12/30/12

No Pictures, Just Words..Big Announcement Though!



Bye Bye 2012- what rhymes with Twelve? Delve? I am delving into something big…I promise!

I keep wanting to bring up this December, and how busy it was. But all I can really say about it, to keep it short and simple is- I am so lucky to know so many great and outgoing people to keep the Holidays bustling and bright, and ensuring there was never a dull moment. Truly grateful and blessed!

2012 began with a kiss, of course!  I remembered the NYE gathering we had here- so much fun and laughter and of course someone yacking in the bathroom. Poor Lindsay, but there’s has to be at least one person on NYE who gets sick right? I also remember the midnight kiss planted on me by Wes ( I mean, who else?) it was pretty romantic, I think. I truly have found and married my best friend.

By March, I’d been at the Magazine for a year. Such a fun place to work. Lots of hills and valleys but it’s a fun adventure to be a part of, and I am lucky to have a job and an okay income and different kinds of people around me. The hard part will be trying to keep up with the vision my boss has for this magazine’s future!

2012  was the year we tried to have the hairy asian baby (aka  a panda)  every one , including us- duh, is hoping for. Its been a disappointing attempt, to say the least. The appointment with the RE and new OB/GYN are this January and February and I am , obviously hoping for the best. I’ve had a couple friends who have been terrific at helping me get through this and reminding me that the feelings I have- the stress, sadness, jealousy- it is all normal. Especially with all these people around me growing their own families. Genuine happiness is what I have for them though, it is a blessing and utterly amazing- to have children and see them grow and see a piece of you out there in the world. 

Over the Summer, I decided to randomly get into the wedding planning business. I, literally, dove in with  both feet without having done my research. Marketing with no capital is hard. And I’ve really relied on FB and other up and coming wedding vendors to get the word out about what I am doing. So far….it has been slow. I do a weekly update on the Muyly Miller Weddings Facebook page, and I spent a little money on advertising, but its honestly slow, and this industry is loyal to its long standing vendors. But they say, if you dream of something you want to do or be- do it, and do it with passion and determination…and I am really passionate about this venture, and hopefully it will gain some momentum. Rome wasn’t built in a day!

I did more food blogging this year as well, and dabbled in some photography. But, the photography thing would be more fun if I had a better camera- to photograph the food that I blog about..haha. However, my culinary skills have improved so much and I’ve ventured into the gluten free baking, as well as, too many times, sugar loaded baking. I wasn’t a big baker before. It is intimidating. I still have not attempted a cheesecake. I see Ina Garten do her thing with cheese cake, and of course she says its easy..but I will tackle it this year and succeed- I will make you CHEESECAKE, and I WILL LIKE IT!

2012 gave me and took away some good friends. I’ve lost a couple long standing friendships. I’m past the point of holding on to people who aren’t genuine and good - to me, to others, and to life itself.  However, I have gained more meaningful friendships and, the people who have been, in my opinion, a big part of my year have created such a new outlook for me on friendships and relationships. People who make time and want to see you just make it happen, and vice versa. It is special and it is not rocket science. My eyes are open now and I notice these things.

Soo..here is the big announcement. I am not sure how this is going to work, or last, or what. Come January 2, 2013 I am going to be socializing WITHOUT Facebook…….GASP!! I seriously just felt the pit of my stomach churn..but that may be from all the food I just ate- haha. (Aside from Muyly Miller Weddings- cause its business and my mar-com for it takes precedence – including Facebook) This is a big deal, as most of you reading this will know, I’m a serious social media addict- takes up my entire day and gets me worked up emotionally and sometimes physically (think air punching). I’m sure there will be a state of withdrawals in which I break out in cold sweats and go crazy because I’m not posting about every other thing I’ve done, or post about the amaze-fest of starbucks I just had.  But I know I will get through it…hopefully…smokers try to quit but don’t always succeed the first time……uhm, what?

 Instagram will stay up though (Pikamoo - follow me!) I will keep the blog going..I don’t really have a ton of legitimate followers, people usually just click on the link from Facebook. Hopefully people will remember to read it. Otherwise, Shit- what a waste this is!
 Also, please follow Muyly Miller Weddings on Facebook, I would so very much appreciate the support.

How am I going to keep the social life going?  Well with phone calls, mostly emails and texts, but I would like to have good old fashion phone conversations with those I’m needing info and updates on. So…we are getting a home phone!! Oh My Gosh!  I am stoked, actually- remember answering machines? YEAHHH!

Other New Years goals are the basic “lose weight, get organized, pay off bills” 

If I ever do get on Facebook again, it will be to announce the sex of the baby we are going to have. That is a promise! With that, we better get pregnant quick! Send us baby luck!

Okay- maybe just one or two pictures...hehe


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

12/3/12

Toodles to my Sidekick

4 years of my life -The Saturn.  I had it with me through all my fiascos in Saint George. It made a lot of trips from St. G to Salt Lake. I remember I took it, and my  little  dog Lucas with me once in the winter around 11 pm in a mad dash to SL to catch a boyfriend cheating on me! I made it in 3 and half hours, in the snow--sped through Beaver like it was nothing.

Lucas, loved more than anything, car rides around the block in it..


If you don't know- Lucas now resides in California with a man who just lost his wife to cancer 2 years ago.

It hauled me up the inclines of Traverse in my glory days with the roomies. It drove from Lehi to Midvale to rendevous with Wes at the J.E.W. House.

It let people crash in it during long road trips to Mesquite.


And as, shown here- it took me to fancy pie and beer parties on the 24th of July.


And it took us away on our wedding day. Live Long and Prosper. I hope your next owner takes care of you and appreciates all that you are.





11/23/12

Just ordered to send out this December!

Merriest Type Christmas Card
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View the entire collection of cards.

11/22/12

It's a GOOD DAY!

Happy Thanksgiving! Today is a GOOD DAY...because I got to eat and be merry with Wes and my in-laws at the Little America Thankgiving Buffet. AH-Mazing! worth the wait in the long line, plus no one in our family had to cook this year! Next, its a good day because I started  my online shopping for Christmas and snagging STUPID steals...especially at Kohls..they give crap away once you use that Kohls cash! Lastly, its a good day because my hard work on my last concept shoot got featured on Salt Lake/Park City Bride and Grooms blog! My Concept Shoot- Click Here

I am just abundantly thankful for all I have accomplished and the amazing support from my family and friends. Love you all!!

11/17/12

Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup and Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

Just cause I am sick, doesn't mean I can't cook! I mustered up all the energy I had ( seriously, all I had- I was exhausted after all this ) These recipes would make Sandra Lee proud, I really kicked in the Semi-Homemade concepts here.

Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup and Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

The soup was one of those mixes, like Bear Creek, but with a few additions- sauteeed veggies and roasted chicken breast. I also added 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup. Instead of water, I used chicken stock- it adds a little more salt so don't salt anything. Add an extra cup of liquid then the recipe calls for on the package.

Wes helped me with the chopping of carrots, onion and celery- I love a man, my man,  in the kitchen!
The Trinity
350 degree oven and roast for 40 minutes. I made this roasted chicken extra special by roasting it in bacon fat....your welcome!
Bring liquids up to a boil, add soup mix and cook for 10 minutes, add sauteed veggies and shredded chicken and simmer covered for 20 minutes. Fresh thyme would be a good addition to this soup, I would add a couple teaspoons.
 

The cookies are so simple- it was a pick up from Pinterest - Thank You! Click here for the recipe
Perfect Mini Peanut Butter Cups! It just looks like it belongs in there right? All nestled in the chocolate goodness.
The chewiest and richest cookie- your sweet tooth will thank you, over and over again!

These cookies are incredibly rich- if you need your chocolate and sweets fix- one cookie will do ya! the recipe makes 24 cookies, but I only baked 1/2 the batch and froze the other. And I'm not a big milk drinker, but I could see the need for milk with these.

Not a bad cooking day considering being under the weather!



11/5/12

Peppers and Pickles!


I couldn't believe it when I saw this recipe...but Rachael recipes rarely disappoint. My original plan was to make sloppy joes for dinner, then it turned into making sloppy  joe sauce from scratch, then it turned into a google search and this came up Sloppy Joe and Macaroni Casserole <--recipe- Rachael Ray, Cooking Channel.


Here are the ingredients...

  • 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • One 15-ounce can tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons EVOO
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (80-to-85-percent lean)
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 3 to 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 12 ounces elbow macaroni with ridges
  • 2 cups shredded yellow Cheddar
  • 1/2 cup chopped crisp deli-style dill pickles 
The Pickles?!!!! I know!!

Heres what all those veggies look like- thats a lot in one dish, I think. The red bell pepper seems like it doesn't fit right?



I have to show off  my Rachael Ray cookware- hehe. Just boiling the macaroni. The brand of macaroni I got, the macaroni with ridges- as the recipe calls for- was Barilla- in the blue box.
The final Product..
This is a budget casserole to say the least. Its seriously only $10 and hello left-overs!

But I gotta tell you, the pickles really makes this..its so unassumed, but so good.. and the red bell peppers are unique too. The flavors are great for such a cheapy casserole dish. Enjoy!!




11/4/12

Sunday Baking

Amidst the annihilation of football on the tele, laundry, and dishes- I decided to get my Betty Crocker on and do some baking. This time it was a recipe found on the side of the flour bag. You never know with those recipes if they are reliable. But I can vouch for this one. Of course, Wes loved them.

I used semi sweet, cause that is what I had, but i ran into some mini rolos at the grocery store and my next batch i make, i will definitely incorporate those, or even the mini reeses peanut butter cups- YUM

  Waiting for them to cool is the worst part! but worth the wait..i chowed down about three of these before they made it into packaging

I love twine these days, i think it adds a nice touch to anything! Paige and Ryan were the lucky recipients of these today, Who will be next?


10/21/12

Fun with Photography

My creative bone pops out every once in a while and get an itch. Lately its been photography, I don't have a fancy DSLR or anything..but a nice Nikon point and shoot with some features that are built in similar to a DSLR, such as ISO. My family is the only people I can experiment on. I've done my Mother in Laws Garden, and Grandma Judy's Garden and a few of my sister in law, Maddy. I just fiddled with different effects to make some look a little more vintage-y.














Here are few more of Lewis

10/8/12

The L- Man

My Sister in Law and I had a fun afternoon taking pictures of this little guy. It was fun, and funny at the same time. he is so perfect! I am still learning about lighting, editing, and acquiring props...hopefully i get another chance to do this!