My Birthday and my 100th blog posting

Today is a special day. This is my 100th posting! That's special.
But, more importantly, today is also my birthday! 35 years.

I posted on FB the other day, what I should do for my 100th and I got a couple of responses. Jenn thought I should write about her (and I am right now), because let's face it, she might just be the funniest person I know.
Another person, my cousin, suggested I combine all the things I love and do a geocache style puzzle, with a giveaway of some baking... great idea. But, I'm going to save that and probably do it for my 1 year anniversary of blogging.... which actually is just around the corner in a little over a week from now, so I've got some planning to do. So, stay tuned for that one!!! (I may or may not post it on FB... so you might want to subscribe to my blog if you aren't, so you don't miss out!)
And another friend suggested I write 100 facts about myself. Hmmmm. So, since it's my birthday, I just might do that.... I think this might be quite a challenge to think of 100 things!

1. Today is my birthday. February 24th.
2. I have 5 siblings. 3 sisters and 2 brothers (one of whom passed away 2 years ago)
3. My brother passed away on my daughters' birthday. A day I can never forget.
   
4. I am #4 (if you're from a big family, you tend to be known by a number, where you fit into the family. You know what I'm talking about)
5. It will be my 15th wedding anniversary this summer. Wow!
6. Cam and I first started dating around Halloween of 1996. We planned to meet each other at the Halloween dance, but neither of us wanted to say what we were going to dress as and said "just find me there". When we arrived, we found that Cam came as Raggedy Andy and I came as Raggedy Ann. How strange is that??? It was meant to be, I guess.
7. I went to University for 2 years. Never graduated with anything and couldn't make up my mind. My Mom says she sent me to University to find a husband, so I guess my Mom could look at my University experience as a total success!!
8. I took highland dancing for 10 years when I was younger.
9. I dislike choirs. But funny enough, I used to sing in an acapella quartet with my friends when I was younger.
10. I have a fear of talking in front of people. I have a lot of anxiety and cry a lot just thinking about it.
11. I am still the Relief Society Secretary (though technically I was released) and I am now once again a Family History Consultant.
12. I like to go geocaching. A lot. I've found 620 now.
13. The most geocaches I've found in 1 day is 21.
    
14. The most in 1 month is 50.
15. I have never gone out more than 6 days in a row to go geocaching.
    
16. I have never gone geocaching on my birthday. If I can find the time, maybe I can change that today.
    
17. I like to decorate cakes.
    
18. I don't like to bake cakes.
19. I took the Wilton cake decorating courses with my sister about 4 years ago.
    
20. I'm already finding it difficult to think of things (yes, I'm using this as a fact about me!)
21. The first house we bought was only 5 doors down from where we live now.
22. I lived in only one house for the first 20 years of my life.
23. I've gone away on some kind of holiday every year. We love to go on holidays!
24. I love to camp and I don't think many women can say that.
25. I've built a snow quincy and slept in it when I was younger.
26. I do all the driving (with the trailer) on the highways when we go on holidays. Cam will fall asleep while I drive, so I just do it.
27. We have been to Disneyland 3 times in the last 5 years. I love Disneyland.
    
28. I go on Facebook every day. Usually too many times in a day, even when they make changes and I swear I'm going off.
29. I love dessert. But only home-made desserts (with the exception of donuts, I do like them store bought)
30. There is always some kind of candy in our house. Always.
31. I need to lose some weight.
32. I have 4 fantastic kids. Abigail, Emily, Elora, Matthew
33. I picked Elora's name after watching one of our favorite movies... Willow.
    
34. I have never gone into labor or even hinted at it. Even with the twins who went "over due".
35. I had one natural birth. 2 c-sections, both were automatic.
36. My current family doctor is the same doctor that delivered me when I was born!
37. I had a blood transfusion when I was 17.
    
38. I love to sleep.
39. I want to go to Italy one day.
40. Last time I was on an airplane was 1999.
    
41. I hated babysitting when I was a teenager.
42. I love youtube. You can learn anything off of there!
43. I can twist balloon animals.
44. I have never had short hair (I know, you're shocked, right) and I don't think I ever will.
45. I have never dyed my hair or permed it or done anything with it. Heck, it's rare if I even cut it.
46. I have always had bangs. I always will. I look terrible without them.
47. I like to play games and I HATE to lose.
48. We own 100+ board games.
49. We own 350+ movies.
50. We own a lot of video games. I love to play them on my own or with my kids.
51. I like to play DDR.
    
52. I love pizzas with tomatoes on it.
53. I've had the same visiting teaching companion for 4 years.
    
54. I hate shopping. (am I only half way???)
55. I hate paying full price for something.
    
56. My favorite holiday is Christmas, followed closely by Halloween.
57. I've dressed up every year for Halloween.
58. Last time I went Trick-or-treating, I was probably 18.
59. I can't remember the last time we rented a movie. We get them all from the library.
60. I think I need cooking lessons.
61. I like to pain with watercolors, though I haven't done it in a couple years
62. Reading makes me very tired. I rarely read books unless I've heard it's really good.
63. My favorite books are the Harry Potter series and the Hunger Games trilogy
64. I read to my girls most nights and I love it. I make different voices for each character. We're almost done the last of the Hunger Games (1 chapter to go)
    
65. I like to watch tv in the evening. Favorite shows are Survivor, Amazing Race, CSI, Law & Order SVU and a couple new ones like Alcatraz and the Firm
66. I rarely watch any tv during the day
67. I've eaten 5 cookies in the last 4 minutes. Thanks Erin!
68. I don't like to clean.
    
69. Cam and I eat out at the same restaurant almost every time. We pretty well order the same thing every time too. But maybe that's because we only eat out at an actual restaurant 3 or 4 times a year and we want it to be something we know we'll like.
70. Cam and I like all the same movies. It's very rare for one of us to like it and the other not.
71. My favorite color is blue. Though I do really like red (not bright, more wine colored)
72. I get flowers every month and have gotten them faithfully from Cam for the last 14 1/2 years (since we got married. We got married on the 22nd and I usually get flowers close to the 22nd of each month)
73. I'm terrible with plants and rarely keep them alive.
74. I like to go for walks. I am not a runner.
75. I like fruity smells.
76. I like to color in coloring books still.
77. I've never broken a bone (well, maybe my big toe once, but I'm not sure, so I'm going to say no)
78. I don't like to stay up late usually. Or get up early.
79. I'll never say No to dinner out.
    
80. I love to go for walks and be in the sunshine.
81. I like to talk on the phone with my younger sister. If my line is busy, it's usually cause I'm talking to her and we'll talk for hours.
82. I love it that I can see the Temple from my house.
83. I like to see and hear chickadee birds.
84. I love the ocean. I think we've gone to the ocean every year for the last 6 or 7 years. Oregon being our favorite.
85. I've lived in Calgary my whole life. Born and raised here. (oh, we're nearing the end....)
    
86. Some of my favorite songs are by Mika.... like Grace Kelly or Love today. They make me smile whenever I hear them.
87. I like listening to Selena Gomez with my kids.
    
88. I love to find little notes around the house from my kids.
    
89. I'm an emotional person. Most times I wish I wasn't so much.
90. I dislike slow/bad drivers. I never drive under the speed limit if I can help it. Always 10km over.
91. I have never been in a car accident
92. I have never had a speeding ticket or any other type of ticket. No tickets for this girl.
93. I used to get bad nose bleeds that would last for hours and hours. I've even had the blood come out my tear ducts, which is really gross. I know.
94. I like surprises.
95. Growing up, we had lots and lots of pets. We always had several at once. In fact, we had 27 rabbits in our backyard at one time. Since being married, we haven't had any pets, except Elora's hermit crabs and even that was hard to convince Cam to allow.
    
96. I like old people. It's one of the things I miss in our Ward... there's not many seniors. A while ago, Laurel and I used to visit the two oldest ladies every month and we LOVED it.
    
97. I don't like to listen to my own voice. (5 more... this has been a challenge)
    
98. I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
99. I read my scriptures every day. Usually a page, but sometimes it's more, sometimes less.
100. I am blessed in every aspect of my life. Family, Friends, Health.... there's nothing more I could ask for.

There you have it. Probably 100 facts more than you ever wanted to know about yours truly. :)

Did I miss anything??

Stay tuned for my upcoming blog birthday. I'll think of something great to do for it.

Pumpkin Pie

If made right, I might just say that Pumpkin Pie is one my favorites.
I've had a lot of really good pumpkin pies and some really bad pumpkin pies.... in fact, the worst dessert I've ever had and literally had to choke down, just happened to be a pumpkin pie.

I'd have to say that my Mom makes the best pie. The best.
I'd like to think that one day I'll make them as good as her. I'd like to think that I'm making my way there.

Anyways, I don't know why, but I've been craving pumpkin pie for a week or two now. So today I decided to make some. Finally.



If you'd like my recipe, here it is....

PUMPKIN PIE (2 pies)

Make your pie crust. Here's a link to my earlier blog posting on how to make mine. (though, don't poke holes in your crust and don't bake it until after the filling is in)

In a bowl, combine
6 eggs
2 1/2 c. half and half
28 oz. can of pure pumpkin
1 Tbsp. & 1 tsp. corn starch
1 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. all spice
1/4 tsp. ginget
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (optional)
Beat with a hand mixer. Pour into your prepared pie crusts and sprinkle with some nutmeg.
Bake at 350F for 1 hour.
Cover with whipped cream before serving. Mmmmm.

Happy Valentines Day

To all my friends and family, I wish you a Happy Valentines Day!!

Last night, I decided to make some valentines cookies for my family and a few to give away. Normally, I make sugar cookies, but instead I decided to make a traditional rolled shortbread since it's been so long since I've made them. Plus, my family prefers it when I decorate with buttercream icing and I'm more inclined to use that icing with shortbread.


If you'd like the recipe for my rolled shortbread, here it is...

ROLLED SHORTBREAD
1 c. icing sugar
1 c. corn starch
2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. softened butter or margarine

Mix in a bowl (you'll probably have to use your hands for this).
Refrigerate for 1 hour (okay, I usually skip this and it turns out fine)
Roll out between two pieces of wax paper or parchment paper. Cut into shapes.
Bake at 350F for 9-10 minutes.
Once cool, decorate with buttercream icing.
One batch will make about 45 cookies (depending on the sizes you cut them).
One last note... these cookies are a bit on the fragile side. If you stack them, like I do with sugar cookies, you might find that they might break on you. But, they taste SO GOOD though.

Enjoy!

Valentine Heart Braids

So, I'm starting to see more and more talk of Valentines day. After all, it's less than 2 weeks away now.

I was looking on youtube and came across a tutorial for a heart french braid by cute girls hairstyles. (click name for a link to it) On a side note...have you seen her tutorials? Do you have little girls and want some great ideas? She's got some great videos.

Anyways, it's very similar to the heart french braid that I do every year (I think I started doing this particular braid about 8 years ago), which I'm going to show you here. They're similar but at the same time, they're quite different. ......
(sorry, not all the pictures are the greatest and I actually took all these pictures last year when I posted them on Facebook before I started my blog)


Want to do this too?? Here's how I do it. (it's times like this, I think I should just do a video myself, but I can't stand videos of myself (I cringe when I watch home videos)...but it would be so much easier to explain it.) Hope you can follow along...

So, when I do this particular braid, I just do a regular french braid. I don't do the outie kind (unless you want to, like the youtube tutorial, but I don't think it needs it)

When I start this braid, I part the hair right down the middle and work on each side seperately.

To start, I take a very small amount of hair. Very small, as in a few strands of hair almost in each of the three strands. That way, there isn't any extra unwanted parts in the hair (see the youtube video in comparison).

I then start my french braid by picking up hair ONLY from the side that is closest to the centre part/front of the head. As you're working, picking up only from one side, continue to curve the braid around.

When you start getting close to the ear, that's when you can start picking up hair from both sides. Do this a few times and go back to picking up from one side again, except this time, you'll be picking up from the inside heart. See picture below to see how far I braid on the side...
As your picking up strands from the inside of the heart, you'll find that as you're tapering towards the centre, you'll be picking up less and less hair. You want to keep what you're picking up to be within the heart.

Complete one side. Tie with an elastic and then do the other side.
Tie both sides together to complete the heart.
(gosh, I hope this makes sense to you!! If you've got questions, just let me know...)



So, that's my variation in the Valentine Heart Braid. My girls love it when I do this for them at Valentines.

You've got a little less than 2 weeks to practice, but I promise you'll love it!