favorite part about school was "playing instruments" and "Miss Shelvy (Shelby) says freeze and we have to stop playing."

She even keeps asking if it time to go back to school.
I have to thank my great friends for calling me in the morning to make sure I was awake and Anna made it to school on time. Really they were calling to tease me but "WHATEVER"! Thanks Nina, Alycia, Jodie and Joy!

Swim Lessons

Anna started swim lessons today. I was a little nervous at first about her and the water but she loved it! She was confident and calm. She even put her face underwater and didn't freak out. We are so proud of her. When the lesson was over she asked when she gets to come back.

Bedtime

I want to blog all about some fabulous recipes I found in this months Cooking Light, about Anna's play dates and her first swim lesson but I won't.
I want to clean up the kitchen from lunch, the family room full of toys, the bathroom from tonight's bath time and my bedroom but I won't.
I want to fold the piles of laundry sitting in my closet but I won't.
I want to veg-out in front of the television and watch the women's gymnastics bar finals (OK I cheated...I did watch the season premier of The Hills) but I won't.
I WILL go to bed right now so I can get up at the butt crack of dawn and get Anna ready for her first day of preschool. Not really that early but 6:30am seems so early considering I haven't gone to bed before 2am in years and haven't had to get up before 9am in years. Poor Anna, she hasn't gotten up before 9am since she started sleeping through the night. It's going to be rough first week for both of us.
A new challenge. Early to bed. Early to rise. This could be a good thing.