French Word-of-the-Week

I've decided, as I'm learning French more and more this semester, and I plan to continue learning it in the future, I'm going to fuel my desire to stay abreast of the language by beginning a post series called
French Word-of-the-Week!

It's a perfect was to keep me thinking and writing in French. And, it is also a way that Michael can contribute more to the blog, because, he is, after all, fluent in French.

The word I choose each week will reflect something that is personal to me, either being an activity or experience from that current week. I will write about it and give a translation so all will be able to understand and comprehend this new feature of the blog.

And, I will strive to make each post appear on Friday because there is nothing more adorable and cliche' than Français Friday.

What do you think?

Deathly Hallows Part 1

Can hardly wait for November 19th to get here! This new trailer just came out on Wednesday and it makes me super anxious and excited for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1". Please tell me that I'm not the only HP lover out there. Is anybody else as excited as I am?

Crisis in the Gulf

Here's a little Cajun humor for those of you who know and understand the South. If you've never heard a Cajun accent, maybe you've seen "The Princess and the Frog". When you read this, think of Ray Ray the Firefly :)

Boudreaux suddenly quit drinking, took a bath, quit chasing women, quit his poker games and started laying around. He started cutting the grass around the church, even painted it and was faithful to be first to attend on Sundays! Father Thibodeaux asked him what about dis wonderful change that had done overtook him. Boudreaux explained, "I heard "Crisis in the Gulf" and if He's dat close, I wanna be good to go!

Homemade Fall Decorations

I've decided that in addition the the few fall decorations Michael and I have for our home, I am going to get crafty and create some for fun!

They are super cheap and easy, and I'm excited to fill our home with such festive items!


First, I'm going to make some simple paper strip pumpkins, idea found here.

I think they'll be cute to either hang from the ceiling, or even just to sit on a shelf.

Also, I think these Lollipop Ghosts will be super cute hanging from our ceiling or even our staircase. I remember making these as a child and can't wait to get started. Idea found here.

Although, I may just bypass the lollipop route and use extra tissue paper in its place, but we'll see. Either way, they're going to be cute and they will give our home a Festive Fall Feel. (I love alliteration!)

So, what are some of your ideas and loves for fall crafts and decorations? Anything that you just HAVE to do each year to bring Autumn festivity to your home?

Tonight...

So excited that the new season is starting tonight!

I've been listening to the soundtracks from Season 1 nonstop to get me extra psyched for what is to come!

I can't wait to see what kind of music they reinvent this time.

I'm proud to be a "gleek"!

Blackberry Peach Crisp

Made this tonight after dinner from our fresh peaches recently bought and blackberries picked from bushes near our apartment fence!

It was quick, easy, and extremely yummy! Perfect way to end a meal with a little something special.

Just peaches and blackberries.

With crisp topping, right before the oven.

It's done!
(Sorry for the poor picture quality, daylight was escaping.)

Warm, juicy, with a bit of crunch from the topping. We served it with some ice cream on the side and it was delicious!

Blackberry Peach Crisp

Ingredients:
Fruit:
4 peaches, peeled and cut into slices
1 cup blackberries
Topping:
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup oats
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
pinch nutmeg
pinch salt
4 tbs. butter, softened

Directions:

1. Arrange peach slices and blackberries in greased baking dish.
2. Cut dry ingredients into butter and sprinkle onto fruit.
3. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.
4. Remove from oven, let cool for 4-5 minutes. Serve with a scoop of vanilla and ENJOY!
   

Michael took this picture of the bottom of the pan once everything was baked. Pretty, no?

My Superhero

I need to take a moment to talk about the wonderful man in that picture.

He is my very own, personal superhero.

As some of you may know, I've been having upper back and shoulder pain since this past Saturday. I don't exactly know what has caused it (I've never had this happen before), but it has continued to get progressively worse as the week has progressed also. It was so bad that Tuesday I couldn't even go to mutual to be with my Young Women. I had to lie in bed, on my back for the entire evening. I ended up crying for a good bit of it because of non-stop pain all day.

Michael, the wonderful husband that he is, came and lay by my side, giving me comfort for a good bit of the evening. He hugged me, gently, when I cried, and kept asking if there was anything he could do for me. He told me I was beautiful even when my makeup was smeared all over my face. He made sure I had an ice pack in the perfect spot on my back throughout the evening. He took care of getting medicine for me and the water I needed to swallow it. He rubbed my back, softly, to try and ease some of the pain.

Now, I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this, but I have this issue...it's called pride. Whenever something goes wrong, I feel like I can and have to fix it, on my own. I often forget that I have a husband who holds the priesthood and has the ability to administer a blessing to me. I hesitate to ask for blessings because I feel like I can make things better, without any outside help. Well, this has been a humbling experience for me, because I have been reminded, over and over, of the fact that I have a worthy priesthood holder right in my home. The thoughts have not left my head since I began having more severe pain. I knew that these were promptings from the Spirit to tell me to let go of my pride and ask for a blessing.

So I did.

Michael gave me a beautiful blessing last night and I felt the Spirit so strongly throughout it. I felt Heavenly Father's love for me through Michael's gentle love and caring. I knew that everything was going to be alright. I'm exercising my faith in the Lord, and Michael's ability to administer to me as the Lord's mouthpiece.

My pain isn't completely gone, but I feel it getting better each moment of the day. What a blessing it is to have a worthy priesthood holder as my husband, who doesn't hesitate when he is asked to do something. I love Michael. And I'm so blessed to have him.

Cars and Peaches

On Saturday, Michael and I went down, with some friends, to Brigham City for Peach Days.
Michael's main reason: the cars at the car show.
My main reason: to buy lots and lots of peaches.

We accomplished both and had quite a bit of fun in the process. Michael was really looking forward to seeing two cars in particular, the ones on display by Ralph Call, a former bishopric member in the singles' ward Michael attended before we were married.

Here's one right out of the 50s, when our country was in the "space age". You can tell by the lines how "spacey" it is. Really cool.

Here's Ralph's other car that Michael absolutely loved. Not sure what it is, but I know it's from the 40s. Nice sound system that Ralph had put in this one.

And, in the midst of all our perusing, I have found the car I want to drive someday. A Cobra. I have decided that we are meant to be together, this Cobra and I. Granted, if I ever owned a car like this, we wouldn't be able to afford it til I'm MUCH older. But a girl can dream, eh?

Alas, we found peaches and a fabulous produce stand on our way out of Brigham. We bought an entire basket (about 70) of peaches and a dozen ears of corn. Local, fresh, and good.

I'm planning on freezing quite a bit for later use. And the rest, we will snack on and I've got a HUGE list of things I want to make/bake with them. Scones, muffins, cobbler, pie, smoothies, salsa, etc.
I LOVE this time of year!

Oven Baked Egg Rolls

Made these for our Logan Ladies Recipe Swap last Thursday night. Our theme was "Authentic Asian"! We are growing each and every time we meet, it's so exciting. I can't believe that something I started just 4 short months ago has grown to be so popular among friends and family!

Oven Baked Egg Rolls

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground sausage
1/2 lb. bean sprouts
1/2 head of cabbage, shredded
2 carrots, diced
1 can water chestnuts, diced
3-4 green onions, diced
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/8 cup soy sauce (or more if needed)
Egg roll wrappers

Directions:

1. In a pan, heat about tablespoon of vegetable oil and brown sausage. Add carrots, onions and ginger, saute' for a minute. Add cabbage, bean sprouts, and water chestnuts, saute' for another minute. Add black pepper and garlic powder. Pour in sesame oil and soy sauce and mix everything together, stirring until the cabbage reduces in size by about half.
2. Spoon heaping tablespoon of mixture into egg roll wrapper and fold according to package directions. Bake on greased baking sheet in 450 degree oven for 7-10 minutes, or until the outside just begins to brown.

Makes about 30 egg rolls.

Next month's theme is "Tour of Italy". I can't wait to see the amazing culinary creations to come!

Yellowstone

We had a fun filled four day weekend on our trip to Yellowstone for Labor Day! There was A LOT that we did, so I'll just jump right in and let you see some pictures.

Making faces at the hot pots sulfur-y smell. The boys made the joke that someone could pass gas and blame it on the geyser and no one would ever know.

Mud pots.

Waiting for the "outhouse" style bathroom.

Old Faithful! It was, indeed, faithful.

Our chipmunk friend.

Isn't the color just gorgeous? All thanks to temperature of water and the microorganisms that live within.

One of MANY crows we "cawed" to throughout the weekend.

I think this was my favorite geyser. We learned that all the sediment most likely formed on top of tree stumps, giving it such an odd shape.

Buffalo hanging out by the visitor's center. Jennifer tried to get close to take a picture and the park ranger stopped her by saying, "Ma'am, Ma'am" over and over. We found it funny (the ranger, not the danger, bahaha).

Boiling water runoff into the river.

Elk just outside our car.

And, a BIG buffalo outside our car also. Very skinny hind quarters.

The girls in front of a waterfall on a freezing and super windy Sunday!

The sun was WAY bright. We look like we are in pain!

Group pic! Andy and Dani Satchwell, Jen and Bryant Svedin, and Michael and Rebecca Black.

The hike up from the Falls was a full 600 feet of incline and a bit exhausting. Except for Andy and Dani, who were like mountain goats. But, we made it, nonetheless!

The falls. Just beautiful.

We really enjoyed our adventure to Yellowstone, staying in Dani's grandparent's cabin about 30 mins outside the park. Thank you Dani and grandparents!

It snowed on us while leaving the park on Sunday evening, which I took as a sign to play Christmas music on our drive back. We also enjoyed S'mores over a nice bonfire, watched good movies, ate good food, and had another adventure trying to deposit our garbage to the landfill down the road on four wheelers. (Let's just say that the Svedins and Blacks are rebels).

And last, but certainly not least, we have decided that Idaho has some of the worst and most annoying drivers anywhere. :)

Hello

This is why I love Glee...



Season 2 can't get here fast enough!